KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange is urging radio stations to play more Jamaican music.

According to a news release from the ministry, Grange said that based on data from the Jamaica Association of Composers Authors and Publishers (JACAP), which deals with the payment of royalties for the performance of music in Jamaica, it was clear that local disc jockeys prefer to play foreign music.

“I am very disappointed about JACAP having to pay out more money for foreign music played on the radio than it has for Jamaican music. Thirty-two million dollars have been sent out of the country while only $7 million have been paid to Jamaican writers for music based on what the radio stations are playing,” Grange said at the launch of Rebel Salute 2017 at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday.

Grange said that if there were not such a huge disparity, more money would be distributed to local creators of music and spent in the local economy.

She therefore appealed to disc jockeys and radio librarians to include more locally created music in their programming.

“Appreciate what is ours and promote what is ours,” the minister urged.

At the same time, Grange commended Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica and the entire Rebel Salute team for putting on an event that “promotes good Jamaican music”.