New York-based podcaster-entrepreneur Kerry Ann Brown believes that dancehall’s resurgence as a live music form in the Big Apple augurs well for the future of the genre in the United State.

“The New York entertainment scene is always exciting because of the love of reggae and dancehall from the diverse cultures that resides here in this big melting pot of culture, but there is a new level of excitement in 2025,”said Brown, chief executive officer of Kerry Ann Brown Music Promotions.

“Bounty Killer, Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel…all three entertainers helped to bring back the excitement to the dancehall scene…all three concerts were sold out, people came out to see them after almost a decade of them not being here to perform. Right now, it’s like a breath of fresh air in New York,” she explained.

Over the years, Brown has built up a solid reputation as a social media influencer with her popular ‘Let’s Chat Kerry Ann Brown’ which is broadcast on her own YouTube channel. A former radio host at Reggae King Radio, she also hosts events such as the Easter fish fry artist showcase at VP Records in Queens, New York in April 2025.

According to her, since the successful run of concerts, the metropolis of New York has been bubbling with excitement.

“New York sets the tone, this city is the melting pot of various different cultures but there is a love for Jamaican music here in New York that is unmatched anywhere else in the diaspora,” she stated.

Brown, who heads her own registered company, has over ten years’ experience in the media and she has been selected as a CMA awards presenter in New York where Bounty Killer will be honoured.

New York City has long been a major centre for popular music, and Caribbean music genres like reggae, calypso, dancehall and soca. This cultural smorgasbord is on show especially during the West Indian Day Parade, which takes place annually on Labor Day in Brooklyn. But there is something special about this new wave with its emphasis on dancehall, reggae’s brash young sibling…something different.

Dancehall is winning right now, Brown insisted.

“Selling out Barclays Center is a massive win not only for all three artistes but for dancehall as a whole. It proves the genre is now arena-worthy, capable of pulling international crowds like pop and hip-hop artists, and that the dancehall brand is on par with other major genres in terms of appeal and pulling power,” she said.

Brown knows a thing or two about brands as she owns KBMP Clothing and is a brand manager of new clothing brand, Karama Kouture, which will be officially launched in October. Right now, she is focused on creating the new cadre of young stars that promoters will be banking on to fill up venues.

“I work with a lot of upcoming artistes because they need someone to stand up for them. They are unknown and some are talented but just don’t have the big money to invest so I decided to help them if I see the talent in them,” she shared.

She has her own label, Kerry Ann Brown Productions where she features young artistes on projects that she has conceptualised. She said that there is an unrivaled excitement in the Big Apple surrounding all aspects of Caribbean culture, setting off a multiplier effect in terms of club attendances, streaming numbers and liquor sales, while showing that the Caribbean diaspora wields significant spending power in that state.

‘I have a variety of friends from different cultures that are now asking to book more reggae or dancehall artistes for their events,” she said.

Clubs such as The Compound, Mingles Nightclub in the Bronx and the Amazura nightclub in Queens, New York have been popping with Caribbean events in soca and dancehall and reggae genres.

Top flight names like Alkaline, Shensea, Capleton, Elephant Man and Vegas are also scheduled to perform at the Reggae Fest Massive in Brooklyn on August 30.

“Caribbean culture is really hot in New York, for dancehall, this is like a golden era,” said Brown.

– Claude Mills