KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Newly appointed Minister of Entertainment, Sport, Culture, and Gender, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, is encouraging local music practitioners to use the new media regime in order to maximize on the current and potential derivable benefits of their craft.

Speaking at the Jamaica Music Society’s (JAMMS) music business seminar at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston, on Friday, March 11, Grange noted that new media services are emerging as the “dominant” platform and method by which music is distributed and consumed.

“All artistes (therefore) need to understand the new dynamics of the industry and position themselves to take advantage or at least not be left behind and (learn) how they impact royalties. As industry players, creators and owners of music, you must try to remain viable. Understanding the digital music market is just one step towards that objective,” she emphasized.

General Manager of JAMMS, Evon Mullings, said that the seminar was designed to sensitize music industry practitioners about the opportunities available in the new media environment.

“What we are trying to do is to bring a new awareness to record producers, artiste managers and (other) industry practitioners about the changes that are happening…and the new media structures that exist. We want them to understand the changes that have taken place so far and how those changes are impacting how they earn. We (also) want them to be able to understand how to position their music…earn from it and remain viable,” he explained.

The seminar featured panel discussions and presentations from: Director of New Media Services for the Warner Music Group, Latin America and Latin United States, Alfonso Perez-Soto; as well as representatives of local law firm, from Foga Daley, and Jamaican music promoters, Zinc Beats Limited Liability Company.

The topics covered included: ‘Streaming Services and their Compensation Models: How Do the Recording Industry Players Earn’; ‘Streaming and Copyright: A Recording Industry Perspective’; and ‘Music Protection Online: What are the practical Applications of Internet Treaties’.

Incorporated in 2006, JAMMS is a non profit music collection society and licensing agency. It was established under the Copyright Act of Jamaica to administer the intellectual property rights granted to record producers owning master sound recordings.

JAMMS officially began royalty payouts in December 2009 and has, to date, distributed over $75 million to rights owners.