March 2, 2018
Kingston,
Jamaica:
“Impressive” was how the Committee Chairman, Mr. Vernon Derby described the
record number of entries received for the 2018 staging of Jamaica Festival Song
Competition. The competition, which closed for
entries on February 28, the last day of Reggae Month, saw over 200 entries from
across the island, a record when compared to the last 10 years, and an increase
of just under 500 per cent on the previous year’s entries.
“We are beyond excited to see the level of
interest in the Festival Song Competition expressed by members of the Jamaican
Music industry, which is reflected in this year’s high volume of entries. It
also shows the country’s support for this kind of original song competition
that captures
the Jamaican spirit and promotes patriotism, especially as this song will serve
as the theme song for this year’s Independence Festival.
” said Derby,
who is also a member of the Board of the Jamaica Cultural Development
Commission (JCDC), the competition’s organizer.
“Now
that the entries are in, the work continues.” Derby said, stating that the
competition would now shift its focus to the assessment of the entries by a
panel of experts, selected from the local music industry; followed shortly by a
semi-final concert, where the top 30 semi-finalists will be required to perform
on stage in front of a live audience.
Minister of Culture, Gender,
Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange stated at the Competition’s launch
last November that the competition has been revamped for the 2018 staging and will
carry an overall prize purse of $10 million, which will be shared among the
performers, songwriters and producers, with the top ten finalists also
receiving prize packages.
The Competition will also feature a
series of road shows and special appearances, which will give the performers
the necessary exposure and give members of the public the opportunity to get to
know the songs and the artistes.
The Jamaica Festival Song Competition
is one of the longest running original song competitions in Jamaica and continues
to serve as a musical platform for
cultural exposition and for entrants to make an indelible mark on Jamaica and
the world. This
competition, which started in 1966
has been the driving force behind some of Jamaica’s acclaimed singers and song
writers and boasts past winners like Toots and the
Maytals, Desmond Decker, Eric Donaldson, Roy Rayon and Stanley Beckford.
The Jamaica Festival Song Competition
is being led by a committee comprising of: Mr. Vernon Derby (Chairman), Miss Pat Reid (Deputy Chair).
Michelle Clarke, Messrs Phillip Clarke and Dennis Archer, who
are Board Commissioners of the JCDC; and Mr. Andrew Clunis of the Ministry of
Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and radio personality Roxene Nickle of
KOOL 97FM.
The Jamaica Festival Song Competition
2016 winner Oneil “Nazzleman” Scott performs at the competition’s Grand
Final.
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