The Broadcasting Commission in Jamaica has banned radio and television broadcasts of songs that glorify violence and other illegal behaviour.
This week on Tuesday, Professor Lloyd Waller, the chairman of the broadcasting commission announced the ban, which he said was with immediate effect.
“To be clear, the broadcast of a sampling of any song which promotes 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 is prohibited,” said Waller.
“This includes live editing and original edits (e.g. edits by producer/label) and the use of near-sounding words as substitutes for offensive lyrics, expletives or profanities.”
The Caribbean island famous for its music culture has struggled with extreme gang violence in recent years.
So far this year the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has recorded more than 400 murders.
The JCF itself is not entirely blameless – since 2000 police officers have allegedly killed more than 3 000 people, according to figures from Amnesty and Indecom, the police watchdog body.
Those at the receiving end of gun violence include world-renowned 67-year-old singer, Tabby Diamond, of the Mighty Diamonds.
Donald Tabby Diamond Shaw was shot dead in a drive-by shooting at McKinley Crescent in St. Andrew, Kingston on 29 March 2022.
The debate about the link between crime and dancehall music rages on. Some say the ban on certain songs limits freedom of speech.
For now, the controversial lyrics will not be heard on Irie FM or any of the island’s radio stations or television channels – unless they want to risk losing their licence.
Professor Waller said programme managers and station owners, or operators were required to take immediate steps to prevent transmission of any recorded material falling into the offending categories.
A lot of musicians, notably dancehall artists, have made money from singing about guns and explicit lyrics that denigrate women.
