As controversy continues surrounding the recent Grammy Awards, particularly the winner in the Best Reggae Album category, at least one music connoisseur believes it’s high time local industry players start supporting their own award ceremonies.

Having delivered on its promise of producing a Jamaican-based entertainment awards show with nominations and voting open to the public, the Marketplace Entertainment Centre for the Arts (MECA) staged its inaugural MECA Awards in 2022.

The most recent staging of the awards concluded on Tuesday night with trophies being handed out for Male Artiste of the Year, Breakout Artiste of the Year, Comedian of the Year, Festival/Concert of the Year, and more.

According to chief executive officer of MECA, Michael Dawson, while the Grammy Awards is seen as a coveted international music prize for many Jamaican artistes, local awards ceremonies must begin to take pride of place among key stakeholders.

“Should we not have an award that reflects the will of the people based on what they like,” he questioned. “That’s the exact reason I started the MECA Awards. I think the time of corporate interests and gatekeepers determining who gets honoured is over in the age of the Internet.”

“MECA Awards was designed so that only the people vote, and I think it is time for local artistes to acknowledge these voters in these local awards and not just some people on a board in a foreign country who had nothing to do with your career,” Dawson continued.

Not downplaying the prestige or global importance of the Grammy Awards, Dawson said he understands why the golden gramophone is a desired trophy for Jamaica artistes, especially those competing on the world stage. Still, he believes local awards lack the support they ought to pull.

“Getting a Grammy is factored in getting a work permit in some jurisdictions, so I get the importance. And It is an internationally recognised award, so I can see why it is important for our artistes performing and earning on a global level to want one,” he said. “But, for me, I am a Garveyite. I built MECA on Garveyite principles, so I will always rate my Jamaican-established award over anything else. Again, that is a personal view. All I want is for there to be support for local awards. I think the international community will respect and recognise an artiste who is respected and revered in their home country, which is the birthplace of reggae and dancehall.”

“Show love to those who love you,” he continued. “Yes, get the Grammy for business purposes but also make your local fans who built you feel like they matter just like some guy in California who may not even understand a word in your song,” Dawson continued. “It’s a matter of respect and appreciation.”