‘Reggae Music Needs A Pension Plan’

Veteran singer Josie Mel believes that the major stakeholders in the reggae music fraternity need to hammer together a plan to implement a pension plan for aging artists and musicians.

“The time for action is now, a lot of major veteran artists are reaching an age where they need more support, they were the ones who toured and championed reggae all over the world, and there should be a plan to help take care of them so they can age gracefully,” Josie Mel said in an interview with DancehallMag.

“For years, we have been paying lip service to the idea of a pension plan for artists, but it is necessary. Given the fact that as they get older, like everybody else, and sometimes cannot help themselves…you hear terrible rumours about artists who have contributed to our industry, who are homeless, destitute or suffering, more can be done,” Josie Mel said.

In 2019, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Honorable Olivia Babsy Grange, has announced plans by her ministry to establish an insurance fund for performing artists and musicians.

Minister Grange advised at the time that proposals include coverage for life, health, maternity, and pension plans. Noting that there is currently a working insurance fund for athletes, Minister Grange shared that the initiative for entertainers will be undertaken in partnership with key stakeholders from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA), Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM), and the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes Affiliates (JAVAA).

“It will never happen,” Frankie Campbell, chairman of The Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA), told DancehallMag.

“There is no basic salary in music, our income and labour is seasonal. It’s not consistent, even the big boys in our industry tour over the Summer, and most shows are between April to September, so that’s when the artist’s support team, the engineers, back up singers, and musicians really earn. So only perhaps workers on the North Coast could conceivably contribute towards a pension plan because they earn salaries, but otherwise, a pension plan for the industry is unworkable.”

Frankie Campbell revealed that JAVAA’s 150-strong membership has a life insurance policy that serves its membership, often subsiding premiums for financially challenged members to ensure that family members can benefit in the event of death.

Still, Josie Mel believes more should be done.

“It’s very embarrassing after artists work so hard throughout their life time then turn around to be subjected to suffering , it doesn’t look good, The top players in the Jamaica music industry and the Jamaican government should have that set up long time just like it set for any other workers so when artist gets old they have some income to live on, or if there is no pension, set up a compassionate fund to aid them in times of need, then,” Josie Mel said.

Mel last released an album, This Whole World in 2007. He had previously released his debut album Freedom on Walboomers Music, and his second full length effort, Rasta Still Deh Bout on the Minor7 Flat5 label.

Born in the sleepy district of Bryant’s Hill, Josie Mel started singing in church at the age of 10. While attending the Crooked River All Age in Clarendon, he sang with the school group and performed at school festivals before getting his first raw exposure to dancehall with the Creation Sound system.

He gained popularity for songs such as Youths Fi Big featuring Capleton and the timeless Rasta Still Deh Bout featuring Lutan Fyah on the Minor 7 Flat 5 label, which did well on the local and overseas music charts.

He has performed at major events such as the Rochester City School District Adult and Career Education Services New York USA, Sting 1997 and Ram Jam 1997, Reggae Sunsplash 1998-1999, Rebel Salute 1998-1999, and Everton Blender Birthday Bash 1998 and 2002, and graced the stage of Reggae Sumfest in 2005.

He toured Europe in 2004 and in 2006 performing in towns such as Marseille, Toulon and Paris in France, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and in the cities of Brixton and London, UK at least four times.