Diasporic Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean - Firm Profiles.pdf Vol 2 | Page 42

Creative/Cultural Firms

15. TEMPO
Company Background:
Tempo was launched on November 30, 2005
under the ownership of MTV Networks and
corporate parent company Viacom. In 2007,
its founder Frederick Morton, Jr., assumed
full ownership of Tempo, the first Caribbean
media and entertainment company, producing
and offering Caribbean content on all media
platforms.
Morton, a native of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands,
envisioned exposing the vigor of Caribbean
culture to the world. As a result, the company
strives to push strictly authentic Caribbean
content through it various channels. In a
profile obtained from the company’s website,
Morton outlined the guiding vision of the
company, which is to be a platform for the
entire Caribbean experience. He states
“Caribbean people have a passion for living
which shines through everything they do.
Tempo will be the bridge to this culturally rich
and trendsetting community.”29 Tempo seeks to
please and expose the English, Spanish, French
and Dutch cultures of the Caribbean through
his company.
Main Products/Services:
TEMPO Networks, LLC, is the first and only
pan-Caribbean media and entertainment
company producing and offering culturally
relevant content on all media platforms (onair, online, on-mobile and on the ground).
Tempo also hosts major events including the
“Tempo Turns” events and concerts held in the
USA and throughout the Caribbean islands,
capturing tens of thousands of worldwide
audiences.
29 TEMPO. “Your Destination to All Things Caribbean.” . http://
www.gottempo.com/home/aboutus.php (accessed April 2, 2014).

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With its flagship cable television network,
TEMPO captures and delivers the
extraordinary Caribbean vibe by successfully
producing and delivering Caribbean content
dedicated to music, culture, cuisine, and social
awareness initiatives. The programming
includes dramas, tourism, movies, news,
concerts, documentaries, music videos, and
addresses all aspects of Caribbean life. Musical
genres that are broadcast on Tempo include
reggae, soca, dancehall, ska, calypso, reggaeton
and punta rock.
Programmes include: Cook-up, Badness
Outta Style, Cross Caribbean Countdown,
Pull Up Selecta, My TEMPO Trip, Downtown
Island, TEMPO Live & Direct, Rise & Shine,
Choices, Westwood Park, and Inside the
Rhythm, In addition, TEMPO has played an
instrumental role by connecting Caribbean
artists with event planners and has worked
with various tourism boards throughout the
region to promote Caribbean destinations such
as Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada,
Trinidad and Tobago, Turks & Caicos, and
USVI. TEMPO also has an online store where
consumers can purchase paraphernalia
associated with company and the Caribbean
experience.
Location:
Newark, New Jersey