WITH the curtains down on Reggae Month, Charles Campbell — executive director of Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) — is satisfied with this year’s staging.

“Well, there’s always room for improvement. But for this year, our signature events came good… Reggae Wednesdays, Reggae Praise, and certainly, the awards show. The important thing is the feedback from our audiences has been good and so, it gives us the strength to go forward into next year,” he said.

Campbell was speaking with the Jamaica Observer at JaRIA’s Honour Awards held at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston, on Saturday. The ceremony, the last in the Reggae Month series, saw 21 entertainment personalities/groups being honoured for their contribution to the reggae industry.

This year’s recipients comprise Pat and Vincent Chin, owners of VP Records; Major Joe Williams for mentorship; producers Lloyd ‘King Jammys’ James and Winston ‘Niney’ Holness; and engineers Karl Pitterson and Overton ‘Scientist’ Brown. British disc jock David Rodigan; sound systems Downbeat The Ruler and Youthman Promotion. Annual stage show Sting was also included.

Guitarists Mikey ‘Boo’ Richards and Errol ‘Flabba’ Holt; singers BB Seaton, Ernie Smith and Millie Small; The Gaylads, Inner Circle, and deejays Cleve ‘Stitchie’ Laing and Tyrone ‘Papa San’ Thompson also made this year’s cut.

The event also saw Ibo Mahr’s Diamond Sox receive Song of the Year, and Jesse Royal was named Breakthrough Artiste.

Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew played host to the gospel-inspired Reggae Praise, which was held on the first Tuesday in February, as well as Reggae Wednesdays, which featured themed nights. There were also JaRIA Live on Tuesdays and several symposiums on various aspects of the music.

“Over the last six years, we have been creating a template; what you saw this year is a blueprint going forward,” he said.

Campbell said going forward, there will be the inclusion of international acts.

“You will see a lot of foreign acts coming in for Tuesday nights, which was our intention always that we would introduce the international acts who wanted to come and be part of Reggae Month,” he added.