Drama outweighed substance as far as the local music scene went in 2010.

There was not much to write home about musically, but, true to form, dancehall performers provided endless incidents. A reggae icon got the ultimate honour from the rock community, while one of contemporary reggaes biggest stars languished in jail for nearly one year. Entertainment also bade a final farewell to several stalwarts. Here is a look back at some key moments in Jamaican popular music 2010.

Newsmakers

Jimmy Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March. The star of the classic 1972 film, The Harder They Come, became only the second reggae act to be recognised with this award, Bob Marley being the first in 1994. The Harder They Come and its soundtrack, which featured several of Cliffs biggest hit songs, have had a major impact on rock music.

Buju Banton: Freedom or a lengthy prison sentence still hangs in the balance for the 37-year-old singjay who was arrested and charged by Federal agents for drug possession in South Florida in December 2009. His initial trial ended in a hung jury, and a new trial has been set for February. Banton, who is out on bail, released a new album in the summer, which has been nominated for a Grammy Award.

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