One of Jamaica’s most anticipated music industry celebrations is getting a major facelift ahead of its September return, as organizer Kennedy Mensah expands the event to recognize more standout talent from across the global music scene. When Mensah touches down in Jamaica this September for his third iteration of the annual awards gathering, the event will bear a new name, occupy a larger purpose-built venue, and feature an expanded format that incorporates international certification programs.
Formerly branded the Grammy Certificate Ceremony, the event has been rebranded as the Music In Excellence Ceremony to reflect its broader scope of honoring musical achievement across markets. Scheduled to take place on September 15 at the spacious Courtleigh Auditorium in central New Kingston, the ceremony leaves behind its long-time previous Kingston home at the nearby Audi Showroom, a change driven by steady growth in the event’s size and ambitions.
What sets this year’s event apart from previous stagings held in Kingston, South Florida and London is a new collaborative partnership between Mensah’s Back 2 Da Future Music Limited and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). For the first time, the ceremony will present BPI-certified platinum, gold and silver discs alongside traditional Grammy certificates, honoring the work of Jamaican and international artistes, producers and session musicians who have achieved major commercial success on British music markets. Returning as a partner for the second consecutive year is The Royalty Network Inc, a leading New York-based music publishing firm that supports independent and established creators worldwide.
In an exclusive interview with Jamaica Observer Online, London-born organizer Mensah, who has Ghanaian heritage, outlined the changes coming to this year’s ceremony. A total of 25 creators will walk away with either a Grammy Certificate or a BCI-certified disc this year, a significant milestone for the fast-growing event. “The ceremony has grown and we needed a dedicated space that would allow us to have a live band. Unfortunately, growing pains means that we have had to find a purpose-built venue to accommodate our expanding programming,” Mensah explained of the venue shift.
The last iteration of the ceremony, held under its original name in South Florida this past January, honored a roster of iconic Caribbean talent including esteemed musician Robert Browne, celebrated singer and multi-instrumentalist Gramps Morgan, Grammy-winning reggae group Morgan Heritage, and influential dancehall singer Wayne Wonder. Mensah founded Back 2 Da Future Music Limited in 2005, and launched the inaugural Grammy Certificate Ceremony in South Florida in July 2024, which paid tribute to legendary guitarist Rad Bryan, best known for his work with iconic reggae bands The Revolutionaries and The Maytals.