CARIFORUM PLANS FOR MORE INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE FOR CARIBBEAN MUSIC—04/11/15
The Caribbean Music Industry will represent a large part of the 3rd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum scheduled for April 15 and 16, 2015, in Montego Bay. According to Billy Grant, founder of 2Point9 Records and a speaker at the event, Caribbean music represents an untapped resource that could be much more powerful on the global stage. There are opportunities for innovative companies and artists around the world to collaborate with Caribbean producers, artistes, and labels to create new music.

MACHEL MONTANO SET ENDS EARLY IN ST. ANDREW—04/12/15
Soca star Machel Montano was 45 minutes into his performance of “Party Done” at Pandemonium in Hope Gardens in St. Andrew when the sound went low. While the audience believed a technical problem was to blame, in actuality, police officers were involved because the event had gone past its cut-off time of 1 AM. Shaggy joined Montano on the stage and was performing some of his hits when the sound level dropped. Angela Hunte tried to perform a duet with Montano without the sound system. Attempts to speak with concert organizers about the problem were unsuccessful

ALKALINE FEATURED AT CONCERT IN DOMINICA—04/16/15
According to reports from news sources in Dominica, Alkaline will perform at a concert at Saaman Gardens in Canefield on May 2, 2015. Unless there is a risk to security, Alkaline’s performance cannot be stopped in the CARICOM nation. Arlington Wilson, the vice-president of the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches, had stated that artistes like Alkaline should be barred from performing in that country. However, Dominica’s Prime Minister said it would be a violation of a person’s rights and the CARICOM agreement to bar anyone who is not a security risk from entering the country.

BOB MARLEY HONORED BY AFRICAN UNION CHAIRPERSON—04/17/15
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the first woman chairperson of the African Union, paid a short official visit to Jamaica and made a special effort to visit the Bob Marley Museum. She made a tour of the museum with her delegation and described the visit as impressive, inspiring, and informative. Gifts and greetings were presented on behalf of founder Mrs. Rita Marley by the manager of the Rita Marley Foundation, Rosemary Duncan. The Foundation supports humanitarian projects in Ghana in West Africa.