Donovan Watkis

Award-Winning Actor, Author, TV Host, and Global Head of Music at World Music Views

Donovan Watkis is a graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (2005) and a multi-award-winning actor and producer. In 2015, he received accolades at Northern Caribbean University's Lignum Vitae Film Festival and, in 2020, won an American Advertising Award for producing and directing the
television commercial Reggae Music Is The Heartbeat of Jamaica.

A dedicated advocate for cultural preservation, Watkis has served on the Board of the Institute of Jamaica (Junior Centre) and is currently a board member of the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank and Liberty Hall.

As the creator and host of World Music Views—a prime-time TV show on TVJ since 2018—Watkis delivers global music industry updates through the lens of data and hosts Jamaica’s first numbers-based chart show. The show also airs on worldmusicviews.com, recognized as the world's first and longest-running
music streaming chart platform. Under his leadership, World Music Views garners 20 million impressions monthly, offering unmatched insights into music trends and industry dynamics.

An accomplished author, Watkis has penned five top selling transformative works, including JR’s Hope: Thoughts on Improving from up the Street, Coloring Culture, Cultural Capital to Financial Capital: Reggae-Dancehall, Reggae By The Numbers: All You Need to Know, and Master Your Mind, Master Your Life: 365
Days. These publications explore Jamaican culture, personal development, and the global impact of reggae and dancehall music.

Watkis has managed several artists and spearheaded successful single and album campaigns for influential figures in Jamaican entertainment. His Caribbean Music Report has revolutionized the industry providing bi-yearly reports on the sales, streams and touring performance of Caribbean artists globally. His mantra for innovation and excellence is. “Act like an artist, but think like an entrepreneur.”

An ardent proponent of Caribbean culture, Watkis celebrates the region’s universal appeal, stating, “Everyone wants to be Jamaican and Caribbean. Our music and vibe are copied worldwide, reflecting our spirit and connection to humanity.” Join Donovan Watkis at the Island Music Conference, where he will share his expertise and illuminate the intersection of culture, business, and innovation in the global music industry.