Music industry professionals from across the OECS converged in Saint Lucia for a five-day series of Developmental Workshops under the Business of Music initiative from November 26 to 30.

Capping off the series of workshops, Export Saint Lucia, the Saint Lucia Coalition of Service Industries and the Saint Lucia School of Music in a true collaborative fashion, capitalized on the opportunity of having General Manager of Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd, Vivian Barclay present, to host a music mixer in which participants got the opportunity to have their music heard by the music publisher.

The workshop hosted by the Saint Lucian Coalition of Service Industries, was the OECS leg of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Music Education project which is aimed at developing the capacity of industry professionals in the region and equipping them with the capabilities to enter international markets. The workshop series was endorsed by the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), Export Saint Lucia and ECCO.

Over 50 songs were listened to, from the over 35 attendees from across the OECS region. The initiative was a means for the artistes, writers, producers, recording engineers and managers to put the best representation of their work forward in a bid to establish greater linkages with the global publishing company which has worked with numerous star writers the world over, including the likes of soca sensation Machel Montano.

Export Saint Lucia hopes that with continued effort and the creation of such critical linkages, many of our music professionals will be able to make significant inroads. The Business of Music initiative has critically armed music practitioners with some in depth knowledge of the industry be able to capitalize and even create opportunities for themselves.