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| Bob Marley |
According to a Jamaica Observer report ‘vintage’ Jamaican Reggae artistes “did comparatively better throughout 2012 mainly through the reissue market” than current popular/international local Reggae and Dancehall artistes. The report stated that the legendary Bob Marley, King of Jamaican music led the ‘vintage field’ with Legend, the 1984 compilation of 13 most popular Marley songs, which soared past 25 million copies sold and recognized as one of the biggest selling ‘greatest hits’ collections in music history. Legend has been a fixture on Billboard magazine’s catalogue for over 20 years. The Marley documentary produced by British Director Kevin McDonald which premier in Kingston earlier this year and drew a massive crowd at the Emancipation Park venue, sold 31,656 copies of the official soundtrack and had been nominated for a NAACP Image Award. Jimmy Cliff’s Grammy nominated album sold, 33, 843 copies.
In another report, Jamaica Observer’s Howard Campbell analysed that, “2012 is a year players in dancehall/reggae will want to forget in a hurry.” Presenting statistics from the most recent Soundscan report he said “figures show dismal returns from some of the big names in Jamaican music.” As of December 9, Sean Paul’s
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| Sean Paul |
‘Tomahawk Technique‘ album sold 3,797 copies, Busy Signal’s ‘Reggae Music Again‘ sold 4,548, Konshens ‘Mental Maintenance‘ sold, 1,263, Romain Virgo; young talented and much touted, his album ‘The System‘ sold 1490, Mr. Vegas ‘Sweet Jamaica‘ sold 1,963, while ‘One Love, One Life‘ by Beres Hammond only sold, 2,198 copies.
by: Sophia Mckay
Resource:
Jamaican Music Sale Plummet
Vintage Year for Veterans
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