Idols judge promises fresher Sama format

Idols judge Randall Abrahams is the new CEO of the SA Music Awards and has already begun getting "his hands dirty".

Abrahams, who completed his duties as a judge on the seventh season of Idols two weeks ago, had began prepping for the 18th annual awards, scheduled for May, by the time the M-Net competition entered its final weeks.

The Times reported last month that former CEO Jandre Louw had got the boot .

Operations director David du Plessis had said Louw's replacement was "a well-known person too".

But Abrahams' appointment was unexpected.

The former YFM and Good Hope FM station manager - who has also headed the SABC's commercial radio division - said yesterday: "It's been great so far. It's not really for me to discuss last year's Samas. I'm taking over and I'm looking ahead."

He has already revealed that he would like the number of categories reduced, and more stage performances during the live broadcast of the ceremony.

All proposals are still being "debated and negotiated", and details are expected to be made known after the "bureaucracy" of town hall meetings this weekend.

"We are broadcasting a TV show and need to focus as much attention on performances as on the people winning awards," said Abrahams. "We have an audience to cater to."

The new job will not affect his job as Idols judge.

The awards are likely to return to the Sun City Superbowl after being moved to Montecasino, Johannesburg, this year to make them more accessible to fans.

The Johannesburg awards were a disaster. The winners took too long to reach the stage because of bad seating arrangements - and there were complaints of pickpockets.

Du Plessis said: "There are many skills that are required to fill the function of Samas' CEO, so it's not like there is a wide range of people to do the job.

"[Abrahams] is in many ways a natural choice, with his background and knowledge of music, and the management skills he's acquired along the years."