The Controversy of Soundclash Endings: Can We Return to the Good Old Days?

In the fiercely competitive world of Soundclash, rival sound systems have always fought to outdo one another, their ultimate goal being to control the dancefloor and win over the crowd. From the genre’s roots in Kingston’s streets to its evolution on global stages, the essence of Soundclash has always been more than just about who plays the biggest tunes. It’s about energy, creativity, and the skill of connecting with the audience in real-time. Yet, as the culture has evolved, a shift in how clashes are judged has sparked a growing debate: should a winner always be declared, or should we return to an era where the people decided, and the actual winner wasn’t always so clear-cut?

The Era of Declared Winners and Its Discontents

Historically, soundclashes didn’t always have definitive endings. In the dancehall, a crowd’s reaction was often the only signal of who dominated the night. There are no formal judges, no scoring systems—just the raw feedback of the audience. This lack of official outcomes wasn’t just acceptable; it was embraced. Attendees would leave the clash still buzzing, excited to debate amongst themselves who indeed won. The energy of disagreement and discussion fed the culture for days after, keeping the event alive beyond the final tune.

However, as soundclashes grew in stature and scale, so did the need for structure. Declaring winners through voting systems or formal judging processes became standard, providing immediate clarity—but not without a price.

While formalizing decisions helped solidify Soundclash as a competitive sport, it also brought with it a new breed of controversy. The practice of declaring a winner now often sparks post-clash debates, not over the music, but over the fairness of the decision. Judges tasked with determining a winner can easily be accused of bias. Whether intentional or not, decisions that feel disconnected from the crowd’s vibe can overshadow the night’s performances, reducing the art form to a technical score rather than a communal experience.