Jamaica radio will be more irie with Irie Jam
Entertainer George Clinton. Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated
Press
Caribbean Life, JUNE 18-24, 2021 15
In Jamaica, there is no shortage
of radio stations.
With a population of less than
three million, ROOTS, FAME,
KOOL, HITZ, LOVE, Power,
FYAH, ZIP, Mello, KLAS, Stylz,
Mega Jam, Gospel JA and many
more, inevitably there is always
an outlet catering to the aural
needs of its citizens.
As a matter of fact one is
named IRIE.
Kingston alone boasts more
than 16 radio stations offering
talk, sports, gospel, jazz, hiphop,
reggae, while rural parishes
seem to program as many varieties
targeted to particular local
audiences.
Bess FM broadcasts from St.
Elizabeth, while Ocho Rios programs
the world’s first 24-hour
all reggae music at frequencies
IRIE FM listeners can access
from five separate 107 locations
on the dial, leaving little space for
dead-air anywhere.
However, in the land of plenty,
the Caribbean Global Network
(CGN) Group is ready to launch
another — The Bridge at 99 FM.
Promising a unique format
committed to bridge the divide
between Jamaica and listeners
of IRIE Jam radio in New York,
the allure will feature simulcasts
from the sister station at WVIP
93.5 FM connecting Diasporans
to the targeted local Jamaican
audience.
“We are excited to introduce
The Bridge to Jamaica and
global audiences this month. By
taking advantage of the vast listenership
that IRIE Jam has in
the tristate area, we have created
the perfect conduit for information
sharing between Jamaica
and its extensive Diaspora of over
two million people in the tristate
area.
The Diaspora has always been
an invaluable source of support
for Jamaicans at home, we are
simply seeking to amplify that
relationship to help build communities
and the economy,”
Robert “Bobby” Clarke, founder
of IRIE Jam Media Group and
director of the CGN Group said.
Clarke’s reputation for blazing
trails in media is grounded in his
successful launch of IRIE JAM
Radio 28 years ago which filled
a void when Inner City Broadcasting
Corporation stopped programming
Caribbean oriented
news and entertainment from
the popular WLIB-AM.
Despite its limited reach from
New Rochelle in Westchester
County and brokered licensing
arrangement, IRIE JAM built a
solid listenership with reggae
fans in urban NYC who thirsted
for news and entertainment from
the island.
Clarke bolstered the need by
hosting Irie Jamboree, an annual
mega-concert headlined by popular
reggae acts.
Initiated to provide alternative
revelry to Jamaicans who
might not have had an affinity
to the calypso-dominated Labor
Day weekend carnival, the Jamboree
attracted multitudes to its
Jamaica, Queens location.
It was evident a void needed to
be bridged.
The IRIE logo also promoted
crowd-pleasing soccer matches
which pitted top reggae names
against celebrity personalities
and acclaimed athletes.
Vendors flocked to each
event attracting Jamaicans who
yearned for everything IRIE.
The enterprising business
executive also experimented
with IRIE-TV which covered the
Grammy Awards, the Bob Marley
star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame and featured interviews
with celebrity rhythm & blues
names including George Clinton
and Ronnie Isley of the Isley
Brothers.
Insiders claim, The Bridge
will replicate the same insatiable
need for extensive community
interaction, news, information,
entertainment, and lifestyle
media coverage.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
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