Dominica Music Awards 2025: Full List of Finalists Announced Ahead of January 2026 Show
By Semaj Bernard
The Dominica Music Awards have officially announced the finalists for their 2025 edition, spotlighting the artists, bands, producers, and creatives shaping the island’s evolving sound ahead of the January 3, 2026 awards ceremony.
The heartbeat of Dominican music is set to echo louder than ever as the finalists for the Dominica Music Awards (DMAs) 2025 were officially unveiled earlier today during a press conference hosted by Creole Heartbeat.
The announcement builds anticipation for the highly anticipated awards ceremony, scheduled for January 3rd, 2026, at the InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa. Now in its second edition, the Dominica Music Awards return during a milestone year, marking five years of Creole Heartbeat’s commitment to preserving, promoting, and elevating Dominican music and culture.
After an extensive and highly scrutinized nomination and voting process, finalists were confirmed across 24 categories, reflecting the diversity, innovation, and global reach of Dominica’s music industry.
Speaking at the press conference, Leroy “Wadix” Charles, Cultural Ambassador and CEO of Creole Heartbeat, emphasized the significance of reviving the awards during what he described as a defining era for Dominican music.
“In this fifth anniversary, we wanted to do something special for the musicians, the artists, and everyone who has taken Dominica’s name far and wide,” Charles said.
“The last 18 months have seen possibly the most successful period since the days of Cadence Lypso and the early days of Bouyon.”
His remarks underscored a growing momentum within the industry, with Dominican artists gaining wider regional and international recognition across genres such as Bouyon, Cadence Lypso, Reggae, Gospel, Soca, and Kompa.
Jerry Williams, partner at Creole Heartbeat and organizer of the 2025 DMAs outlined the careful validation process that ensured credibility and fairness.
He addressed the realities of managing a competitive awards process in a passionate creative community. He acknowledged that while the nomination period generated excitement, it also brought disappointment from some artists who did not advance.
“This venture was not an easy task,” Williams shared, noting that categories were adjusted in response to feedback.
“For those who didn’t make the final cut, this is your opportunity to come bigger and better for the next entertainment season.”
Williams clarified that the awards are currently in the finalist determination phase, which serves only to confirm the official finalists.
“Winners are not selected at this stage,” he explained. “Judges are not yet scoring to determine winners. This phase exists solely to validate and endorse finalists before the final judging stage.”
The DMAs operate on a 60 percent public vote and 40 percent judges’ scoring system. During this stage, only public votes are applied, while judges verify eligibility, ranking accuracy, and compliance with DMA rules. Judges’ scores will be introduced only in the final phase.
All eligible work submitted falls within the period of March 5, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
According to Williams, a total of 10,212 raw submissions were received across all categories. After a rigorous validation process, including duplicate control, IP and email verification, and standardization of nominee names, the final count stood at 6,272 legitimate voters.
“This reduction reflects duplicate control, not voter suppression,” Williams emphasized. “The same rules were applied uniformly across all 24 categories.”
Final winners will be determined by the highest combined score out of 100 points.
In addition to competitive categories, the press conference also revealed recipients of several prestigious honorary awards, celebrating individuals whose contributions have shaped Dominican music over decades.
Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include:
Ophelia Marie (Cadence Lypso), Nasio Fontaine (Reggae), Jerry Lloyd (Gospel), Keith Goddard (Bouyon), David Benjamin (Traditional), Fitzroy Williams (Cadence Lypso), and Ian Jackson (Calypso and Songwriting).
The Felix Henderson Award will be presented to Sonia Magloire Akpa, while the Iconic Award goes to producer Krishna “Dada” Lawrence.
Dominica Music Awards 2025 – Official Finalists
Photographer/Videographer of the Year
Ambo Visuals
MediaLinx
Millseye Vision
Live Sound Engineer of the Year
Cornell Phillip
Sean Shillingford
Kellson Charles
Cadence Lypso Artist of the Year
Ridge & Chubby
AbiYah Yisrael
Supadan HD
Male Artist of the Year
Shelly
Mr Ridge
Trilla G
Asa Bantan
Pudaz
Female Artist of the Year
Carlyn XP
Bouyon Barbie Faithii
Ebony Empress
AbiYah Yisrael
Joy
Junior Male Artist of the Year
Mighty T
De Reverend
King Ziah
Junior Female Artist of the Year
Moxy Shervy
Queen Melody
Allysa
Social Media Influencer/Content Creator of the Year
Jael Joseph
Jodie Dublin Dangleben
Duraney Durand
Aarmani Augustine
Shy Guy
Rising Artist/Band of the Year
Nice
Trixx
Bouyon Barbie Faithii
Riddim Knockers Band
Real Reel
Trixz Migos
Gospel Artist of the Year
Janae Jackson
Champion Rolle
Blessing Jno Baptiste
Nyel Grove
J Cro
Shanics
Soca Song of the Year
Zamoni, Mr Benji & Pahjo
Shalina
Supadan HD
Band of the Year
Midnight Groovers
TK International
Signal Band
Manager of the Year
More Sewo (Arturo Bellot) – Mr Ridge, Pudaz, Paris
Tridel Edwin – Reo OK Boom, Trilla G
Jerlani Robinson – Signal Band
Calypso Artist of the Year
Dice
Joy
Shanice
Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year
Dynamiq
AbiYah Yisrael
Colton T
Producer of the Year
Arade “Maskman” Moses
Tha Wizzard
Andel “Fre3ze” Horsford
DJ Taffy (Riddim Beast)
Litle Boy
Cross D Bridge Studio
Songwriter of the Year
Litle Boy
Trilla G
Shelly Alfred
Collaboration of the Year
Mr Ridge & Problem Child – FYM
TrixZ Migos & Hussey – What She Like
Reo, Kenny G & Faithii – IKY
Shelly, Nice & Signal Band – Stronger
Trilla G, Skinny Fabulous & Shelly – RAGS
Quan, Litle Boy & Trilla G – Someone Else
Music Video of the Year
Signal Band – Bye to the Old Me
Reo OK Boom – IKY
Trilla G – Take Me As I Am
Colton T – Foreplay
Album of the Year
Pudaz – No Time For Rubbish
Colton T – All I Need Is Love
Shelly & Signal Band – The Electric Room
Kompa & Zouk Artist of the Year
Marie Pascale
Supadan HD
Extasy Band
Promoter of the Year
Danjah Dane Entertainment – Independence & Carnival Gopwell
Infinite Entertainment – Amp’d, Rize & Whine
Fantasy Tribe – Fantasy Fitness Fusion, Band Launch & Lumination
Asa Bantan – Breakfast Fete
DJ of the Year
DJ MJ
DJ Sleem
Unstoppable Shax
Bouyon Artist of the Year
Asa Bantan
Trilla G
Mr Ridge
Shelly
Pudaz
