The 29th IRWM Awards were held at the York College Performing Arts Center, Jamaica NY on May 2nd.
The United Reggae backed HELP Jamaica! Charity unfortunately did not win a prize losing out to the equally deserving good cause run by Shaggy and Friends - Save a Life (Jamaica).

It must have been quite along ceremony with 42 categories in total to hand out, but I’m sure that at least Queen Ifrika didn’t mind as she came out the biggest winner scooping 4 awards. These included Recording Artist of the Year and Most Educational Entertainer. Roy `Gramps` Morgan and Soca star Machel Montano also had a successful night winning three awards each. Pick of the awards for these two must have been Best Song for Gramps with ‘Wash Away the Tears’ while Machel received Most Outstanding Show Band. Veteran Reggae star Freddie McGregor was duly named Most Consistent Entertainer which is some going for a man who has been in the business some 40 years.
Unluckiest person of the night had to be Tarrus Riley, who despite being nominated for six awards only won in the Best Male Vocalist category.

Full list of all this years winners :

1. Entertainer of the Year – Machel Montano
2. Recording Artist of the Year – Queen Ifrika
3. Best Male Vocalist – Tarrus Riley
4. Best Female Vocalist - Alison Hinds
5. Best Song – 'Wash Away the Tears' - Gramps Morgan
6. Best CD – 'Awake' - Julian Marley
7. Best Crossover Song – 'Theraphy' – Gramps Morgan
8. Best Gospel Song – 'Help' Omari
9. Best Female D.J./Rapper – Queen Ifrika
10. Best Male D.J./Rapper – Elephant Man
11. Best New Entertainer – Gramps Morgan
12. Best Calyso/Soca Entertainer- Machel Montano
13. Best Reggaeton Ent. – Pit Bull
14. Best Latin Entertainer- Enrique Iglesias
15. Best Compas Ent. – Kryol La
16. Best African Ent. – Samini
17. Best Soukous Ent.- Awilo Longomba
18. Best Hip Hop/R&B Ent.- Jamie Foxx
19. Outstanding Contribution to World Music – Mamadou Diabte
20. Most Outstanding Stage Personality – Beenie Man
21. Best Music Video– 'So Fine' - Sean Paul
22. Best Poet- Mutabaruka
23. Most Educational Entertainer – Queen Ifrika
24. Most Outstanding Show Band– Machel Montano & HD
25. Most Consistent Ent. – Freddie McGregor
26. Most Promising Entertainer – Barbee
27. Most Improved Entertainer – Winsome Benjamin
28. Best Instrumentalist – Dean Fraser
29. Best Backing Band – New Kingston
30. Most Popular Selector/Sound – One Love Hi Powa
31. Concert of the Year –- Rebel Salute
32. Promoter of the Year – Sumfest
33. Producer of the Year – Donovan Bennett
34. Songwriter of the Year – Queen Ifrika
35. Award for Spiritual Service Through Music – Capleton
36. Community Service Award – Shaggy & Friends
37. Most Outstanding Dance Group - Dancerz Blvd
38. Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award - Wyclef Jean, Rev Al Sharpton
39. Int’l Reggae & World Music Hall of Fame/Lifetime Inductee - Tony Ryan, Jack Scorpio, Noel Williams (King Sporty), Tony Green
40. Martin’s International/Inter-Culture Award of Honor - India.Arie, Matisyahu
41. Special Producer’s “Respect” Award - Rennie Cogle
42. Awards of Appreciation for Contributions to the Music Industry - Trevor Forde, Ron Muschette, Donovan Longmore, Ricot Dupuy