THE STATE OF THE LOCAL MUSIC INDUSTRY
One of the themes of the 2016 Carnival season seem to be have been the placement of an expiry date on Veteran Calypsonians/Soca Artistes – the likes of Ajamu and Inspector were chided, in some circles for still recording, performing and competing.
While the comments and admonishes, in particular by the younger Soca Artistes created interesting talking points, they also gave one reason to pause and reflect on the current state of the industry.
Over the past 10 to 12 years some major talent have emerged on the National stage, with sensational performances, sterling compositions and the promise of boundless years of entertainment ahead. That new grouping for all intent and purposes were primed to be the next wave of entertainment stalwarts after the era of the 1980s and early 1990s that gave us classics songs and legendary performers.
However, the promise of the past decade and those who were positioned to be heirs to the glorious kingdom of Grenada music is yet to be fulfilled.
Solid, performances and songs that have energized an entire carnival season seem to be just flashes in the pan with no real potential being fully realized.
After over 30 years Ajamu and Inspector are still relevant and one can make the argument that Carnival still needs them. Scholar will be celebrating his 25th anniversary as a Calypsonian in 2017 and he proved in 2016 that he can stand head and shoulders above all others on any given night. Tallpree will be celebrating his 20th anniversary as a Soca Artiste in 2017. Apart from his numerous hits he has now injected two significant events in the Carnival season, while continuing to be the figure-head for all things Jab.
Apart from Lava Man, no other Artiste over the past 10-12 years have been able to deliver consistently, have been able to develop the personality and good-will that earns one loyal and devoted life-time fans.
Instead of trying to hasten the retirement plans of the Veterans, the younger and inexperienced Artistes could be well-served in attempting to emulate their senior peers, to aspire to maintain that which they have met and seek to exceed that which the stalwarts had made possible for them.
In a year when we witnessed captivating performances from the likes of Peter Humphrey and Squeezie and danced and delighted in new tunes by Humphrey and Lady Cynthy, longevity and consistency spoke volumes. We still go crazy over the 1980s and 1990s music with the music of that era surviving generations. Let us hope that our newer composers and performers can begin to be so consistent, to establish careers that can survive a carnival weekend and can develop personalities that will excite and intrigue to secure a fan base that is not solely based on likes and shares on social media.
ECCO
The Eastern Caribbean Collective Organization for Music Rights (ECCO) has over the past 4 years or so collected monies for the use of music here in Grenada. While over $120,000 has been collected, still to date none of those monies have been distributed to the users of music here in Grenada. In fact, at a recent AGM members were paid an across-the-board cheque of $225, with $25 removed for a St. Lucia-based tax, while being informed those payments were made because of an ECCO/FLOW settlement. The issue of the money collected in the name of Artistes remains outstanding.
During the 2016 carnival season no collections were made by ECCO here in Grenada. The Licensing Agent, Linda Straker, parted company with ECCO on July 1st. At the recently held AGM Wayne Green was voted back as the Grenada Director of ECCO, an unfortunate turn of events since in his previous two-year term he accomplished absolutely nothing with regard to the advancement of the desired agenda of the local ECCO membership. Subsequently Jason Skeete has been hired to replace Linda Straker as the Licensing Agent. Mr. Skeete’s job will be astronomical since he has to repair the public relations disaster that preceded him. Presently, collections will be a non-issue for him and ECCO unless and until there is some public accounting for monies previously collected. Membership drives and registration of music users will have to be Jason’s focus. Anything else will render his tenure another failure.
Music users, ECCO members and the public in general cannot allow this organization to continue to under-serve its constituents under the guise of a public good.
TALLPREE
The undisputed King of Jab is once again venturing into new and unfamiliar territory as he continues to spread the phenomenon that is Jab and Jab music.
Tallpree will headline the 2nd annual Latin/Caribbean Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on the weekend of October 27th to 30th. It is a much-anticipated stop for the Vendome native, headlining a major festival in the entertainment capital of the world.
The Las Vegas appearance will follow Tallpree’s recent performances in New York during Labor Day festivities and upcoming appearances in Miami during that City’s Carnival during the first weekend in October.
Additional information on the Las Vegas carnival is available at http://www.lvcaribfest.com.
Dexter Mitchell
madeingrenada 