de cooler : soca news

Open letter to the author of this article in Nation News by Richard Weekes (socacds.com). See also our article about the controversy.

Dear Mr. Morris

I couldn’t believe it. On Friday, someone asked me, if I’m the one robbing calypsonians? I was in shock.

That’s when I first heard all about this controversy. I quickly brushed it off as another rant in the paper.

But when I got a 2nd phone call, I took the time to read the article. And Wow!

The article attacks IslandMix.com for not having permission from various artists to broadcast a large number of songs on its web site. At the same time, the article written by you, Roy Morris implys that IslandMix.com is a pirate and robs calypsonians.

You see, I too operate a web site that shares the same purpose of IslandMix.com. The purpose being to promote soca and my site being SocaCDs.com.

Though IslandMix.com did not have permission to broadcast all the songs, I can’t watch you loosely lambaste the popular web site most inaccurately.

More importantly, I’d like to set the record straight and clear some things off my chest. So let’s start:

1. IslandMix.com Is NOT A Pirate

You may find it hard to believe, but the web site does not exist to pirate music. Quite the opposite actually. It’s operated with a passion and a burning NEED to promote soca music to further levels.

Fact: IslandMix.com, that you slackly referenced to as a pirate, is actually a Content Provider. Providing information and promoting culture to the largest soca community IN THE WORLD.

The web site is not designed to download music. The songs are streamed from the web site. And if someone was able to download the music, the quality of the songs is purposely encoded at low quality to avoid piracy.

2. The Soca Web Site Generates Business For Artists

Morris, it’s amazing how you were quick to imply the site is robbing calypsonians. But didn’t mention that the same IslandMix has created direct revenue for artists, through album sales and ticket sales.

Not to mention the indirect revenues for so many International shows and fetes due to their popularity on this soca community.

And surprisingly to some artists, all of this happens completely off their radar screen.

Did you know: Dozens of soca sites fail trying to get the artist’s permission first?

But there’s an underlying reason why some sites operate in the way they do. And I will give you kudos, if your article influences such a change.

Here it is:

3. Soca Artist Don’t Effectively Distribute Their Music

The artists and producers who directly send their music to soca web sites, should be commended for getting it. And from your article, it seems few artists get it. Or your approach to asking your questions was as inaccurate and sensational as your article, which I do suspect. However..

Quite bluntly:

While some artists are satisfied just recording their songs, twirling there thumbs and then complain of low album sales. Few artists get it.

And check this out, now since your article was successful in removing Bajan music from the web site, soca artists and managers WHO DO GET IT, are calling to get their music back up. Wow!!

Here’s what they get..

4. Music Has To Be Heard In Order To Be Sold

Get this, no one will blindly buy an artist’s album, or concert tickets without first hearing some of their songs. No one will hire an artist to perform when no one has heard his music.

So since your recent article, no one will hear Bajan music on the most listened to and visited soca web site. That’s over thousands of soca fans on a daily basis.

So when I do the math, this means soca artists are losing money.

So yes, you were partially correct. Calypsonians are being robbed. But by whom?

Combat the Robbery Fast:

Soca Artists must..

1. Realize the power of the Internet and embrace it.

2. Be aware of the soca web sites and what they’re doing
- a series of searches in Google will do

3. Befriend the web site operators and

4. Capitalize on everything they do

It’s the way forward.

Fact: Soca web sites are the biggest, most powerful MEDIA available to soca right now. Period. There are no magazines, 1 local radio station, no TV stations, not even one TV show. Soca HAS to use the Internet for regional and global promotion.

I know that they are several web sites that will launch and enhance their services shortly. I encourage artists to profit from them.

Richard Weekes
(first post of this article on Richards site)