More Women Needed in Jamaican Music Business Minister Grange Says

Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, spoke about the small number of women who performed at the recently held Rebel Salute Reggae Festival. She is concerned that Jamaica is not producing more female artistes and wants to do her best to increase the numbers of them.

Grange said, “even the well-established female artistes are few in numbers.” She said the popular female artistes “leave the island for tours” and then, they are unavailable for many of the local events that are held on the island.

” Grange, who is a former manager of dancehall icons such as Shabba Ranks, Bounty Killer and Patra,” said.  She thinks there are some young female artistes coming up who are extremely good, but we need more.

The former Shang executive decided that she will make it a point of her duty to seek and find talented female artistes and increase the number of women who get booked to perform at more of the major Reggae festivals that are being held on the island.

The Minister wants Jamaica to get more female artistes out “in the streets, on stages and on charts,” representing the various Jamaican genres.

“It cannot be reduced to Dancehall only, but about all the genres that have over the years helped to produce Jamaica’s music. I am going to produce that,” she added.

” Grange, who will be celebrating her 74th birthday in April, said. It is not impossible.