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The Music Industry and Local Content
Shalisha Samuel Graduate - Masters in International Trade Policy Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Policy, Law and Services The Music industry’s business model for success has evolved; the traditional bricks and mortar model has declined while there are increased channels for the marketing and commercialization of content through social media and digitization, for example, ringtones and downloads. Ironically, given the upward shift in new technology, live performances and corporate sponsorship (e.g. product placements in music videos) have become the life support for many recording artists, especially in the developing world. One element that has contributed to the growth of artists in other regions is the provision of local content regulation on the airwaves. The hope is that stimulation in this area would aid the Caribbean music industry by making more accessible Caribbean content to Caribbean audiences thereby generating increased royalties for authors and composers. This article investigates the bene?ts of local content requirement and suggests it as a tool to propel the Caribbean music industry. One of the causes for this change is the rapid advancements in technology. These changes in the music industry have made the copying of recorded material without permission extremely easy. Often times this has been done for ?nancial gain also known as piracy. Consequently, while our regional collection societies have documented signi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