MUMBAI: ETC Channel Punjabi has announced the Punjabi Music Awards 2004 to honour excellence in the vibrant Punjabi music industry. The awards which will be held in Jalandhar will be anchored by witty firebrand Navjot Siddhu and Sunita and will be aired live on ETC Channel Punjabi and Alpha TV Punjabi on 21 February from 7.00 pm.

Through these annual awards, ETC Channel Punjabi is honoring outstanding achievements in Punjabi music in 24 different categories covering every aspect of the music industry from singing, writing, composing to choreography and music video direction.

The award categories are: Best Pop Vocalist (Male), Best Pop Vocalist (Female), Best Pop Album, Best Folk-Pop Singer, Best Folk- Pop Album, Best Video, Best Video Director, Best Duet Vocalist, Best Folk Singer (Male), Best Folk Singer (Female), Best Sufi Singer (Male), Best Sufi Singer (Female), Best Sufi Album, Best Religious Album, Best Comedy Album, Best Non Resident Indian Singer, Best International Punjabi Album, Best Debut (Male), Best Debut (Female), Best Music Director, Best Lyricist, Best Choreographer, Best Recording (Technical) and Life Time Achievement Award.

ETC Channel Punjabi presidentRabindra Narayan says, "Punjabi music is now a world wide rage. More Punjabi albums are released every month than any other language. More Punjabi singers go abroad to entertain the world with Punjabi music than any other language's singers. It is high time that the creators of this exquisite brand of music be honored with an award which has the respect of the entire industry."

Adds ETC Channel Punjabi VP programming Rajiee M Shinde, "ETC Channel Punjabi is the most popular Punjabi music channel in the industry. It is only fitting that we start this glorious tradition where every year we honor the very best in Punjabi music."