Med student invests in awards show - Says Jamaican creatives not given enough credit
Published:Thursday | January 14, 2021 | 12:11 AM
“Help give reggae and dancehall artistes a bigger international platform,” is the cry of Trishana Fearon, a former Miss England 2020 Wildcard, who has launched her Reggae Dancehall Awards (RDAwards).
Establishing an internationally recognised awards show will be her biggest investment, she said, and “it will be beneficial, not only to the music industry but entertainment on a whole”.
Fearon added, “I have gone above and beyond with four years of planning and researching to create an awarding body for Jamaican entertainment that will help them show the world that being a third-world country does not mean you can’t have the same success as the first world.”
Not Enough Credit
A second-generation Jamaican born and raised in London, Fearon says that reggae and dancehall artistes, dancers, producers and directors are not given enough credit for their contribution to global culture.
“It is a known fact that once a recording artiste or producer is even nominated for a prestigious award, such as the MOBO or BRIT Awards, they are ranked high, which makes them more sought after than others who are not, and they usually have higher prices for bookings,” she told THE STAR recently. “I grew up watching my uncle, Professor Nuts, travel to the UK to perform. While people adore him, I don’t think he gets paid what British acts would. Our Jamaican artistes are given the recognition but are not frequently awarded or rewarded for their hard work despite being part of an influential body of creatives who draw the crowd.”
An ardent supporter of reggae and dancehall, Fearon shared that even as she completes her studies in medicine, she is determined to make an impact on the local entertainment industry. “I have a deep interest in entertainment because I see the passion our creatives put into their craft. After attending and being involved in several events in the UK that highlight our culture, I have all the positive reasons and abilities to provide a well-needed platform as well as an award with substance, meaning, and a higher ranking than any other award show on the island, with the help of the industry and my team,” she said.
The RDAwards comprises 20 categories, including Producer of the Year, Best Single, Dancer of the Year, and Best New Artiste. There are two additional awards, The Artiste Lifetime Achievement Award and Producer Lifetime Achievement Award, for a personality who has contributed five or more years to the growth of the industry and paved the way for others.
The award ceremony is scheduled for May 8 in the UK.