Although Reggae has formed a significant part of the UK's urban music soundtrack, apart from the token graveyard slot on BBC Radio One Reggae artists still find it difficult to get airplay for their music. This of course unless they are signed to a major record company.
We are well and truly into the 21st Century and anyone with a finger on the pulse of urban cultural life knows how phenomenally popular Reggae is off the mainstream radio and TV radar. I believe that it's full time that the mainstream media desist from their Reggae prejudice.
Britain traditionally has been Reggae's second home outside Jamaica. It is therefore admirable to find that in a country like France Reggae is played alongside other genres of popular music. Reggae has added significantly to British cultural as have African-Caribbean people.
It is full time that the mainstream media wake up to the fact that Reggae isn't simply another fad that can be easily dismissed. I challenge the media to start playing some positive Reggae music beside Bob Marley (I Love Bob) and UB40 and see if these songs don't chart!
There is currently some really great Reggae artists and music about. Young artists such as Alaine, Etana, Tarus Riley, Kashief Lindo and Gramps Morgan (to mention but a few) are not to be overlooked. There are many Reggae veterans the likes of Beres Hammond that have been criminally overlooked by the UK mainstream media.
Once again I am putting a challenge to mainstream radio such as BBC Radio One and Capital Radio to open up the gates and let in some good solid Reggae/Dancehall (Brick & Lace spring to mind). Play them and see the response! It's time for these stations to get with it!
About Me
- Delroy Washington
- Discovered by Reggae legend Bob Marley Delroy Washington is regarded as the vanguard of British Roots Rock Reggae. He was the first UK Reggae artist signed to Jamaica and led a new wave Reggae movement in the mid-1970's along with acts he helped establish such as Aswad, Steel Pulse, Reggae Regulars, Merger, Misty In Roots and Red cloud. He was signed initially to CBS along with Bob Marley via Johnny Nash's JAD Cayman Music and later went on to set up his own label before Chris Blackwell of Island Records offered him a deal. Things didn't work out for him at Island and he subsequently signed to Richard Branson's Virgin Records. His debut LP album a''I-sus''and second''Rasta'' are Reggae landmarks.
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