Website: sterlinggospelawards.com Last updated: 1 September 2026
1. Introduction
The Sterling Gospel Music Awards (“S.G.M.A.”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) operates sterlinggospelawards.com (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and what rights you have in relation to it.
We are based in Jamaica, and our handling of personal data is governed by the Data Protection Act, 2020 of Jamaica. Where we process the personal data of individuals located in other jurisdictions, additional laws may apply.
By using the Site, you agree to this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
Data controller: Sterling Gospel Awards Contact: via the contact form on our Contact Us page
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information you give us directly
Contact form. Our Contact Us page provides a form that collects:
| Field | Required |
|---|---|
| Your Name | Yes |
| Your Email | Yes |
| Subject | No |
| Your Message | No |
Submissions are delivered to us by email. We use this information solely to read and respond to your enquiry.
Nominations and entries. Where we operate a nomination, entry, or voting process — whether through the Site, by email, or by another channel — we may collect the name, email address, telephone number, biography, photographs, social media handles, and submitted audio, video, or written material of entrants and of the persons submitting entries.
Correspondence. If you contact us by email, social media, or post, we keep a record of that correspondence.
2.2 Information collected automatically
Server logs. Like most websites, our web server automatically records technical information when you visit, which may include your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring page, pages viewed, and the date and time of your visit. This is used for security, troubleshooting, and understanding general site usage.
Cookies. The Site runs on WordPress. WordPress and its components may set cookies that are necessary for the Site to function correctly, and may set additional cookies if you leave a comment or log in to an account. See Section 6.
2.3 What we do NOT collect
As of the date of this Policy:
- We do not collect payment card details, bank details, or financial information through the Site.
- We do not operate user accounts or logins for members of the public.
- We do not run third-party advertising or advertising trackers on the Site.
- We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal data through the Site except where you volunteer it in a message or an entry.
Note on religious belief: our published Awards criteria require that artistes be practising Christians. Information about religious belief is sensitive personal data under the Data Protection Act. Where we collect or verify such information as part of the nomination process, we do so on the basis of your explicit consent, given when you submit or accept a nomination, and we use it solely to assess eligibility.
3. Social Media Feeds
The Site displays feeds from our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) accounts using feed plugins. These plugins retrieve public posts from those platforms and display them on our pages.
We also link to our profiles on those platforms. When you click through to a social media platform, or interact with embedded content, that platform’s own privacy policy governs the data it collects about you. We do not control those platforms and are not responsible for their practices.
- Facebook / Instagram (Meta): https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/en/privacy
4. How We Use Your Information
We use personal information to:
- Respond to enquiries and correspondence;
- Receive, verify, assess, and administer nominations, entries, judging, and voting;
- Contact nominees, entrants, judges, sponsors, and partners about the Awards;
- Announce nominees and winners, and publicise the Awards, including in press releases, broadcasts, and social media;
- Maintain an archival record of past Awards cycles;
- Operate, secure, maintain, and improve the Site;
- Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms and Conditions.
5. Legal Basis for Processing
We process personal data where:
- You have consented — for example, by submitting the contact form, entering the Awards, or subscribing to communications;
- It is necessary for the performance of a contract with you, or to take steps at your request before entering into one;
- It is necessary for our legitimate interests in operating and promoting the Awards, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights;
- It is necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
For sensitive personal data, including information about religious belief, we rely on your explicit consent.
6. Cookies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by a website.
The Site uses cookies that fall into these categories:
- Strictly necessary — set by WordPress to allow the Site to operate, remember your preferences within a session, and provide security features.
- Functional — set if you leave a comment or log in, to remember your details.
Most browsers let you refuse or delete cookies through their settings. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may cause parts of the Site to stop working correctly.
We do not currently use cookies for advertising or cross-site tracking. If this changes, we will update this Policy and, where required, seek your consent.
7. Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
We may share personal information with:
- Service providers who host the Site, deliver our email, and provide technical support, acting on our instructions and bound to protect the information;
- Judges and members of the awards committee, where necessary to assess entries;
- Media and broadcast partners, in relation to the announcement and publicising of nominees and winners;
- Professional advisers, such as lawyers and accountants, where necessary;
- Law enforcement or regulators, where we are required to do so by law or where disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, safety, or property, or those of others.
Some of our service providers may be located outside Jamaica. Where personal data is transferred internationally, we take reasonable steps to ensure it remains protected to a standard consistent with the Data Protection Act, 2020.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy.
| Category | Typical retention |
|---|---|
| Contact form enquiries | 24 months from last correspondence |
| Nomination and entry records | For the awards cycle plus e.g. 5 years, for audit and dispute resolution |
| Nominee and winner records | Indefinitely, as part of the permanent archival record of the Awards |
| Server logs | 36 months |
Where information is no longer needed, we delete it or anonymise it.
9. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These include serving the Site over HTTPS, restricting administrative access, and keeping our platform and its components updated.
No method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You send us information at your own risk.
If a data breach occurs that is likely to result in a risk to your rights, we will notify you and the Information Commissioner as required under the Data Protection Act, 2020.
10. Your Rights
Subject to the Data Protection Act, 2020 and any applicable exemptions, you have the right to:
- Be informed about how your personal data is used;
- Access the personal data we hold about you;
- Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data;
- Erase your data in certain circumstances;
- Restrict or object to certain processing, including direct marketing;
- Data portability, in certain circumstances;
- Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent — this does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal;
- Prevent processing likely to cause damage or distress.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the form on our Contact Us page. We may ask you to verify your identity. We will respond within the period required by law.
Please note that withdrawing consent or requesting erasure may mean we can no longer process your nomination or entry. We may also decline requests to remove nominee or winner records from the historical record of the Awards, where we have a legitimate interest in maintaining an accurate archive.
11. Complaints
If you are concerned about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us first using the form on our Contact Us page so we can try to resolve the matter.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner of Jamaica.
12. Children’s Privacy
The Site is not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us using the form on our Contact Us page and we will delete it.
Where a nominee or entrant is a minor, we require the consent and involvement of a parent or legal guardian.
13. Third-Party Links
The Site contains links to third-party websites and social media platforms. This Policy does not apply to those sites. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices, and we encourage you to read their policies before providing them with personal information.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. The current version will always be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Material changes will be brought to your attention where required. Please review this page periodically.
15. Contact Us
Sterling Gospel Awards (Sterling Gospel Music Awards)
All privacy enquiries and data rights requests should be submitted using the contact form on our Contact Us page.
Website: sterlinggospelawards.com Facebook: facebook.com/sterlinggospelmusicawards Instagram: instagram.com/thesterlingawards X (Twitter): x.com/sterlingawards1