THE "ON-AGAIN, off-again" Bajan music on IslandMix.com is on again.
This time, however, owner of the Canada-based Internet website, Lester Mendoza, has promised to get permission from the artistes and producers, and to improve contact information on the site so anyone he has not been able to reach, can reach him.
In a telephone interview aimed at "clarifying" two recent NATION articles that highlighted the surprise and concern of local calypsonians when they discovered that their recently released, and in some cases, yet-to-be released music, was available on the web, Mendoza said his site was not involved in piracy.
"We don't condone piracy," Mendoza said, adding that contrary to what might have been suggested, anyone who was able to capture
their songs from their website would only get a low-quality copy.
After discussions with the other people who assist him in managing the site; and after taking advice, since he was not available during the period of controversy, Mendoza said they have started up-loading the Bajan music which had been removed.
"As far as I know, as of right now . . . the music will be returning — all of it; and while it is being returned we are making every effort to contact these individuals again. In this day and age it is hard because for me who have been an IT [Information Technology] person for a while and who is very web savvy, my main mode of communication is by e-mail.
"Now if I call a manager or artiste and they don't have either, it is unfortunate. We are going to make the effort to reach out to these individuals. However, like I said, you've helped me identify areas that I need to improve on in regards to the content that we have on the site.
"We will be including a disclaimer, and better locations for people to contact us at. So that if they do see something that they disagree with, or they would like to dispute, or just get more information . . . we want to be acceptable.
"We want to make sure that these people can reach us if we can't reach them. We want them to reach out to us."
Asked to explain how IslandMix acquired the music in the first place when they did not have the permission of the producers, he pointed out that he no longer was solely responsible for acquiring music for the eight-year-old website.
"Right now I have several people helping me. I'm no longer the only one that up-loads the music. . . I can't speak on the behalf of the majority of the music right now, because like I said, I try to maintain an administrative role . . . and manage things at a higher level . . . but more than likely we are getting it through the artistes or the deejays [but] I couldn't confirm that."
The Grenadian-born Mendoza, described IslandMix as a website with the aim of exposing "our culture and community to the world". It is the only website, he added, that's totally dedicated to calypso and soca music, and features the festival/carnival songs from all the islands.
"I could have chosen to do a Trini website, but what I love is carnival and the music that goes with carnival, which is strictly soca and calypso music. Our Motto is All Islands; All People.
We are not exclusive to anyone. We want to celebrate the music and the culture from Grenada to Trinidad, to Barbados, to everywhere. People from everywhere can feel welcome," he added.
But because of concerns highlighted in recent NATION articles, steps will be taken to further improve the site: "Specifically your indication that it was hard to find us, [that] there wasn't any contact information. We can improve on that. We understand our reach, we understand our impact. . .
"In regards to the process of obtaining music, obtaining information. . . we have tried to reach out to the community. The facts that some producers and artistes are not aware of IslandMix.com, I think, is a marketing issue that we need to look at."
Mendoza maintained, however, that if calypsonians and music producers want to reap the full benefits of their product, then they have to become familiar with the potential of the Internet and sites such as IslandMix.
"I would love to hold the hands of the producers and show them what we are all about [and to] present what IslandMix is trying to do for the artiste and for the community and for the culture," Mendoza said.
"I think it is a matter of understanding how we do it, what we are trying to do so they would not have fears and hesitate when IslandMix is mentioned.
" We want those producers to come to us immediately when they have Press releases, when they have CD releases, anything.
"Like I said before, what we are looking at is the issue about distribution [and] communication . . . It is not acceptable if [soca music] is not there, and a lot of people are not promoting it the way it is supposed to be promoted.".
To support this, Mendoza said it was extremely difficult getting artistes to supply biographical information and photographs, despite that fact that by doing so they would be exposed to thousands of potential music purchasers on the Net.
On the question of music piracy, Mendoza said: "We are not suppliers of pirated music – that's No. 1. If IslandMix was not here you would still see CDs on Eastern Parkway, you'd still see CDs in Toronto and everywhere else.
"It disgusts me, but the fact is . . . it is the people [responsible for] Eastern Parkway Carnival, [who] allow these vendors to . . . sell these CDs. I went to Toronto Caribana last year and a vendor who purchased a booth [along the route] was selling pirated CDs . . . People from these organisations should be clamping down.
"We have been affiliated with the No. 1 soca music distributor in North America, J.W. Records. . . Our banner on our web site says 'Do not buy bootleg CDs.' When you go to our AV Room it says 'Support the culture'. Support the culture by listening to the songs and buying the music."
At the same time Mendoza said calypsonians were hurting themselves and giving advantage to the pirates by allowing the availability of CDs to lag far behind the actual release of songs on radio.
"A lot of time I can't go to J.W. Records and buy the music as soon as it comes out for Crop-Over. . . . Why are you waiting for Crop-Over to collect your master?
"If you are mastering a month before, promote your music properly and get it out there. But it is not up to the artists. Artistes are paid to sing, record, perform.
"I would point the finger at everyone else – the managers, the people above the managers and everyone else. Those are the people that the artistes rely on to get the music out there, and if the artiste is messing around and waiting for the last minute, someone needs to step in and say this is how the process is done. . . .
"The bottom line is piracy will not be stopped.
If you have any idea about the technology, you can be a pirate yourself"
Meanwhile, he is advising Barbadian artistes who want to have their music placed
on the site, or whose music is already on IslandMix.com and want it removed, to contact him at webmaster@ islandmix.com.
roymorris@nationnews.com
