Page 42 - Reggae Festival Guide Magazine 2018

nationalistic tone, where the emphasis,

according to Trump, is to put America first and

protect American workers. In Donald Trump’s

America, the American live reggae performer
is a protected species. It should therefore

not be surprising to find that as the reggae

festival circuit grows in the U.S., there will be

more and more homegrown reggae bands

performing. While opportunities for foreign
reggae performers increase in a growing

festival market, the ability of foreign artists

to take advantage of these opportunities

may diminish.

So, yes, the United States has the largest market

Australian artist Nattali Rize. Photo by © 2018 Sista Irie Photography in the world for live music, but live reggae is also

market in America is the often misunderstood in demand in a wide range of other countries

and criticized “Reggae Revival” movement that around the world. Many countries have

introduced artists like Chronixx, Raging Fyah, restrictive immigration laws and regulations
Protoje, Jesse Royal , Jah9, Kabaka Pyramid regarding the entry of foreign performers for

and others to new American audiences. The work. The U.K. and European countries such

impact of foreign reggae artists – such as Europe’s as Germany, France and the Netherlands have

Alborosie, Gentleman and Mellow Mood, and their own rules and guidelines regarding entry

Australian musician and singer Nattali Rize – on of foreign artists to work. Countries in Africa,

the U.S. reggae festival circuit should also be the Caribbean and Latin America – where
taken into consideration. demand for live reggae is also on the rise

Ignorance about the legal requirements and – are far less stringent with their visa entry

implications for foreign artists working in the requirements for foreign performers. The reality

U.S. and the expense involved in appropriately is that both American reggae fans and foreign
preparing visa applications have resulted in reggae performers who can’t meet stringent

many foreign artists performing illegally in work visa requirements may have to explore

the United States. Entering and operating other options to present and enjoy live reggae
inside the U.S. in breach of immigration law music. How about a Love & Harmony Cruise

is a major risk under “normal conditions,” or Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise in the

but even more so risky today in light of the Caribbean? Big ships sailing on the ocean…

policies of the current American government we don’t need no commotion.

administration. The topic of immigration to One Love,
the U.S. has always been one to cause heated

debates and the expression of diverse Lloyd Stanbury

opinions. American immigration policy Entertainment Attorney
under Donald Trump has taken an extreme and Music Business Consultant

42 Reggae Festival guide 2018