Tessanne Chin—- JULY 1 is the new release date for Tessanne Chin’s debut project, Count of My Love, for Universal EMI. The set was originally slated for June 24. The singer disclosed the new development at a soirée hosted in her honor by telecommunications firm Digicel at their Corporate headquarters on the Kingston Waterfront on Wednesday. Citing directives from the label, Chin did not go into details. A month ago she appeared on the NBC talent Show, The Voice, to drop the first single Everything Reminds Me of You. She said, so far, she is pleased with the feedback. “The response has been great. I am so happy with the feedback I’m getting. It was this kind of response that caused the label to drop the single earlier than planned… when they saw what was happening … Read entire article »

  GRANGE…while the government delays making changes to legislation, each week hundreds are locked up—- OPPOSITION Spokesperson on Youth, Culture and Entertainment Olivia “Babsy” Grange has called on government to amend legislation to decriminalise possession of small amounts of ganja and to expunge the records of those persons, including artists, who have been convicted for having a ‘spliff’. Grange said that during recent discussions with a number of individuals in the music industry as well as young persons from various communities on different matters affecting them, she was again faced with how many lives are being affected by government’s delay in decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana. According to Grange, the former administration had already started the process. “A Cabinet decision had been taken and a Ministry Paper tabled in Parliament proposing to, through … Read entire article »

   By Kevin Jackson— Jo Mersa—- BEING the son of a famous entertainer can be pressuring, but that is not the case with Joseph ‘Jo Mersa’ Marley, eldest son of Stephen Marley and grandson of the legendary Bob Marley. According to Jo Mersa, the only challenge he faces is maintaining the lofty standards of the Marley name. “My father has created a legacy by putting out songs with meaning. It’s something I have to live up to,” he said. Mersa is currently promoting Comfortable, his EP, which is scheduled for release on June 10. The EP contains six tracks, five of which were produced by Mersa. The project will be released by the Marley-owned Ghetto Youths International. “I produced all except one song on the album which is called Bogus. That song was produced by my uncle (Damian) … Read entire article »

  Lisa Hanna—– KINGSTON, Jamaica –Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna, has announced major changes to the annual Jamaica Festival programme which celebrates Emancipation and Independence. Addressing the launch of Jamaica Festival Wednesday, June 4 at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre in Kingston, Hanna said that among the main changes is an adjustment to the Jamaica Festival celebration period. Usually, Jamaica Festival refers to the week of celebration from July 31 to Independence Day, but Hanna said that her Ministry has decided to brand Jamaica Festival as a season of activities beginning in June and culminating on Independence Day in August. According to the Ministry the redesigned Jamaica Festival includes an expansion of activities to incorporate most areas of the Cultural and Creative Industries including literature, film, television, culinary arts and fashion. The programme also … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell– BECKFORD… using the live event to tap into Brooklyn’s changing demographics— ED Koch was elected mayor and the Son of Sam murders still had citizens cowering when Keeling Beckford arrived in New York City in 1977. The Jamaican singer had lived in London for three years prior to his move to the Big Apple. He has established himself as a music producer and distributor with the Manhattan-based Keeling Records. Reggae On The Hill, a weekly show in Brooklyn, is the 55-year-old Beckford’s latest venture. He is using the live event to tap into that borough’s changing demographics. “There are more white people returning to Brooklyn, they call it ‘re-gentrification’. It’s something that started under (Mayor Rudy) Giuliani. For me, it’s a case of moving with the times,” Beckford told the Jamaica Observer. Before … Read entire article »