JAMMing for more reggae...Danny Browne restarts local content quota debate. THE call has come for a mandated quota of Jamaican content on local radio and television. What Do You Think?

BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, July 03, 2015    

THE call has come for a mandated quota of Jamaican content on local radio and television.

Leading the way is chairman of the Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS), Danny Browne.

Chairman of the Jamaica Music Society Danny Browne
(left) with President of the Jamaica Federation of
Musicians Desi Young at Wednesday’s International
Reggae Day conference at the Jamaica Pegasus.
(PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

Speaking at the conference to mark International Reggae Day at Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday, he cited countries such as Canada, Australia, France and Nigeria which all have local content quotas - as high as 80 per cent.

"None of these countries has given the world at least three distinct genres of music like Jamaica, yet they have quotas to protect their music," Browne argued.

"It would support the development of local culture and national identity. It would also promote diversity and boost the local recording industry. Currently, as much as 70 per cent of the content on local radio is from abroad. While I am not against foreign content, I don't believe it should be at the peril of our local music industry," he said.

He called on colleagues to step forward and lobby media heads to have local content quotas mandated.

"Look at Reggae Month, it should be mandated that only local content is played on radio during February — purely reggae — and then you revert to your regular playlist at the end of the month. Without this the designation of Reggae Month is weak and baseless," said Browne. more