The
REGGAE ACADEMY
has been established through the initiative
of the Recording Industry Association of
Jamaica (RIAJam) with a view to creating
necessary infrastructure for the planning
and presentation of the REGGAE ACADEMY
AWARDS, an annual
recording industry award catering to the
Jamaican and international Reggae music
communities.
The Academy is conceived in
recognition of the need to create an award
event to recognize and celebrate excellence
in the work of creative and technical
persons in the local and international
Reggae music communities such as producers,
songwriters, vocalists, engineers and music
video directors. Annual membership to the
Academy is secured by way of application and
the payment of dues and is open to Jamaican
as well as foreign nationals.
Membership is divided into two categories:
VOTING MEMBERS: professionals with creative or technical
credits on four commercially released tracks
or music videos. These may include
vocalists, musicians, producers, arrangers,
engineers and other fields directly related
to the creative or technical process of
producing recordings.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: creative or technical professionals who do
not have enough credits to qualify as voting
members. This category also includes persons
who work in fields directly related to the
recording industry such as executive
producers, publishers, attorneys, record
label staff, artist managers, DJs, music
media personalities, music students and
music merchants.
In order to carry out its mandate to
represent the international Reggae music
community the REGGAE ACADEMY will establish chapters in Jamaica,
North America and Europe. In addition to the
work of recognizing the best in Reggae music
through the REGGAE ACADEMY AWARDS, the Academy will
expand its goals with a view to establishing
itself as a music advocacy and outreach
organization.
The RIAJam has secured the
initial funding for the establishment and
running of the REGGAE ACADEMY, but contributions
towards further development are always
welcomed. The RIAJam will also work closely
with REGGAE ACADEMY to provide necessary management
support and will collaborate in the
implementation of special skills development
and awareness building programmes for
members.
Copyright 2006/8. Recording
Industry Association of Jamaica. All Rights Reserved.