A US judge has rejected the central “selection and arrangement” theory behind claims involving nearly 2,000 reggaeton songs, while leaving separate sound-recording allegations alive. The ruling is a major lesson in how cultural influence, rhythmic innovation and copyright protection are not always the same thing. One of the most important copyright cases linking Jamaican music with reggaeton has changed direction sharply. A US federal judge has rejected the central legal theo

Grammy-Winning Reggae Icon Shaggy raises the stakes with the official remix of “Lottery,” featuring Jeremih, Rick Ross and Skillibeng. Set for release on September 11th through Ranch Entertainment and VP Records, the remix brings four distinctive voices together for a major cross-genre collaboration. The original “Lottery,” featuring Jeremih, serves as the title track of Shaggy’s 13-track studio album, released on May 15, 2026. The project is rooted in the philosophy of bett

The Essence of "My Brother's Keeper" "My Brother's Keeper" has always been more than a song title for Kardinal Offishall. It embodies a living philosophy. Born in Toronto, Canada, to Jamaican parents, Kardinal has spent over three decades channeling the immigrant experience, community solidarity, and Caribbean pride into music that resonates globally. A Deeper Narrative in Part 2 "Part 2" deepens this narrative. The collaboration with NESTA is an embodiment of the record's me

After decades helping shape reggae and dancehall from behind the scenes, Kirk “Kirkledove” Bennett brings his own voice, emotion and production identity forward on a reggae-dub fusion album. For decades, Jamaican music audiences have heard Kirk “Kirkledove” Bennett even when they may not have known his name. The drummer, producer, songwriter and session musician has worked behind singers and deejays across reggae and dancehall, building the rhythmic foundation while headline

New international work on attribution, fingerprinting, watermarking and AI training transparency suggests that accurate catalogue data may determine whether creators are licensed or disappear from the value chain. Editorial verification: A new international AI infrastructure initiative launched in 2026 is bringing together creators, rights holders, technology companies and technical experts around data identification, attribution, watermarking, fingerprinting and rights manag

Various creative talents are to be found within the reggae music industry and the dancehall space. Indeed, the humourous, intelligent and unforgettable utterances made by some of these individuals, whether live on stage or in the studio, speak volume of their ‘wordy witticisms’ and their impressive lyrical construction which attract many fans and admirers worldwide. In light of such observations I will make reference to four well known creative entertainers who, as a result

Cast and crew of Redeemed Seven Caribbean Film Awards nominations and capacity audiences give the faith-based crime drama a powerful opening while strengthening the case for sustained commercial distribution of Jamaican cinema. The August 3 premiere of Redeemed: A Father’s Love sold out three scheduled 6:00 p.m. Carib 5 theatres, with strong demand for Ultra and VIP screenings and an additional 8:40 p.m. screening added. The production has received seven Caribbean Film Awards

Maybe some of you have not observed this apparent obsession about Jamaicans, but whether you want to believe it or not we have something going for the number two. Now don’t get me wrong because in one instant this number plays quite a negative role in terms of certain things, where it is pinned on to some men (sing in ‘Terror Fabulous’ voice: “Some man a play # 2…”, ). That aside however, economically, politically, socially and even for leisure and pleasure, Jamaicans always

Can Artists Trademark Their Voices? AI Replication Is Creating a New Music-Rights Frontier Recent efforts to register distinctive spoken phrases and vocal signatures show how performers are expanding brand protection beyond names, logos and conventional copyright. Artists and entertainment companies are increasingly exploring sound trademarks as artificial intelligence makes recognisable voices, phrases and vocal identities easier to imitate.A trademark is usually associated

Jamaica could support this market through workshops connecting musicians with game developers, animators and technology companies. Universities and creative-industry organisations could help build locally owned games that draw on Jamaican stories and musical heritage.