The pandemic-defined 2020 was an outlier year across digital entertainment, with the extra 12% of time consumers spent with entertainment boosting … Growth drivers – what comes after streaming Are you up to date on trends in music? What trends have you been noting based on the impact of COVID-19? There are many takeaways from this … Continue reading
Crime, Dancehall and Leadership in Jamaica
Dancehall artists have come out lashing, in a more sustained and visible way to respond to the most recent statement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness about dancehall lyrics and their link to high rates of crime and violence in Jamaica. Mavado, Baby Cham, Mr Vegas and Masicka among others have made public statements in recent … Continue reading
Gargamel in Person (Buju Banton Returns as Hero)
It’s time again for confession. I am a Buju Banton fan. But I already said that in a previous post in 2010 when I referred to Buju Banton as a prophet. This confession, for what may seem to some as subjective reasoning about Buju’s career and later legal battles, comes at a time when I … Continue reading
6th Global Reggae Conference: Reggae Innovation and Sound System Culture II
6th Global Reggae Call The University of the West Indies (UWI) is pleased to announce the staging of the 6th Global Reggae Conference, February 13-16, 2019. This staging comes as part of a collaborative relationship between UWI and Birmingham City University. Call for papers The University of the West Indies and Birmingham City University are … Continue reading
Champion sound! When Huddersfield ruled the British reggae scene
Stephen Burke, founder of the Huddersfield sound system Earth Rocker, with his system. Photograph: Stephen Burke/One Love Books It came late to my attention but as they say, better late than never. The full history of reggae is fascinating and somewhat unknown to many. David Simpson (2014) reminded us that in 1970s and 80s, “big … Continue reading
Ring the Alarm: A History of Sound System Culture
I’ve taken the title of this long overdue post from a radio documentary by none other than David Katz (with Saxon Baird). Katz is the acclaimed author of seminal works such as People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae, as well as music journalist, photographer, … Continue reading
Dance Hall 