Calypsonians group want Bajan station by November

The group representing local artistes said Monday they expect a much-talked-about all-Bajan music radio station will become a reality in time for Independence celebrations.

President of Barbados Association of Calypsonians and Artistes (BACA) Sean Apache Carter has welcomed comments made by Minister of Culture and National Development John King that his ministry was one step closer to starting up the station.

King said: “The last two months – maybe almost three months – CBC [Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation] and my ministry have been collaborating on being able to do just that.

“We are in the final stages of negotiations and that station is coming and when it comes I am telling you that you are going to hear all of this music.

“We’re going to be going from way back when and coming forward. It is not going to be just soca music. It will be anything produced in Barbados. The public has a right to be able to hear it to understand the amount of talent that we have in this country. That station is coming and I am very happy that there was that call out there for years.”

Carter told Barbados TODAY that the station was a long-overdue move in the right direction.

He said: “We the artistes have our fingers crossed that it is something that will happen sooner rather than later. We hope they can have it up and running by November for Independence celebrations.

“Erica Smith [of performing rights agency COSCAP] and myself we were calling for more local music to be playing on the radio stations. We felt as backup it was best for Government to lead the way with one of the state-owned stations actually going 100 per cent local.

“We are fully in favour of it, we are looking forward to it. It should start to put in a dent into the millions of dollars in royalties that leave Barbados every year. It would be welcomed not only by BACA but the entire entertainment fraternity especially the recording artistes. Kudos to the Minister and all involved.”

He said BACA had raised the issue with the ministry at a meeting in January.

When contacted, producer and owner of Quantum Productions Randy Eastmond said the radio station would not only be great for culture but the economy as well.

“It is fantastic news and can only auger well for the development of the Barbadian musical landscape. Not only will it provide exposure for Barbadian music, but it also has the potential to create additional revenue for writers, composers and performers through royalties and mechanical rights. Song-writing is a lucrative business in larger countries which benefit from greater demand and consumption.”

The musician explained: “In the Barbadian context we suffer from a lack of economies of scale and our consumption of music is way less. We as a people must embark on greater efforts to export our music and capitalize on potential international consumption. Government also has its role to play in this effort.”

Eastmond, who along with Kevin Watson established a 100 per cent Barbadian online radio station, Homegrown Radio 246, said it would be a plus for tourism as well.

“A 100 per cent Barbadian station would provide opportunity for more genres to be featured. If we consider export potential, tourists visiting the island and tuning into local frequencies would be treated to the wide discography of music available from our Barbadian creators,” the music producer and teacher said.
(IMC)