THE EDITOR, Sir:
OVER 20 years ago, I met Rita Marley for the first time at a music seminar held at one of our popular New Kingston hotels. I recall her passion then when she expressed her views about the need for the business of music to be taken seriously in Jamaica, particularly from a government standpoint. I observe that today, over 20 years later, Mrs. Marley has now made a public call for the Government to take more seriously the business of music in Jamaica. Clearly this is an indication that the Government has not done enough to support further development of the business of music.
I won't bore readers with details about the international successes of our many reggae and dancehall artistes, as it is very clear to see that Jamaica's music is a significant force in the international music market and a major contributor to employment, tourism and foreign exchange earnings. Mrs. Marley called for the establishment by the Government of a ministry dedicated to the music industry, a call I myself made almost ten years ago. I am in full support of this call, with the qualification that we should seek to put in place a ministry with wider responsibility for media and the creative industries.
GIVING US BETTER OPPORTUNITIES
How will this help, one may ask? This type of dedicated government facility will enable us to incorporate and benefit from the advisory expertise of Jamaicans with experience in the development and international marketing of our creative products and services. It will enable us to better administer the economic benefits that flow from the exploitation of our intellectual property both locally and internationally. It will enable us to realise greater benefits from the very obvious interdependence of our creative and tourism industries, and this is not a 'bag of words' from an academic standpoint.
A few days ago, I participated in the MUSEXPO music conference in Los Angeles that was hosted by an organisation called A&R Worldwide. There was a very interesting panel at this conference titled 'The United Nations Of Music: How Trade Groups Help Maximise Your Import/Export Capabilities'. I found this panel very instructive as far as the role of government in music industry development is concerned. The participants on the panel were from Canada, New Zealand, England, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. All but one of the panellists represented music and creative industries organisations funded by government. Some of the organisations represented on the panel were operated with a structure that included local and overseas offices funded by government, in much the same way as the Jamaica Tourist Board functions in support of the tourism industry.
A DISSERVICE TO COUNTRY
I recount this experience to demonstrate that there is precedent and justification for significant government funding and support for the development of the creative industries. Our music industry leads the way as far as our creative industries are concerned, both in terms of international market penetration and local organisation. Those in government, including the so-called 'expert advisers' who continue to cite fragmentation and disorganisation among local music industry players as justification for lack of government support, are doing our country a disservice and need to properly educate themselves.
They need to look at developments in recent years resulting in the formation of JACAP the national copyright collection society for songwriters, the formation of the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica, the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes, and the establishment of the International Reggae Music Academy. These are all examples of collective initiatives within the music industry. I must therefore add my full support to and echo the call from Mrs. Marley, and encourage persons within the local music fraternity to continue the efforts at cooperation and collaboration.
I am, etc.,
LLOYD STANBURY
Attorney-at-law
lloydstanbury@hotmail.com
16a Worthington Terrace,
Kinston 5
Via Go-Jamaica
