Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange is warning that young entertainers in the dancehall space won’t last as long as veterans such as Beenie Man and Bounty Killa, if they continue to sing about violence and scamming.

Grange was speaking at the launch of Sting 2022 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Tuesday night (November 8).

In her main address, the minister spoke specifically to young artistes in the dancehall industry, and noted that dancehall is not just music.

“Dancehall is not just a music; it’s not just a genre, but it is also a lifestyle. Dancehall has produced some great artistes and dancehall has done a lot for Jamaica,” she declared.

“I want you to promote the positive things about Jamaica and about ‘livity’. Because, if you don’t, you won’t last as long as the ‘Bounty Killers’, and the ‘Shabba Ranks’ and the ‘Beenie Man’.”

She noted that the young artistes are talented, but urged them to respect the music and carry on the positive vibes of those who came before them.

In light of the Broadcasting Commission’s recent ban on songs about scamming, drugs and violence from local airwaves, Grange also urged entertainers to refrain from singing about violence when they are on stage.

“I don’t want to hear you continue to sing about scamming, those of you who are doing so.  And I don’t want you to sing about violence,” said Grange, as she looked forward to the first staging of Sting since 2015.

As minister of gender, she also requested that artistes be respectful of women in their songs.

Sting is a Jamaican music stageshow that has gained international recognition since its first staging in 1984.

The event has been kept at locations across Kingston and St Andrew as well as, most notably, at JamWorld in St Catherine.

Grange also announced that JamWorld, is now owned by the Government of Jamaica and, under her leadership, would become one of the greatest entertainment complexes to be found in the hemisphere.

READ: Government now owns JamWorld; to develop world-class entertainment venue