by MICHELLE SPRINGER

SOME MEMBERS of the music fraternity seem divided on the issue of whether there is enough local music to fill this country's airwaves.

The Copyright Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers Inc. (COSCAP) has proposed legislation
to the Barbados Broadcasting Authority for 30 per cent mandatory local content airplay.

"The problem with the current broadcast regulations is that they have been interpreted to mean the 60 per cent has to be local and regional, but it doesn't state what percentage has to be local," Erica Smith, chief executive officer of the organisation, told the DAILY NATION.

"COSCAP has been pushing that it gives specific stipulation for local music [including per genre] to ensure that people are exposed to all types of music," she stated.

However, music producer Darron Grant from Undaground Studios and radio announcer Anthony Admiral Nelson believe there is not enough local music being produced outside the Crop-Over season to sustain COSCAP's demands.

Soca songstress Alison Hinds told the Press that while she did hear local music playing year round, she agreed in part there was more need
for material outside the festival or carnival themes.

"There are collaborations that could be done outside the soca arena in the genres as well. Soca artistes can record with a rap artist, for example," she said.

Industry veteran Adonijah added: "There's a whole treasury of music out there – just listen to the radio during the month of Independence when they bring out all these songs that have been gathering dust. It's an absolute joke and in poor taste to say there's not enough local music,"
he stressed.

For him, there was enough to span multiple genres and epochs that would more than facilitate the 30 per cent recommendation.

He also added the current stipulations of 60 per cent favoured a heavy Jamaican presence on rotation.

J.J Poulter, an artiste who forms part of the alternative duo Kite, said the increase of studios across the island was fertile terrain for the future of the industry.

Additionally, he believed Barbados should incorporate other international models within the local legislation to help bolster rotation of nationally made music, such as France has done with its 40 per cent mandatory requirement.

Alex McDonald, chief operating officer of STARCOM Network, shared Nelson's concerns . Nonetheless, he stated STARCOM's stations adhered to the 60 per cent local and regional content requirements within their total of 14 000 minutes of air time daily.