Challenges confronting the structural development of the Caribbean music industry in the local and international area
This panel was moderated by Pat McKay, Music Director Sirius/XM Radio. The panelists Rob Kenner, editor at Large Vibe magazine, Stan Evan Smith, senior music writer, Jamaicans.com, and reggae singer Ed Robinson, discussed the challenges confronting Caribbean music in terms of media coverage.
The issue of the overwhelming preoccupation with negative images, in both mainstream and local media used to report Caribbean music was a central concern for the panelists. Robinson relayed his personal story, as an artist, being branded a drug addict by a leading local newspaper in Jamaica. They lamented the fact that the story was written without ever contacting him of his representative. He stated that the impact of this story caused him to stop talking to the media and stopped recording for seven years.
According to Smith, a contributing Editor to Everybody’s magazine, he was advised by the Director of Communications at City College early in his career to practice advocacy journalism in order to educate and orient American audiences to nuances of Caribbean culture. Smith noted that the pushback he encountered from editors when he attempted to do pieces on Caribbean music which dispelled racist myths of the “noble savage.” Smith also pointed out an instance where a major media outlet reneged a cover of one the biggest reggae festivals because they were not able to focus on a specific controversial Reggae artist.
Kenner, the 15 year veteran and editor of the ‘Boomshot’ column in Vibe magazine, the bible of American Urban music, was the counter weight to the negative images of Caribbean music especially reggae and dancehall in mainstream media. Rob stated that he has been fortunate to be able to write the kind of positive stories that promote awareness, appreciation and education towards the music and the culture without any push back from his publishers at his magazine. An example of this was his writing on the Buju Banton-gay controversy and the attack on dancehall as violent or ‘murder music.’ According to Kenner, he was able to present a more comprehensive side of both issues.
The lack of qualified, trained and educated media practitioners in local media and the impact, this has had on the reporting of Caribbean music was also a great concern of the panelists. It was argued that more qualified media practitioners were needed to assist in the development of Caribbean music.
The conference was the first in a series of ongoing academic conferences to be held annually, designed to explore, examine and confront obstacles confronting the advancement of the Caribbean music industry. According to CACC Chairman, Junior Forbes, “the goal is the enhancement of areas specific to production and management and to improve the distribution and marketing of the Caribbean entertainment product internationally.”
CACC Chairman, Junior Forbes
Participants at the conference engaged in substantive and informative exchanges of information sharing, addressed the critical issues and challenges facing Caribbean culture, such the distribution and marketing of Caribbean music internationally, digital distribution, Intellectual Property laws, Publishing and Royalties, Gender biases, Artist image and Brand building, Commercial endorsements, Contractual agreements, the role of Performing Rights Organizations, Artist Management issues, International Marketing and the future of Caribbean music in the digital age.
Panelists and moderators included Atlanta based music attorney Mr. Kendal Minter, Walter Jones from A.S.C.A.P, Mr. Bryan Calhoun, VP of New Media& External Affairs, Sound Exchange, Mrs. Erica Smith, CEO of C.O.S.C.A.P, Rob Kenner, Editor-at-Large, Vibe Magazine, Attorney, Pat McKay, Program Director, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Michele Amar-Quimet Director Of International Content, IODA, Reggae singer/Song writer/Producer Ed Robinson, Soca Artist/Producer, Shawn DAMASTERMIND Noel, veteran Newsmen (WLIB/WBLS) Wayne Gillman and Bob Fredricks, Music Critic/Journalist Maryland based, Stan Evan Smith, Publishing/ Copyright Specialist, Michelle Aurthurton, Florida based Simone Harris, Entertainment Business Consultant, Randall Grass, Shanachie Records, and Sharon Gordon, President of TSO Production. The event was supported by several Caribbean and US-based stakeholders who traveled from as far as Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados.
The Caribbean Cultural Conference was made possible with the kind support of businesses and organizations such as Medgar Evers College, Caribbean Immigration Services, A.S.C.A.P (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), Caribbean Copyright Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers Inc, Sound Exchange, Golden Krust, Honor Music Group, Minter & Associates LLC, Caribbean Lifestyle TV, Stan Smith Productions LLC, GMAX Entertainment, Shanachie Records, WE Radio, Drive Time Wednesday – WVIP 93.5 FM, Afrikan Roots Sound Company, 360ARTISTS™, Rocket Instrument Rental, E2 Recordings Inc, Irie Jam Media Group, Hometown Recording Studio, and the Ken Williams Show – WVIP 93.5 FM, HCF Recording Studios.
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