Victoires de la musique 2024: a velvet revolution

“For several years now, I have been hearing a little music that is not very favorable regarding the way in which the Victories take place. We whistled it ourselves. Reproaches of lack of diversity, Parisianism, small arrangements between friends.... I particularly like this ceremony and it's everything I don't want to be, which is why we decided to proceed with a redesign.” Vincent Frèrebeau, founder of the label Tôt ou tard, already twice president of the Victoires de la Musique association, returned to this role with reforming ambitions. Among the areas of development, the voting academy. Until then made up of 800 people - 600 members of the music industry and 200 of the public - it has once again become exclusively professional and expanded, with a rebalancing in favor of live performances. They were asked to vote for their three favorite artists - works in each category. On arrival, 10 preselected instead of 8.

“The Victoires have really become one of the highlights of the sector, allowing artists to be discovered. Many experienced a change after performing at this ceremony, whether they won or not. When the stakes are so important for producers, and I am one of them, we do everything we can to be in the photo!” continues Vincent Frèrebeau. To “break” this bad dynamic, another major change, the rights holders were excluded from the second round. It is now a jury of 32 personalities: 16 broadcasters, 8 people from the live entertainment industry, 8 artists who are not in the running. The song of the year category remains subject to a third round where the public vote is solicited via trailers on France Télévisions.

Under the aegis of Zazie, honorary president, Zaho de Sagazan makes a strong entry into the family with five deserved and expected nominations: female revelation, stage revelation, best album, best original song (La Symphonie des éclairs), best audiovisual creation. Revival comes through rap. A major musical genre in France whose under-representation has often been regretted, it has seven nominations, a record: Meryl (female revelation and stage revelation), Gazo (male artist alongside Vianney and Etienne Daho in particular), Josman (best album - J.000.$), Damso (concert of the year with “QALF Tour”), Bigflo

The Victoires de la Musique are also changing face. After Laury Thilleman, for three years, the duo Léa Salamé-Cyril Féraud co-hosts the 39th edition of the ceremony live from La Seine musicale, on France 2. Despite her busy schedule, the journalist did not hesitate: “This corresponds to my progress in recent months. I take more pleasure in telling the story of the era through intellectuals, artists, than just through the prism of politicians. We have lived through difficult months and years, with crises, wars, inflation, and, more than ever, music soothes, unites, engages.”