Booster Shot: Lucian Musicians upset over controversy with Machel Montano

I haven't had a chance to really dig into this. However, I thought I would post it as is, to show you something that happens quite a bit throughout the Caribbean.  I applaud the Association for speaking up on the matter.  I believe that touring artists are entitled to be compensated at their asking rate, however, this should not happen at the expense of local artists who rely on domestic performance opportunities to raise their profile in the music industry. In this case, I don't think Machel should have been booked at all for this event.  The choice is an indication the organizers' lack of confidence in calibre of St. Lucian artistes.  Have a look, and see what I mean.

Friday January 16, 2009
Source: ST. LUCIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSICIANS and PERFORMERS

For Immediate Release
 


The St. Lucia Association of Musicians and Producers have taken issue with the closing ceremony of the CHA Caribbean Market which will be held at the Pigeon Island National landmark on Tuesday January 20th 2009.

”The event, themed 'IMAGICA - Carnival of the Senses' will feature a number of St. Lucian acts and will be headlined by Trinidadian Soca Sensation Machel Montano HD. The three main factors that STAMP has issue with are as follows:



1) The gross disparity of fees for the local featured entertainment and main or closing act. The featured act (Machel Montano and crew) cost is more than ten times the cost of the collective cost of the local acts. Montano’s and crew performance fee is said to be in excess of EC$ one hundred thousand dollars plus accommodation and airfares, while local acts collectively are less than twenty thousand EC dollars. 



2) The missed opportunity for the showcasing of our local music industry at CHA marketplace. Our music industry has grown by leaps and bounds in past years and it is exactly this reason why it is highly unnecessary for the inclusion of other island performers in this “Caribbean Night Party”. Based on our information the past CHA marketplaces for example in the Bahamas last year did not feature any other acts but Bahamian performers as was the case in Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

3) In addition at the art and craft market the products on display are all St. Lucian products, so why should the music be not only St. Lucian as the “marketplace” is promoting St.Lucia.
Another factor is based on this cost sponsored by the Government of St. Lucia, would the attending delegates, members and visitors really know who Machel is and his performance in relation to St. Lucia. A complete exhibition of St. Lucian only artistes would have been as entertaining and more representation of our St. Lucian carnival culture. In the last two years the launch of St. Lucia Carnival has not needed a regional act, the St. Lucian performers have entertained the masses and no one complained. We have to start to support home grown talent especially in trade shows like these.