On the heels of the devastating Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica is turning to one of its most cherished cultural exports—music—to help heal wounds, lift spirits, and raise much-needed funds for recovery. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange has announced an ambitious five-concert series, aptly named ‘I Love Jamaica,’ aimed at supporting the nation’s recovery efforts and inspiring hope among citizens both at home and abroad.
“We have been hit hard by this very powerful hurricane which took lives and in which many of our citizens lost everything. We face a long and challenging road ahead, but we will recover and rebuild stronger with support and by working together,” Minister Grange declared, as reported by the Jamaica Gleaner. The hurricane’s destructive force left countless families grappling with loss and uncertainty, but the government’s response has been swift, creative, and deeply rooted in Jamaica’s cultural heritage.
The first installment of the ‘I Love Jamaica’ concert series is set to take place on November 14, 2025, at the National Stadium Car Park in Kingston, kicking off at 7:30 pm. The event promises to showcase some of the island’s finest Reggae artists and musicians, along with friends of Jamaica from around the world. But the effort doesn’t stop at the island’s shores—additional concerts are being planned for key diaspora hubs in London, New York, Toronto, and South Florida. All proceeds will go directly to the national recovery program, ensuring that every ticket sold and every donation made helps rebuild lives and communities.
Minister Grange emphasized the profound role music has played in Jamaica’s history, especially during times of crisis. “As we have done so many times before, we turn to our music, our reggae music, which has proven to be a healing balm and elixir at times of trouble and distress for not only Jamaicans, but for the world.” This sentiment isn’t just poetic—it’s increasingly backed by science. Across the globe, researchers and clinicians are recognizing the tangible benefits of music in alleviating pain, reducing anxiety, and fostering resilience.
Take, for example, the work of Nurse Rod Salaysay at UC San Diego Health. In the recovery unit, Salaysay doesn’t just rely on a thermometer and stethoscope; he brings out his guitar or ukulele to serenade patients after surgery. “There’s often a cycle of worry, pain, anxiety in a hospital,” Salaysay shared with the Los Angeles Times, “but you can help break that cycle with music.” Patients often respond with smiles or nods, and Salaysay has observed measurable changes in vital signs—lower heart rates, reduced blood pressure, and, in some cases, a decreased need for painkillers.
Salaysay’s approach is part of a growing trend in healthcare, where music is embraced not just as entertainment but as a legitimate therapeutic tool. Over the past two decades, both live performances and recorded music have become fixtures in hospitals and clinics. The science behind this movement, known as music-induced analgesia, is catching up to what many have long intuited: music can help ease both acute and chronic pain.
Recent studies published in journals such as Pain and Scientific Reports suggest that listening to music can reduce the perception of pain or even enhance a person’s ability to tolerate it. What’s particularly striking is that the most effective music isn’t necessarily classical or calming tunes. According to research conducted at Erasmus University Rotterdam, participants who listened to one of five genres—classical, rock, pop, urban, or electronic—were all able to withstand acute pain longer, as measured by exposure to cold temperatures. “The more people listened to a favorite genre, the more they could endure pain,” explained Dr. Emy van der Valk Bouman, co-author of the study. “A lot of people thought that classical music would help them more. Actually, we are finding more evidence that what’s best is just the music you like.”
The act of choosing music, researchers say, is itself powerful. Claire Howlin, director of the Music and Health Psychology Lab at Trinity College Dublin, has found that allowing patients to select their own songs improves pain tolerance. “It’s one thing that people can have control over if they have a chronic condition—it gives them agency,” she noted. Active, focused listening also seems to make a difference. Adam Hanley, a psychologist at Florida State University, co-authored a preliminary study indicating that daily attentive listening may reduce chronic pain. “Music has a way of lighting up different parts of the brain,” Hanley said. “So you’re giving people this positive emotional bump that takes their mind away from the pain.”
Of course, no one is claiming that music can entirely replace pain medication or erase trauma. But the mounting evidence suggests that music can be a powerful adjunct therapy—an accessible, side effect-free way to make difficult times a little more bearable. “Music is a distractor. It draws your focus away from the pain. But it’s doing more than that,” said Caroline Palmer, a psychologist at McGill University who studies music and pain. “We know that almost all of the brain becomes active when we engage in music,” added Kate Richards Geller, a registered music therapist in Los Angeles. “That changes the perception and experience of pain—and the isolation and anxiety of pain.”
The roots of music therapy run deep. The idea of using recorded music to lessen pain dates back to the late 19th century, before local anesthetics were widely available. Today, scientists are still unraveling the exact neural pathways involved, but the consensus is clear: music activates large swaths of the brain, alters pain perception, and can reduce the sense of isolation that often accompanies serious illness or disaster.
Back in Jamaica, Minister Grange’s vision extends beyond financial aid. The concert series is part of a broader initiative led by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to build morale, lift the national spirit, and encourage volunteerism. “With our culture, entertainment, sports and religious communities we will be reaching out to those most affected by the hurricane and mobilising volunteers to participate in the recovery programme,” Grange said. “There is much to do, but many hands make light work. Each of us can do something to help, and so we encourage everyone to do what they can. Every little act will make a difference.”
As Jamaica rallies for recovery, the power of music—whether strummed in a hospital ward or booming from a stadium stage—offers hope, healing, and a sense of unity. With every note played and every hand raised in support, the nation takes another step toward rebuilding, together.
