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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Entertainment
Nassau, Bahamas - Approximately 30 people came out to a meeting yesterday, November 17th, 2011 to discuss performance rights, or the lack thereof at the British Colonial Hilton. Special guests were members of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. The meeting was titled, "A Matter of Justice: Performance Rights for Artists, Musicians and Producers." The meeting panel was headed up by the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon Charles Maynard; Javier Asensio, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Regional Manager; Juan Louis Marturet IFPI Director of Legal Affairs; and Obi Pindlling, Pindling & Co. Photos seen here are courtesy of the IFPI. The following was provided information for the meeting: A Matter of Justice: Performance Rights for Artists, Musicians and Producers. The music industry has suffered its most dramatic and volatile changes during the past decade, similar to the time when tape recorders were invented and commercial radio came to life. Today, digital technology and the Internet have become allies for creators, artists and producers while at the same time, their worst enemies. Multiple means are available today to consumers around the world to enjoy and copy valuable music content. Consumption of music is soaring everywhere, where the average consumer may have thousands of songs in an MP3 player, a smart phone, computer or other portable media. Technology has not only changed the way people access music, it also created a new economy based on the distribution, public performance and communication of music. Multiple new businesses such as ambient music providers, digital and satellite radio stations, digital music channels embedded in cable TV programming, Youtube and webcasters are all using recorded music as a main component, whether directly or indirectly Internet based.
Music today is a powerful driver for consumers in almost every business and this is particularly evident on the Internet. Hence, you may think that multiple distribution channels should bring more benefit for music creators and artists in the Bahamas. Think again! The current legislation does not provide for a right to receive any remuneration when recorded performances are communicated to the public... This is not only unfair but it contradicts international standards observed in the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and many countries around the world (i.e. Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados are clear examples in the Caribbean where these performance rights for artists, musicians and producers are granted by law). The Bahamian copyright law needs an amendment in order to expand the scope of protection granted to creators (authors and composers), artists, musicians and record producers. It is a matter of justice for these rights holders to receive compensation in exchange for their work in favor of culture, people’s entertainment and decent labor. It is most unfortunate that such protection and compensation have not been available to authors, producers and composers in the Bahamas for so long. This must change and now the time has come for all involved to seek and obtain this legal copyright protection in the Bahamas, that is already a reality in the rest of the world. --- For more information email ifpilatam@ifpi.org. Or go to: www.ifpi.org
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