The fifth staging of the Jamaica Creative Career Expo, held on Wednesday, strongly emphasised the importance of young creatives prioritising ownership, intellectual property rights, and business literacy in the evolving music industry.

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport partnered with the Island Music Conference (IMC) to stage the fifth edition of the Jamaica Creative Career Expo under the theme ‘Careers in Music, Media, Publishing’.

The IMC mounted its fourth presentation under the theme ‘Music Is the Unifying Force’.

Addressing the opening ceremony on Wednesday (February 25) at the Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston, Portfolio Minister Olivia Grange, stated that the partnership between the Ministry and IMC represents a strategic move to professionalise and strengthen Jamaica’s creative economy.

“This year’s focus…reflects a critical shift in our music industry. The future of music is not only about performing or producing but it is about ownership, publishing, distribution, intellectual property and the many professional pathways that exist,” she said.

Grange emphasised that although Jamaica has long been recognised globally for its cultural output—from mento and ska to Reggae and dancehall—the industry must now be supported by strong institutions and modern governance frameworks.

“The creative economy is no longer informal…it is strategic. Jamaica intends to continue to lead the way in ensuring that we are recognised as an industry and not just people who go and play music as a recreational activity,” she said.

Grange reiterated that the Government is moving to establish an institute for cultural practitioners, innovators and entertainers, aimed at professionalising, certifying and supporting creatives across the sector.

“Every Jamaican…has talent. But we must provide institutions that will help to deliver the training and development necessary to ensure that you become professionals,” the minister said.

Chairman and Co-founder of the IMC and internationally acclaimed recording artiste, Orville “Shaggy” Burrell, underscored the importance of merging creativity with business acumen.

“Oftentimes when we think about the music business…it’s always the creative part that people focus on…The business side, they don’t get. So, their intellectual properties are normally owned by other people, just because they don’t know,” he said.

Burrell highlighted that ownership is critical in today’s music landscape, particularly in the digital era where streaming, licensing and publishing generate ongoing revenue.

Burrell highlighted that ownership is critical in today’s music landscape, particularly in the digital era, where streaming, licensing, and publishing generate sustained revenue.

“Ownership is everything. If you are the person who is the creative and you have the talent…you are the boss. But…you must have the knowledge so that people working for you cannot [mislead] you. You have to know your game,” he advised.

The entertainer encouraged participants to leverage the expo as a networking platform, stressing that relationship-building and a strong work ethic are essential for longevity in the industry.

Burrell further urged participants to use the platform to build meaningful industry connections, noting that many of the attendees are key players across film, publishing, touring and digital platforms, and that young creatives have the opportunity to engage them directly and expand their professional networks.

Burrell further urged participants to use the platform to build meaningful industry connections, noting that many attendees are key players in film, publishing, touring, and digital platforms, and that young creatives have the opportunity to engage them directly and expand their professional networks.

The four-day IMC, running from Wednesday, February 25, to Saturday, February 28, features panel discussions, interactive sessions, and direct engagement with industry professionals in music, film, publishing, and digital distribution.