MUMBAI: Percept D'Mark (India) Pvt Ltd. has announced the launch of the Sangeet Awards on 1 October. The award ceremony will be held at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

The cornerstone of the Sangeet Awards is the system of nomination based on 'peer group recognition'. The awards process has been initiated and the same shall go through a detailed screening, nomination and selection process.

The jury comprising people from the film and music industry like Shyam Benegal, Ramesh Sippy, Saapna Mukherjee, Sameer, Himmesh Reshammiya, Ken Ghosh, Viju Shah, Shiamak Davar and Raju Singh will vote on the nominations and decide the final award winners, as informed by the company release.

On the launch year performance by Indian film stars, musicians and International artists and a 55- member Indian and international crew will be creating the show. The line up of performance includes Adnan Sami, Hrithik Roshan, Yana Gupta, Sameera Eddy, Rishi Rich Project from London and choreographer Shaimak Davar, along with his dance troupe will bring these performances to life. Sahara Manoranjan will bring the Sangeet Awards to Indian audiences.

Percept D`Mark CEO Sanjay Lal said, "As we pay tribute to our melody- makers while heralding the growth of a contemporary and dynamic music culture in India, we look forward to presenting India to the world, in a brand new musical avatar at the Sangeet Awards 2004."

Amongst the 160 people being flown in specially to attend the Sangeet Award function are icons from the industry like Javed Akhtar, Pyarelal, Shabana Azmi, Shankar Ehsan and Loy, Farah Khan, Jatin Lalit, Feroz Khan, Fardeen Khan, Remo Fernandes, Sunidhi Chauhan to name a few, informs the company release.

Ernst and Young, India is the official auditor of the event, and will oversee the entire voting process. In the first year, a total of 22 awards will be presented across three main categories: six film music awards, nine critics awards in film music and seven pop music awards.

The award categories are:

Film Music Awards
Best New Voice (Male / Female)
Best Lyrics
Best Playback Singer (Male)
Best Playback Singer (Female)
Best Film Song
Best Music Director

Critics Awards (Film Music Category )
Best Lyrics
Best Sound Recordist
Best Music Arranger
Best Music Programmer
Best Playback Singer (Male)
Best Playback Singer (Female)
Best Film Song
Best Music Director
Legend Award

Pop Music Awards
Best New Voice
Best Lyrics
Best Singer (Male)
Best Singer (Female)
Best Pop Group
Best Song
Best Album