Jamaica's Broadcast Commission Ban Not Limited To Reggae/Dancehall

- Staff Reporter

Recently the Jamaica Broadcast Commission's pronouncement of its ban on songs related to "Molly, Scamming, and Gun Violence" has created an uproar among homegrown music professionals.

The general consensus is that the regulation is a "new attack" on Jamaican music.

However, once properly interpreted, the regulations are not limited to Jamaican music only.

Reggaeologist Lloyd Laing highlighted via twitter :- "Real Dancehall Music is not created to be played on radio..it’s created to be played in the DANCEHALL..if radio takes the risk to play a DANCEHALL song it’s a choice..but real dancehall is not created for radio.."

Via twitter DM in a brief conversation he further stated that despite the vocal dissatisfaction, the ban was not just for Dancehall music, but for ALL songs that breach the new regulations.

"Songs like Weekends I Can't Feel My Face fall into the broadcasting commission's new regulatory net, as well as a slew of songs from mainstream music that make references to the banned themes.", stated Laing.

But the writer was also duly reminded that this debate is as old as Mento.

With close to 30+ terrestrial radio stations on radio, less that ten play 50% or more local Reggae music, and of those with a dedicated format the number dwindles down to 3 or four.

Regardless of this age old problem, the recent changes have re-ignited a a fresh haggle surrounding the Jamaican governments recognition of Dancehall's transistion from a cornered space for poor people's music into a globally influencial contender within today's mainstream media.