Founders of Island Music Conference (IMC) Orville “Shaggy” Burrell, Judith Bodley, and Sharon Burke say the third staging of the Island Music Conference will continue to build global music bridges, using one Caribbean footprint.

“We’re bringing a lot of people in from different agencies, and people who could get with us and help us to navigate as reggae and dancehall artistes through the thick of things on a global scale. We’re uniting the region and the world through music — the universal language,” SAID Chairman Orville “Shaggy” Burrell.

The conference, which runs from February 19-23, predominantly at Courtleigh Auditorium, in New Kingston, this year featureS the exclusive Chairman’s Dinner, interactive panels, five acclaimed keynote speakers, a new talent on the block showcase, an international DJ clash, and its usual night of the stars with a top-tier line-up.

Last year Sean Paul, Wyclef Jean, StoneBwoy, Mya, Kes, Yohan Marley, TeeJay, Jesse Royal, Nadine Sutherland, and Kemar Highcon were just some of the names participating in the conference.

YouTube, Spotify, Meta, Apple Music, S-Curve, Audio Mack, United Masters, Iheart, Epic Records, Atlantic, RCA, VP Records, Grammys, Fox 5, Forbes, The Source, Baller Alert, BET, Blavity, Rap Radar, & Hot97 are among those participating in the conference.

The IMC 2025 keynote speakers include Doug E Fresh on ‘Staying in Demand’; Brandon Bakshi, ‘Drugs & the Entertainment Industry’ sharing his own journey; and Chris Anakute one-on-one with Judith Bodley about his journey through Def Jam, Virgin and now developing talent at The Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Producers (LAAMP)

Panels this year delve into spinning negative publicity and staying on brand, ‘The Digital Economy of Music’, ‘Reggae & Dancehall reclaiming Europe’, ‘The Young Artiste’s Dilemma’, ‘Contracts, Copyrights, Publishing & Royalties’, and ‘The Grammy Conversation’ with three team members from the Grammy’s among other trending topics.

For the second time the conference will feature the ‘Punch lines & Rhymes’ Songwriter’s Workshop driven by Mikie Bennett, who will be joined by recording artiste and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Gordon Chambers. Singer-songwriter Stacy Barthe, who has been credited on songs for artistes including Beyonce, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Nipsey Hussle, and Rihanna, will also bring her expertise to the 2025 workshop.

Fifteen of the globe’s top DJs including Funk Master Flex, DJ Enuff, DJ Puffy, DJ Pup Dog, DJ 4eign, DJ Buck, Vondada, Doc Johnson, Seani B, and Spexdaboss will be on the ground for the Skillz On Steel! TIFA will be here with her brand-new radio station out of Miami — I&I Radio.

The conference ends every year on a Sunday evening premiering short films, after a discussion on music and film.