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“When we make songs, Spanish people take it and sing it different, and we don’t speak Spanish, so we don’t realise. Because of that, the Spanish artistes don’t pay us royalties and it slips right under our nose. I think the Spanish owe reggae music millions of dollars right now. Songs like “Murder She Wrote” is in Spanish right now and I don’t even think Sly and Robbie know,” Niney said.
According to the producer, who has recorded songs for U-Roy, I-Roy and, more recently, Bounty Killer, a lack of education has marred the development of reggae music locally.
“The musicians dem nuh educated. That is why reggae music slipping out of our hands. We need to educate ourselves because we are being robbed and we don’t know.
“Right now, Europe have more than 80 ska bands and a Jamaica mek ska, but a white people own that genre now and versions of reggae are also owned by other people, and when money comes for reggae, it goes to certain people,” he said.
This elusive money for reggae, which Niney speaks about, also comes from certain endorsements by international companies like Sony.
Sony released a series of new music players last year, and launched the gadgets in New Kingston.
The company had stated in a release that the line of component sets was directly modified for the Caribbean. — Jamaica Gleaner.
Online Reporter