Balford Henry, Senior Staff Reporter
IS THE Government finally agreed on how it will support the music/entertainment industry in fulfilling its potential?
The question is again in the air following Minister of Foreign Trade, Anthony Hylton's presentation on Tuesday in the House of Representatives. He said new industrial and commercial incentives included in the amendments to Industrial Incentives (Factory Construction) and Export Industry Encouragement Acts were also aimed at the industry.
According to Mr. Hylton, "as general as the amendments seem, they address the concerns of the music industry, because it is, broadly speaking, the area most likely to take advantage of these amendments."
The bills provide incentives for building and extending the product, as well as providing incentives for companies to offer services to clients abroad and for communications and information-processing services.
After a stagnant 2000, the local music industry seems to be looking at utilising newly available technology to make a renewed impact on the industry. This has become even more important in light of the level of piracy affecting reggae music in North America and the inability of reggae majors like VP to finance a campaign against the pirates.
One of the new areas being explored by the local industry is that of using the Internet to provide live Jamaican entertainment for music fans across the world as well as online downloading facilities.
The live process is being pioneered by DownSounds' Josef Bogdanovich, who has been organising dancehall music juggling on regular occasions from his studio in Kingston via www.downsoundrecords.com and www.afflictedyard.com.
"Everyone thinks it is cutting edge material. It is quite cool, people are watching and it really blows my mind. It's not just bauxite that you have, your culture is in demand around the world," Bogdanovich commented.
This year it is expected that some 10 per cent of all adults in the United States will buy their music online and with over three million sites already available worldwide, it is time that the local industry be given the opportunity to step up to that level.
Among new developments predicted this year is the use of cellular telephones for music and shopping for CDs.
On January 30 Brooklyn-based Jamaican reggae/hip-hop artiste Mad Lion is expected to release his latest CD, Predatah Or Pre on his new label Killah Pride.This is the artiste's first album on his own label, which is being distributed by Reprise/Warner. He had three previous albums on KRS-One's Weeded/Nervous label including Ghetto Gold and Platinum.
