Barbados Music Awards are on this Sunday

Something special is happening on January 10th, this Sunday in fact. It is an event that is now celebrating its fifth glorious year: The Barbados Music Awards.
The Sir Garfield Sobers Wildey Gymnasium, which has become home to the awards show over the last few years, will again open its doors to all the glitz and glamour of any other international awards show as celebrities, local and international, grace its halls along with patrons who have been waiting with great anticipation, for the event’s arrival.
Why so much hype you may ask?
Well, not only will international singing sensation Fantasia be gracing the stage for the first time, but local internationally signed artists such as Jaicko and Livvi Franc will also be giving the ‘what for’, as they jam their tracks to what is sure to be an appreciative audience. The exceptional vocals of continuous rising star Ria Borman, incredible talent of 13-year-old Cherish Breedy, Dwayne Husbands and hip hop artiste Ruby Tech, will also be heard as will well-known veteran artistes such as Edwin Yearwood, Natahlee, TC and Queen of Soca Allison Hinds.

Speaking of royalty, with a music show such as this, who could ever forget the late, great King of Pop, Michael Jackson? Even the BMA’s website pays tribute to the unforgettable King. To top it all off, one of the greatest honours at the BMAs, the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, will be presented to Jackson’s father, Joseph Jackson.

Jackson will receive on behalf of his late son who will also be awarded the International Icon Award in recognition of his “historic and stellar contribution to the global music industry,” this, according to a press release by the force behind the event’s success, Timeless Entertainment Inc.

The ‘Turning Music Into Gold’ seminar which will be held the day before the awards on January 9th at the Hilton Barbados Hotel, will also feature the “Patriarch of the first royal family of music,” Jospeh Jackson as its keynote speaker. With decades of experience and success after success with regard to his children’s careers, those involved with the various areas of music should strive to be a part of this workshop, which is sure to be an enlightening and informative experience. This is the man who was the creator and manager of the ‘Jackson 5’ and who managed Michael Jackson through his ‘Thriller’ album, which set the world record for most albums ever sold. You definitely do not want to miss it!

Another highlight of Sunday night will be bringing it on home to the delightful Shontelle Layne, who in just one year after releasing her debut album ‘Shontelligence’, is already reaping the successes with RIAA Platinum Certification (for sales of 1 million units in the USA) for her lead single ‘T-Shirt’. As such, it is only fitting that she be awarded for this feat and the BMA organisers are doing just that.
Shontelle will be awarded the BMA Platinum Award at this the 5th anniversary gala, for outstanding record sales during the period of October 2008-September 2009. This will be a special award added to her already multiple BMAs for the veteran of this particular stage, having performed for three consecutive years at the show.

Shontelle has also reaped success with her follow-ups ‘Battle Cry’ and ‘Stuck With Each Other’ featuring  star Akon. She is now ranked as Barbados’ second best-selling female of all time!

If you weren’t already, you should be getting excited right about now, because if that wasn’t enough, there’s still the nominations to think about. With everything from Best Male and Female Music Video, Best New Artist and Songwriter of the Year in the mix, you need to come out and see if any of your favourite artists made the top spots this time round. Don’t forget, there’s also going to be the coveted award, ‘Album of the Year’ and with such good music coming out of Barbados, there’s no telling who any of the winners are going to be.

Remember, you must dress to impress at the awards show, this is a huge event and dress code should be respected and adhered to. Come on, do you really want to meet your favourite artistes in jeans and t-shirts?

For any who have never attended, this show is a definite must, as the greats in Barbadian vocal talent all gather on one stage, to perform along with some of international music’s hottest stars. How could you even for a moment want to miss it?

Here is the list of the nominees for the 2010 BMAs. Some are new to the scene, while others are no strangers to this prestigious awards show. As for international stars, they are also pinpointed for awards this year, as has become expected.

Peruse carefully, pick your favourites and be sure to support your stars even if you can’t attend on the night, by visiting their websites and cheering them on!


Soca Up-Tempo Single

Edwin Yearwood – In De Middle A De Road

Mikey – Rhythm Section

Timmy – Tim De Tool Man


Soca Mid-Tempo Single (Male)

Blood – Back It Up

Mikey – I In Dat

RPB – Something’s Happening


Soca Mid- Tempo Single (Female)

Alison Hinds – Chocolate and Vanilla

Natahlee – What We Do

TC – Hot Sun and Rhythm


Best Social Commentary

John King – My Caribbean

RPB – Home Drums

Sheldon Hope – Last Days


Best Collaboration

Alison Hinds ; Richie Spice – King and Queen

Ayana John ; Elephant Man – Pose

Kirk Brown, Justin King & Tejay – Shawty Get Low


Song of the Year

Edwin Yearwood – In De Middle A De Road

RPB – Something’s Happening

Shontelle – Battle Cry


Album of the Year (Artist / Group)

Ayana John – Ayana John

Krosfyah – Kings of the Groove

Shontelle – Shontelligence


Album of the Year (Compilation)

Monsta Piece – AWOL

Tone Deaf Studios – Chaos

Various – Soca Tite Choonz


Producer of the Year

Anderson “Blood” Armstrong

KB Sharp

Peter Coppin


Songwriter of the Year

Edwin Yearwood

Mr. Dale

RPB


Backing Vocalist of the Year

Indra Rudder

Lisa Howell

Ria Borman


Instrumentalist of the Year

Darien Bailey

James Lovell

John Roett


Best Music Video (Male)

Jaicko- Oh Yeah

Kirk Brown feat. Justin King & Tejay- Shawty Get Low

Philip 7 – Looking For


Best Music Video (Female)

Livvi Franc – Now I’m That Chick

Shontelle – Battle Cry

Tarah – Push Back / Love De Carnival


Best New Artist

Cherish Breedy

Ria Borman

Sir Ruel


Reggae Artist of the Year

Buggy

Kirk Brown

Hotta Flames


Jazz Artist of the Year

Kellie CaDogan

Rosemary Phillips

Black Clay Soil


Gospel Artist of the Year

Mya Daniel

Sheldon Hope

Toni Norville


Soca Artist of the Year

TC

RPB

Edwin Yearwood

Pop/Rock/Alternative Artist of the Year


Philip 7

Kite

Rihanna


Rap/Hip- Hop Artist of the Year

Trezay

Nitro

Ruby Tech


Soul/R&B Artist of the Year

Shontelle

Jaicko

Ayana John


Band/Group of the Year

Krosfyah

Strategy

Fully Loaded


Entertainer of the Year (Male)

Edwin Yearwood

Kirk Brown

RPB

Blood

Buggy


Entertainer of the Year (Female)

Alison Hinds

Shontelle

Rihanna

Ayana John

TC


Song of the Decade

Rupee – Tempted To Touch

Edwin and Khiomal – Sak Passe

Biggie Irie – Nah Going Home

Alison Hinds – Roll

Rihanna – Umbrella


Band/Group of the Decade

Krosfyah

Strategy

Massala

Fully Loaded

The Merrymen


Entertainer of the Decade (Male)

Edwin Yearwood

RPB

Rupee

Anderson “Blood” Armstrong

L’il Rick


Entertainer of the Decade (Female)

Alison Hinds

Rihanna

Edwin Yearwood


Pop/Rock/Alternative Artist of the Year

Philip 7

Kite

Rihanna


Rap/Hip- Hop Artist of the Year

Trezay

Nitro

Ruby Tech



Soul/R&B Artist of the Year

Shontelle

Jaicko

Ayana John


Band/Group of the Year

Krosfyah

Strategy

Fully Loaded


Entertainer of the Year (Male)

Edwin Yearwood

Kirk Brown

RPB

Blood

Buggy


Entertainer of the Year (Female)

Alison Hinds

Shontelle

Rihanna

Ayana John

TC


Song of the Decade

Rupee – Tempted To Touch

Edwin and Khiomal – Sak Passe

Biggie Irie – Nah Going Home

Alison Hinds – Roll

Rihanna – Umbrella


Band/Group of the Decade

Krosfyah

Strategy

Massala

Fully Loaded

The Merrymen


Entertainer of the Decade (Male)

Edwin Yearwood

RPB

Rupee

Anderson “Blood” Armstrong

L’il Rick


Entertainer of the Decade (Female)

Alison Hinds

Rihanna

Toni Norville

TC

Natahlee


2010 BMA Honourees

Cornerstone Awards

Arturo Valentino

JoAnne Sealy

Andrea Gollop- Greenidge

ANTHONY BRYAN

Natahlee

Herring

Biggie Irie

John Sealy

John Roett

Tony Thompson


Lifetime Achievement Award

Tony Hoyos

Living Legend

Marvo Manning

BMA Award of Excellence

Terencia “TC” Coward


BMA Platinum Award

Shontelle – (Shontelligence, T-Shirt)



International Award of Excellence

Toni Braxton

Fantasia Barrino


International Lifetime Achievement Award (In Memoriam)

Michael Jackson