2nd Official Week of Crop Over = 2nd Official Controversy
Last week we reported that in just one day the Crop-Over 2007 Season was beset with a disagreement between Cable and Wireless - the biggest sponsor of the festival - and the National Cultural Foundation the entity responsible for co-ordinating the festival.
Last Friday another controversy appeared. This time between the United Artistes of Barbados (UAB) and the NCF. They are not seeing eye to eye over the Producer (NCF)/Performer (Artiste) Agreement governing artistes' performances for the Crop-Over Festival.
Secretary of the UAB, Peter Boyce told the Daily Nation newspaper that “There are many clauses in the contract that are deficient, especially as it relates to the Exclusivity Clause. UAB requested an increase in prize monies and the NCF is refusing to grant that increase and are adding on clauses that restrict the performer from generating revenue otherwise.”
The NCF’s response came from Corporate Communications Officer Penny Gomez, who said they were still in negotiations with the UAB. She did say that the NCF was not trying to restrict the artists making money from performing from more than one event in a night.
“We have to do this to ensure the smooth running of our events; to ensure that people adhere to call times because, in the past, what has happened is that it has put additional stress on our technical department when people are late for sound check; which means they are leaving the venue later and then be even later for their call time.” But she said artistes could leave AFTER their performance to go to other venues.
Boyce also argued that the "Period of Exclusivity" in the contract is not defined, but Gomez also countered this, saying the "Period of Exclusivity" is defined as the day of the performance. Negotiations continue.
Soca Tunes by The Hundreds.
In 2006 it was estimated that almost five hundred soca tunes hit the airwaves for the Crop Over Season. This year it looks like just as many will be submitted for 2007. Soca Queen Alison Hinds was one of the first out of the gates with two songs – “Soca Nation” and “My Space.” Other releases have come from Krosfyah’s co-lead vocalist Khiomal, 2004 Road March winner Mikey and several new comers as the season heats up.
Reggae artiste David Kirton has secured a major audio-visual digital distribution deal with DMGI. The Digital Music Group Inc. is a global leader in the digital distribution of independently owned music, television, film, and other video catalogues.
Through it’s digital distribution services the NASDAQ company helps content owners around the world access the exploding digital media market by processing, encoding, and delivering digital media to the online music and video marketplace.
Launching his new album, “Time for a Change” on Friday, Kirton’s manager and wife Noelle told this reporter that her label Bird’s Eye Music will retain CRS music for the land based distribution, while international distribution will got through DMGI. She noted that on digital downloads alone artistes are shooting up the charts and this deal will allow Kirton a much wider internet “and therefore global” presence.
CSI Actor in Barbadian Music Video
Kirton had another triumph. It was announced that the video to his new single “Free to Fly” includes a cameo from CSI Television Star Gary Dourdan and art from multi-award winning Los Angeles based painter William Attaway.
Weekly Wrap-Up
Haitian dancers Rene Delsoin, Bengi Jolicoeur and Haitian master drummer Rodrigue Jean-Baptise joined with local dancers for the and "3 Nights of Freedom" at the Cave Hill campus’ Creative Arts Centre. Former Miss Barbdos Universe 2006 finalist Ayanna John released the video to her new single.
