[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
Arts & Culture Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Bahamas Carnival Song Competition Launched
By Noelle Nicolls
Apr 30, 2014 - 11:41:18 PM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page

Bahamas_Carnival_Song_Competition_Press_Release.jpg

Festival Commission launches song competition

Nassau, Bahamas - The launch of the Bahamas Carnival Song Competition is a “watershed moment” for the music industry, said music industry expert Freddie Munnings Jr. The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) launched the Song Competition on April 28, giving musicians just over 60 days to produce new music and vie for $50,000 in prize money.

Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Daniel Johnson congratulated the Commission for the introduction of the song competition as a critical component of the Bahamas Carnival. He said the government is putting its energy and might behind investing in culture, and the Bahamas Carnival cultural stimulus package will be the driving force to put culture front and center.

The song competition will be a yearlong contest that culminates in an all-star Bahamian concert during the Bahamas Carnival in May 2015.

Chairman of the Commission Paul Major said: “From the very outset of our planning, The Commission recognized that music would play a pivotal role in the success of our festival. We know that we have talented and professional musicians, song writers and producers and we also know that they, for the most part, struggle to economically sustain themselves because of lack of exposure to their material and talent.”

“We are working to provide the stage and opportunity to our music industry as never seen before where all genres of our music can be experienced and produced at a very high quality level. Much like with the other components of our festival like Junkanoo, arts, craft, dance and cuisine, we are committed to preserving and celebrating our culture while creating sustainable economic opportunities for those in this creative industry,” said Mr Major.

Minister_Daniel_Johnson_speaking_about_the_Bahamas_Carnival_Song_Competition.jpg

Musicians have until Monday, 7 July 2014 to submit up to three songs for the competition. The winner of the competition will receive a cash award of $20,000. The first runner up will receive $12,500; the second runner $7,500; the third runner up, $4,000.00; and the remaining top 10 finalists will receive $1,000.00 each. The top 25 songs will be produced as a compilation album and distributed locally and internationally.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for Bahamian musicians. We set out to create a competition that would attract the best Bahamian lyricists, composers and producers and we are confident this competition will achieve just that,” said Mr Munnings, a member of the Commission.

“I agreed to support this venture to look out for the interests of Bahamian musicians, and to ensure real opportunities were created to support the expansion of the industry. Bahamian music should be the most popular music in the Bahamas and globally recognized as part of our cultural brand. Right now it is not and we must do something about it. With the Bahamas Carnival we are taking a major step in the right direction and we know our musicians will be better because of it,” he said.

Percy Sweeting, President of the Bahamas Musicians & Entertainers Union endorsed the initiative, emphasizing that at least 25 Bahamian artists will be beneficiaries of worldwide exposure over the course of several months.

“Even though we would have had song competitions in the past they would not have been as exposed as this one. This will create a sense of rejuvenation. The prize money will attract artists who may have held back before. Artists ought to take advantage of it because it is a great opportunity,” said Mr Sweeting.

All around the world, carnivals are lucrative platforms for recording artists, who perform during their own domestic carnivals and travel around the world to perform at international carnivals. Long after all the carnival events are over, their high energy, party music continues to travel around the world to entertain the masses.


Freddie_Munnings_Jr_speaking_at_the_launch_of_the_Bahamas_Carnival_Song_Competition.jpg



W-BNFC-Song-Comp.jpg



Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Arts & Culture
Latest Headlines
Award-Winning Photographer Eric Rose presented a printed canvas of 'The Hermitage' to the PM Davis
Minister Bowleg Opens “Double Dutch 8” and “Evolution of the Arc” NAGB Exhibitions
Unbox Bahamian Artistry and Live Your Best 'LifestIsle'
Students display culinary skill and creativity in Bahamas Young Chef Competition
'Build Your Best Life' book presented to Willa Mae Pratt and Simpson Penn centres