Ali Zafar feels AI and data analysis can help make award shows more transparent and accurate

Zafar has shared his two cents after several female musicians called out the LSAs over biased nominations

Ever since the Lux Style Awards announced nominations for its upcoming celebration, it has been drawing criticism from female artists from around the country. The music category disappointed women singers and musicians, since the list comprised only men from the fraternity despite there being significant work from female artists this year.

After several female musicians joined Meesha Shafi and called out the famous award, the LSAs extended the date of submission. Now, singer Ali Zafar has shared his two cents on the matter. "My very humble and constructive advice to LSA and other award functions," he tweeted. "To avoid controversies in awards and nominations. Use modern means of data and Artificial Intelligence analysis to determine which piece of art in different departments appealed to the aesthetic of those that it was made for."

My very humble and constructive advice to #LSA and other award functions.
To avoid controversies in awards and nominations. Use modern means of data and AI analysis to determine which piece of art in different departments appealed to the aesthetic of those that it was made for.

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) October 28, 2022

He went on to add, "The concept of a jury deciding on behalf of a people may not be considered that authentic or relevant in the modern world with the availability of simple/ accurate data analysis. Humans are limited by bias, artists by personal taste, critics by subjectivity, celebs by ego etc."

The concept of a jury deciding on behalf of a people may not be considered that authentic or relevant in the modern world with the availability of simple/ accurate data analysis. Humans are limited by bias, artists by personal taste, critics by subjectivity, celebs by ego etc.

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) October 28, 2022

Zafar then shared that he feels so because "these award shows are important to keep art and culture vibrant in our society and brands have played a very vital role in supporting this." Zafar penned, "The dynamics of “who and how to honour” should not make the whole process controversial. The best is to separate."

I say this because I feel these award shows are important to keep art and culture vibrant in our society and brands have played a very vital role in supporting this. The dynamics of “who and how to honour” should not make the whole process controversial. Best is to separate.

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) October 28, 2022

Vouching for new talent, he said, "Also give new, young and enterprising creative directors and artists etc to producer, direct, create. Involve them. Youngsters will always have new fresh ideas. And they are looking for a chance to prove themselves."

Also give new, young and enterprising creative directors and artists etc to producer, direct, create. Involve them. Youngsters will always have new fresh ideas. And they are looking for a chance to prove themselves. #youth

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) October 28, 2022

The most important thing is to ENJOY the process. Art and creativity must thrive without restrain."

The most important thing is to ENJOY the process. Art and creativity must thrive without restrain.

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) October 28, 2022

The ruckus

The official account of LSAs released a statement this week on Instagram which read, “The Lux Style Awards have a rich legacy as Pakistan’s premier and inclusive award show. Since its inception, LSA has honoured the diverse talent across entertainment industries, striving for continued excellence in the quality of the platform and the experience of our fans.”

It further boasted about how the award show aims to evolve its processes and strengthen its transparency this year. Hence, they made the decision to announce all submissions as received on their website for consumers to vote. The submissions were aimed at artists to submit their best work but, the statement claimed, not even a single female artist submitted their work in the given time frame, which is why they were not nominated.

The statement then continued to acknowledge that there was a “gap” in the nomination list this year, however, through no fault of their own. “As an inclusive platform, we realise this gap and regret that the music categories did not reflect the remarkable efforts of our female artists. We have witnessed the undeniable contribution of our female artists to the music industry in the past year and feel that without their inclusion, the music categories cannot truly encompass Pakistan’s best world in the field,” it read.

Expressing gratitude for the female artists of the industry that highlighted the gap and addressed it, the LSA said that they have chosen to make an “exception” to extend the deadline for “submissions for female, male or transgender artists across categories.” They wrote, “As a brand committed to empowering female artists across genres, we encourage our brilliant female musicians who have entertained us through the year to submit their entries for consideration.”

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