The Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc. has welcomed this week’s music quota announcement by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet.
“I have asked asked the Ministry of the Creative Industries to start a dialogue with the entertainers as well as the different radio stations, because we would like to pass an act or a law here to make it and compel it for local radio stations to play – 50 percent of their music needs to come from the OECS,” Chastanet stated.
He spoke during an appearance on Real FM’s Newsspin talk show.
ECCO Chief Executive Officer Davis Joseph told St Lucia Times that the PM’s announcement constituted welcome news.
Joseph explained that the music industry needs structure and regulation to develop.
He expressed the view that a quota is one approach that is necessary for the industry to grow.
But Joseph noted that other changes are needed.
He told St Lucia Times they include mandatory music licences for broadcasters.
“When they apply for their licences from NTRC, this should be one of the requirements,” the ECCO CEO said.
He also spoke of the need for scholarships and possibly, an annual music awards event.
“These will result in more money staying in Saint Lucia and the OECS territories,” he stated.
“More than 80 percent of our royalties go overseas,” he revealed.
Joseph asserted that there has to be structure to the music industry if musicians are to make a living from it.
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has indicated that stakeholder consultations on the proposed music quota system are expected to begin soon.
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