Red Stripe Beer Pulls Sponsorship

This week on HYPE ON THE STREETS we are talking about the decision by Red Stripe Beer not to sponsor any reggae concert productions due to the lyrical content of some of the music. In early April 2008, Red Stripe Beer joined the Coalition of Corporate Sponsors in Jamaica and pulled its title sponsorship of Reggae Sumfest and Sting among other live reggae events due to "violent and anti-social lyrics." Red Stripe said they would renew sponsorship "when good sense will prevail and we can see a return to improved quality and standard of music that all Jamaica can be proud of".
Here is Divine Diva.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Hype
• Divine
• Diva
• ZYNC
• Red
• Stripe
• reggae
• sponsorship
• violent
• anti-social
• lyrics
• dancehall
• sting
• sumfest

[FirstBornDynasty]

I personally agree and disagree primarily based on this story. I'm a reggae DJ and I play strictly roots rock reggae and classic dancehall. I play for all sorts of people and I would never purposefully play something that would offend the patrons of a venue that's hosting my show. I disagree w/ RS if there stance is no reggae at all including roots, because roots rock is positive. I agree w/ RS concerning contemporary dancehall because in my opinion it has pulled the rep of reggae off a cliff.

[21aishwarya]

cant the reggae artists get together and brew their own beer????? geez it cant be that hard and name it

[jahotgal01]

Who ever is in charge of marketing at red stripe needs to be fired. I remember when I asked for sponsorship they responded and said they have all the marketing brain power they could ever want. Unless people drink red stripe like water then they are not finished marketing. Red Stripe are fools for this move. We need to band together and boycott them not just talk about it

[legitliss]

Red Strpe has alays sponsored my events. I will support such a move, if these "so Called" artists continue to water down the message for commercial gain...because negative lyrics sell...shame on you. Keep on the Reggae vibes, it is very unique. When you stray away from the "Reggae" you lose everything.

"Never bite the hand that feeds you"

One :Love,

Rastaman Nane'

Co-founder, Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide

Foward the Reggae Vibe...Everytime!

[2bullitt]

shes really smart

[ChaKoKanYon]

Perhaps they really do feel impassioned about

"peace and love" and are trying to make the argument that violence against your fellow Red Stripe patron and humanity is ready for the dust bin?

the sooner the better my brothers and sisters, the sooner the better! It's a shame, 'cause artists need RedSTripe promotion and support, no doubt.

Not sure what the answer is, but get us back to Love and sweet reggae music.

xo

[ChaKoKanYon]

this is a tough one. from a marketing point of view, RedStripe would like to be connected to all things "peace and love," a feeling that reggae music, in general, has always delivered in full force. But current reggae lyrics can often portray the intense feelings and not-so-fictional reality of the artist.

Life ain't always pretty...

Perhaps RedStripe beer execs are out of touch with some of the latest reggae artists?