The entry deadline for the Jamaica Festival Song Competition has been extended to Friday, March 18, 2022. According to the competition’s Committee Chairman, Mr. Orville Hill, this is to allow more time for potential entrants to better complete their entries before submission.
“This is a special year for the Festival Song Competition as it is Jamaica 60, our Diamond Jubilee, and so our potential entrants gave us feedback that they needed more time to improve their entries. Given that we are focused on accepting and promoting only the best, we have decided to extend the entry deadline to accommodate enhancement of the entry product.” Hill said.
“I also encourage all other Jamaican singers and song writers who are interested in entering this year’s competition but just needed an extra push to take advantage of this deadline extension. We are looking for a memorable, festive and patriotic song that can tie the yearlong Jamaica 60 Independence celebrations together and help to unite Jamaicans across the globe,” Hill continued.
The competition, which is open to all Jamaicans 18 years and older, has produced many notable Reggae artistes over its almost six decades, while also cementing its place on the annual independence celebrations roster for Jamaicans both at home and abroad.
Persons interested in entering the Jamaica Festival Song competition may do so on the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) website www.jcdc.gov.jm. They should note that their digital entry will require them to upload an MP3 file format of their entry song as well as an adjoining lyric sheet to the JCDC’s website. It should be noted that the entry will carry a $1000 JMD fee. Additional information regarding the competition’s rules and guidelines may also be found on the JCDC’s website.
“We had an eclectic mix of memorable Festival Songs last year, covering all Jamaican genres from Roots, to Reggae, to Dancehall to Mento and even Rocksteady, and amongst our many acknowledgments was a Grammy consideration for Best Reggae Album for the year 2021. Each year this competition continues to grow and expand, so we hope to have a similar catalogue showing off our musical talents for this upcoming celebration, but it is up to our nation’s most talented established and upcoming musicians to help make this a reality,” Hill said.
The Jamaica Festival Song Competition, which was first staged in 1966, has helped to launch and advance the careers of some of Jamaica’s most acclaimed singers and songwriters. Winners of the competition have included Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Decker, Eric Donaldson, Roy Rayon, Stanley Beckford as well as the newest 2020 and 2021 winners Reggae superstar Buju Banton and Dancehall dynamite ‘Stacious’ respectively.
Photo Caption: Reggae/Dancehall artiste Stacious (left) receives her first place trophy and cheque for her winning 2021 Festival Song Jamaican Spirit, from Minister of Culture, Gender Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange (centre) and Digicel Brand Marketing Manager Reshima Kelly-Williams, a sponsor of the competition, during its televised grand final last July.
