Sampa The Great is the first-ever BET Amplified global artist, leads NLMAs

Sampa The Great is having a massive month.

The two-time Australian Music Prize-winning artist has scored special VIP treatment across BET’s network of channels around the world and, on Tuesday (8th September), emerged as the pace-setter for the 2020 National Live Music Awards.

BET and BET International, the ViacomCBS-owned pay television channel targeting African American audiences, has named Sampa as the very first BET Amplified global artist, the broadcaster’s stamp of approval for “the next big thing in music.” 

With that, BET is investing a month-long campaign for Sampa to introduce her to its followers globally, across linear and digital programming from BET Jams, BET Her, BET Soul, BET International channels and more.

Watch Sampa The Great’s ‘Final Form’:

Currently, the Amplified homepage is splashed with click-through images of Sampa as the artist for the month of September.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, BET Amplified artists are selected for their “unique sound,” social media presence, and projected impact on the music and entertainment world.

In selecting Sampa as its first global Amplified star, the BET team “sought to identify a groundbreaking artist with transcontinental appeal and expand to reach audiences around the world,” the company said in a statement.

BET Amplified kicked off in January as a multi-tiered campaign in the United States that “identifies and elevates stars on the rise,” with the likes of Pink Sweat$, Masego, Snoh Aalegra, Rema, Dani Leigh and Chika getting an early push.

Sampa is the first to get the global treatment.

Watch Sampa The Great’s ‘Black August’ (live):

Born in Zambia-born, raised in Botswana and now based in Melbourne, Sampa has enjoyed a stellar start to her career.

She’s the only artist in the 15-year history of the AMP to take the top honour twice. Sampa first won the prize in 2018 for her mixtape Birds And The BEE9, and again in March of this year for her debut full-length LP The Return.

In November 2019, she scooped the ARIA Award for Best Hip-Hop Release, becoming the first woman to win the category.

Watch Sampa The Great win Best Hip Hop Release at the 2019 ARIA Awards:

There’s potentially more silverware to come.

Sampa bags a leading three nominations for the 2020 NLMAs, announced Tuesday.

She’s up for Live Act of the Year, Live Voice of the Year and Best Live Act in VIC, and there’s an individual nomination for her collaborator Silentjay.

The NLMAs will be streamed globally via its partners Dailymotion on 20th October, on the eve of BIGSOUND 2020.

Also, a special invite-only, socially distanced event will take place simultaneously at The Triffid in Brisbane, with live performances and special presentations yet to be announced.

Votes can be cast at nlmas.com.au/vote until 24th September.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.