Jamaica’s live entertainment sector is staging more than 16,000 events annually, yet only a fraction are properly licensed — leaving millions in potential music royalties uncollected and thousands of creators underpaid. That stark warning came from Evon Mullings, general manager of Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS), who told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that weak enforcement and outdated administrative systems are quietly draining the country’s music economy.
While Jamaica continues to dominate global culture through reggae and dancehall, Mullings argued that the island is failing to convert that influence into sustainable earnings for its creatives. He described public performance — spanning hotels, bars, restaurants, shops, bands and large-scale events — as the single biggest area of “leakage”. With data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the Jamaica Constabulary Force showing thousands of events each year, JAMMS estimates it is licensing only a little over a third. “Public performance really broadly encompasses the non-media side of things… and that is where we have the most significant area of leakage,” Mullings said, pointing to inconsistent requirements across parishes as a key weakness.
At the heart of the issue is a structural gap in the permit system. Under the Copyright Act, organisers must secure public performance licences when music is played outside a domestic setting. However, Mullings explained that the police — who give final approval for events — lack the legal authority to compel promoters to obtain JAMMS and Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers (JACAP) permits in advance. That means enforcement often comes too late, sometimes when an event is already under way. Rather than shutting down events and creating tension, Mullings is pushing for copyright clearance to be embedded into the permit approval process from the start, supported by stronger cross-ministry coordination.
Meanwhile, another earnings gap is affecting Jamaican vocalists and musicians on the global stage. Mullings revealed that performers’ rights remain weaker than in some overseas territories, blocking access to reciprocal royalty flows and leaving millions of US dollars effectively stuck abroad. In response, committee chair and Minister with responsibility for entertainment and culture Olivia Grange signalled that reform may be on the horizon, including a possible one-stop permit structure and improved public education for small promoters. For an industry that fuels tourism, nightlife and international branding, the message from stakeholders is clear: Jamaica’s music economy cannot afford to keep leaving money on the table.
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