Talk of Jamaica possibly establishing a Reggae Hall of Fame have been ignited over the past few months with industry insiders weighing in on the issue. Several key persons within the music fraternity believe that establishing a Reggae Hall of Fame will spell nothing but positivity for Jamaica. After giving their two cents on where the perfect location for this historic Hall of Fame would be, these industry players also explored what the venture would mean for Jamaica’s economy.
In a recent interview with The Gleaner, Junior Lincoln, finance director, Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), said that a Reggae Hall of Fame is long overdue. He believes that, like tourism, a Reggae Hall of Fame would be a great earner of foreign exchange in the long term. “Making this thing happen will be an investment on the country’s part. We have to spend money to make money. That is how business goes,” he explained. “Brand Jamaica is big internationally. Jamaica’s culture sells and it is time we learn to tap into that.”
To drive home his point, Lincoln made mention of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in America. “Look at what America did. When rock and roll music exploded in the United States, the country and the music industry used the attention the music was receiving to establish one of the greatest music museums in the world and they have been profiting ever since.”
While conducting research for this article, The Gleaner visited the official website for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. While scanning through information about the Hall of Fame, it was revealed that the establishment is a great income generator for the country. Described as a ‘must-see music destination’, the Hall of Fame has had over 10 million visitors and has driven more than US$2 billion into the regional economy since its opening in 1995. The website also revealed that the Hall of Fame generates more than US$107 million annually.
Read the full story at jamaica-gleaner.com
