After Afrobeats artist Tome's controversial win for Reggae Recording of The Year at the June 6 JUNO Awards, there are calls for changes to the category's format.
Carrie Mullings, co-chair of the annual event's reggae committee, argues that the current platform is limited.
"The changes that need to happen will expand the category to many more EP/Album submissions from bands and groups," she said, adding that there, "Is always room for growth for the Reggae Recording Of The Year category and any new JUNO categories that can accommodate the constant evolving sound of reggae and reggae-infused music."
Tome, who was born in Montreal to Nigerian parents, won the reggae JUNO with "I Pray", a song she did with Sean Kingston.
Her win was considered a snub to traditional reggae artists like Kirk Diamond and Ammoye who were nominated this year.
While Mullings acknowledged Tome's victory, she believes the JUNO reggae bracket should be familiar to fans as well as artists.
"I personally feel a win in a category catering to Tome's sound would not have our reggae community so vocal about her win. We have to upgrade and elevate the current system's standards that makes a win like this one even raise the question of being flawed in it's present form," she said.
The JUNO Reggae Recording of The Year was first awarded in 1985. It was known as Best Reggae/Calypso Recording from 1985 to 1991.
Following a two-year absence, it was revived in 1994 as Best Reggae Recording until 2002.
Since 2003, it has been known as Reggae Recording of The Year.
Written By Howard Campbell