Entertainment

Timeless Tour shows global demand for Sean Paul - Artiste clocks No. 34 on Spotify’s Worldwide Rankings

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:00:12 -0400

Following the completion of his highly successful Timeless Tour, Sean Paul continues to prove why he remains one of the most commercially successful Caribbean artistes in history. The European run attracted thousands of fans across the continent and reinforced dancehall’s enduring influence on the global music landscape.

Rain, tears and laughter at Ernie Smith tribute

Nicola A. Cunningham/Entertainment Coordinator — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:26:07 -0400

It was truly the pitter patter of raindrops that greeted the gathering at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre last Friday as the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission held a tribute to Glenroy Anthony Smith, better known as Ernie Smith.

Hannah Collings-Myers is Miss Universe Jamaica Kingston & St Andrew

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:06:32 -0400

Medical student Hannah Collings-Myers was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica Kingston and St Andrew early Sunday morning at the parish grand coronation held at the Douglas Orane Auditorium at Wolmer's Boys' School in Kingston.

Caribbean Week in NY ends on a high - New fans ‘Drift’ to Tee Jay at Rum & Rhythm

Dave Rodney/Gleaner Writer — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:51:30 -0400

One knew the New York City party would be blazing hot when no one complained about the almost US$200 ticket price. Caribbean Week in New York showcases the dazzling diversity of the cultures of the Caribbean. This year's annual Rum & Rhythm party was held in Lower Manhattan on Thursday evening. Tourist boards and hoteliers always know how to throw a good party, and when the efforts of the leading destinations of the Caribbean were combined, the end result was nothing short of spectacular. Participating destinations included the Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, St Kitts, the US Virgin Islands and Jamaica, and each destination brought its unique allure to the all-inclusive party.

A ‘Magnum’ Reggae Sumfest - Title sponsor role for dancehall brew

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:49:06 -0400

Reggae Sumfest, marketed as the Caribbean’s premier music festival, has secured a title sponsor for its 2026 iteration, Magnum Tonic Wine, in a move that is being hailed as one which reinforces the brand’s longstanding role as a committed stakeholder championing dancehall.
Over the years, Magnum has become synonymous with high-energy experiences at Reggae Sumfest that extend beyond the main stage. From the Magnum Street Dance to the Global Sound Clash, the brand has created platforms that celebrate the essence of dancehall, its lyrical diversity, competitive spirit, and deep connection to the people.

Karbon D Hardone ‘guided by the spirit’

Yasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:53:47 -0400

He’s called Karbon D Hardone, sometimes written as Karbon D Hard 1, and he has an interesting physics-meets-chemistry-meets-life kind of explanation as to how he came up with the name. But, it all makes sense and includes blackness, energy, electricity and the element on the periodic table.

Lord Composer’s family talks ‘Hill and Gully Ride’ - No royalties collected for 72 years

Carl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:41:46 -0400

Seventy two years later, and the rhythm of one of Jamaica’s first recordings, in what was then a fledgling music industry, is a hit all over again. But, unlike 1954 when Omri Mundle, aka Lord Composer, along with his Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra, recorded Hill and Gully Ride at Stanley Motta’s studio at 93 Hanover Street in Kingston, this time, there’s a whole lot of goings-on.
Producer Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor, true to his alias, has brought traditional Jamaican mento to mainstream dancehall in a big way, giving the music industry one of the biggest riddims, and he deserves credit.

Festival Song Competition finalists revealed

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:26:47 -0400

The names of the Top-10 finalists in the 2026 Jamaica Festival Song Competition, have been disclosed. Minister of Culture, Gender Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange made the announcement following an exhilarating semi-final showcase held on May 16 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St. Andrew, where 31 talented semi-finalists delivered vibrant performances. After careful deliberation, the judges selected the 10 entries that will move forward in the competition.

Judge rules in favour of Kanye West concert

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:08:15 -0400

AMSTERDAM (AP) — A judge in Amsterdam on Wednesday rejected an appeal by a Jewish organisation to block two performances by the rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, ruling that the concerts are not a threat to public order.

‘Pickney Sinting’ a hit at PBCJ Watch Party

Nicola A. Cunningham/Entertainment Coordinator — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:31:20 -0400

Closing out Child Month with a bang, the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) staged their quarterly Watch Party last Saturday under the theme ‘Pickney Sinting Edition’. The series started in 2025 when the organisers resurrected old archival tapes of local films, commercials, sitcoms, comedies, panel discussions, and game shows shot at the studios of the then Broadcasting Corporation in the mid- to late-20th) century. They have also incorporated new short films and documentaries that have won awards, demonstrating how the past shapes the current and future media landscape.