VP Records’ Mr Randy Chin meets with the Reggae Community
Head of VP Records Mr Randy Chin was in South Africa last week on a Fact Finding Mission. One of his important meetings was to hold an indaba with the artists, producers, promoters and players in the industry. After a series of meetings with heavy weights of the music and media industry (YFM, MTV base, Record Labels, Officials etc) Mr Chin came to sit down face to face with the Rasta Reggae Community in Gauteng Province.
The Setting was perfect. The meeting was held in Yeoville, the unofficial Reggae Ragga head quarters in South Africa; at the House of Tandoor, the oldest reggae chill spot in South Africa.
The time was set for 2pm to 4pm 27 Feb, on a Thursday afternoon, and Yes, Rasta was on time!
The whole set up was organised by Ras Sipho Mantula of Just Reggae Soweto TV who also facilitated the meeting/workshop. Reggae Ambassador Elder Jah Crucial was also instrumental in organising the venue and inviting one and all to the meeting. Ras Erick, the owner of the House of Tandoor was also at hand to welcome our special guest.
Mr Chin was accompanied by Minister/Counsellor Mr John Clarke, Cultural Attaché from the High Commission for Jamaica.
The floor was given to Mr Clarke who spoke about Reggae Music and its influence and impact on a global scale. He mentioned that the timing for the meeting was perfect as the Jamaican Government had declared February to be Reggae Month. Mr Clarke also commended the reggae community in South Africa for supporting reggae music. Responding to a question from one participant, he said that they are willing to work with local talent and invite them to perform at their (Jamaican High Commission) functions whenever possible. He also spoke about the bi-literal agreement between the South African Department of Arts & Culture and the Jamaican High Commission; which is basically a memorandum of agreement between the two parties for cooperation. The 2012 visit by Tony Rebel and Queen Ifrika in South Africa was cited as an example of how the cooperation works. He did state though that the High Commission is unable to offer assistance to promoters to bring Jamaican Artists to perform in South Africa.
Mr Chin spoke briefly about the Reggae Industry worldwide and the similarities in problems faced by the South African Reggae Community and other countries like the US, and the UK . The problem being that of reggae not getting airplay in the mainstream media. He added though that the reggae community itself must support songs that make it to the mainstream, by phoning the stations and requesting the songs, voting for them where and when necessary. He touched on the issue of distribution and noted that he was aware of the high prices of CD’s. But most importantly, Mr Chin said that he came here to listen, to hear the views of the community, find out firsthand what is going on in ‘the streets’. He will then take back with him enuff information before making any decisions.
It was then time for questions from the floor. The participants were varied, from soundmen to producers to artists and just reggae lovers.
Fortune Muambadzi, the interim chairperson of the Southern Afrikan Reggae Music Organisation (SAMRO) took to the floor first and spoke of the need for skills workshops for producers and perhaps an exchange programme where skills could be transferred.
One Producer/Videographer from Jamaica spoke of the raw talent that exists in South Africa that needs to be polished and developed.
Ras Maloney touched on the issue of out of print albums and asked if Mr Chin could consider re-printing some, especially if they are popular.
Empress Ima intoned that South Africa has the greatest potential and talents together with the infrastructure and should be seen as a gate way to the rest of Africa. She added that the International artists coming here, should not only perform and do some skills exchange as well.
Elder Jah Crucial spoke about the Distribution aspects of things while Ras Shaun Harris used the moment to urge the community to rally as one under one umbrella so as to have a unified movement that that can be easily identifiable.
All in all it was a fruitful meeting and there were a lot more voices and reasoning that went on.
At the end, just before leaving Mr Chin received all the CD’s/Music that the Artist brought along, sealed them in a white enveloped and took them home with him.
In closing, Mr Chin, a very humble soul, promised nothing to anybody but listened attentively to every voice. He promised however, to take all that he has learned and seen and heard back a yard and will see if something will come out of it in the future.
Images by Mbonisi Moyo of Events Merchants