Music pirates called on to become legitimate entrepreneurs

Calypso and Soca Director of the Spicemas
 Corporation, Isha Antoine-Andrews.

By Linda Straker

Calypso and Soca Director of the Spicemas Corporation (SMC) wants pirates in the music industry to change their business status and become legitimate business men and women complying with laws and standards practised within the industry.

“Stop pirating; buy and sell original music from the artistes. By so doing, you will become legitimate business men and women,” Isha Antoine-Andrews said, while delivering remarks at last Saturday’s official launch of the 2014 Spicemas Celebrations.

In line with its tradition of focusing on an area of the Carnival celebrations to be the spotlight, the SMC has agreed to focus on the contribution of Calypso and Soca. As a result, the theme for Grenada’s 2014 Carnival celebration is: “Uniquely rooted in our rich ancestral traditions, Spicemas 2014... An Explosion of Calypso and Soca”.

Antoine-Andrews, who also represents Grenada on the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation Board of Directors, called on artistes to have their work be among the repertoire of the organisation.

“To all artistes, protect your work by copyrighting it; the easiest means of proof of ownership,” she said.

She told the audience who came to witness the opening ceremony that 2014 is a significant year for calypso and soca artistes in Grenada, because once again there is only one organisation advocating, lobbying and negotiating for the membership.

“History was made this year when we the artistes finally decided to put our differences behind us and come together as one after 13 years of separation and infighting among ourselves,” she said.

“As we move forward, we look to the future with great optimism. A vision to succeed and maximise the opportunities and benefits that we have ahead of us,” she added.

“We can no longer sit back and relax, but we must follow in the footsteps of persons like Ajamu, Tallpree, Baby Killer and all the others who have made inroads in the international market of entertainment,” she said, while paying respect to all those who laid the foundation for the development of the artform.