THE head jury for the 39th Muzik Muzik Semi-Finals (SFMM39), Edry Abdul Halim, 48, admitted that selecting the top 10 songs to compete in the 39th Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL39) was no easy task.
The final decision required a collective effort from the jury panel to ensure fairness and objectivity.
Edry acknowledged the subjectivity of music, emphasising the challenge of making impartial judgments.
"Music is subjective, and finding objectivity in something subjective is almost impossible. I advised the jury to set aside personal preferences and rely on expertise, not opinion. Sometimes, our thoughts become overly critical, which complicates the process," he told 'Berita Harian'.
He stressed that the selection was not based on individual opinions but was reflective of public feedback on the structure and melody of the songs.
"We've done our best to select songs worthy of competing in the finals," he stated at a press conference following the two-night SFMM39 held recently at Studio 1, Glenmarie in Shah Alam.
The 10 songs advancing to the AJL39 stage include 'Sengaja' (sung by Amir Masdi), 'Puas Sudah' (Aina Abdul), 'Saksama' (Akim & The Majistret), 'Pujaanku' (Kugiran Masdo featuring Aisyah Aziz) and 'Terus Bersinar' (Hafiz Suip).
The remaining inalist songs include 'Hening Rindu' (Marsha Milan), 'Aura' (Ernie Zakri), 'Diam' (Hael Husaini), 'Risiko' (Benzooloo, Ghidd, Isobahtos, Meerfly, Tuju & MK K-Clique) and 'Bukan Lagi Kita' (Nadeera Zaini).
The SFMM39 jury, which included prominent names like Datuk Mokhzani Ismail, Efry Arwis, LY, Helen Yap, and AD Samad, evaluated 30 songs based on melody and lyrics (80 per cent), with the remaining 20 per cent determined by live stage performance.
Edry explained that the selection considered each music genre — ballad, pop, and hip-hop — ensuring diverse representation.
"Ultimately, a great song is defined by its melody and lyrics. The scores were very close, with only a two to three per cent difference between qualifying and non-qualifying entries," he said.
He also highlighted that vocal strength played a significant role in advancing to the finals.
However, he acknowledged that some songs, like 'Risiko' and Kugiran Masdo's 'Pujaanku', relied more on their uniqueness than vocal complexity.
Addressing the lack of representation from Generation Z, Edry suggested creating new categories to accommodate simpler, trend-driven compositions.
"Generation Z's songs are often less competitive because they are simpler.
"If TV3 introduces a category for these songs, it might provide them a platform while maintaining the 10-song format for the main competition."
Edry remains optimistic about the evolving music landscape and said: "Every genre has room to compete, and we strive to ensure a level playing field."
The highly anticipated AJL39 will take place early next year at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
TV3 will announce the exact date during an upcoming press conference.