dont you mean billion!
:uh:

don't you mean trillion

Well I know the trade decicit is about $50 million. Were you refering to something else???
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that under current policies, the federal deficit will total $477 billion in fiscal year 2004 and then decline to $362 billion in 2005. Although that 2004 deficit would be a record in nominal dollars, it would represent a smaller share of the economy--4.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP)--than the deficits recorded in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. For the 10 years from 2005 through 2014, CBO projects that current policies would produce a cumulative deficit of $1.9 trillion, or 1.3 percent of total GDP over that period. I'm not an analyst but hope tis helps.

don't you mean trillion



no...A MILLION KAZILLION BAZILLION DOLLARS!!!
:D

[QUOTE=YorickBrown]
Bottom line: The Native Bahamian music industry is dying...fast. It doesnt stand a chance against the multi-billion dollar music industry of North America and with a nation of only 300,000 compared to the millions of people in Jamaica we do not have an industry that is profitable enough to motivate Bahamians to think of the industry as a career option. If someone comes out with an album and wants to hear it on the radio, then I say play it by all means. Some of these persons do it for the love of Bahamian music, not because they have any "skills". I personally know that I play EVERYTHING that I get my hands on. Why? Cause I know that in every music industry you have people who cant make the cut. It's just that we have so few people, "percentage-wise" who can or, for that matter, even try. It's easy to tear down something that is already on the ground. Especially when your ears have been tainted by something that is consider "better" by global standards.

Maybe you're looking at this issue from a different perspective than I am. You seem to see allowing anyone with the love of the music and access to recording equipment air time as facilitating the survival of the music. As a trained musician I see it as a slap in the face to those who have spent time and money to produce a quality product and to those who have been in the industry and developing their art for years. It's also a misrepresentation of what Bahamian music and musicians are all about.Getting on the air waves should be an achievement not a right! Give the industry and it's practitioners some respect! You don't see a musician going to the dentist and telling the Dr. "Let me borrow your tools , I could do this myself." This doesn't happen unless the musican has a degree in dentistry or has been involved in the area for years. So why do we automatically think that we can just jump up and perform the same kind of music Ronnie Butler has been producing for years just because we love it. If you love it that much take the time to develop and understand it.


Now as a musician are you familiar with what Jamaicans call "riddims"? From the time I was in high school there were reggae tapes that had ONE riddim and about 20 artists singing different words to that ONE riddim. It's just that the few Bahamian producers with real talents have not tested that concept at all since we do not have the market for it. The same applied to carnival and soca in the early years and that's where they gained their popularity. And what about hip hop? Performing some basic dj'ing I can mix one beat over half of the tracks that came out last year! Oh, but that's different I guess.
I am familiar with the riddims you speak of and the use of one beat for different songs used by rap artist. A family member gave me a reggae cd with that very same concept last month. I personally am not against it totally but I'm also not crazy about that idea but hey, for some people it works. The thing about this also is that reggae music and I guess rap as well, possess musical characteristics that makes it condusive to this concept. Without getting into musical terminology that might confuse some non- musically inclined readers, Bahamian music just like other caribbean genres has few characteristic by which it is identified ie. rhythms and chord progressions. Therefore, the concept that you are talking about occurs naturally with in this music, only maybe in different keys.

"It all sounds the same" is such a lazy-minded statement. Just admit that you would rather listen to something else and do just that. Don't fuel the fire that is already burning up whatever musical "industry" we have here locally. Look at the persons who are our TOP artists. Most of them have FULL-TIME jobs in other areas. What do you expect from an industry that hardly gets any airtime, struggles to sell CD's, and has such a limited market to push their music to? It's a vicious cycle and Bahamians need to stop compaining about it and comparing our music industry to others who actually get support when they ask for it!

Your absolutely right. Before I signed on this evening I started to right a song. Maybe when it's finish you should get the first recorded copy of it so I can properly illustrate to you what I mean by creating something different, and exciting without neglecting my Bahamian roots.Looking for something different is not a lazy-minded way of thinking. I think it shows someone who genuinely listens or listened to the music to and thought of some ways to improve or do it differently. Mind you, you are right when you assume that some are influenced heavily by other foriegn genres and don't respect what their own have to offer.

What I do find ironic Teniel is that you encouraging Bahamians to support Bahamian music yet you don't think Rake & Scrape should be played in clubs. WHAT IS THAT?! Rake & Scrape has been played in clubs and not just those with Bahamian shows. Further more, Rake & Scrap has andded excitment to many parties I've been to so why shouldn't it be played in the clubs.

Maybe you're looking at this issue from a different perspective than I am. You seem to see allowing anyone with the love of the music and access to recording equipment air time as facilitating the survival of the music. As a trained musician I see it as a slap in the face to those who have spent time and money to produce a quality product and to those who have been in the industry and developing their art for years. It's also a misrepresentation of what Bahamian music and musicians are all about.Getting on the air waves should be an achievement not a right! Give the industry and it's practitioners some respect! You don't see a musician going to the dentist and telling the Dr. "Let me borrow your tools , I could do this myself." This doesn't happen unless the musican has a degree in dentistry or has been involved in the area for years. So why do we automatically think that we can just jump up and perform the same kind of music Ronnie Butler has been producing for years just because we love it. If you love it that much take the time to develop and understand it.

I hear what you're saying, but in this current "drought" of Bahamian music, I still say give everyone a chance. There is no doubt that the quality music, which is performed and produced by professionals, will naturally "float" to the top of the popularity lists. Without knowing what is considered "bad", how can the public tell what is really "good"? Our music is not popular enough for us to be picky at this time. Play it ALL and let the public have the choice of deciding. One of the most common reasons given to explain why we do not have a 100% Bahamian music radio station is that some falsely believe we do not have enough "different music" to fill a monthly lineup. My concept is simple: Flood the market, increase popularity and exposure, then fine tune the quality, based upon public tastes. In an opinion-based market such as music, I would think that a professional would love to be put head-to-head against an amateur - A diamond shines at its brightest when compared to a mere rock.


I am familiar with the riddims you speak of and the use of one beat for different songs used by rap artist. A family member gave me a reggae cd with that very same concept last month. I personally am not against it totally but I'm also not crazy about that idea but hey, for some people it works. The thing about this also is that reggae music and I guess rap as well, possess musical characteristics that makes it condusive to this concept. Without getting into musical terminology that might confuse some non- musically inclined readers, Bahamian music just like other caribbean genres has few characteristic by which it is identified ie. rhythms and chord progressions. Therefore, the concept that you are talking about occurs naturally with in this music, only maybe in different keys.

This definitely can work in Bahamian music, especially for producers. Let say that a producer comes out with a nice musical track, but has several vocal artists with different storylines/styles. They then can overlay that track with the different, but compatible vocals and the CD can be marketed as the "XYZ Bahamian mix series". It encourages better vocal writing and perhaps even freestyle performances. This process also makes our music more mix/remix friendly for clubs. I was thrilled when I saw that Sting's "Civil Servant" CD had an instrumental track. I'm still toying with the idea of mixing that Bahamian "riddim" with other songs. I wish they had included a vocal only track. Of course, the single Bahamian "riddim" concept works for bands as well. Different producers can get together and have live concerts where different "riddims" compete head-to-head against each other. Almost all of the major caribbean genres (reggae/soca/calypso) do this. From our point of view, think Junkanoo, but for Bahamian musical artists and bands. Each producer chooses a band or two and a set of artists. This would be for an annual title that includes a cash prize and a concert tour throughout the Caribbean/US/International. Basically this would be the best live performances of the year - All new songs, all new Bahamian music! CD's, T-shirts and other paraphernalia for each "group" can then be sold, The Ministry of Tourism can then use it as a national event to attract visitors and the overall quality of Bahamian music would be enhanced each year through competition. I would buy a ticket to that concert in a HEARTBEAT!

Bahamian music can go global. We just have to remove the barriers in place, open the industry as wide as we can and be creative. With the internet, we have all the global access to publicity that we need.

Call me stubborn but I'm just not willing to sacrifice quality for quantity. Though music is an entertainment industry and fun in nature, it is also a serious business just as medicine,law,and other fields are and should be treated as such.

There is a place for those who love the music and want to try their hand at it. However it doesn't seem to exist in The Bahamas right now. I'm currently living in Canada and one of the first thing I noticed when I came here was that almost everyone and their grandma has a guitar. There are open stage jam sessions that occur on a weekly basis. It's open to professionals and non professionals alike. This was my intro to the music scene here. I've heard some of the best and the very worst at these sessions. It's a chance for those who are new to performing to develop their talent and try new ideas out in public. It also serves as an avenue for networking. Some of the people that participate will never hear their songs on radio but there is an avenue available to them once or twice a week to unload from a stressful week or to take part in something they really like. As a result of this some of the participant end up joining bands or being approached to make an album.

I'm not exactly sure where you're going with the whole riddim thing but the idea of a national event featuring Bahamian artist in a competition for a annual is a great one. That should become the second national festival of The Bahamas. What you mentioned as prizes are great ideas! Thsi is the way forward. Give those who know how, an incentive to create more. I would buy a ticket to see that myself!!!

. In an opinion-based market such as music, I would think that a professional would love to be put head-to-head against an amateur - A diamond shines at its brightest when compared to a mere rock.

No offense inteded but, that is spoken like a true non-musician! :D

No offense inteded but, that is spoken like a true non-musician! :D

Yeah, but this "non-musician" is one of the few who is trying to be in the technological forefront of keeping Bahamian music appreciation alive.

I buy and support Bahamian music. Let me remind you that a musician is nothing without an audience to appreciate them.

:cheers:

Yeah, but this "non-musician" is one of the few who is trying to be in the technological forefront of keeping Bahamian music appreciation alive.

I buy and support Bahamian music. Let me remind you that a musician is nothing without an audience to appreciate them.

:cheers:


I applaud and appreciate the support that you are giving to Bahamian artist. My comment was not meant to degrade or trivialize your role in the whole music making process.

Your comment, "I would think that a professional would love to be put head-to-head against an amateur..."

My comment,"...spoken like a true non-musician!" Simply means that all the professional musicians that I'm associated with do not compare themselves with amateur musicians. The general attitude towards amateurs is that of encouragement not competition.

"...A diamond shines at its brightest when compared to a mere rock."

Yeah but what do you think think of a diamond that for sets itself apart form other diamonds, for some reason you can help but be fascinated by this one diamond while it rest among others.
:cheers: