Artistes need to protect their rights

Artistes need to protect their rights

I read recently that the Marley family had hired a firm in Canada to look after its rights management issues as it relates to Bob Marley’s image. The report said the family were losing money because many across the world were exploiting the King of Reggae’s image.

And, I must say I commend the Marley’s for their move.  Lest we forget, Vybz Kartel and Mavado’s image were being exploited in a way in which neither were publicly pleased about recently. And while the use of their image in that particular fashion was not something they were proud of, it only shows how much money local artistes lose through exploitation daily.

While many of us will think the Marley’s are reacting unnecessarily, it is time that we as Jamaicans start understanding that an artiste is a brand and his product goes beyond his music. In other words gaining a number one hit should not be viewed as ‘dem bussing’ alone. Instead, as soon as the artiste achieves the feat of a number one record anywhere on the planet he or she should start taking steps to protect their rights and image.

For too long, Jamaican artistes have allowed their photos and images to be used without thinking that they are losing out on potential revenue. If the product that their image endorses becomes popular, the artiste loses out because he or she did not secure their rights.

You see, an artiste protecting is or her rights should not be viewed as a ‘fight ‘gainst poor people’. Instead it should be viewed as the artistes securing their pension. For too long many of our artistes have spent their last years living modestly or in poverty for one reason or another. And, some of the very same people who exploited them (whether it be their images or through piracy) are the same ones who belittle them. And if that’s not bad enough these artistes are sometimes dependent on public assistance for help. While it can be argued that some artistes waste their resources in the ‘good times’, we must acknowledge that they are exploited by some of the same people who say they are fans.

Hence, I commend the Marley’s actions. While many of our dancehall celebrities are not on that level yet, it is certainly an act they can follow. For too long, the fans and also the dancehall acts have viewed such exploitation as publicity and not for what it is – full blooded exploitation.

So I say to the Marley’s hats off to you and well done!

Local acts missing on international dub charts BY STEVEN JACKSON

DUB music — a psychedelic reggae form — is charting in 14 territories on the reggae charts but Jamaican bands are not riding this wave.

It represents another Jamaican genre under-represented by locals which translates into lost revenue and acclaim for the industry.

Members of the Uprising Roots band  1/2

"Europe and other countries have taken our roots music and are studying and learning it," Uprising Roots drummer Black Kush told Splash, adding that Jamaican youths concentrate on studying dancehall and US pop. "A few years from now no Jamaican youth will even know about dub."

None of the dub bands or compilation albums charting are Jamaican. Even, Gregory Isaacs In Dub album was produced by the UK duo Mafia & Fluxy.

The dub groups currently charting on iTunes reggae album charts include Dub Incorporation from France who is at numbers one and three in that country. The US-based band Easy Star All Stars is at two and 10 in the US; number five in UK; two and 10 in Australia; two and seven in Canada; three in Ireland; four in Italy; seven in Greece; and hold on to the second spot in Portugal. The Kiwi band Katchafire is at number seven in New Zealand and eight in Australia. Gregory Isaacs, In Dub album (UK) at 10 in Belgium. Seven Dub from France is at number five in Portugal; and Salmonella Dub another band from New Zealand) at nine in their homeland according to iTunes rock charts.

In fact, last week King Size Dub Vol 13 charted in Luxembourg at eight whilst Fahrenheit 451 and Sir Oliver Skardy (Europe) charted in Italy at 10.

Digital sales account for one-third of global music sales and iTunes is the dominant online music store, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Digital Report 2010.

The reality is that Jamaican artistes are charting less online due to the growth of international or indigenous reggae bands. However, the possibility of a local dub band charting is even less due to the smaller talent pool.

"The other types of music in Jamaica are more hyped than dub music even though dub music is what the world rates us for," stated the charismatic Uprising Roots bassist Pot A Rice. "And the few people in Jamaica who are doing roots music do not get the opportunity to get airplay."

Uprising Roots will launch their latest album Skyfiya next month whilst embarking on a tour in the main dub market Europe.

Dub was spawned from reggae in the 1960s but has extended beyond the genre to incorporate other musical forms. Dub embraces the improvisation of the studio engineer and musicians in live and recorded sessions. The engineer or musician uses effects including echo and reverb in order to exaggerate or "lift the music to another level," according to Jah9, a rising singer who incorporates dub in her music.

"In this society where the artiste is (king) dub departs from that. It is really a tribute to the musicians and engineer and not the artiste," said Jah9, whose upcoming album is being produced by Don 'Corleon' Bennett, Beres Hammond and Rory from Stone Love.

Dub music is one form which Jamaica has all but forgotten. Stakeholders have also lamented on the absence of Jamaican ska bands to profit and influence modern ska. There are currently hundreds of ska bands internationally but the musical form is dormant in the land of its birth. Up to Saturday ska music was charting in one territory on iTunes reggae charts via a compilation album entitled Ska Mania. Ska, however, is more popular in the rock than reggae categories.

"Dub and ska is the ultimate, but people don't even play ska again in Jamaica yet there are plenty of ska bands in Europe. Dub and Ska is the real thing and it pays big money," added Pot A Rice. "Dub is the king's music because when you play dub you feel connected to Mother Earth and the essence of life more than other musical forms. It represents equal rights and justice."

Surprisingly, mento a local genre which waned in popularity in the '50s received some international acclaim last month when The Jolly Boys, a mento band (produced and managed by Geejam based in Portland Jamaica), beat all living reggae and dancehall artistes to top the international reggae charts. They are supporting the album with a prolific tour across Asia, Europe and the US.

In February, minister of culture, Olivia Babsy Grange, asserted that Jamaica was losing a grip on Reggae. She called for creative initiatives which emphasise training for the development of a stronger infrastructure to support the music and to recognise the new paradigms that have emerged with the convergence of popular culture and digital technology.