After decades helping shape reggae and dancehall from behind the scenes, Kirk “Kirkledove” Bennett brings his own voice, emotion and production identity forward on a reggae-dub fusion album. For decades, Jamaican music audiences have heard Kirk “Kirkledove” Bennett even when they may not have known his name. The drummer, producer, songwriter and session musician has worked behind singers and deejays across reggae and dancehall, building the rhythmic foundation while headline

New international work on attribution, fingerprinting, watermarking and AI training transparency suggests that accurate catalogue data may determine whether creators are licensed or disappear from the value chain. Editorial verification: A new international AI infrastructure initiative launched in 2026 is bringing together creators, rights holders, technology companies and technical experts around data identification, attribution, watermarking, fingerprinting and rights manag

Various creative talents are to be found within the reggae music industry and the dancehall space. Indeed, the humourous, intelligent and unforgettable utterances made by some of these individuals, whether live on stage or in the studio, speak volume of their ‘wordy witticisms’ and their impressive lyrical construction which attract many fans and admirers worldwide. In light of such observations I will make reference to four well known creative entertainers who, as a result

Cast and crew of Redeemed Seven Caribbean Film Awards nominations and capacity audiences give the faith-based crime drama a powerful opening while strengthening the case for sustained commercial distribution of Jamaican cinema. The August 3 premiere of Redeemed: A Father’s Love sold out three scheduled 6:00 p.m. Carib 5 theatres, with strong demand for Ultra and VIP screenings and an additional 8:40 p.m. screening added. The production has received seven Caribbean Film Awards

Maybe some of you have not observed this apparent obsession about Jamaicans, but whether you want to believe it or not we have something going for the number two. Now don’t get me wrong because in one instant this number plays quite a negative role in terms of certain things, where it is pinned on to some men (sing in ‘Terror Fabulous’ voice: “Some man a play # 2…”, ). That aside however, economically, politically, socially and even for leisure and pleasure, Jamaicans always

Can Artists Trademark Their Voices? AI Replication Is Creating a New Music-Rights Frontier Recent efforts to register distinctive spoken phrases and vocal signatures show how performers are expanding brand protection beyond names, logos and conventional copyright. Artists and entertainment companies are increasingly exploring sound trademarks as artificial intelligence makes recognisable voices, phrases and vocal identities easier to imitate.A trademark is usually associated

Jamaica could support this market through workshops connecting musicians with game developers, animators and technology companies. Universities and creative-industry organisations could help build locally owned games that draw on Jamaican stories and musical heritage.

Today, a new movement is creating fresh opportunities for Jamaican artistes, not by reinventing house music, but by placing authentic Jamaican voices, songwriting and performances at the heart of one of the world’s most enduring dance music genres.

Melbourne Douglas claims the milestone title with a direct patriotic anthem as the competition enters its seventh decade of nation-building through popular music. Melbourne “dBURNZ” Douglas has won the 2026 Jamaica Festival Song Competition with “I Love Jamaica,” securing the title during Saturday night’s 60th-anniversary grand finale at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston. The victory places Douglas inside one of Jamaica’s longest-running popular-music tradit

Jamaican dancehall artist Pablo YG has released his new single, "King Lifestyle," featuring Govana, offering listeners an early look at his forthcoming album, “Key to the Century,” due later this year. Produced by Tevin "YGF" Richards and Scotty's Muzik, "King Lifestyle" brings together Pablo YG and Govana on a record that reflects confidence, ambition and perseverance. The collaboration offers a preview of the sound and direction of “Key to the Century,” while pairing one of

The music industry introduces “AI-generated” and “AI-assisted” recording labels, raising major rights questions for Jamaican artists and producers.

Valiant and Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor’s “Woii,” released on the Hill & Gully Riddim, has reached 10 million YouTube views in approximately two months. This has Valiant made his debut performances in Germany and Belgium. The achievement should be understood as a platform-specific view count rather than a complete measure of the song’s commercial performance. Nevertheless, it indicates sustained digital interest and reinforces the importance of producer-led riddim projects.

Inner circle goes platinum in the UK with sweat

The Jamaican reggae community is mourning roots singer Fantan Mojah, following reports that he died on Tuesday evening, July 14, at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston.

IFPI’s 2026 Global Music Report found that recorded-music revenue in Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 15.2 per cent during 2025 and reached US$120 million. South Africa accounted for 78.1 per cent of the region’s recorded-music revenue, showing both the growth potential of African music and the uneven development of formal markets across the continent. Globally, recorded-music revenue rose by 6.4 per cent in 2025. Streaming generated more than US$22 billion and represented 69.

The company behind BTS is inviting emerging producers to compete for opportunities across four labels.

The Recording Academy has invited more than 4,000 music creators and industry professionals to join its 2026 new-member class.

TIDAL’s new AI music policy takes effect on July 15, 2026. The platform will label tracks it identifies as entirely AI-generated and will not pay royalties on those tracks. TIDAL also says it will remove or block AI-generated music linked to fraudulent activity, including impersonation and misleading uploads. For reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, r&b, afrobeats, amapiano and other Black music traditions, this is a cultural ownership issue. Black music is built on voices, grooves, r

Jamaica’s National Dance Theatre Company returns with work rooted in music, movement, memory and national culture. The National Dance Theatre Company opens its 64th Season of Dance with tributes to cultural scholar, musician and choreographer Marjorie Whylie and reggae icon Jimmy Cliff. The season highlights the continued relationship between Jamaican dance, traditional music, popular culture and national storytelling. This is not simply a dance season. It is Jamaica’s body m

New reporting shows millions of songs circulating in AI training datasets, including reggae and dancehall catalogues. The Atlantic reported in June that four large music datasets containing millions of tracks have been circulating within AI-development communities. It was reported that reggae and dancehall artists, including Vybz Kartel, Shenseea, Spice, Popcaan, Shaggy, Masicka and Rvssian, appeared in searches of those datasets. AI training is not only a technology issue. I