KOMPA! MAGAZINE

[Haitianone]

I have been noticing this mess for awhile now in the HMI and overtime it is getting worst. Let me start of by saying the HMI is an industry with great potential but is managed like a bad joke. What concerns me is right now many of our top bands have decided to go on a marketing campaign to show how as individual bands they are singlehandedly pushing Konpa around the globe. I guess it serves the mentalities of those in the HMI that they are doing something. But in perspective, this is total rubbish because Kompas cannot evolve if only one band is doing something while the others are not. Given the industry is not regulated or have an organization defending its interest like in Latin Music and others, it is a free for all which then leads to this beautiful musical genre to go nowhere. Why? First there is not a collective understanding on how to regulate and push the interest of the business. I guess given this precedent the individual bands have decided to take the lead by showing how they as individual bands are doing something to push the industry to the world. I would agree it is a good marketing gicmic to do but overtime I notice it has turned into a game of look at a me I am doing better then you game.

I am sorry to all those bands out there, none of you alone can carry this musical genre on yall backs. You got nothing behind to help make it happen so either you people do something and change the system or stop this BS game because others are watching closely and laughing at all this mess.
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Statehood or Bust

[LeMoMo]

I agree with you and the sky would be the limit for them. I think guys like Richard Cave or Carlo Vieux or Roberto Martino could be opened to such ideas.

[SIROMYEL]

Good points...

over the years we've always had one band or two at a time that travel to some international markets...

But that has never really done much on a global scale.
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A man who has taken possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled_ Carnegie

[yef]

Good point, but you should have brought this point a long time ago when T-Vice was venturing in Panama.
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"I think I have managed to pay respect to some of my childhood heroes but my most important work is always ahead of me."

-Fabrice Rouzier

[Haitianone]

SIROMYEL wrote:

Good points... over the years we've always had one band or two at a time that travel to some international markets... But that has never really done much on a global scale.

That is true because there is no organization defending its interests. A lot of times its is the foreigners who are distributing the CDs that give access to new places and times it is themselves but reality you need more in the process. Look at reggae, I will say this with confidence the Jamaican government pushes reggae HARD.

The last time the Haitian government ever pushed our music was let me think NEVER. Trujillo in the DR pushed merengue very hard to the international masses.

It is real sad you know.
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Statehood or Bust

[DaRealNessa]

Haitianone, this is an excellent post! I hope that we all can debate these thoughts without a fanatic mindset.

When I see bands playing Haitian music venturing into other countries, it makes me proud because a door has been opened. If this artist playing a Haitian genre of music is able to infiltrate this market, then that means another band/artist who is just as determined and motivated can do it do. It is not a factor of "carrying the industry" on your back; but making the opportunity possible for others.

[Haitianone]

yef wrote:

Good point, but you should have brought this point a long time ago when T-Vice was venturing in Panama.

Not really because I did not see the clear attrition by success motive then. Now, it is sad to see bands showing off like I am doing it for konpa. But what can these bands do really when you are one or two doing something. I got no problem but reality is this is no success. Reggae is not an international success because Bob Marley alone carried the mantle. Go it alone mentality is really ingraine in Haitian society. Maybe in 2010, while showing off you are doing something to the people actually DO SOMETHING for real. That is the essence of my post.
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Statehood or Bust

[tipoupouche]

H1 Brother - I am in 100% agreement with you .....

You mentioned Raggae and the Government pushed it hard.... Yes I agree but the Jamaican Governement had a Bob Marley, Gregory Isaac, Peter Tosh, Rita Marley, Mighty Diamond, Jacob Miller and many more powerful artist to sell...

Do you think that we have a product to sell.... Do we have a Marley among us..... May be I am wrong, but personally, the closest that we ever come to have a HMI ICON like a Bob Marley was Ti manno and Coupe Cloue.....

I still proclaim that we do not have a product to sell.... The HMI has been living from the same boullion chaffe for years with no creativity.... A lot of bands are saying non-sense like konpa direct devan... personally, they are kiddin themselves..... No haitian bands advance the kompa one inch.... The only band that could have made it was Tabou.... Still they failed....

Here is the problem that I have noticed... Look at Bob Marley lyrics and look at our HMI band lyrics and you will see why we do not have a merchandise to sell.....
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There was never real sovereignty in Haiti - Haiti must gain its sovereignty for good.

[Haitianone]

LeMoMo wrote:

I agree with you and the sky would be the limit for them. I think guys like Richard Cave or Carlo Vieux or Roberto Martino could be opened to such ideas.

They should be but can they? Nap suiv!
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Statehood or Bust

[Haitianone]

DaRealNessa wrote:

Haitianone, this is an excellent post! I hope that we all can debate these thoughts without a fanatic mindset. When I see bands playing Haitian music venturing into other countries, it makes me proud because a door has been opened. If this artist playing a Haitian genre of music is able to infiltrate this market, then that means another band/artist who is just as determined and motivated can do it do. It is not a factor of "carrying the industry" on your back; but making the opportunity possible for others.

The fact they play in a market does not mean they have infiltrate that market. I rarely see these bands play make an impact on these various territories billboard charts. They impact is minimal. Partly, the reason is these bands have no governmental or organizational backing to make it happen. So the other guy does not necessarily have an in in these markets.
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Statehood or Bust