JaRIA has stronger voice... with new board of directors

With a new board of directors in place, chairman and executive director of the Jamaica Reggae Industry association (JaRIA), Charles Campbell, says the organisation is now an umbrella entity that is representative of Jamaica's music industry.

Campbell said the three-year-old organisation chose its new directors less than two weeks ago; increasing the number from 11 to 15. On this new board, he says there will be representatives from different groups such as the Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers' Vernal 'Junior' Weir; a representative of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes & Affiliates', Frankie Campbell O.D.; a representative of the Sound Systems Association, Winston 'Wee Pow' Powell; and a representative of Manifesto Jamaica, Rupert Abishai Hoilett.

The other directors on the board are K. Michael 'Ibo' Cooper O.D., J.P. (chairman), Charles H.E. Campbell (vice-chairman/executive director), Junior Lincoln, Mary Isaacs Black, Stephen Stewart J.P., L. Nichole Brown, Coleen Douglas, Paul Love, Shani Nembhard, Deleon 'Jubba' White, and Carol Lawrence.

lobbing for participation

Charles Campbell said JaRIA had been lobbying since March to get the other groups involved in the organisation's decision-making process.

"To truly become representative of the industry, to truly reflect the concept of being an umbrella organisation, we thought it was important to have all the other organisations have a place on the board. We certainly think that when addressing issues, the viewpoints of the various subgroups will be represented at that level," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

He added that this will make the body more objective when making decisions.

"Now when we address issues, there is unity, and with that unity comes a stronger voice. We can claim to represent all the interests of the music and entertainment industry," he said.

As a more unified body, Campbell said, JaRIA would be better able to lobby for policies, programmes and legislation. He added that the group's database would automatically get larger and allow for easier and quicker disseminating of information throughout the industry.

Already the new board is quick on its heels, as it has begun plans for next year's Reggae Month, that will be launched in January.

"We have designed Reggae Month activities, especially with Jamaica's 50th year of independence celebration in mind. We do have some special programmes coming with this year," Campbell said.

In addition to Reggae Month, Campbell says JaRIA has been negotiating for European promoters, booking agencies and agents, "so we can sift through legitimate entities that are taking our artistes on tour and make relations more formalised."