The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has extended the entry deadline for the Jamaica 60 Festival Song Competition from February 28 to March 18.

The extension is to allow more time for potential entrants to complete their entries before submission.

According to the competition’s committee chairman, Orville Hill, “This is a special year for the Festival Song Competition as it is Jamaica 60, our Diamond Jubilee, and so our potential entrants gave us feedback that they needed more time to improve their entries. Given that, we are focused on accepting and promoting only the best, we have decided to extend the entry deadline to accommodate enhancement of the entry product.”

HIll is encouraging all other Jamaican singers and songwriters who are interested in entering this year’s competition but just needed an extra push to take advantage of this deadline extension.

“We are looking for a memorable, festive, and patriotic song that can tie the yearlong Jamaica 60 Independence celebrations together and help to unite Jamaicans across the globe,” he explained further.

Competition rules

The competition, which is open to all Jamaicans 18 years and older, has produced many notable artists over its almost six decades while cementing its place on Jamaicans’ annual independence celebrations roster both at home and abroad.

Persons interested in entering the Jamaica Festival Song competition may do so on the JCDC’s website at www.jcdc.gov.jm. The entrants’ digital entry will require them to upload an MP3 file format of their song and an adjoining lyric sheet to the JCDC’s website. The entry fee is J$1,000.

Individuals may also find additional information regarding the competition’s rules and guidelines on the JCDC’s website. The Jamaica Festival Song Competition, which was first staged in 1966, has helped to launch and advance the careers of some of Jamaica’s most acclaimed singers and songwriters.

Winners of the competition have included Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Decker, Eric Donaldson, Roy Rayon, Stanley Beckford, and most recently, reggae superstar Buju Banton and dancehall maven Stacious, the 2020 and 2021 winners respectively.