Although Reggae music has done considerably well across the globe when it comes to keeping up with popular genres such as Hip Hop and Pop, today we see the industry lagging behind particularly when it comes to optimizing revenues. ConnectiMass founder Ingrid Riley identified one reason for this being Jamaican music insiders failure to realize the benefits of digital marketing.

"We are now living in the digital age. Mobile and the Internet have totally changed the face of marketing and with it comes new opportunities," Riley noted. Consequently the theme of ConnectiMass's annual Tech Entrepreneur Conference this year is "The Business of the Internet, Social, Consumer driver- Where are the opportunities." Particular attention will be paid to the reggae music industry especially since Reggae music happens to be the number one export in Jamaica. As such discussions will be geared at educating stakeholders in the local music industry about the importance of digital marketing.

To lead the proceeding Riley called upon, Mike Johns, C.E.O of Digital Mind State at Caribbean BETA who is a global expert on digital technology and mobile media. Johns has also provided digital marketing and consulting services to some of hip hop's & reggae's biggest names, including Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg/Lion, Ice Cube and the Beastie Boys.
Riley who is also one of the PSOJ's 50Under50 Business Leader awardees offered "Mike Johns is a great hybrid between the Jamaica and the Diaspora, reggae and hipHop, music and technology. At a time, when the conversations are loud and eager about how do we maximise Brand Jamaica, him being the opening keynote at Caribbean BETA is timely."

Johns stressed that, "Reggae must think long range to maximize this aspect of Brand Jamaica." He believes musicians especially should think in terms of how to create own and maximize the distribution of their content as their foreign counterparts have done. He explained, "Attention is the new money and Reggae music industry players must now learn the new rules of this game and adapt a fresh philosophy."

The annual Tech Entrepreneurship Conference will be held on Friday November 16th, 2012 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.