About

About K12 Digital Radio

Kingston 12 Media, LLC is the parent company of the website Kingston12.net and Kingston12 Digital Radio – a predominantly music station with a format that includes Reggae, Caribbean and Afro- based music. This format is rooted in the cultures of Caribbean, African, African American and Afro-Latina people of South America. The mostly reggae 24/7 format digital station tries to present the very best reggae music from Jamaica and countries around the world where the music is produced.

While Jamaican and other Caribbean recordings dominate the format, African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya are huge contributors. In addition, our weekly playlists include reggae releases from the USA, Hawaii, Europe (mostly The United Kingdom), Germany, Australia and New Zealand. The music format can be classified as mix of Adult Reggae Classics & Contemporary Reggae (Dancehall) sprinkled with Soca, Afro-beat, Amapiano, and R&B and is designed to expose Gen X and Gen Y music lovers to the music of the Masters, while providing exposure for many contemporary artists and music that are usually not heard on other digital music channels or radio stations.

Kingston 12 Digital Radio is a 24/7 conscious reggae party that is programmed in accord with how we believe our listeners use audio services. As a result, one should not be surprised to hear some of the classic R& B, Classic instrumentals, Caribbean Pop Hits, early Jamaican Ska and Mento recordings, along with Afro based hits from world music capitals dropped into the play-list. We consciously break the rules of traditional play-list development and “Billboard formatting”, introducing unprecedented cross-genre play-lists, while aiming to provide our audience popular commercial content with public media sensibilities. We will at times, leverage content from numerous live concerts and events.

The K12 website provides useful information about the music, artists, along with articles on living well, the environment, health & fitness, technology plus information that can help our listeners navigate life’s challenges. Our strategy involves heavy brand extension – leveraging our Kingston12 brand with social media tools to promote and expand the use of content created specifically for kingston12.net. In addition, our digital team will always seek to utilize our digital assets to define and complement entertainment outreach and engagement wherever live reggae music is played.

The term Kingston12 represents the postal or zip code in West-Central Kingston, Jamaica that along with adjacent areas of Trench Town (Kingston 13) and the South-Central part of the city (referred to as Down town Kingston), functioned as the axis of that cultural renaissance that gave the world reggae music. It was the home of the Ambassador Theater – the location that was the flagship in presenting new Jamaican talents to the nation and the world.

The Ambassador (Bass) along with the Majestic, Palace Amusement and Ward theatres provided the stages for recording of the Vere Johns’ Hour – a radio talent show that introduced the country and subsequently – the world to artists like Alton Ellis, Ken Booth, Bob Marley, Don Drummond, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Peter Touch, Millie Small, Hortense Ellis, Bob Andy, Jackie Edwards and many of the stars that became the icons of the reggae music industry. Artistically, Kingston12 was the “Harlem” of the Caribbean, an area that attracted artists and musicians from other countries. Artists such as Jackie Opel from Barbados, Lord Creator and Lynn Tate from Trinidad and band leader Carlos Malcolm from Panama were drawn to the area and all of whom made significant contributions to the development of Jamaican music and culture.

The team here at Kingston12 loves music and we thoroughly appreciate and cherish the cultural heritage and diversity that gave us the music. This digital radio station is a mirror of our souls. Part of our mission is to play the classic singers and players who laid the foundation and introduce our parents to reggae, Caribbean and African music. In addition, we are committed to search for and expose great new talents in the genres to people who otherwise may never have the opportunity to experience such great music. Please enjoy the music and the comforting vibes it lends to your soul. Welcome to Kingston12 Digital Radio where the music never ends.

We will at times, leverage content form the numerous live events. Our strategy also involves heavy brand extension – leveraging our Kingston12 brand with social media tools to promote and expand use of content created specifically for kingston12.net. In addition, our digital team will always seek to utilize our digital assets to define and complement entertainment outreach and engagement wherever live reggae music is played.