· February, 2008

Stories about Music from February, 2008

Argentina: Direct Taxes and Digital Rights

  29 February 2008

A new proposal in Argentina sought to add a direct tax to any electronic equipment capable of reproducing digital media, which would seek to offset some of the revenues lost by artists due to piracy. Bloggers in that country mobilized to say that this move would encourage piracy because compensation would have already been paid. It would have also raised the prices of these goods in a country where the prices are already expensive.

Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Panorama

  28 February 2008

“It is music that must be heard live to be appreciated, as much of it is literally felt in the body…”: Jamaican Francis Wade blogs about Panorama, Trinidad and Tobago's premier steel band competition.

Sharing music for free is not a crime, in Spain

  26 February 2008

Miguel Caetano, who faithfully writes at his blog Remixtures, blogs about[PT] the relative freedom to share music non-commercialy through P2P enjoyed in Spain, and compliments Spanish judges for their fine understanding of the net and it's social dynamics.

Trinidad & Tobago: Music Festival

  22 February 2008

“It seems to defeat the purpose of competition when it seems no matter how hard you try…you could still end up tied with fellow competitors in the top three. Wither, then, the prestige and the incentive?” Discover TnT Blog is a tad disappointed with the Trinidad & Tobago Music Festival.

Jorge Jurado Raps About Citizen Media

  19 February 2008

Jorge is one of about 20 young people in the peripheral working class neighborhood of San Javier La Loma who are using citizen media to rescue the forgotten history of their community. His song “ConVerGentes” which he performed in this video in early January 2008 discusses the potential of using participatory media to rescue the forgotten history and culture of local communities.

Bermuda: Tourism Feels the Love

  14 February 2008

“So, it’s time for the Love Festival, Dr. Brown’s annual Valentine’s bacchanal,” writes Vexed Bermoothes, blogging from Bermuda – then adds: “I am not damning the Department of Tourism for their big activities…we just need to look at our cost vs benefit a little more frequently, and using honest benchmarks.”

Jamaica: “InI”

  14 February 2008

Through the music of Bob Marley, Jamaican Geoffrey Philp examines the roots of Rastafarianism.

Serbia: Divided Over Eurovision

  13 February 2008

Reluctant Dragon reports on yet another conflict brewing in Serbia: “But Serbia would not be Serbia if it didn’t find something to be divided about. And I’m not talking about politics or Kosovo independence but Eurovision. It’s the time of the year when we decide who will represent Serbia in…...

Georgia: Political Culture

  12 February 2008

Writing on his This is Tbilisi Calling, the BBC's Matthew Collin comments on accusations made by Irakli Okruashvili, the former Georgian defence minister wanted on corruption charges and currently seeking political asylum in France, that the newly re-elected Georgian president is wasting public funds by staging musical spectaculars in Tbilisi...

Barbados: Music Industry

  12 February 2008

“What does it say about the Barbados ‘music industry’ if the most successful performer to emerge from the island simply bypassed the entire industry?” asks Notes From The Margin after Rihanna's first Grammy win.

Belize, Trinidad & Tobago: Something about Carnival

  11 February 2008

“It is an awesome thing to witness for the first time, this egalitarian Carnival experience, this celebration that is collective and an expression of each one's most free and intimate self”: The Global Parish makes her first Carnival visit to Trinidad and Tobago.