JAMAICA (Commonwealth Union)_ The Jamaican broadcasting watchdog has outlawed music and TV shows that it deems glorify or support crime, violence, drug use, con games, and weaponry.
According to the government, the restriction is intended to limit content that “may create the false impression that criminality is an accepted aspect of Jamaican culture and society”. Some Jamaican artists criticised the law, claiming it won’t do much to reduce crime and will exclude the populations affected by increased gun violence from the discourse.
According to Stephen McGregor, a Grammy-winning Jamaican music producer and vocalist, “art imitates life, and the music is coming from what is happening in Jamaica for real”. However, they attempt to impede growth because it doesn’t match the moral mould they would like it to have.
Authorities in the Caribbean Island tried to reduce the high levels of gun violence before enacting the ban. According to the research centre Insight Crime, Jamaica had the highest murder rate in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2021. Such music or film on public broadcasts, according to the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, “normalises lawlessness among vulnerable and impressionable youth.”
The guideline further stated that “urban lingo” that has anything to do with obtaining money, wire transfers, accumulating wealth, or leading a luxury lifestyle should be avoided by channels. In particular, it cited the terms “jungle justice,” “bank/foreign account,” “meal,” “wallet,” “purse,” “burner phone,” and “client.”
Artists like McGregor, also known as Di GENIUS in the music industry, disagreed, claiming that the ban violated his right to free speech and that the Jamaican government would be better served by focusing on issues like the nation’s economic situation, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
The broadcasting commission declined to comment on criticisms of the restriction and provided no information regarding the repercussions of a breach. The commission requested reports of any alleged violations from the public.
Such prohibitions have previously been enacted in Jamaica, including one in 2009. McGregor claimed that despite repeated attempts to ban his music from the country’s airwaves due to references to sex and firearms, the bans never actually stuck.
Other Jamaican musicians like Rvssian, NotNice, and Romeich have all denounced the command on social media. Many argued that such a policy wouldn’t have much of an actual impact on violence, particularly given that the majority of young people’s media consumption is done through streaming services like Spotify or YouTube.
