Mavado, Beres, Elephant Man, Etana, Queen Ifrica & Mr. Vegas Top the List of Nominees

The IRAWMA nominations reveal dancehall deejay Mavado leading with a nod in eight categories, Beres Hammond and Elephant Man each with seven nominations, Etana and Queen Ifrica grabbing five nods, followed by Mr. Vegas with four nominations. Other nominees include Shaggy, Machel Montano, Morgan Heritage, Duane Stephenson, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Ziggy Marley, Wyclef Jean, Serani, Jazmine Sullivan, Luciano, Tony Rebel, Tarrus Riley and Stitchie, among others.

Ephraim Martin, president of Martin's International & Associates and producer of the annual IRAWMA's, says that some 30 countries in the Soviet Union and about 45 countries in Africa are just a fraction of the many places and media outlets that tune in to the IRAWMA's each year. Voice of America (VOA), the official external radio and television broadcasting service of the United States federal government, keeps a log of the winners each year.

The 28th IRAWMA's takes place on Sunday, May 3, 2009, starting at 6:00pm for VIP ticket holders, and 7:30pm for general admission. This year the ceremony will be held at the state-of-the-art York College Performing Arts Center, located at 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, NY. 

Tickets for the made-for-television celebration are now on sale at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000, and from IRAWMA at 877-9-REGGAE, and also from the York College Performing Arts Center's box office at 718-262-2840.  Advance VIP tickets are $150 and general admission tickets $75, with more at the door. Tickets are also available from selected sponsors' locations (see below).

For a limited time, now thru April 10, special $44 tickets in honor of the 44th US President, Barack Obama, will be available only thru 877-9-REGGAE (877-973-44230).

Tickets are also available from these sponsors' locations:

MANHATTAN

The NBC Store
666 5th Avenue

Macy's Stores

J & R. Music

f.y.e. Records

QUEENS

York College Performing Arts Center
Box Office: 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.
718-262-3750

VP RECORDS
170-21 Jamaica Avenue
 718-297-5802

Golden Krust Bakery
271-19 Union Turnpike
718-347-3065

BROOKLYN

Keeling Records & Video
1342 St. Johns Place
718-778-9470

Dennis Shipping
1124-28 Utica Avenue
718-451-3617

BRONX

Dennis Shipping
4354 White Plains Road
718-231-6200

f.y.e. Records

          

LONG ISLAND

Sam's Caribbean Market Place
www.SAMS24-7.com (buy online)
43-D Main Street
516-481-6602


CONNECTICUT

TriFold Graphic & Printing
1436 Barnum Ave.,Stratford
203-870-4103

Metric Bar & Grill
49 Cannon Street, Bridgeport
203-576-6903

NEW JERSEY

Macy's Stores

f.y.e. Records