Red Stripe Cancel Sponsorships On Up Coming Shows

Jamaican beer company, Red Stripe, says it will not sponsor several upcoming stage shows in Jamaica because of increasingly violent lyrics and the violent incidents involving dancehall musicians.
The company has withdrawn, by some estimates, up to US$2 million in sponsorship from concert sponsorship including the popular "Reggae Sumfest" and "Sting" reggae shows. Musicians are glorifying violence in what has become a worrisome trend, the company said in a statement Friday.

Several Jamaican musicians have been criticized abroad for their violent and anti-gay lyrics, including Vybz Kartel and Mavado, who is currently facing charges of shooting with intent and illegal possession of a firearm.

Red Stripe is owned by British food and drink company Diageo, which bought it about a decade ago from Jamaica's Desnoes and Geddes.





source: JAbulletin