Caribbean Music Awards

Caribbean Music Awards
Awarded forachievements in Caribbean music and culture
Venue
Presented byCaribbean Elite Group
First awardAugust 31, 2023
Websitecaribmusicawards.com
Television/radio coverage
NetworkBET (2025)

The Caribbean Music Awards are an annual awards ceremony presented by the Caribbean Elite group. Between 2023 and 2025, they were held at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York. In 2026, they are scheduled to be held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago. The ceremony recognizes artists from a range of Caribbean music genres.

History

A Caribbean Music Awards show was held throughout the 1990s, primarily in the Apollo Theater in Harlem.[1][2][3] By 1999, the show had ended.[4]

A new Caribbean Music Awards show was held for the first time on August 31, 2023, at the Kings Theater, in Brooklyn, New York.[5][6] Co-founded by Dane Taylor, Monique Blake, and Prince Forde, it is produced by the Caribbean Elite Group.[7][8][9] The awards seek to showcase the full spectrum of Caribbean music, including music that is not typically recognized in mainstream music awards ceremonies.[7][1] Blake stated: "Usually, our artists have to squeeze into one category. We wanted to help change that."[7]

From 2023 to 2025, the awards show was held at the Kings Theater, in Flatbush, a Brooklyn neighborhood with a significant Caribbean population.[10][7] It occurred a few days before the West Indian Day Parade.[5][11][12] In 2026, they are scheduled to be held at the National Academy for Performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago.[13]

At least 40 categories are awarded, including a Lifetime Achievement Award and awards recognizing artists in genres such as reggae, calypso, soca, konpa, zouk, and dancehall.[14][15] According to their website, awards are determined in a multi-stage process that includes public voting, industry data, and an advisory board.[16]

Ceremonies

2023

The first edition was held on August 31, 2023, and hosted by Wyclef Jean.[5][6] Twenty six categories were awarded.[7] Kes, who received the most nominations, won the People's Choice Award.[7][17][18] Machel Montano was given a Lifetime Achievement Award and Male Soca Artist of the Year.[19][6] Nikki Minaj won dancehall/reggae collaboration of the year for “Likkle Miss” which she made with Skeng.[6] The ceremony was live streamed on YouTube.[7] After the ceremony, chutney soca artists Ravi B and KI Persad called for the organizers to recognize their genre in a future ceremony.[18][20][21]

2024

The show awarded more than 40 categories, adding new categories to recognize genres like chutney soca and bouyon.[20][11][8] Dexta Daps was the most nominated, having been nominated for 8 awards;[22] he won Dancehall performer of the year.[8] Skinny Fabulous won Male Soca Artist of the Year and two awards for "Come Home", a song he recorded with Nailah Blackman.[10][23] Marcia Griffiths was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement award, while Cedella Marley received a Legacy Award.[8][12] Ravi B was recognized with an award for chutney music.[20] The ceremony was live streamed on YouTube[8] and hosted by Spice and Majah Hype.[24][8][12]

2025

About 150 artists were nominated in more than 40 categories.[9] Dancehall artists Masicka and Shenseea won the most nominations[22][25] as well as the most awards.[26][27] For the third year in a row, Patrice Roberts won Female Soca Artist of the Year.[26] Busta Rhymes was recognized as Elite Icon for "his remarkable ability to blend his Caribbean heritage with mainstream hip-hop".[25] The new Zess Steam Artist of the Year award was given to Lady Lava.[28][29] For the first time, the ceremony was broadcast on TV, two weeks afterwards on BET.[15][27] It was hosted by Majah Hype.[26]

At the ceremony, Kranium was mistakenly awarded Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year. The organizers told him a week later that the award actually belonged to Dexta Daps. In response, he threw away the trophy and criticized the organizers on social media.[30][31][32]

2026

More than 250 artists were nominated in more than 40 different categories. Lady Lava received 9 nominations, the most of any nominee.[33][34] The ceremony will take place at the National Academy for Performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago and will be hosted by Nailah Blackman and Majah Hype.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 Campbell, Nigel (2025-03-01). "Caribbean Grammy glory | Panorama". Caribbean Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  2. ↑ "STARS TO LIGHT UP MUSIC AWARDS SHOW". New York Daily News. 1995-03-26. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  3. ↑ "Caribbean Music Awards". Associated Press. 1995-04-07.
  4. ↑ "REGGAE AWARDS SET FOR GARDEN". New York Daily News. 1999-03-30. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  5. 1 2 3 "First-ever Caribbean Music Awards held at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre". CBS News. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Grein, Paul (2023-09-03). "Nicki Minaj a Winner at Inaugural Caribbean Music Awards (Full Winners List)". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Noel, Melissa (2023-08-30). "Here's What You Don't Want To Miss At The First Caribbean Music Awards". Essence. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grein, Paul (2024-09-01). "Marcia Griffiths & Cedella Marley Receive Honorary Awards at 2024 Caribbean Music Awards: See Complete Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  9. 1 2 Corrine, Amber (2025-04-11). "Caribbean Music Awards 2025 Announces Nominees: Vybz Kartel, Shenseea, And More". VIBE. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  10. 1 2 Bennett, Jessica (2024-08-30). "Dexta Daps Charms As Skinny Fabulous Wins Big At 2024 Caribbean Music Awards". VIBE. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  11. 1 2 "Soca Music: Dominating the Caribbean Music Awards". The Soca Records. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  12. 1 2 3 "2024 Caribbean Music Awards take over Kings Theatre". NBC New York. 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  13. 1 2 Denis, Kyle (2026-08-11). "Shyne, Patra, Calypso Rose & Alan Cavé Among Special Honorees at 2026 Caribbean Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  14. ↑ "Wyclef Jean to host Caribbean Music Awards in New York". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  15. 1 2 Denis, Kyle (2025-09-13). "Machel Montano & Ayetian Make Surprise Appearance at 2025 Caribbean Music Awards: 6 Best Moments". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  16. ↑ "Caribbean Music Awards 2026 Official Voting Rules" (PDF). Caribbean Music Awards.
  17. ↑ "Friday, September 8, 2023". Jamaica Observer. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  18. 1 2 Webb, Yvonne (2023-09-03). "Ravi B wants Chutney Soca recognition at Caribbean Music Awards". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  19. ↑ Ramnarine, Kristy (2023-08-07). "Machel to be honoured at Caribbean Music Awards". Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  20. 1 2 3 Mondezie, Michael (2024-09-05). "Ravi B wins chutney soca's first CMA". Trinidad Express Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  21. ↑ "Brooklyn's Kings Theater hosts historic, inaugural Caribbean Music Awards". Caribbean Life. 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  22. 1 2 Bennett, Jessica (2024-05-30). "Shenseea, Spice, Beenie Man And More Earn 2024 Caribbean Music Award Nominations". Vibe.
  23. ↑ Doughty, Melissa (2024-08-31). "Trini artistes honoured at Caribbean Music Awards". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  24. ↑ "Majah Hype: The king of Caribbean comedy". PIX11. 2024-08-29. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  25. 1 2 "Busta Rhymes to receive Elite Icon honour at 2025 Caribbean Music Awards". Jamaica Observer. 2025-08-14. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  26. 1 2 3 Denis, Kyle (2025-09-13). "Snubs & Surprises at 2025 Caribbean Music Awards: Chronic Law, Bunji Garlin & Jada Kingdom Shut Out". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  27. 1 2 Wedaga, Mizpah (2025-09-25). "Caribbean Music Awards 2025: Full Winners Revealed". Soca News. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  28. ↑ Denis, Kyle (2025-09-13). "Every 2025 Caribbean Music Awards Performance, Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  29. ↑ Dowrich, Laura (2026-01-01). "The new faces of soca | Panorama". Caribbean Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  30. ↑ Grizzle, Shereita (2025-09-18). "CMAs organisers, Kranium at loggerheads". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  31. ↑ Mills, Claude (2025-09-17). "Kranium Dumps Caribbean Music Awards Trophy In The Trash, Organizers Admit 'Human Error' Caused Mix-Up". DancehallMag. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  32. ↑ "Kranium calls out 'biggest violation ever' after Caribbean Music Awards blunder". Caribbean National Weekly. 2025-09-17. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  33. ↑ Denis, Kyle (2026-06-10). "2026 Caribbean Music Awards Nominees: Lady Lava, Machel Montano, Ayetian & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  34. ↑ Osman, Radeya (2026-06-19). "Lady Lava leads Caribbean Music Awards nominations". Soca News. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
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