THE huge potential of reggae to drive Jamaica’s economy has again been underscored by a member of the music fraternity.

Brian Schmidt, the marketing manager at Jamaica’s only all-reggae radio station, IRIE FM, has come out swinging for the local entertainment industry which he says could become the backbone of the Jamaican economy, noting, “Reggae is Jamaica’s oil.”

According to him, there is no Brand Jamaica without reggae music, as all the sectors including tourism and manufacturing are totally dependent on the music. “We cannot build our country and economy without reggae, yet what we have is an industry strangled by inaction at various levels.

Speaking at yesterday’s launch of Reggae Month organised by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, (JaRIA), Schmidt noted that while other sectors have received their bailouts and other forms of government assistance, nothing was being done to aid the music industry which does not need a hand out, but rather incentives.

One area he highlighted as being crippling to the music, is the Noise Abatement Act, which he says only serves to strangle the local culture.

“What is needed is sensible night noise regulation as well as proper zoning, as different industries need different spaces in which to operate. Everybody talks about New York, the city that never sleeps, then why should out people go to bed at midnight, if they really want to party? All concerned need to do the things which are required to enable rather than disable reggae music,” Schmidt said.

Reggae Month will be observed throughout the month of February. The activities to celebrate the month include the staging of the annual Dennis Brown concert; the launch of the Save the Music Campaign, a series of weekly concerts to be staged at the Edna Manley College and the JaRIA Honour Awards.