FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
who can submit?
Submissions are made by the ABGMA Executive, ABGMA Selection Committee, ABGMA Membership Academy Voting Members and other Industry Professionals. Artists, Producers, Record Labels...et cetera...,Radio Stations/Tv Stations, Radio Shows and Tv Shows in Antigua & Barbuda, the Caribbean Region and others parts of the world are open for consideration.
What is the submission period?
Submission period is January 1st 2025- April 30th 2026. This is the period in which Submissions will be accepted. You must become a member of the ABGMA Membership Academy in order to make submissions.
WHAT IS THE ELIGIBILITY PERIOD?
Eligibility Period: The Period between which a Music Recording or Music Video must be released and published on Digital and Streaming Platforms to be considered for Nomination.
HOW DO I BECOME A NOMINEE?
After the Submission Period is concluded each entry will be reviewed by the ABGMA Executive and Entry Verification Board. All Entry details will be checked and verified. The Top 10 in each Category will move into the First Ballot for Nomination Consideration. The next Round will be the Public Vote. Following, is the 2nd Ballot and the Voting Academy Members will Vote according to an established criteria. The Top 4-5 Official Nominees/Finalists or in some cases 6 with the highest voting averages will then be announced in September ( includes Island Groove Awards, Media Awards & Gospel Music Awards).
public voting
Yes. Persons who vote in the Public Voting Categories are allowed to vote more than once throughout voting period until 11:30pm AST (Atlantic Standard Time) on the day of the Deadline.
How is the winner decided?
The entry with the highest average of the ABGMA Selection Committee, Voting Members Academy and the Public Vote will be the Winner in each respective Category. In the event of a tie, each entry will receive the Award and ABGMA Certificate of Honour.
How are music categories judged?
Music Categories are Judged based on Performance, Production and Composition, Originality.
how are media categories judged?
Media Categories are Judged based on Creativity, Originality, Content Quality, Relevance, Social Appeal & Impact, Presentation, Production.
when are nominees announced?
All Nominees who advance to Round 2 will be notified via email. Official Nominees will be announced via a Live Streaming Broadcast on the So Arise TV platform on the proposed Nomination Day in September. (Check the website for the announced date). Following the broadcast each Nominee Poster with their Category Nomination will be posted on our Facebook & Instagram Pages.
what do you get when you win?
The Top Finalists in each Category will be announced on the ABGMA Platform and all Finalists will be notified via Email. Award Winners will be announced on the evening of the respective ABGMA Event. Each Winner will be given a physical Award and an ABGMA Certificate of Honour. If you are a winner of an ABGMA and you were not present at the Award Ceremony or did not send a representative, the Award can be mailed to you at your own expense. The ABGMA will make contact and further arrangements will be made to facilitate this. However, we do strongly encourage all Finalists and Nominees to attend in person.
does the abgma cover expenses for artists who would like to attend the awards?
No. Artist is responsible for Airfare/Accommodation of Artist/s and/or Representative/s desirous of attending the ABGMAs. Recommendations can be made however, in regards to finding a place to stay. Feel free to contact us for any more information. Nominees and Finalists attending the Awards will receive an All Access Pass to all ABGMA Events.
how is an artist ABLE TO PERFORM AT THE ABGMA
Performance Slots are selected by the ABGMA Committee from Nominees and other Artists of interest to the ABGMA to perform.
81 CATEGORIES
media award categories
- Best Radio Show – Entertainment
Recognizing a radio program that delivers top-tier entertainment content, engaging audiences with music, interviews, and dynamic discussions. - Best Radio Show – Inspirational
Honoring a radio program that uplifts and motivates listeners through faith-based, self-development, or empowering content. - Best Radio Show – Social
Awarding a radio show that highlights social issues, community initiatives, or cultural discussions that impact society. - Best Radio Show – Talk
Celebrating a talk radio program that fosters insightful discussions on various topics, featuring expert opinions and engaging conversations. - Best Radio Station
Recognizing an outstanding radio station that consistently delivers quality programming, excellent production, and strong audience engagement. - Radio Host of the Year
Honoring an exceptional radio host who captivates audiences with charisma, professionalism, and impactful storytelling. - Best TV Show – Entertainment
Awarding a television show that excels in delivering engaging entertainment, including music, film, comedy, or variety content. - Best TV Show – Talk
Recognizing a talk show that provides meaningful discussions, interviews, and thought-provoking content on television. - Best TV Show – Inspirational
Celebrating a television program that encourages, uplifts, and inspires viewers through motivational or faith-based content. - Best News Media
Honoring a media house that demonstrates excellence in delivering timely, accurate, and impactful news coverage. - Best Online News Media
Recognizing a digital news platform that provides credible, well-researched, and engaging news content online. - Best Journalist (News/Current Affairs)
Awarding a journalist who demonstrates excellence in reporting on news and current affairs with accuracy, depth, and integrity. - Best Sports Journalist
Honoring a journalist who delivers outstanding sports coverage, analysis, and reporting with expertise and enthusiasm. - Best Media Network
Recognizing a media network that showcases excellence in multiple media platforms, including TV, radio, and online. - Best TV Show Host
Celebrating a television host who delivers compelling content, engages audiences, and demonstrates exceptional on-screen presence. - Best Documentary/Short Film
Awarding an outstanding documentary or short film that educates, informs, or inspires through impactful storytelling. - Best Regional Media
Honoring a media entity that provides exceptional news, entertainment, or social coverage across the Caribbean region. - Best Editor (Radio/TV/News)
Recognizing an editor who demonstrates outstanding skill in curating, refining, and presenting media content across radio, TV, or news. - Best Investigative Reporter
Awarding a journalist who showcases excellence in investigative reporting, uncovering critical stories with depth and accuracy. - Best Digital Magazine
Celebrating a digital magazine that excels in editorial quality, design, and engaging content across multiple topics. - Best Technical Editor (Radio/TV/News)
Recognizing an editor with expertise in technical aspects of media production, ensuring high-quality audio, video, and news content. - Best Program Director (Radio/TV/News)
Honoring a program director who demonstrates exceptional leadership, innovation, and vision in media programming. - Best Cinematography (Short Film)
Awarded to a short film that demonstrates exceptional visual storytelling through camera work, lighting, framing, composition, and overall visual consistency. - Best Screenwriter (Short Film)
Honors a screenwriter whose short film script demonstrates originality, strong narrative structure, compelling dialogue, and clarity of storytelling. - Best Director (Short Film)
Recognizes a director who demonstrates strong creative vision and leadership in bringing a short film to life through performance, pacing, visual style, and storytelling. - Best Lead Actor/Actress (Short Film)
Awarded to a performer who delivers a compelling and authentic lead performance that effectively drives the story of a short film. - Best Supporting Actor/Actress (Short Film)
Honors a supporting performance that enhances the narrative through strong characterization, authenticity, and contribution to the overall story. - Best Social Media Influencer
Recognizes an individual who uses digital platforms to consistently create high-quality content, engage audiences authentically, and influence public conversation responsibly. - National Radio Station of the Year
Awarded to a national radio station that demonstrates excellence in programming, broadcast quality, audience engagement, and overall contribution to media and culture. - National Gospel Station of the Year
Honors a national gospel radio station that demonstrates excellence in faith-based programming, broadcast quality, community impact, and cultural relevance.
GLOBAL GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS CATEGORIES
- Best Reggae (Gospel)
Awarded to a gospel reggae recording that demonstrates strong songwriting, authentic reggae influence, vocal performance, and production excellence. - Best Soca (Gospel)
Recognizes a gospel soca song that successfully blends energetic rhythms with uplifting or faith-centered lyrical content, judged on performance and production quality. - Best Urban/R&B/Pop (Gospel)
Honoring a gospel recording that excels in contemporary urban, R&B, or pop styles, evaluated for originality, vocal delivery, and musical polish. - Best Afro Beat (Gospel)
Awarded to a gospel recording that effectively incorporates Afrobeat rhythms, cultural authenticity, and strong melodic and rhythmic structure. - Best Praise & Worship
Recognizes a song or recording designed for congregational or personal worship, judged on lyrical depth, musical arrangement, and spiritual atmosphere. - Best Contemporary Gospel
Awarded to a contemporary gospel recording that demonstrates modern sound, strong songwriting, and broad audience appeal without compromising message integrity. - Best House/Electric/Dance (Gospel)
Honoring a gospel recording that excels in electronic or dance-driven styles, evaluated for production quality, creativity, and musical coherence. - Best Hip-Hop (Gospel)
Recognizes a gospel hip-hop recording with strong lyrical content, flow, originality, and high production standards. - Best Dancehall (Gospel)
Awarded to a gospel dancehall track that demonstrates rhythmic command, cultural authenticity, lyrical clarity, and production excellence. - Best Collaboration/Group/Duo
Honoring a collaborative gospel recording or group whose combined performance demonstrates musical chemistry, balance, and artistic excellence. - Global Artist of the Year – Male
Recognizes a male gospel artist whose work shows exceptional artistic achievement, consistency, and international reach during the eligibility period. - Global Artist of the Year – Female
Honors a female gospel artist whose music demonstrates excellence, influence, and global impact within the eligibility period. - Best New Artist (Gospel)
Awarded to an emerging gospel artist who has made a significant artistic impact through originality, performance, and early career excellence. - Inspirational Song of the Year
Awarded to a song that uplifts and encourages listeners through strong lyrics, emotional resonance, and musical quality. - Song of the Year
Recognizes a gospel song that demonstrates outstanding songwriting, performance, and production, with notable cultural or audience impact. - Songwriter of the Year
Honoring a songwriter whose body of work reflects lyrical excellence, depth, originality, and consistency. - Song of the Decade
Awarded to a gospel song whose lasting influence, relevance, and excellence have stood the test of time. - Best Music Video
Recognizes a gospel music video that excels in visual storytelling, production quality, and alignment with the song’s message. - Best Music Video Director
Awarded to a director whose creative vision and execution elevate gospel music through exceptional visual media. - Best Lyric Video
Honors a lyric video that creatively and clearly presents song lyrics through strong visual design and audience engagement. - Album of the Year
Awarded to a gospel album that demonstrates artistic cohesion, strong production, songwriting excellence, and a unified creative vision. - Producer of the Year
Recognizes a producer whose work reflects exceptional sound quality, creativity, and consistency across multiple gospel recordings. - Spoken Word/Poetry
Honors excellence in spoken word or poetic expression that conveys faith-based or inspirational messages through powerful delivery and writing. - Best Gospelyso
Recognizes a gospel recording that authentically blends calypso rhythms with faith-centered lyrical content and musical excellence. - Best Global Latin Performance (Gospel)
Awarded to a gospel recording that excels in Latin musical styles, judged on cultural authenticity, performance, and production quality. - Regional Artist of the Decade
Honors a gospel artist whose work has demonstrated sustained excellence, influence, and contribution within the Caribbean region over ten years. - Global Artist of the Decade
Recognizes a gospel artist whose career has shown exceptional longevity, global reach, and lasting impact over the past decade.
island groove AWARDS CATEGORIES
1. Best Groovy Soca
Awarded to a groovy soca recording that demonstrates excellence in rhythm, melody, vocal performance, and production, while maintaining broad audience appeal and cultural authenticity.
2. Best Ragga Soca (Fusion of Reggae/Soca)
Recognizes a recording that skillfully fuses reggae and soca elements, judged on originality, musical balance, rhythmic integrity, and cohesive production.
3. Best Reggae
Honors a reggae recording that reflects strong songwriting, authentic reggae influence, vocal delivery, and meaningful lyrical content.
4. Best Dancehall
Awarded to a dancehall track that demonstrates commanding lyrical presence, rhythmic precision, production quality, and cultural relevance.
5. Best Calypso Traditional
Recognizes a traditional calypso recording that upholds classic calypso structure, storytelling, social commentary, and musical authenticity.
6. Best Calypso Contemporary
Awarded to a contemporary calypso recording that modernizes the genre while preserving its lyrical intelligence, cultural relevance, and musical discipline.
7. Best Folk/Patriotic Song
Honors a song that powerfully represents Antiguan and Barbudan heritage, history, or national identity through strong composition, lyrics, and emotional resonance.
8. Best Alternative/Soul/Jazz/R&B
Recognizes excellence in non-traditional or cross-genre recordings, judged on originality, musicianship, vocal performance, and artistic depth.
9. Best Composer (Soca)
Awarded to a composer for outstanding musical composition in soca, based on melody, arrangement, harmonic structure, and rhythmic sophistication.
10. Best Composer (Calypso)
Honors excellence in calypso composition, emphasizing melodic construction, musical arrangement, and respect for calypso traditions.
11. Best Composer (Reggae)
Recognizes a composer whose reggae work demonstrates strong musical structure, melodic clarity, and authentic genre execution.
12. Best Songwriter
Awarded to a songwriter whose body of work shows lyrical excellence, clarity of message, originality, and emotional or cultural impact.
13. Best Producer
Honors a producer whose work reflects high production standards, sonic clarity, creative direction, and consistency across recordings.
14. Song of the Year
Awarded to a song that demonstrates outstanding songwriting, performance, and production, and that achieved significant cultural or audience impact.
15. Artist of the Year
Recognizes an artist who has shown exceptional artistic achievement, consistency, growth, and influence within the local music industry during the eligibility period.
16. Best New Artist
Awarded to an emerging artist who has made a notable impact through originality, artistic potential, and strong debut recordings.
17. Best Music Video
Honors a music video that excels in visual storytelling, creative direction, production quality, and alignment with the music.
18. Best Lyric Video
Recognizes a lyric video that creatively presents lyrics with strong visual execution, clarity, and artistic presentation.
19. Best Music Video Director
Awarded to a director whose vision, storytelling ability, and technical execution result in exceptional music video productions.
20. Album of the Year
Honors an album that demonstrates artistic cohesion, musical excellence, strong production, and a unified creative vision.
21. Best Cover Art (Album/Single/EP)
Recognizes excellence in visual design and artistic expression that enhances the identity and presentation of the music.
22. Best Calypso Christmas Song Composer
Awarded to a composer for excellence in crafting a calypso Christmas song that reflects festive spirit, cultural tradition, and strong musical composition.
23. Best Contemporary Christmas Song Composer
Honors a composer who creates a modern Christmas song with originality, musical quality, and broad audience appeal.
24. Best Hip-Hop
Recognizes a hip-hop recording that demonstrates lyrical strength, originality, rhythmic command, and high production standards.
Awarded to a groovy soca recording that demonstrates excellence in rhythm, melody, vocal performance, and production, while maintaining broad audience appeal and cultural authenticity.
2. Best Ragga Soca (Fusion of Reggae/Soca)
Recognizes a recording that skillfully fuses reggae and soca elements, judged on originality, musical balance, rhythmic integrity, and cohesive production.
3. Best Reggae
Honors a reggae recording that reflects strong songwriting, authentic reggae influence, vocal delivery, and meaningful lyrical content.
4. Best Dancehall
Awarded to a dancehall track that demonstrates commanding lyrical presence, rhythmic precision, production quality, and cultural relevance.
5. Best Calypso Traditional
Recognizes a traditional calypso recording that upholds classic calypso structure, storytelling, social commentary, and musical authenticity.
6. Best Calypso Contemporary
Awarded to a contemporary calypso recording that modernizes the genre while preserving its lyrical intelligence, cultural relevance, and musical discipline.
7. Best Folk/Patriotic Song
Honors a song that powerfully represents Antiguan and Barbudan heritage, history, or national identity through strong composition, lyrics, and emotional resonance.
8. Best Alternative/Soul/Jazz/R&B
Recognizes excellence in non-traditional or cross-genre recordings, judged on originality, musicianship, vocal performance, and artistic depth.
9. Best Composer (Soca)
Awarded to a composer for outstanding musical composition in soca, based on melody, arrangement, harmonic structure, and rhythmic sophistication.
10. Best Composer (Calypso)
Honors excellence in calypso composition, emphasizing melodic construction, musical arrangement, and respect for calypso traditions.
11. Best Composer (Reggae)
Recognizes a composer whose reggae work demonstrates strong musical structure, melodic clarity, and authentic genre execution.
12. Best Songwriter
Awarded to a songwriter whose body of work shows lyrical excellence, clarity of message, originality, and emotional or cultural impact.
13. Best Producer
Honors a producer whose work reflects high production standards, sonic clarity, creative direction, and consistency across recordings.
14. Song of the Year
Awarded to a song that demonstrates outstanding songwriting, performance, and production, and that achieved significant cultural or audience impact.
15. Artist of the Year
Recognizes an artist who has shown exceptional artistic achievement, consistency, growth, and influence within the local music industry during the eligibility period.
16. Best New Artist
Awarded to an emerging artist who has made a notable impact through originality, artistic potential, and strong debut recordings.
17. Best Music Video
Honors a music video that excels in visual storytelling, creative direction, production quality, and alignment with the music.
18. Best Lyric Video
Recognizes a lyric video that creatively presents lyrics with strong visual execution, clarity, and artistic presentation.
19. Best Music Video Director
Awarded to a director whose vision, storytelling ability, and technical execution result in exceptional music video productions.
20. Album of the Year
Honors an album that demonstrates artistic cohesion, musical excellence, strong production, and a unified creative vision.
21. Best Cover Art (Album/Single/EP)
Recognizes excellence in visual design and artistic expression that enhances the identity and presentation of the music.
22. Best Calypso Christmas Song Composer
Awarded to a composer for excellence in crafting a calypso Christmas song that reflects festive spirit, cultural tradition, and strong musical composition.
23. Best Contemporary Christmas Song Composer
Honors a composer who creates a modern Christmas song with originality, musical quality, and broad audience appeal.
24. Best Hip-Hop
Recognizes a hip-hop recording that demonstrates lyrical strength, originality, rhythmic command, and high production standards.