With days to go before 2015 ends, the Jamaica Observer reaches out in this tri-weekly slot to entertainment personalities for their views on what the year meant to them.

THOUGH it is home to thousands of people with Jamaican heritage, the United Kingdom no longer has a vibrant reggae market.

According to Pauline Stephenson, a Jamaican publicist who lives in London, that slump continued in 2015.

Stephenson is principal of Magnetic Energy Promotions which helped organise the One Love Festival and shows by singer Lukie D in the UK this year.

“The most fulfilling thing in terms of what I do was the One Love Festiva, which embraced reggae across the board in relation to patrons and artistes from various countries,” Stephenson told the

Jamaica Observer. “It exposed the unity that can be instilled when people communicate, share a true love and passion for the genre.”

There was no increase in the number of shows featuring Jamaican artistes, especially contemporary acts. Freddie McGregor, Romain Virgo, Beres Hammond, Bunny Wailer and Marcia Griffiths did package concerts in London, Manchester and Bristol, but Stephenson points out that younger artistes “need to step up their game”.

“Given the most recent press regarding the massive decline in the sales of reggae, it’s no longer enough to come out with one hit single, which is all the rage in Jamaica, and expect to be booked,” she said. “I expect to see artistes coming with more authentic music as that is what people want to hear — less covers and more original lyrics.”

An educator by profession, Stephenson has produced and promoted shows in the UK for the last three years. Bugle, Vybrant, Frankie Paul and Khaliah Rose are some of the artistes she has worked with.

— Howard Campbell