Ok guys everyone who is in the music industry in Barbados kicks up a fuss about the BMAs everyone wants one but my question is what happens after you get such a "prestigious award"? Do you get endorsement deals like an AMA or Grammy, increased bookings, increased gig fees? Are there any real benefits? I think that for the artists who honestly do this for a living they would know how to turn such an award into something lucrative....Lets take a look at the very familiar faces below who float about the music scene to see if these nominations have credibility or not ( p.s congratulations to all nominees - this note is simply to generate healthy discussion) If you look carefully you would notice that many of the categories have been removed.

The biggest winners of Barbados Music Awards when we really sit down and think about it will not be the musicians who turn up decked in designer gowns or suits to give a speech but the musicians who do what has been the foundation of any music industry across the world. The biggest winners will be the artists who can perform live on stage, command a large audience with their vocals & stage presence.

Take Hal Linton, Jaicko and Ayana John for instance. Last year, Ayana John left empty-handed after having been nominated for four awards ( I stand to be corrected). But she did perform. The following months led to her album release, ''Paper Chase,'' the single being one of the most songs downloaded from www.gotrhythm.com. Ayana has been booked for 98% of all top local shows featuring international artists and secured a place on tour as an opener with Tarrus Riley, from The Norva in Norfolk Va.,

Overall, if an artist has an album being nominated should see the performer's sales increased at least by 35% when compared with a 25 percent increase for winners.

I would like to know if any artist who has performed at the show or won an award has seen any increase in album sales.

At least in percentage terms, winning a BMA matters most to artist in esoteric or obscure genres because a sticker on the CD noting the award can set it apart for casual listeners. Take, for example, the Hal Linton - his management smartly marketed Hal as a BARBADOS MUSIC AWARD winner on his CD Caridac Arrest. I remember waiting on a flight at GAIA and browsing some cds when I saw Hal's as I flipped it over I saw a huge star at the back " BMA Winner & 8 time nominee" I smiled and bought the cd. Since these awards are televised, the winners of any of these categories should show substantial gains after winning.

As the standard of the show & sales grow, so should the number of awards being given; however, this year we have seen a reduction in categories. This leads to the question " where is the music?" People argue that the artists do not produce music all year round & this decision to cut categories could be a reflection of this.

Let's take a closer look at the BMA nominees for 2010

SOCA UP-TEMPO SINGLE ( Male)
Edwin Yearwood- In De Middle A De Road
Mikey - Rhythm Section
Timmy - Tim De Tool Man

SOCA MID-TEMPO SINGEL (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 Klay Sol

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
Toni Norville
TC
Natahlee

2010 BMA HONOUREES: Cornerstone Awards
Arturo Valentino
JoAnne Sealey
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