Shaggy welcomed the world to the first-ever Island Music Conference in Kingston, Jamaica.
The event, which started on Wednesday (Feb. 8) and ended on Sunday (Feb. 12), was founded by Shaggy himself, who serves as the chairman, Sharon Burke, and Judith Ann Bodley, who both serve as the directors and co-CEO.
According to the official website, Island Music Conference brought music professionals together to “share experiences, forge alliances, expand knowledge base, expose new music and talent, and connect with the heartbeat of the global industry.” The content presented at the conference was geared towards Caribbean growth in the international music industry and helping participants navigate and overcome challenges.
“It is time that our people in Jamaica gain ownership of our culture and markets,” Shaggy said at the conference. “We want to stress the importance of our culture’s worldwide influence and how impactful it is for our artists to learn the music business.”
Thousands of people from all over the world attended the five-day event filled with key-note presentations, workshops, live performances, and panel discussions. The panelists ranged from companies including iHeart Media, YouTube, Meta, Audiomack, Hot97, BBC, BMI, BET, Spotify, Warner Music Group, Forbes, TikTok, MCM-PR, Haus Of Creators, and many more.