JaRIA, French company sign agreement - 2013 festival in Jamaica part of MoU

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Jamaican popular music has found very fertile ground in France, to the extent that in November 2000, it was publicised that of $150 million in uncollected performing-rights fees in the European country, Jamaican artistes could be owed as high as 15 per cent.

On Tuesday, Jamaica Recording Industry Association (JaRIA) and Association Reggae Sun Ska (ARSS) signed an extensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Bob Marley Museum, 56 Hope Road, St Andrew.

Under the agreement, Sun Ska becomes an overseas affiliate member of JaRIA and is mandated to "actively promote JaRIA and encourage like European entities to become members of JaRIA" and "only engage Jamaican acts who are members of JaRIA in good standing".

For its part, JaRIA is committed "for the avoidance of doubt" to "provide accurate information with respect to members' authorised representatives" and "provide objective assessment, analyses and/or verification of the credentials and associates of industry professionals".

There is an agreement to collaborate on technical improvements and training, ARSS endeavouring to "provide training and international certification to Jamaican technical staff who are members of JaRIA", while "JaRIA will facilitate a programme of education, training and/or apprenticeship in Jamaican music for French music-industry professionals and students as identified by ARSS".

Cultural tours

There is an intention to make Region Aquitaine in France and Kingston sister cities. Specific to Reggae Month, February, the agreement is that "JaRIA and ARSS will endeavour to promote and organise cultural tours from France to Jamaica during Reggae Month". In addition, "JaRIA and ARSS will co-produce a two-day festival in Jamaica during February 2013 and onwards, called Sun Ska JA, in accordance with a specific agreement made annually by both parties".

Sun Ska Ja is to take place in Port Royal, Kingston.

The MoU was signed by JaRIA's vice-chairman, Charles Campbell, and managing director of ARSS, Fred Lachaize. The significance of the signing was underscored by the slated representatives of the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the Jamaica Exporters' Association.

Campbell commented that "this is a proud moment for us that, over the past three years, JaRIA has begun to have a positive impact, not only here at home, but in the international marketplace". He pointed out that ARSS has a festival, booking agency and record label, with a travel agency being formed specifically to bring people from France to Jamaica.

He noted that ARSS has been a JaRIA member for about two months.

JaRIA chairman Michael 'Ibo' Cooper framed his comments in the context of unity, quoting Bob Marley's Rastaman Vibration. "One of the things that has prevented the industry from being an industry is we address issues and expect things to happen overnight," he said, as things have to be given a chance to work. He pointed out that the MoU will protect the Jamaican artistes as well, Campbell having made it clear earlier that the agreement is also to protect Jamaicans from Europeans who were exploiting them.

And Cooper emphasised that "JaRIA was not asked to be a police by anybody. JaRIA is not going to be a police for anybody". Still, he pointed out that JaRIA has been asked by different organisations to assist in entertainment matters.

Cooper made it clear that "ARSS is free to employ anybody, whether JaRIA member or anybody".

"It is not policing," Cooper said forcefully. "We are not going to stop anybody from getting visa and them something there. Rubbish!"

Sydney Bartley of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, underscored the importance of the MoU, forming a point of reference from which to approach the European Union and establishing revenue streams back to Jamaica.

And there was applause when Bartley said music "is Jamaica's biggest export".

Cooper was vehement that, "I have seen many things come and go. JaRIA must not die".