Murray: Invest in Caribbean music

Marketing manager at the Klassic Ruso calypso tent Michael Murray laments about the US$16 million that has left the Caribbean over the last couple of years. He  said instead of the monies being spent on international artistes and grand productions it could have been generated into Caribbean economies. Interviewed on Friday, Murray, who owns the company M2 Marketing and Promotions, said: “I would say about US $16 million left the Caribbean over the last couple of years. These figures that left the Caribbean are atrocious. We could have invested that money in Caribbean workshops. We could have invited some of those same artistes to conduct seminars and workshops. “It would be a better move rather than have them see the Caribbean as a performing hall. I don’t know of any Caribbean artistes being invited in the US to perform in that magnitude. Unless we are talking about Caribbean artistes in the Caribbean diaspora.”  He questioned why Caribbean governments were inviting foreigners to further indoctrinate us with their cultural forms. Murray said: “Why are we inviting them here when we in the Caribbean are trying to survive with small budgets. It’s time people try to look at it in a meaningful manner and invest in Caribbean people and Caribbean products.” 

 

Citing the example of the St Lucia Jazz Festival, Murray said the late Amy Winehouse sang for US$225,000 because of her love for the island. Murray said: “If you look at St Lucia Jazz Festival which is in its 18th year, you would get an idea of the amount of monies leaving the Caribbean. “If they have ten artistes on any given playbill, I don’t think they performed for less than a few millions.” To date, he said despite the Jazz Festival, St Lucia does not have a proper cultural home. Barbados, too, home of Rihanna, has also hosted a jazz festival which ran into millions. Across in Tobago, he said the Tobago Jazz festival operated on a budget of millions. Murray said: “They (CL Financial) operated on a budget of about $20 million US. It was about US$12 to US$15 million of the budget. Elton John was paid about US$3 million. Flirting with the figure Lionel Richie of Ballerina Girl fame might have charged, he volunteered about US$200,000. On the flip side, he suggested some of the monies could have been invested in T&T which is the mecca for steelpan, soca and calypso. “Even calypso tents don’t have a home,” said Murray.

Klassic Ruso operates from City Hall, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain. 

 

Market Caribbean music 

While he pointed out he was not against international superstars like Julio Iglesias and Madonna, he felt Caribbean governments should seek to develop its own unique brand. “What will happen if we develop our own brand? We could build our own tourist industry. The world must be able to see our brand is strong. We  would have developed via best practices and in keeping with global standards.” The Caribbean has produced stellar acts like the late Bob Marley, Ralph Mac Donald, Edmundo Ross, Beryl Mc Burnie, Prof Rex Nettleford and Gabby.