The Culture Ministry has indicated that ten finalists have been selected for this year’s festival song contest.
The selection comes after public outcry at the initial announcement, that no festival song competition would be held, due to the poor quality of the submissions and then a change in decision by the committee, which led to an invitation for new songs to be submitted for consideration.
In a statement, Culture Minister Olivia Grange said the selection process has been completed and the top ten finalists were decided on, out of over 200 entries.
Ms. Grange said she is pleased with the response to the reopening of entries, noting that the committee has never received so many entries in one week.
The Minister said the top ten songs are being mastered and the recordings will be released soon.
She has called on broadcasters to play the songs, so that the public will get to know them and be able to choose their favorite for Jamaica 60.
The Ministry through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission JCDC, is making arrangements to put the finalists on social media and on global music streaming platforms
The winning song will be selected, following two televised shows on July 14 and 28.
