ABSTRACT
In 1983, the then Prime Minister of Jamaica, Edward Seaga, gave this appraisal of the significance of the music industry in his country:
‘It is a way out for young composers who come from a ghetto background-it’s a way out in terms of becoming a professional in a field that gives an income level that is not attainable in the normal occupations that would be open.… As in most countries, musicians come from underprivileged backgrounds. It’s a path of vertical mobility that’s very important in our society.’
