With very strong interest in the Jamaica Gospel Star competition, Jamaica’s culture ministry is leaving no stone unturned in making the 2023 Jamaica Festival Song Competition the best ever.

To this end, the 2023 Jamaica Festival Song album featuring this year’s 11 finalists, is now live on major streaming services across the world including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal and many others. This year, the culture ministry has again targeted 30 streaming platforms. 

It is the fourth consecutive year that finalists in the Jamaica Festival Song Competition have been released on global streaming platforms. Culture Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange told Parliament yesterday afternoon that the Andrew Holness administration is revitalising the competition, making it bigger and better.

She explained that releasing the songs on global streaming platforms continues to be a major accomplishment to provide the biggest platform possible not only for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) but for the finalists and our music. Grange is encouraging all Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora, as well as lovers of Jamaican music, everywhere to support the artistes by streaming and downloading their songs.

National exposure for artiste

She spoke about the national exposure being given to the finalists, noting “so far, we have introduced the finalists to the nation in a live two-and-half-hour show on TVJ, PBCJ and social media. The Jamaica Festival finalists also participated in a promotional show in Montego Bay last week Wednesday; and they’re due to perform at the Bank of Jamaica Lunch Hour Concert, next week Friday, July 28.”

The winner will be announced live on national television and social media on Saturday, July 29. The announcement show will take place at the Festival Village at the National Arena.

Jamaica Gospel Star competition

There is currently very strong interest in the Jamaica Gospel Star competition. The ministry has created a made-for-tv show with the Jamaica Gospel Star, which airs every Sunday on CVM and PBCJ until the winner is decided on Sunday, July 23. 

In the meantime, Grange is encouraging the public to vote for their favourites via text messaging or via the Reggae Jamaica App. As usual, public vote will help to select the Jamaica Festival Song winner for 2023. 

She used the occasion to thank the national broadcasters for helping her ministry to highlight the finalists by playing their songs. The finalists are also being featured on the social media pages of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (@mcgesJamaica, as well as on the JCDC’s social media pages and my pages as well.