Dear Editor,
Chronixx's recent inartful statement on social media addressed the need for Government's involvement in the Jamaican music industry for a clear policy directive.
Our creative industries encompass our music, the visual and performing arts, including fine art and crafts. It is an area which has the potential to not only provide employment for large numbers of Jamaicans but also provide significant hard currency earnings with virtually zero import content.
For decades we have paid lip service to this sector and with much fanfare and PR opportunities only to provide little or no follow-through.
Chronixx's comment comes against a background of a small island of just over 4,240 square miles gifting to the world, between 1939 and 2002, not one, but five genres of music -- mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dancehall. Despite such a history, Jamaicans, while having the claim to the music's origin, do not control the real revenues behind the music because the practitioners in the industry have failed at organising themselves as leaders of the industry.
What's worse, in 1964 the Jamaican Government, through Development Minister Edward Seaga, led an initiative to take Jamaican music internationally with a group of hand-picked musicians representing the island at the then New York World's Fair. Such an initiative provided a door-opener at the time, but 50 years later we have done very little to build on this, and as a result such an auspicious start has amounted to nothing.
The wealth of our music now resides on other shores generating billions of dollars for people who do not even know where on the world map Jamaica lies.
Chronixx's comment may have been inelegantly stated but it captures the malaise that affects us as a people. Instead of recognising the value of the message, culture minister Lisa Hanna shot back at the artiste about lumping together and blaming all politicians. She alluded to trade agreements now in place as well as the conclusion of recent discussions to benefit cultural goods producers. These are seemingly well kept secrets, Madam Minister. Instead of attempting to "kill" the messenger, let us recognise the chasm that exists and use this as an opportunity to move the ball forward in all areas of culture. Fact is, we are still largely unable to claim proprietary ownership of our brand and reggae. It is no different than products bearing the word "Jamaica" as part of their branding and, as a people, we have no claim. This is the role that policy framers must play; creating the platforms and/or opportunities for claiming ownership, rights and proceeds of our creations.
Creative Industries have the potential to solve a large part of our income-earning problems, so I would think that the relevant government minister must recognise the need to identify and grasp with both hands the opportunities out there.
This must be our mandate, Madam Minister, not another "bag a talk" and no action.
Richard Hugh Blackford
Coral Springs, FL
richardhblackford@gmail.com
Don't kill the messenger, Minister Hanna
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Chronixx's recent inartful statement on social media addressed the need for Government's involvement in the Jamaican music industry for a clear policy directive.
Our creative industries encompass our music, the visual and performing arts, including fine art and crafts. It is an area which has the potential to not only provide employment for large numbers of Jamaicans but also provide significant hard currency earnings with virtually zero import content.
For decades we have paid lip service to this sector and with much fanfare and PR opportunities only to provide little or no follow-through.
Chronixx's comment comes against a background of a small island of just over 4,240 square miles gifting to the world, between 1939 and 2002, not one, but five genres of music -- mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dancehall. Despite such a history, Jamaicans, while having the claim to the music's origin, do not control the real revenues behind the music because the practitioners in the industry have failed at organising themselves as leaders of the industry.
What's worse, in 1964 the Jamaican Government, through Development Minister Edward Seaga, led an initiative to take Jamaican music internationally with a group of hand-picked musicians representing the island at the then New York World's Fair. Such an initiative provided a door-opener at the time, but 50 years later we have done very little to build on this, and as a result such an auspicious start has amounted to nothing.
The wealth of our music now resides on other shores generating billions of dollars for people who do not even know where on the world map Jamaica lies.
Chronixx's comment may have been inelegantly stated but it captures the malaise that affects us as a people. Instead of recognising the value of the message, culture minister Lisa Hanna shot back at the artiste about lumping together and blaming all politicians. She alluded to trade agreements now in place as well as the conclusion of recent discussions to benefit cultural goods producers. These are seemingly well kept secrets, Madam Minister. Instead of attempting to "kill" the messenger, let us recognise the chasm that exists and use this as an opportunity to move the ball forward in all areas of culture. Fact is, we are still largely unable to claim proprietary ownership of our brand and reggae. It is no different than products bearing the word "Jamaica" as part of their branding and, as a people, we have no claim. This is the role that policy framers must play; creating the platforms and/or opportunities for claiming ownership, rights and proceeds of our creations.
Creative Industries have the potential to solve a large part of our income-earning problems, so I would think that the relevant government minister must recognise the need to identify and grasp with both hands the opportunities out there.
This must be our mandate, Madam Minister, not another "bag a talk" and no action.
Richard Hugh Blackford
Coral Springs, FL
richardhblackford@gmail.com
Don't kill the messenger, Minister Hanna
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