Kingston Producer DJ Mac Signs Global Publishing Deal With Hapilos

Jamaica-based producer DJ Mac has been gaining attention as one of the younger creative figures helping to define the current direction of dancehall. The Kingston-born beatmaker, whose real name is Jason McDowell, has developed a name through rhythms and productions that connect in dances, on streaming platforms, and with listeners in Jamaica and overseas.

McDowell said his progress has come from pushing beyond familiar sounds while still keeping close to dancehall’s foundation. "I kinda go for more unorthodox type of sounds; sounds that people aren’t necessarily using in the space," he said. "I try to keep everything mixed with an old style, but a new style. Anything that can be played in dancehall, anything that can be played in the parties. Especially being a DJ, I know what keeps the crowd moving, I know what people want to hear and what keeps the people going. That’s kind of what drives my inspiration going into a studio session, whether I’m choosing a beat or creating one."

That style has already brought major traction. In 2025, DJ Mac teamed with co-producer CrashDummy on the WYFL riddim, which made an impact in both mainstream and underground music spaces and also appeared on the US iTunes Reggae Songs Chart. Within months, the riddim had drawn more than 200 recordings from artistes.

Projects such as WYFL have helped push DJ Mac into the conversation among the most in-demand producers from his generation. As his body of work reaches more international listeners, he has also recognised that a lasting music career requires strong business support alongside strong productions.

To build out that side of his career, DJ Mac has signed a global publishing agreement with Hapilos Publishing. The arrangement covers both his existing catalogue and music he creates going forward.

Hapilos Publishing operates with the worldwide infrastructure of Sony Music Publishing, described as the world’s largest publisher, and has become a major publishing force in reggae and dancehall. Under the agreement, Hapilos will administer DJ Mac’s catalogue, including work tied to placements, licensing, royalty collection, and global copyright protection.

DJ Mac said he chose Hapilos Publishing because of trust, transparency, and the company’s record of supporting creators. "Hapilos being my publisher is definitely something I would recommend. I’ve recommended it to other people as well because I feel like it’s a straightforward process," he said.