Reggae needs another Superstar: Yush


1997 article.

REGGAE NEEDS ANOTHER SUPERSTAR & BUSINESS SENSE TO REALLY SHINE

By Arnaud Henry


The thing that reggae music needs to recapture its former world glory, it will never get: Bob Marley. Finding a successor to Marley has been even harder, so what will it take to get reggae back on top?


Reggae has also found a new hunting ground in Africa, where record sales and attendance at live shows are at an all-time high but the issue of rampant pirating on the continent has prevented performers from reaping the rewards.


Jamaica needs a new superstar to follow in the footsteps of Bob Marley if it is to reclaim its status as a world music centre and realise its multi-million dollar potential. This and the worldwide recession are, according to music experts, are the reasons for the collapse of the reggae music scene.

"There are few reggae acts with any international appeal that can sell out arenas and that has forced promoters to package the music," said Copeland Forbes, a veteran promoter. "From a sales standpoint we are way behind."

With the exception of albums by DJ/Rapper Shaggy and singer Maxi Priest, reggae sales fell dramatically in 1996. Overrun by dancehall products, traditionally popular markets such as Japan have turned their back on reggae for the more current dancehall trend.

Europe has continued to live up to its reputation as a big market for vintage reggae, with re-issue labels reportedly making millions by marketing the works of legendary performers such as Burning Spear and Horace Andy.

Reggae has also found a new hunting ground in Africa, where record sales and attendance at live shows are at an all-time high but the issue of of rampant pirating on the continent has prevented performers from reaping the rewards.

Moreover, the absence of a professional body to oversee the development of the business is preventing Jamaica's music industry from realising its true potential.

Musicians and industry analysts contend that until such a body is established and governments begin showing the industry the respect it deserves, the music business will continue to be a haven for "unscrupulous hustlers."

While some improvements were made to the Copyright Act legislation four years ago, leading musicians such as Winston Rodney of Burning Spear feel that this is the industry's major failing.

"What the Jamaican music industry needs is a proper copyright structure so that artists can get more involved in the distribution of their material. At the moment you can do a lot of studio work and you don't even know what happens to your music after that," he said.

Other key concerns remain, including unprofessional practices by artists and managers and the alleged failure of government and the private sector to give the business support it merits, despite a proven record as a viable earner of foreign exchange.

"Everybody says the business has potential. If it does then government must treat it that way," said Lloyd Stanbury, an entertainment lawyer. "Reggae music is mainstream in almost every country and once we properly develop ourselves we are looking at a business that can earn us in the region of US$500 million," he added.

Among the areas cited as requiring improvement are the lowering of high custom duties on equipment brought into the country by musicians and the setting up of a mechanical rights society to monitor the use of artistes' work worldwide by various mediums.

Touring was also once a leading money spinner for reggae acts, now it is a thing of the past. "People do not have the money to spend on entertainment anymore. Reggae shows are barely getting by at the moment," said Copeland Forbes. "For the first time since 1985, we will not be having a Reggae Sunsplash tour overseas."

That and the failure of other overseas shows like Japansplash has been blamed on reggae's inability to produce a superstar since the death of Bob Marley.

Posted: Fri - February 7, 2003 at 02:50 PM      

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