MUSIC industry veteran Wayne Jobson is encouraging Jamaican acts to blend their sound with other genres for a return to foreign charts.

The California-based Jamaican musician, producer and film-maker spoke Tuesday at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Complex. The event was part of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association’s Reggae University series.

According to Jobson, reggae-rock fusion is the current rave in the United States.

“Last year in the US, the largest selling reggae band was Rebelution with 50,000 (copies); second largest was Soldiers of Jah Army (SOJA) with 40,000 copies and the 2014 Grammy-winning Jimmy Cliff closing out the third spot with just 30,000 copies (of Rebirth) sold,” Jobson pointed out. “Cliff was doing all the festivals, he had a six-page spread in Rolling Stone magazine and for all that he just sold 30,000.”

He added: “Competition is strong, so my advice is to put more pop in reggae.”

Jobson also had advice for artistes who believe the way to the big ticket is being signed to an American record label. He said that route has positives, but there are shortcomings.

According to Jobson, major labels have a policy of recording albums, but if it does not sell the product is shelved. That leaves the artiste in a precarious position.

“Your career is dead, unless you can start from scratch,” he said.

The St Ann-raised Jobson and his band Native were signed to Arista Records in 1978.

His film projects include the Peter Tosh documentary, Red X.

— Cecelia Campbell-Livingston