<P> Soca musicians from around the region and the world are eligible to compete in the preliminary round of the competition and must attain the required number of points to advance into the semi-finals and subsequently the finals which is an action - packed event that is televised and broadcast live to viewers in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and other regions of the world . The competition began in 1993 as a local competition for soca aca Monarch (aka Trinidad Soca Monarch), the event quickly grew in popularity as it always featured the more popular artists and favored songs for each Carnival season . It was redubbed The International Soca Monarch when for the first time acts from around the world became eligible to compete for a place in the finals and a chance at the envied title of Soca Monarch . </P> <P> At the inception of the competition, all soca artists (whether their song was uptempo or slower) competed for the same prize . In its current format, a distinction has been made between faster - paced soca songs and their slower counterparts which can still become crowd favorites . Therefore, since 2005 artists with these slower - paced songs now have a chance to compete separately from the usually more hyped - up (and consequently more popular) Power soca songs / artists, and vie for a different title, the International Groovy Soca Monarch . Therein is a sign of the evolution of soca music into two subgenres . Prize money for the competition was raised to $1 million in 2009 for the Power Soca Monarch winner although reports by Caribbean Prestige Foundation indicated there would be a reduction in the prize money . Fay Ann Lyons, the 2009 winner reportedly has received the full amount of the promised award (less 5% for administrative costs) when the prizes were distributed on March 20, 2009 . Second and third - place winners received cash prizes valued according to their placing . In 2010 the first prize for the Power category will be US $100,000 and the first prize for the Groovy Soca Monarch will be increased to TT $200,000 . </P> <P> The first soca artist to win the Soca Monarch title is Superblue . He went on to win the competition a record of seven times . This record is as yet unbeaten, although several artists are closing in on that number. Since the competition has been split into two back - to - back contests, there have been only three performers to simultaneously capture both titles: Shurwayne Winchester was the first in 2006, Fay - Ann Lyons the second in 2009, and Machel Montano in 2012 and 2013 . Fay - Ann is also the first female winner of the International Soca Monarch in the Power category and therefore the first female to win both titles simultaneously . Having also won the People's Choice award on that night, she is the first artist to make a clean sweep of all the prizes at the International Soca Monarch . </P> <P> When the local competition first became an international event, all contestants were required to pass the preliminary stages to qualify for the finals . In 2009, this was changed with winners from other countries' soca monarch competitions being automatically "seeded" into the final round . Prize money for the International Soca Monarch has grown over the years and was announced as being $1 million TT dollars for the 2009 winner when the competition was launched in 2008 . Fay - Ann Lyons - Alvarez, the 2009 winner reportedly received her prize money (subject to a small deduction) at the prize - giving ceremony in March, 2009 . T&T Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs have reportedly suggested future prize money be reduced to $750,000 due to the downturn in the global economy . In 2004, the winner received $150,000, which was an increase from the previous year . </P>

Who won the first soca monarch in trinidad