Nassau, Bahamas. (Jan.12, 2009) The Executive Board of the Marlin Awards officially announced the introduction of two (2) new categories, Artist of the Year and Record of the Year. The inclusion of these two new awards will increase the total amount of award categories this year from fifty-eight (58) to Sixty (60). However unlike most award categories, the two newest categories will also serve as the first ever online Marlin Awards. For the first time in Marlin history, consumers and lovers of Caribbean Gospel will have a chance to vote for the Artist and Record of their choice.

The Marlin Awards has partnered with Jamaican radio personality and media executive Arnold Kelly and his firm Caribbean Hour to create this first ever online opportunity. Caribbean Hour will design and facilitate the voting process on their website www.caribbeanhour.com with visitors to the site being allowed to see photos of all nominees as well listen to audio clips of their nominated singles. Voting will commence on Saturday February 1^st, 2009 and will be closed at midnight on Saturday February 28^th, 2009. There will be only one vote per person.

The Executive Board of the Marlin Award is now pleased to announce the official nominees for the first ever online categories. Lion of Judah Sounds CEO and reggae gospel recording artist Monty G has received an additional two (2) nominations, one for Artist of the Year and the other for Record of the Year for his international hit “I Want to Know” featuring Trinidad & Tobago newcomer Positive. This increases Monty’s overall nomination count from eleven (11) to thirteen (13), allowing him to maintain his position as this years top nominee.

Jamaican gospel dancehall artist The Prodigal Son also secured an additional two (2) nominations for Artist of the Year and Record of the Year for his mega hit “Ketch A Fire” featuring his younger brother and recording artist Jason Mighty. This increases Prodigal’s overall nominations from Ten (10) to Twelve (12). Also securing an additional two (2) nominations is Stitchie who emerged as the 2006 overall top award recipient. Dancehall newcomer Omari also scored big, adding two (2) more nominations to his current three (3) for Artist and Record of the Year for this worldwide smash “Help”, which recently enjoyed several weeks as the top music video on the Caribbean television channel Tempo.

Trinidad offspring Isaac Blackman has also walked away with two (2) more nominations including Record of the Year for his chart topping global sensation “To the Ceiling”. Also from Trinidad, Soca maestro Nigel Lewis also earned two (2) additional nominations including Record of the Year for his cross cultural anthem “He Is”.

Picking up an additional one (1) nomination apiece in the Artist of the Year category is Jamaican songbird Kristine Alicia, Bahamian reggae duo Christian Massive, gospel dancehall artist St.Matthew and Gotee Records recording artist and Grammy Nominee Ayiesha.

In the Record of the Year category several artists emerged with one (1) nomination each including Bahamian classical singer JoAnn Callendar and Dunamus Soundz Records CEO Manifest for their opera meets hip-hop smash “I Shall Rise” as well as Bahamian choir, The Mount Tabor Praise & Worship Team with their passionate worship single “Don’t Do It Without Me” featuring world renowned pastor and singer Bishop Paul S.Morton. Rounding out this category is Trinidad & Tobago’s female artist Ayanna who snatched another nomination for her female inspired anthem “Kingdom Woman” and dancehall ghetto priest Minister Goddy Goddy who secured another nomination for his sensational hit “Chaka Chi”, which increases his overall nominations from one (1) to two (2).

The Marlin Awards will serve as the final event during Marlin Weekend 2009 which is scheduled to be held March 26-29, 2009 in Nassau, Bahamas under the banner “Gospel in Paradise”. This event is expected to attract hundreds of recording artists, songwriters, producers, managers, retailers, radio announcers and music fans from throughout the Caribbean as well as from the United States, Africa, Canada and Europe.

Nominations were recently announced in the remaining fifty-eight (58) categories including Song and Album of the Year. This highly anticipated event will be taped for re-broadcast and will also feature performances by some of the regions top gospel artists. There are over two hundred (200) artists participating in the Marlin Awards this year representing seventeen (17) countries including Africa, Antigua, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Dominica, Fiji, Jamaica, London, Trinidad, Tortola BVI, St.Croix, St.Maarten, St.Vincent and the United States

For additional information contact Harris Communications at 242-327-1251. You can also email us at marlinawards@gmail.com or visit us online at www.marlinawards.com or www.myspace.com/marlinawards.

Here is a complete list of all nominees in the Artist of the Year and Record of the Year categories:

Artist of the Year

Record of the Year