The statement issued today Wednesday October 11, under the heading “BROADCAST COMMISSION ISSUES DIRECTIVE ON SONGS PROMOTING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY” outlines that television and radio stations operating in the island should halt “any audio or video recording, live song, or speech which promotes and/or glorifies scamming. illegal use or abuse of drugs (e.g. ‘Molly’), illegal or harmful use of guns or other offensive weapons, “jungle justice” or any other form of illegal or criminal activity.”
According to the Commission’s website the entity is mandated by the Broadcasting and Radio Re-diffusion Act (BRRA) to monitor and regulate free-to-air television, broadcast radio and subscriber television (Cable) services to ensure their operation at appropriate levels in relation to technical, programming, and service standards.
In the last four years much of the music that has saturated Jamaica’s airwaves first got recognition via YouTube and other streaming platforms and then radio disc jocks include edited versions of those songs in their playlists.
That practice can no longer happen for songs that fall in the category stated as the Commission further stated that all edited versions of songs that had the promotion of illegal activities should not be played on the airwaves.
“Any edited song which directly or indirectly promotes scamming, illegal drugs, illegal or harmful use of guns or other offensive weapons, jungle justice, or any form of illegal or criminal activity. This includes live editing and original editing (e.g. edits by producer/label) as well as the use of near-sounding words as substitutes for effective lyrics, expletives, or profanities.”
Dancehall artist Skeng has the two most streamed songs in Jamaica as more and more young people are moving away from radio and television as their main mode of consumption.
Radio Disc Jock Bloodline Franco of Fame FM told World Music Views that his organization had already take steps to ban the songs containing drug use and violence.
“The RJR Gleaner group has already take a stand in house, so for any DJ in the RJR Gleaner group we were not able to play these songs regardless, but I think there will be some dissonance between what the younger demographic wants and what can be played on air. So we have to see if the radio listener will be appreciative of the difference in catalogue in what you hear in the parties vs in the radio,” he said.
“Or will they use new media and new platforms that technology provide for their fill of music vs listening to traditional broadcast radio. The onus is now on radio DJ and radio producers to add more value than just talk with more radio personalities other than just playing song A and Song B. This will force radio to have to do more to engage the listeners. We can no longer relay on ready made hits,” he continued.
Franco’s statements about the way young people are consuming music also apply to how young people get information in general. A recent BBC report stated that traditional broadcasters are struggling to keep up with the Meta owned social media site Instagram which has become the most popular news source for young British teenagers. This according to research commissioned by the UK’s media regulator, with BBC TV channels sliding from first to fifth place in the past year.
An Ofcom report on news consumption in the UK published on Thursday July 21, found that roughly 25 percent of 12- to 15-year-olds watched BBC One and Two, compared with 45 per cent five years ago. Meanwhile, 29 per cent of young teenagers surveyed this year cited Instagram as a source of news.
Young people are increasingly using social media for more than just entertainment but as a news source.
Even though TV networks were considered the most trusted source and news on social media the least reliable, younger people were more likely to access news via digital platforms. Some 46 per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds surveyed said they turned to Instagram, compared with 36 per cent who watched bulletins on BBC One.
The Ofcom report found that the music driven TikTok was the second most popular platform for young teenagers seeking news. It reached 28 per cent of 12-to 15-year-olds, up from 11 per cent two years ago, and enjoyed the largest increase in use among all Britons over the age of 16.
“Teenagers today are increasingly unlikely to pick up a newspaper or tune into TV news, instead preferring to keep up to date by scrolling through their social feeds,” said Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom’s group director for strategy and research.
“And while youngsters find news on social media to be less reliable, they rate these services more highly for serving up a range of opinions on the day’s topical stories,” he added.
Away from broadcasting, the report showed that newspapers, whether in print or online, were particularly vulnerable to changing news habits. In 2022, only 38 per cent of British adults read a newspaper, down from 51 per cent in 2018.
Meanwhile in America, research conducted last year found that 48% of U.S. adults say they get news from social media “often” or “sometimes,” a 5 percentage point decline compared with 2020, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted July 26-Aug. 8, 2021.
That in mind, Franco said artists like Skillibeng, Squash and Intence and other artist who do hardcore dancehall are really in favor now, so young listeners know their songs. Radio disc jocks capitalized on their popularity when they go on the radio. Still he says the ban may not apply to older songs from Bob Marley and Gregory Isaacs which are noted to reference the use of marijuana.
“I do believe Bob Marley songs like Kaya that mention marijuana or Gregory Isaac’s “Night Nurse” will still be played because it’s not as explicit as the newer songs.”
Franca said the prejudice lies in the how vs the what, “It is the way artists express their songs vs what they are expressing,” he concluded.
Producer Stephen Di Genius responded sarcastically to news of the halt from the Broadcast Commission, “Yay!! Crime and violence gonna magically stop now . Jamaica the most sample place on earth.”
Yay!! 🎉🎉 Crime and violence gonna magically stop now 🙌🏽🙌🏽😂 . Jamaica the most sample place on earth
— Di GENIUS (@DiGenius1) October 11, 2022
Di Genius followed up by saying, “Just another manifestation of the lack of accountability from the powers/showaz that be. It’s always gonna be music that’s causing all the issues . All if grace thrillers and love 101 start run di place crime won’t budge”
One comment on twitter said he is not convinced this will have the desired effect.
https://twitter.com/Ricaaduh/status/1579894536117325825?s=20&t=3SIrMS3i_ipVY5FzzOqzVg
Jamaica has one of the strictest regulations against music, OUR OWN DANCEHALL MUSIC and what is to be played…so not even edited music can’t be played? Are you going to ban Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud and other platforms where the same people have the same access to the same songs? For example there are strict regulations against anything sexual (even edited) being played on local radio because children listen to radio…is Jamaica the only country that has children? Because the same children listen to these same songs elsewhere.
Ok if that’s the case since you want everything off of radio, what if promoters stop spending money on radio? Cause at this rate no one will be listening to radio soon cause all that will be on radio is international music ONLY so promoters won’t need to advertise there. Then what?”
Read full statement by the Broadcast Commission below:
