PRESTIGIOUS HAITIAN MUSIC AWARDS (PHMA)
2027 AWARD CATEGORIES, DESCRIPTIONS & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
1. CONCERT EVENT OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding concert event of the eligibility period, based on artistic quality, production, organization, audience engagement, attendance, and overall impact.
Eligibility:
The event must have taken place during the established eligibility period and must be a ticketed or professionally organized concert. Consideration may include production quality, attendance, artist lineup, promotion, audience experience, and overall success.
2. DJ OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes a DJ who has demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity, consistency, and influence in promoting Haitian music and culture.
Eligibility:
Nominees must have been active as a DJ during the eligibility period and must demonstrate significant performances, events, mixes, programming, or other professional contributions to Haitian music.
3. EP OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding extended-play music project released during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The project must contain 3–6 songs and have a total duration of approximately 15–30 minutes.
4. FEMALE BACKGROUND VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
(KONPA BANDS ONLY)
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding female background vocalist whose vocal performance contributes significantly to the sound, live performance, and success of a Konpa band.
Eligibility:
The nominee must perform as a female background vocalist with a Konpa band during the eligibility period. Evaluation may include vocal quality, stage presence, consistency, professionalism, and contribution to the band’s performances.
5. GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding Haitian Gospel artist whose music, performances, and ministry have made a significant impact during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The artist must have released or performed Gospel music during the eligibility period and demonstrate significant artistic activity, performances, recordings, or audience impact.
6. HAITIAN-AMERICAN WRITER OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding Haitian-American writer whose literary, creative, journalistic, or cultural work has made a significant contribution during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
Nominees must be Haitian-American writers with published, produced, or publicly recognized work during the eligibility period. Eligible work may include books, articles, screenwriting, journalism, poetry, or other significant written contributions.
7. HAITIAN-CANADIAN BAND OF THE YEAR
(MONTREAL)
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding Haitian-Canadian band based in or primarily active in Montreal.
Eligibility:
The band must be active during the eligibility period and demonstrate significant performances, recordings, releases, or contributions to the Haitian-Canadian music community in Montreal.
8. HAITIAN-CANADIAN FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(MONTREAL)
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding Haitian-Canadian female artist based in or primarily active in Montreal.
Eligibility:
The artist must have demonstrated significant musical activity during the eligibility period, including recordings, releases, performances, or other professional contributions.
9. HAITIAN-CANADIAN MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(MONTREAL)
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding Haitian-Canadian male artist based in or primarily active in Montreal.
Eligibility:
The artist must have demonstrated significant musical activity during the eligibility period through recordings, releases, performances, or other professional contributions.
10. HAITIAN COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes a Haitian comedian who has demonstrated outstanding creativity, entertainment value, originality, and audience impact.
Eligibility:
Nominees must have been actively performing or creating comedy during the eligibility period. Eligible work may include live performances, television, film, digital platforms, social media, or other professional comedy projects.
11. HAITIAN INSTAGRAM INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes a Haitian Instagram creator or influencer who has demonstrated exceptional creativity, engagement, influence, and contribution to Haitian culture and entertainment.
Eligibility:
Nominees must maintain an active Instagram presence and demonstrate meaningful audience engagement and consistent content production during the eligibility period.
12. INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes a non-Haitian artist whose work, collaborations, performances, or influence has made a significant contribution to Haitian music or culture.
Eligibility:
The nominee must have demonstrated significant involvement with Haitian music, Haitian artists, Haitian audiences, or Haitian cultural projects during the eligibility period.
13. KONPA ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding Konpa album released during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The project must contain at least 7 songs and have a minimum duration of 30 minutes. At least 50% of the songs must be Konpa.
14. KONPA ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the outstanding artist performing Konpa music during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The artist must have released or performed at least 3 Konpa songs during the eligibility period and demonstrate significant artistic activity and impact.
15. KONPA BAND OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding Konpa band based on musical performance, consistency, professionalism, creativity, and overall impact.
Eligibility:
The band must have been active during the eligibility period and demonstrate significant performances, recordings, releases, or other professional activities.
16. KONPA MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes outstanding artistic and production achievement in a Konpa music video.
Eligibility:
The music video must accompany a Konpa song released during the eligibility period. Consideration may include direction, cinematography, storytelling, creativity, editing, production quality, and artistic vision.
17. LIVE KONPA MUSIC OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding live Konpa musical performance or live Konpa production.
Eligibility:
The performance must have taken place during the eligibility period and demonstrate exceptional musicianship, live arrangement, stage performance, sound quality, and audience engagement.
18. MUSIC COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes an exceptional musical collaboration between two or more artists.
Eligibility:
The recording must feature at least two artists who make meaningful vocal or musical contributions. Artists from the same musical group may be considered only when the collaboration meets the established PHMA criteria.
19. MUSIC OF THE YEAR – KONPA
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding Konpa song released during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The song must be classified as Konpa and must have been officially released during the established eligibility period.
20. PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – ARTIST
Category Description:
Recognizes an artist’s outstanding live performance activity throughout the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The artist must have completed a minimum of 12 performances at balls, festivals, concerts, or special events. The artist must have performed as a featured or main artist at least once and should have demonstrated notable performances at venues capable of accommodating more than 1,000 people.
Free events do not qualify.
21. PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – BAND
Category Description:
Recognizes a band’s outstanding live performance activity throughout the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The band must have completed a minimum of 12 performances at balls, festivals, concerts, or special events. The band must have performed as the featured or main band at least once and should have demonstrated notable performances at venues capable of accommodating more than 1,000 people.
Free events do not qualify.
22. RAP KREYÒL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding Rap Kreyòl album released during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The project must contain at least 7 songs and have a minimum duration of 30 minutes. At least 50% of the songs must be Rap Kreyòl.
23. RAP KREYÒL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the outstanding Rap Kreyòl artist of the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The artist must have released at least 3 Rap Kreyòl songs, or an eligible EP or album, during the eligibility period.
24. RAP KREYÒL MUSIC OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding Rap Kreyòl song released during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The song must be classified as Rap Kreyòl and must have been officially released during the established eligibility period.
25. RAP KREYÒL MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes outstanding artistic and production achievement in a Rap Kreyòl music video.
Eligibility:
The video must accompany an eligible Rap Kreyòl song released during the eligibility period. Evaluation may include direction, cinematography, creativity, storytelling, editing, and overall production quality.
26. RISING & EMERGING HAITIAN SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes a promising Haitian solo artist who has demonstrated significant growth, talent, and potential during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The artist must be an emerging or developing solo artist who has released music or performed publicly during the eligibility period. The artist should demonstrate measurable growth, audience development, artistic potential, and professional activity.
27. SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding Haitian or Haitian-descendant male athlete for exceptional athletic achievement and contribution during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The athlete must have achieved notable competitive results, performances, championships, records, or other significant accomplishments during the eligibility period.
28. SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding Haitian or Haitian-descendant female athlete for exceptional athletic achievement and contribution during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The athlete must have achieved notable competitive results, performances, championships, records, or other significant accomplishments during the eligibility period.
29. VARIETY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding Variety music album released during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The project must contain at least 7 songs and have a minimum duration of 30 minutes. At least 50% of the songs must be Variety music.
30. VARIETY MUSIC OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes the most outstanding Variety song released during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The song must qualify as Variety music and must not be classified primarily as Konpa or Rap. It must have been officially released during the eligibility period.
31. VARIETY MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes outstanding artistic and production achievement in a Variety music video.
Eligibility:
The video must accompany an eligible Variety song released during the eligibility period. Consideration may include direction, cinematography, creativity, storytelling, editing, and production quality.
32. VARIETY SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding solo artist performing Variety music during the eligibility period.
Eligibility:
The artist must have released or performed at least 3 Variety songs, or an eligible EP or album, during the eligibility period.
33. WEB & TRADITIONAL RADIO PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
(USA / CANADA / PARIS / HAITI)
Category Description:
Recognizes an outstanding radio, web-radio, podcast, or digital media personality who has contributed significantly to the promotion of Haitian music, artists, and culture.
Eligibility:
Nominees must be based in or actively serve audiences in the USA, Canada, Paris, or Haiti. They must demonstrate consistent activity through traditional radio, web radio, podcasts, digital platforms, or other recognized media during the eligibility period.
Evaluation may include professionalism, audience engagement, consistency, influence, cultural contribution, and support of Haitian music and artists.
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY RULES
Unless otherwise specified, all nominees must meet the following general requirements:
- Eligibility Period: All submitted work, performances, or achievements must fall within the official PHMA eligibility period.
- Official Release: Music must have been officially released through a recognized distribution or public platform.
- Authenticity: Submitted information must be accurate and verifiable.
- Professional Activity: Nominees must demonstrate meaningful professional activity in their respective category.
- Geographic Categories: Categories specifying USA, Canada, Montreal, Paris, or Haiti are subject to the geographic requirements stated for that category.
- Multiple Categories: An artist may be eligible for more than one category when the eligibility requirements are met.
- Submission: PHMA reserves the right to request supporting documentation, links, credits, release information, performance records, or other evidence.
- Verification: PHMA may verify submissions before nominees are officially accepted.
- Jury Consideration: Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee nomination. Final nominees and winners are determined according to PHMA’s official voting and judging procedures.
- Disqualification: PHMA reserves the right to disqualify submissions containing false, misleading, fraudulent, or unverifiable information.