Marketing Director of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), June Isaacs, is imploring the music industry to recognise and support the awards handed out annually by the organisation.
“Despite all that is being said, the fact is that within our local music industry we do have an awards show and we are asking for the support of the industry. The JaRIA Awards has been staged consistently since 2009, but we, unfortunately, don’t get that embrace that is needed from the industry,” Isaacs told The Gleaner.
JaRIA is promising a high-quality and engaging show with musical tributes arranged by Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper, Ewan Simpson, Alex Martin Blanken, Everol ‘StingWray’ Wray and Dean Fraser, at its annual Honour Awards event on Easter Sunday, April 17, starting at 3 p.m.
The package will include performances by Dean Fraser, Deon Silvera, Hector ‘Roots’ Lewis, Jah Lil, Knixx Taylor, Irie Kreshna, StingWray, Nickette Morgan-Williams, and Steven Golding, with the full musical support of the JaRIA JamRock Orchestra.
Just like last year, the awards will be presented in a predominantly virtual format on JaRIA’s online platforms, as well as other digital platforms, including Reggaeville, On Stage TV, PBC Jamaica, and One Drop Media.
“The announcement for the re-opening came too late for us to go in-person this year,” Isaacs explained. “But, we want our industry to come out in their numbers and support us next year, when we are planning to do it bigger and better. We want to see our artistes walking the red carpet. Too often, they either don’t show up or when they do, some of them are just too causally dressed. Of course, there are those who show up like they are going to the Grammys and we appreciate that. But, generally speaking, we want to see some effort, style and freshness . This is our thing and we need to acknowledge it and respect it.”
JaRIA will be honouring 26 industry stalwarts and icons in 16 categories. The awards selection committee had the final say in all categories, except Song of the Year and Breakthrough Artiste of the Year, both of which are decided by public votes. The winners will be announced on the night of the awards.
“I am really excited at how the voting progressed in both categories,” Isaacs shared, but declined to say anything further.
Nominations for Song of the Year are Go Down Deh by Spice, Shaggy and Sean Paul; Ambition by Yaksta ; West Indies by Koffee; Dirt Bounce by Laa Lee; Run by Shenseea; and Virgin by Jah Vinci. Nominees for Breakthrough Artiste of the Year are Yaksta, Joby Jay, Skillibeng, Moyann, Nation Boss and D’Yani.
At the launch in February, it was announced that in celebration of Jamaica’s 60th year of Independence, a Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Award had been introduced. Jamaica’s National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey, national icons Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley and Louise Bennett-Coverley are the recipients.
The event will also feature hosting appearances by specially selected frontline workers, farmers, entertainers, educators and transportation workers.
The principal sponsor of this year’s awards is the CHASE Fund, while the VM Group is the presenting sponsor for Breakthrough Artiste of the Year, as a part of its year-long partnership with JaRIA.