Why is soca music stuck in Neutral ?
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08-13-2004, 03:01 PM
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JA Soca Ambassador
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Why is soca music stuck in Neutral ?
Why is soca music stuck in Neutral
While having a debate on soca music...it is somewhat clear that we are stuck in neutral....why is that ? This is my take on it : the bigger picture is the marketing of Soca music in general... But, in order for Soca music to ascend to higher highs...the soca industry needs to " let go " of the "seasonal mentality," What do I mean ! well, you see the pinnacle of Soca music is T&T carnival( some might want to debate that), then on to other Islands carnival us a Antigua, Jamaica, Aruba, Barbados...etc...therefore the local artists of each of these countries usually release their new stuffs prior to their carnival...So, after the Peak...comes the lows...then Soca is place on the back burner in each of these countries...You see unlike Soca, reggae don't have that build-up...the Jamaicans drop nuff songs weekly. So, in order for the Soca Industry to step up, they need to address that issue of seasonality. but, clearly the music have to be good...that should go without saying ! The next issue is promoters, they are a big turnoff and a big problem...first, they need to form or company like VP records...they are the Mafia of reggae music, you need deep pockets and deep backers. The local promoters need to stop filling up their fliers with artist that are not going to show up...it's a big turn off, also, no stage show should start no later than 1:30 Am, numerous times I am at KC and 3:15AM...the artist is not on stage yet... absurd. agree or disagree, or how you market soca, or do you feel that it should go mainstream or not . Socapineman The Jamaican ambassador of Soca Music |
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08-13-2004, 03:18 PM
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#2 (permalink) | |
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08-13-2004, 03:55 PM
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Hot, sweet and spicy.
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I agree with you 100% about the issue of soca music being seasonal. This is something that needs to be change. We as Grenadians are always on the artist case about how late they release their music, come on now, three weeks before carnival you looking to relaease your music. That is not good enough. the issue about artist coming on stage all 2:00 and 2:30 is another problem, i myself like to get the show over with early so I can have to time to party after the show, i don't like this thing about show over, party over. The show should be the start to the thing to come after.
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08-13-2004, 03:56 PM
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Rum Aficionado/Soca-holic
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A lot of soca artistes put tunes on their cd's that are not strictly for the season...whether people even bother to buy the cd or try to listen to those tunes, is something else. Artistes are travelling year-round and get busy. There are certain producers I notice that work w/ artistes from other islands & put them on their cd's so it's not like everyone is only recording one time a year. Not sure of a solution, just I feel the music that isn't released for carnival would get played throughout the year.
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08-13-2004, 07:50 PM
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08-13-2004, 08:05 PM
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JA Soca Ambassador
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Bebespice
Listen...I just don't get it! Re : these late shows....I refuse, to wait until 3am to see these shows again...its an insult...KC live right around the corner from me...I bing this and other issues to him all the time re : The Hideway...all he keep telling me is a things will get better !
If you are in the business of putting on shows...then you should have cash to pay these artists soon...not at 2:45AM .... The only excellent stage shows I have been to is at Club Tobago, I saw Rupee, David Rudder, Kevin Lyttle, Square !... it was excellent...the show stared right on time at 1:30Am ....then the party came after...so I am in agreement with you on this... |
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08-13-2004, 08:14 PM
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08-15-2004, 12:12 AM
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#8 (permalink) |
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JA Soca Ambassador
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Mentality
Rummacita;
My point is that the majority of the cds are before their carnival....then what ! Something have to change. |
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08-15-2004, 12:43 AM
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#9 (permalink) |
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I agree with you 100% I can not fathom paying $25 + to see an artist that at 1:30 am has not arrived...I think perhaps labels, promoter whosoever else involved don't take Soca seriously. They treat it as a party not a buisness. You mean the fans are showing up to your events at $$ a head and you can't say be here on time!!
Provide appropriate means of transportation or book less acts or something man. I rather to see just One artist perform whole night and fill my belly than the promise of 5 others and 3:15am they just arrive tired, sing 2 tunes and gone! Respect the fans, respect the artist, respect our culture.. Reggae coming a long long way it wasnt as smooth as it is now a few years ago. And it still got far to go!! I support music. I am a lover of it. whethert it be Zouk,soun, soca, reggae, merengue, bachata what have you. I will spend my money ONLY on Quality... |
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08-15-2004, 12:44 AM
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#10 (permalink) |
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Wastin Time
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Keep track of these lousy promoters.....buy out entertainment from club tobago lock it down there..at the elite ark...its trendsetters and trin toc that hold it down...otherwise for the seasonal issue...hey its part of the culture...
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08-15-2004, 02:35 AM
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08-15-2004, 04:34 AM
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#12 (permalink) |
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The problem is it mostly caters to the Carnival season , which is only once a year so the rest of the year you are hearing the same songs over and over. Eventhough, there are other carnivals year round it still cannot keep up. The artist need to produce hits year round even if it means diversifying , changing the beat etc and then we have to support them not to mention the air play on the radio stations.
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08-15-2004, 05:46 AM
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#13 (permalink) | |
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Dreamweaver...
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  Hi Southman! Last edited by Ishypoo; 08-15-2004 at 08:59 AM.. |
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08-15-2004, 11:56 AM
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#14 (permalink) |
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Again, I keep seeing/hearing that soca is seasonal. But is it really seasonal?
Soca, technically, maybe seasonal within a particular soca nation, however, carnival is not held the same month in all the soca nations. It is spread out over that one year. Here is the crust of the problem. When soca starts coming out for, lets say Trinidad, around December, for its carnival, basically their music dominates the airwaves for an insurmountable period of time. However, even when Trinidad's carnival climaxed, I believe in early March, you still hear the same songs somewhat dominating the airwaves, even as I am typing, which I find ridiculous. So what happens to the new soca that is coming from St. Kitts, Grenada, Antigua, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, et al, how come these soca nations' music do not get the same prominence on the airwaves when their carnival comes into play? If the radio stations are going to dominate the airwaves with soca from Trinidad until that country's carnival comes around again, quite naturally the music gives the impression of being seasonal. Could you imagine if we're hearing music basically from New Jersey and not from New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Louis, etc? It would not be possible to hear the many excellent music and artists from other states within the United States, if this was the practice. Do you see how much great music and artists that we would be missing out on? This is the big problem with soca music, you have music that came out 6 to 7 months still getting major airplay today, even thought there are new music coming from other soca nations. It is obvious that these stations are not playing the new music. This to me is why soca is looked at as being seasonal. It is the perception that the music has to come out from, say Antigua, year round, and hold dominance on the airwaves, for it not to be seasonal. PS: There was a time when hip hop/rap, if not from New York, and later on, the West Coast, was looked at as garbage. Who is dominating Hip Hop/Rap today? Last edited by VINCYPOWA; 08-15-2004 at 01:58 PM.. |
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08-15-2004, 01:23 PM
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#15 (permalink) |
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JA Soca Ambassador
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Disrespect .
Socalipso;
You stated it correctly " They treat it as a party not a business." It's a total disrespect to Soca fan...and the fans don't hold these so call promoters accountable. I remember back in the late 80s when some reggae promoters booked Tiger or Shabba...don't recall for a venue in NYC...either way, the head liner didn't show up..all hell broke loose, not only did the fans demanded back their money..but numerous promoters caught a beat down..the other promoters who wasn't there, ran for their lifes, they were tellin Darvin and Prince Calina ( sp) to watch their back , if they are going to mix up with promoters like these...I am not saying that violence is the way, but sometime to get some respect , you might have to whip a few a$$ for them to have respect for you. My point is that if these promoters are held accountable...they will think twice about " robbing the fans ." The truth of the matter is that David or Carl need to rewrite that line about " If a smart man run of with we money..we still come out and mash up the party... |
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