NASSAU, Bahamas. The Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards will celebrate its 10th Anniversary during the 2006 Marlin Weekend scheduled for July 20-23rd in Nassau, Bahamas. The Executive Board has announced that there are a number of special events and activities being planned to commemorate this entertainment milestone. The weekend will kick off with the Marlin Global Gospel Music Summit on Thursday July 20 and will end with the hosting of the 8th Annual Marlin Awards on Sunday July 23rd. There are a number of events and activities that are planned in between. Caribbean gospel artists from around the world as well as industry professionals including radio announcers, promoters, retailers and media executives are all planning to attend this important networking and historic weekend. The Marlin Global Gospel Music Summit, which replaces the Oasis Music Conference in name but not in vision or in format will jump start the weekend with a general session on Thursday evening (July 20th) and will continue the next morning Friday July 21st with informative music workshops and seminars and end with a special Industry Luncheon that will feature a guest speaker. The 2nd Caribbean Gospel Marlin Fest - the concert version of the Marlin Awards-takes place on Friday evening July 21st at the Diplomat Center. Many of the top names in Caribbean Gospel are once again expected to take center stage at this highly anticipated event. On Saturday evening July 22nd the Marlin Awards will team up with Creative Soul Entertainment, one of the regions newest labels to host a special artist showcase concert and party that will feature many of the artists the label has successfully distributed albums for including Monty G, Sherwin Gardner, Mr.Lynx, Landlord, Talbert Williams, Lion of Judah and dancehall duo Avalanchee. The event will also feature special performances by some of the top names in dancehall, reggae and hip/hop gospel. The Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards-the music industry’s premier Caribbean Gospel music event-will take place on Sunday July 23rd at the world famous Diplomat Center in Nassau, Bahamas. Awards will be distributed in more than forty-five categories including the prestigious Song and Album of the Year awards. There are over one hundred recorded submissions from more than ninety artists representing some eighteen countries including the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Dominica, Guyana (South America), Haiti, Jamaica, London England, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Tortolla BVI, St.Lucia as well as St.Croix and St.Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. There are seven industry professionals representing seven countries who will once again serve as judges to determine nominees as well as winners for this year’s awards. "Unlike with most music awards where nominations and winners are determined by mail out ballots, nominees and subsequent winners are skillfully selected by a panel of carefully chosen industry professionals representing seven countries. This process though intense allows for all submissions to be given equal opportunity as each album or single is listened to, categorized and then professionally considered for a nomination and ultimately for a Marlin Award," according to awards President Kevin Harris. As with past awards, judges are comprised of recording artists, songwriters, producers, engineers and radio announcers. The Marlin Awards was founded and launched in March 1996 by Kevin Harris, a recording artist, radio announcer and gospel music executive. Since its inception the awards have grown from solely a Bahamian based award to an integrated Caribbean Gospel awards and is a globally recognized entertainment property as a leader in the area of Caribbean Gospel promotions. Marlin Week 2006 is being produced by Harris Communications and will be taped for rebroadcast in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United States, Canada and in Europe. The awards will also be broadcast live via radio on several regional and US based radio stations. For additional information interested persons can contact Harris Communications at 242-325-1615 / 242-325-1616 (Fax) / 877-610-8671 (toll free) or via email at marlinawards@gmail.com. |