Only four artists have managed to win the coveted 'treble' at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) in 26 editions. This rare achievement means winning Artiste of the Year, plus their specific Best Genre Artiste of the Year, and the Album/EP of the Year award in the same night.
Securing this 'treble' demands a combination of broad appeal, genre mastery, and a standout project. It highlights an artist's ability to dominate not just across the entire year's music scene, but also within their specific musical category and with a critically acclaimed album.
The TGMA 'treble' is a significant indicator of artistic excellence, mirroring the rarity of winning a 'treble' in top football leagues. In Ghana's music industry context, this feat signifies a complete artistic victory for the year. The awards ceremony, which has been running since 2000, has only seen this happen four times, underscoring its exclusivity.
JoyNews Research data shows the first artist to achieve this was Sarkodie in 2010. He won Artiste of the Year, Hip-Hop/Hiplife Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for his debut album 'Makye'. Later, KiDi achieved the treble in 2022 with 'The Golden Boy' album. Stonebwoy secured his treble in 2024, winning Artiste of the Year, Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year, and Album/EP of the Year for '5th Dimension'. Most recently, King Promise completed the set in 2025, winning Artiste of the Year, Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year, and Album of the Year for 'True to Self'.
Experts suggest that achieving the TGMA treble requires three key elements. First, a defining album released at the perfect moment is crucial. This album must be universally acclaimed by both critics and the public. Second, artists must absolutely own their specific music genre category. For instance, KiDi was the undisputed Afrobeats/Afropop artist in his winning year. Third, consistent performance throughout the year is necessary to clinch the Artiste of the Year award. Missing any of these components typically places an artist in the 'close-miss' category.
The concentration of these wins in recent editions, with three of the four trebles occurring within the last four awards ceremonies, suggests a potential shift in the industry dynamics or voter preferences. This trend provides valuable insights for aspiring artists and record labels looking to strategize for future wins.
The definition of the TGMA treble, as established by fans and JoyNews Research, focuses on winning Artiste of the Year, Best Genre Artiste of the Year, and Album/EP of the Year. This combination represents a comprehensive artistic triumph in a single awards night, demanding excellence across multiple facets of the music business.
The Album of the Year award is often considered the most challenging of the three. It requires a specific body of work to outshine all other albums released in that calendar year, without relying solely on hit singles or features. This forces artists to create cohesive and impactful projects.
The dominance in a specific genre category, like Stonebwoy's consistent wins in Reggae/Dancehall, demonstrates deep-rooted connection and sustained appeal within a particular musical community. This forms a strong foundation for broader award recognition.
Looking ahead, artists and music industry stakeholders will be closely watching how these identified factors continue to influence award outcomes. The increasing frequency of the treble in recent years indicates that artists who can balance commercial success with critical acclaim and genre authenticity are becoming the frontrunners.