Toeing the line of praise and reprimand, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange issued a vital wake-up call to the music fraternity to protect its worldwide legacy.

While honouring the creators who act as true cultural ambassadors, she firmly warned entertainers that spreading false narratives poses an imminent threat to the very foundations of the local industry.

Addressing the launch of Masicka’s Forever 1NE festival last week, Grange reminded entertainers that their influence extends well beyond the stage and recording studio, placing them in a unique position to shape public thinking, educate audiences, and set examples for the wider society.

She argued that dancehall, in particular, carries an enormous social responsibility because of its deep connection with the people and the considerable influence its practitioners wield.

“Dancehall is the expression of the people; it’s a lifestyle and it is something that has an awesome responsibility because if the people listen to nobody else, dem listen to the dancehall artistes,” she said.

Against this background, Grange urged artistes to recognise that their platforms should be used not only to entertain but also to inform, insisting that music has an important role to play in helping audiences identify truth.

“Yes, music is entertainment, but it’s also a way of educating the people and letting the people understand the truth and not propaganda,” she said.

The minister’s comments were particularly pointed as she addressed the responsibility artistes have to be honest in their public commentary, especially when speaking about matters that could affect the country’s international standing.

Drawing on her own experience in the music business, Grange disclosed that her relationship with reggae and dancehall predates her ministerial portfolio, recalling the years she spent working with talent and championing the genre at a time when it was not widely embraced.

“Most of you are too young to know this, but there are some here tonight who know that I have toiled in the music business for many years, and I have worked with talent, and I am a part of the foundation of music. When it wasn’t popular to promote dancehall I was out there promoting dancehall,” she said.

Having witnessed the genre’s evolution, she said she has seen successive generations contribute to Jamaica’s musical heritage, with each bringing something valuable to the culture.

She was particularly encouraged by the emergence of artistes such as Masicka, whom she described as representing a generation that has found its own voice, established a following, and made its presence felt internationally.

However, while celebrating that progress, Grange challenged artistes to be mindful of how they represent their experiences and the support they receive along the way. She revealed that she has personally intervened to assist several Jamaican artistes who encountered barriers relating to their visas, but said she has deliberately refrained from publicising those interventions.

“There are many artistes out there who have gotten through the barriers that existed in relation to even their visas and I have been put in a position where I have assisted them, but I don’t go out and say I assisted this one or that one. I assist and I don’t broadcast it, but they know who they are and they have a responsibility to be truthful and they have a responsibility to be honest,” she said.

Beyond her words of caution, Grange also commended Masicka and his team for recognising the importance of creating opportunities beyond individual artistic success.

She noted that artistes have a role to play in paving the way for future generations, pointing to the Forever 1NE undertaking as an example of how established performers can use their influence and resources to contribute to the wider music industry.

“There are many ways that artistes can help pave the way for the future. One such way is to look beyond their own performances and recordings and take the initiative to create opportunities that can benefit the wider music industry, and this is precisely what Masicka and his team have done with their undertaking of this music festival,” she said.

For Grange, the responsibility of preserving Jamaica’s musical legacy rests not only with those who have laid its foundations, but also with the artistes now enjoying the reach and recognition created by generations before them. Their influence, she suggested, must be matched by a commitment to honesty, accountability, and the continued development of the culture.