THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY is willing to work with Copyright Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers Inc (COSCAP) to develop the cultural industries in Barbados.

This came from public affairs officer of the United States Embassy, John Roberts, who addressed the closing of The COSCAP Fast Forward Production Music Workshop.

The workshop, concluded on Monday, was organised by the COSCAP in collaboration with the United States Embassy and was conducted at Canefield Studios, Newton, Christ Church.

Roberts said the embassy was happy to partner with COSCAP for a project that was "a stunning success".

He said the interaction with students was enough to look for other ways to support the music industry and COSCAP.

The workshop, facilitated by Daryl Harris, founder of Floridian-based MIXME Entertainment, provided artistes with hands on experience composing jingles. It also focused on anti-piracy, copyright and marketing. Harris, also a managing partner at PWI Media.com, described the participants as a "phenomenal group".

"Throughout the process we learnt about copyright, piracy, networking. There was a lot of creativity in the group," said Harris.

Glyne Murray, chairman of COSCAP Foundation, said there must be "opportunities for persons outside of soca in Barbados to expose their ware as they develop their skills to cater to other genres in Barbados that are lying dormant".

He said COSCAP Foundation was working on a number of other niche initiatives to develop that segment of the local music industry. (JS)