The Caribbean Music Awards 2025 wasn’t just a night of trophies — it was a snapshot of where Caribbean music is now, where it’s heading. From Shenseea’s domination to Vybz Kartel’s resurgence and Bad Bunny’s Latin-Caribbean influence, the stories behind the stage are as rich as the performances themselves.
Major Highlights
Shenseea’s Moment of Triumph: The dancehall star took home five awards, including Dancehall Album of the Year (“Never Gets Late Here”), Song of the Year (Dancehall), and Video of the Year (Reggae/Dancehall) for her hit “Hit & Run” (with Masicka & Di Genius).
Vybz Kartel’s Power Return: Kartel claimed Male Artist of the Year (Dancehall), People’s Choice, and Music Event of the Year for his concert Freedom Street. After years off stage, his 2025 returns are clearly resonating.
Bad Bunny Bridges Latin & Caribbean Sounds: Bad Bunny picked up Artist of the Year (Latin Caribbean), reinforcing how Latin urban music and Caribbean rhythms are increasingly overlapping; creating shared audiences, shared stages.
What This Means for Caribbean Music Moving Forward
Dancehall is still evolving & commanding global attention. With Shenseea and Vybz Kartel both winning across multiple categories, it shows both established and new voices in dancehall are pushing creative & commercial boundaries.
Cross-genre and cross-region collaboration is more central than ever. The lines between Latin, Reggaeton, Soca, Bouyon, Kompa etc. are blurring. Artists like Bad Bunny — huge in Latin trap / reggaeton — are being embraced by Caribbean platforms and fans, and vice versa.
Awards as a platform and validation, especially for emerging artists. Best New Artist awards, plus People’s Choice categories, are giving visibility to rising stars like Malie Donn, Sevana, Blaka Dan among others. The momentum from CMA 2025 gives them a real boost.
Conclusion
CMA 2025 didn’t just celebrate what’s already happened: it exposed trajectories. Whether established legends staking their claim, rising stars breaking through, or genre-bending mashups forging new paths — Caribbean music is very much alive, growing, and global. For fans, there’s a lot to be excited about.
