Inside the caribbean music awards that took over trinidad
The Caribbean music industry landed in Trinidad and Tobago for a few days turning Port-of-Spain into an arena for fashion, industry conversations, networking, performances, and celebration.
dancehall queen PATRA AMONG CARIBBEAN MUSIC ICONS HONORED
Dancehall icon, Patra on the red carpet at the CMAs Photo: Jerome McClean
The AWARDS recognized some of Caribbean music’s biggest cultural architects.
Icons including Patra, Calypso Rose, Alan Cavé, Kes, and Shyne were honoured alongside a new generation of Trinidad and Tobago talent, including Lady Lava, Full Blown, Yung Bredda, and Freetown Collective.
The island that has long been at the heart of soca, calypso, and steelpan became the setting for the Caribbean Music Awards (CMAs),
Many of the region’s biggest names, emerging voices and industry tastemakers came together for an event that felt as much about the legacy of Caribbean music, as its future.
DJ Honey Colada & Jimmy October at the CMAs Welcome Reception Photo: Jerome McClean
The multi-day takeover moved seamlessly between industry and party, with music business panels, a welcome reception, the awards ceremony and gala, and a special steelpan concert.
The CMAs produced a heavy-hitting programme for a region whose musical influence continues to strike far beyond its shores.
live performances gave audiences a taste of what’s next
Patra performs at the Caribbean Music Awards
The CMA stage brought together performances including Grenada jab artist Lil Kerry, reggae star Jah Mason and dancehall icon Patra, whose hit song “Queen of the Pack” held the charts for 30 straight weeks.
Breakout soca star Mela Caribe added a sweet Trinidadian pulse, turning heads with the crowd favourite “Lost in Trinbago.”
Mela Caribe Photo: W. Bess
Mela, whose music publishing is represented by Soundline Music Caribbean, is part of a rising generation of Caribbean artists building careers that extend beyond the stage, writing for major soca acts like Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts while developing her own voice, catalogue and presence as a serious artist with global ambitions.
The CMAs represented the continuum of Caribbean music and the legends who established the foundation for the artists now redefining its next chapter.
LEGACY MEETS MOMENTUM
The most compelling thread running through the CMA experience 2026 in Trinidad is legacy meeting momentum.
From the icons who have carried Caribbean music across generations to the emerging voices positioning the culture for its next global moment, the CMA’s offered a glimpse of a region whose influence shows the very clearest signs of a major powerful force.
THE WORK OF A CARIBBEAN MUSIC PUBLISHER
That trajectory in the Caribbean music space makes the work of music publishers like Soundline Music Caribbean increasingly important.
Ensuring that as Caribbean music travels further, the creators behind it are properly represented, their rights protected, and their work positioned to generate value for generations to come.
Melanie Jones Powell aka DJ Honey Colada, Founder - Soundline Music Caribbean