Reggae Grammy list getting better - But insiders want more from Recording Academy

that with the first female nomination in years (Etana), and the nomination of artistes who are both internationally known and beloved in Jamaica, the Caribbean audience feels there is less of a disconnect with the Recording Academy in the category.

"This has increased hope for those who had lost faith in the Reggae Grammy category and I'm certain it has helped to motivate a lot of artistes who are aspiring towards the Grammy dream to keep trying," she said.

But Watkis warned that the steps the Recording Academy seems to be making may easily be reversed if an equally satisfactory win does not materialise.

He believes that for the Grammy's to show they are moving in the right direction, either Etana or Protoje should walk away with the award.

"The Grammys have a way of nominating a lot of people that made an impact on the culture but not rewarding them justly," he said.

He said that a win for either would be a win for the genre and would be a testament that the Grammys are really in tune with the culture.

He said an Etana win would especially be big for women.

"Her win would be a win for Queen Ifrica for all the times she was overlooked, it would be a win for Jah9 for when she was overlooked, it would be a win for all the women who have been putting out great bodies of work over the years," he said. "We can't have reggae music as something that's relegated to the past. We have to push culture forward."