Stories about Music from February, 2008
Argentina: Direct Taxes and Digital Rights
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
“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.
Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Jamaica: RIP Manno & Gibbs
Caribbean Beat Blog mourns the passing of two sons of the Caribbean soil – Haitian footballer Emmanuel “Manno” Sanon and Jamaican record producer, Joel “Joe” Gibbs.
Sharing music for free is not a crime, in Spain
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.
Czech Republic: Markéta Irglová Gets an Oscar
The Reference Frame posts a note on Markéta Irglová, the first Czech female Oscar winner.
Middle East: Wishing Kosovo all the Best!
Bloggers and some politicians in the Middle East were quick to draw parallels between Kosovo's independence from Serbia and the Palestine Question. Following the news from the Balkans, here's a snapshot of more reactions from Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Trinidad & Tobago: Music Festival
“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.
Russia: Amateur Astronomy
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about amateur astronomy in Russia.
Jorge Jurado Raps About Citizen Media
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.
Iran:Interview with Samira, Persian electronica artist
Mideast Youth has published an interview with Smira,Persian electronica artist.
Middle East: Protesting Love
Valentine's Day has come and gone, but in the Middle East, the debate still continues on whether it is an occasion which should be celebrated or shunned. With both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait warning against Valentine's Day celebrations, bloggers had a lot to talk about.
Serbia: Rimtutituki
Belgrade 2.0 writes about one Serbian band's antiwar efforts of the early 1990s.
Bermuda: Tourism Feels the Love
“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”
Through the music of Bob Marley, Jamaican Geoffrey Philp examines the roots of Rastafarianism.
Serbia: Divided Over Eurovision
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…...
Lithuania: Music Education
Viola in Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009 writes about the sorry state of Lithuania's music education.
Georgia: Political Culture
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
“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.
Kazakhstan: Famed DJ Killed in Almaty
Lena B-va reports the shocking story of brutal murder of the Almaty’s popular DJ and one of the most charismatic representatives of clubbing culture of the Kazakhstan’s southern capital.
Belize, Trinidad & Tobago: Something about Carnival
“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.
Lebanon: Fairouz Attacked for Singing in Syria
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia expresses her annoyance with the way legendary Lebanese singer Fairouz is being attacked after singing in Syria.
