Underhanded promotion triggers bootleg practice

By: Joseph Cunningham
Photo by Carlington Wilmot

'If a bootleg wi shoot leg.' This was Vybz Kartel's utterance as he ascended the podium at the launch of his new album in 2004.
The bootleg issue has plagued the Reggae/Dancehall since technology has made it possible, and, concerns have increased since the resurgence of the genre on the international mainstream has not brought a much desired 'organized system'.

Dancehall artiste LA.Lewis believes that an organized system can only be manifested through the establishment of corporate enterprises that govern the industry. He explained," There needs to be a big building in Jamaica that represents the headquarters of Reggae/Dancehall music, from the charts to the Reggae archives." He added that where it concerns bringing and keeping the financial profits of the music in Jamaica, it all begins with the local radio stations, producers and the artistes.

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LA.Lewis argued that the very controversial practice of payola in Jamaica hinders development for particularly younger or new artistes who are unable to compete with those paying top dollars for airplay.. Further he said that this underhanded practice sustains the bootleg culture, because artistes and producers see mixtapes as the alternative to the radio. He continued, "The financial challenge posed by payola then causes producers and artistes to turn to mixtape engineers in order to promote their material."

It is common knowledge that the mixtape option eliminates the potential for royalties to be gained from music. It is also becoming increasingly evident that the Japanese and the European Reggae/Dancehall markets are much more prosperous than the 'birthplace', Jamaica. LA.Lewis said that when the Japanese and the European come to Jamaica, they take the easily accessible mixtape back to their well organized music industries, where they make huge profits.

"Many persons do not know that the Japanese Reggae sound system Mighty Crown has its own Nike sponsored shoe line! It's unfortunate that Stone Love, the world leading Reggae sound system does not even have a T-shirt line," he revealed

mike

rootsippa that mek m i laugh him safe fi true not even him rmx with micheal jackson

rootsippa

LOL BIG UP LA LEWIS- I NEVER SEEN NO LA LEWIS BOOTLEGS YET YOU ARE SAFE KING

stampede

Well said L.A. Lewis,

butmi know nuh man whe a try stop di progress must vex with yu as usually, some man caan tek the truth, with if we were as organise as others nations then Jamaicans would see more, but its also a business for those doing the bootleg, because of the lack of jobs or being under paid by the employer.

Then again everyone want a piece of the buy and not lok at the big picture. who really benifits from the recording in Jamaica is it the producers (i think not), the Artiste (probably as they charge their fee), the manufacture (they aint losing noting yet until people stops buying vinyl), the radio and tv personalities(hell yea). But if the reggae audience knows what's going on in the industry then they would nknow its not easy on producers and promoters.

portmore

If mi can get a album fi $500 pon di road why me a go buy it fi $2000 inna a store? Mi rather get di music fi $500 an spen di next $1500 a stage show.

Tom

You have to understand, that since digital copying is free, and totally inexpensive, it's going to prevail on the end. No DRM or other crap can stop it.

Don't get me wrong, I love dancehall and the whole Jamaican music scene, but the music industry as a whole needs to adopt to the new age, and instead of trying to defend an old and outdated business model. I'd love for the artists them to earn a good buck, but if you look at it realistically they shouldn't make more than an engineer or a doctor, what for? And in my opinion with a few stage shows in a week they can make more than that. They shouldn't be so damned lazy. It's just that we're used to see artists get rich.

Freedom to the digital world!