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When I heard his ever popular song “King Road” on the radio, I thought to myself, this guy might be on to something and then my next reaction was to obviously macco. Recently EM had the opportunity to interview one of the newest sensations to come out of the Island of St. Vincent, Maddzart. Now although he may appear to be new to the industry, it is quite the opposite. I must add that Zart (as I am now allowed to call him) is quite the joker and did not ease me up during this interview. St. Vincent stand up! Again.....
Entertainment Macco: Who is Maddzart?
Maddzart: “I am just a human with the same feelings and problems as any other but am known for my entertainment work. I am currently the reigning roadmarch monarch of St. Vincent.”
Entertainment Macco: What is your given name?
Maddzart: “Raeon Primus”
Entertainment Macco: Explain the sobriquet for me? What is the significance?
Maddzart: “Madd is basically because I am a mad man, my position on most world and social issues and even matters of the heart is normally contrary to that of the world. The Zart came from Mozart one of the greatest classical musicians, I love classical music I grew up exposed to it in all them tom and jerry cartoons not knowing what I was listening too, I believe I am Mozart reincarnated as Maddzart.”
Entertainment Macco: Your Date of Birth and sign please...
Maddzart: “24th November 1978. Saggitarius...Hau!”
Entertainment Macco: Now, you are new eye candy on the block; it comes with the territory, so I have to ask, are you single/in a relationship/married?
Maddzart: “Legally single but have a special young lady for the past few months and we are moving fast.”
Entertainment Macco: What about children, do you have any? Any plans?
Maddzart: “I don’t think so.... I plan on having, I am a few years behind on that, but I have to find the right lady to do that with. My mom is a single mom and I am not looking to put any woman through that even though my mom managed great I never felt like a dad was missing, she did it all including the daddy style beating.”
Entertainment Macco: How long have you been involved in the entertainment industry?
Maddzart: “Been entertaining for 32 years but I have been in the industry for about 25 years....However I been in Soca for a little over 11 years.”
Entertainment Macco: How many songs have you written, recorded and released?
Maddzart: “Over a 100 written and recorded and releases....”
Entertainment Macco: Is that legal? J/K
Maddzart: “Yah I do an average of 10 songs per year in carnival, collaborations and all that.”
Entertainment Macco: I understand that the original chanter on Kevin Lyttle’s Turn me on was you, is that correct?
Maddzart: “Yes.”
Entertainment Macco: What happened though, no one seemed to know this, and instead we all saw Spranger Benz....explain that to me
Maddzart: “Me and Kevin had 2 different directions at the time, we were never a team his management probably did what they thought was in the best interest of the song at the time for marketing reasons but it was never a case of me and Kevin having any falling out we good up until this day, we speak all the time.”
Entertainment Macco: I understand you are part of a band? Tell me about that...
Maddzart: “I own a band! What I have is the Madd Symphony the idea is to be like a Broadway show like "cats" we present this ongoing show every Carnival... it is consisted of the front line performers myself Dlanlord and Tamisha we call the musician RHUM Ridiculously High Under Music those elements and our crew come together to form Maddzart & the Madd symphony again the classical music in me (smiley face)”
Entertainment Macco: Now....You were heavily involved in Dancehall, how did you end up singing Soca?
Maddzart: “On the local scene yah..I used to be the MC for a sound system similar to what Tony Matterhorn does.”
“Some jumbie probably! One day we were in the studio and we were playing Sisqo's “Thong Song” and i was like hmmm I’m going to make a Soca. With that I went to Adrian Bailey the "Turn me on" producer and told him yow record this tune for me, and he put it on his band album it was a hit off the bat, I came second in Soca Monarch that year and it gave me my first ticket out of SVG "Town Song"
Entertainment Macco: Tell me about some of your career achievements thus far...
Maddzart: “In 2009 won Raga Soca Monarch, in 2010 I came 3rd in Raga Soca Monarch and 3rd Soca Monarch and Road March.”
Entertainment Macco: Your popularity has trickled over to Trinidad and Tobago, how did the song King Road come about? What was the thought process behind it?
Maddzart: “MY CAPITAL is Kingstown so everything in the town belongs to the King; the road, the truck, buildings etc belong to the King and carnival is held in Kingstown, that’s the idea but the inspiration to do that song came from my drummer”
Entertainment Macco: So you trying to tell me this song has no double meaning?
Maddzart: “Well arrmmmmmmmmmmmmmm no I was shocked when people were taking it for double meaning.....”
Entertainment Macco: Now that you are enjoying the success of your runaway hit, King Road, tell me did you expect the success you are enjoying right now?
Maddzart: “To be honest when an artiste put his or her work together you dream at the highest but still you are always surprised at the success, is like a good horror movie you see it over and over and you still feel the suspense and bite your nails every time”
Entertainment Macco: When and how did you find out that you were receiving tremendous airplay in Trinidad and Tobago?
Maddzart: “During my carnival from a UWI student via email then I got a face book message from a friend in the army in Germany who was listening to RED 96.7. Just after that Trini Dj’s started finding me during the summer and the rest is history”
Entertainment Macco: What was your initial reaction?
Maddzart: “Absolutely stunned and excited.”
Entertainment Macco: Have you been trying to get your music played in Trinidad? If so how easy or hard has it been?
Maddzart: “I think I was hoping more than trying, never really made a huge attempt at it, I always believed that when I came Trini first I wanna come extra good......”
Entertainment Macco: What other genres do you enjoy singing/writing/performing?
Maddzart: “Dancehall, Reggae, I recorded a few beautiful pieces. I listen to other types of music as well and add them to my band repertoire from time to time for colour”
Entertainment Macco: Now I know that most artiste consider Trinidad the mecca of carnival, how do you feel about that?
Maddzart: “By far...undoubtedly the Mecca of carnival..... It embodies international carnival.”
Entertainment Macco: There is a song that you did that just really caught my attention “Poor People Anthem”..... Tell me a little about the thought process behind this track.
Maddzart: “That’s the song I won the first Ragga Soca Monarch with. I created that song a day while walking to the studio. I designed the lyrics and melody in my head and then went to the studio and created the music. It came from a natural place.”
Entertainment Macco: Explain this natural place...
Maddzart: “I mean a lot of it is what I have seen, been close to or experienced, I know that life. My mom went through a lot with me even as a baby she was literally homeless with me in her arms. But even without fortunes she spoilt me.”
Entertainment Macco: Later on the track was remixed with Bunji, what initiated that decision, Why Bunji?
Maddzart: “Well firstly, Bunji when he came to St Vincent and we met he expressed great appreciation for that song and secondly Bunji’s image defines the defender of the poor in my opinion so it was not a hard decision to make. I made one phone call, flew him in and that’s it.”
Entertainment Macco: Zart (since I am allowed to call you that) “Whyne Pon Me” was released around the same time as King Road, why do you think it has not reached to the masses like King Road?
Maddzart: “I defended my Ragga Soca Monarch crown with “Wine Pon Me”. I think “King Road” is peoples’ love for that song for what they get out of it they get to misbehave in ways they never got to before and it created a whole new way of saying things.”
Maddzart: “I defended my Ragga Soca Monarch crown with “Wine Pon Me”. I think “King Road” is peoples’ love for that song for what they get out of it they get to misbehave in ways they never got to before and it created a whole new way of saying things.”
Entertainment Macco: Ok...so this is my final questions on your releases (for the while) because there is so much that I want to get out of you. How did the remix with Shurwayne Winchester come about and why did you pick him?
Maddzart: “My manager and my host in Trinidad were going to handle my business and I was not in the mood so I stayed home, when they return they told me that Shurwyne was interested in doing the remix etc and the rest is history, he did a great job.”
Entertainment Macco: What is the difference between Maddzart on stage and the Maddzart offstage?
Maddzart: “I am a Saggitarius haha... my sign is half animal, half human. The animal is on stage and off stage I am shy and extremely humble, I hate attention offstage.”
Entertainment Macco: Is there anything else that you enjoy doing other than music? Please share...
Maddzart: “Playing cards, I love a lot of alone time, I love heckling people and I make jokes out of the most serious situation. I don’t ponder on problems; I think about what can be done to fix it; if it can’t be fixed move on.”
Entertainment Macco: Can you compare the Vincentian music industry to the Trinidadian industry, what are some of the similarities?
Maddzart: “We both have vibes and it is represented in our music. The culture is the same for sure usually what is the Vincy hit song is normally a hit song in Trini also, for example Kevin little, Godfrey Dublin, Skinny, Problem Child, Becket, Scorher.”
Entertainment Macco: So now that St. Vincent's carnival is quickly approaching, tell me about some of your plans and releases?
Entertainment Macco: Where else can you be seen during the upcoming months, as far as bookings are concerned?
Maddzart: “Normally I tend to remain exclusive to Vincy mas and carnival home between the periods May to early July. I like to dedicate that 2 months to home and performances at home, however I think management informed me about something brewing in London in June. I am not so sure what will happen as far as accepting because we have some important things happening at home but we will see.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you plan on taking part in competition at home this year?
Entertainment Macco: So now that St. Vincent's carnival is quickly approaching, tell me about some of your plans and releases?
Maddzart: “Basically you know Carnival in St. Vincent is different to carnival in Trinidad and the market is different, so you know we don’t put things too much in black and white in terms of going forward in terms of releases. We put out songs and see what direction they head in and then how far apart, the next release will be.”
Entertainment Macco: How is your most recent track "Hello Bumper" being received?
Maddzart: “For all intent and purposes that basically was geared towards a particular niche, when them ladies come out carnival Monday, Tuesday, Jouvert in the fete or whatever to behave wassi and the response has been from the females has been all thumbs up so far. I have been receiving a lot of feedback so far and you know whatever the females love men love because wherever the gyal them there we there too. The track has been paving the way for what else is there to come”
Entertainment Macco: Where else can you be seen during the upcoming months, as far as bookings are concerned?
Maddzart: “Normally I tend to remain exclusive to Vincy mas and carnival home between the periods May to early July. I like to dedicate that 2 months to home and performances at home, however I think management informed me about something brewing in London in June. I am not so sure what will happen as far as accepting because we have some important things happening at home but we will see.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you plan on taking part in competition at home this year?
Maddzart: “Competition is never really a major part of how I go into carnival, when I say competitions I mean Calypso monarch or Soca monarch etcetera. I don’t really go into the studio thinking about that, I want to come out with the best product and the best song, making sure everything is right and the people love the music regardless of if I am in formal competitions. I cannot tell you what I will be doing as yet as far as competitions go.”
Entertainment Macco: What would you like to be recognized for?
Maddzart: “Making a change socially and politically on earth.”
Entertainment Macco: What are you complimented about the most?
Maddzart: “Physically my dreads and probably my lips - most girls just wanna abuse them...”
Entertainment Macco: What is Sexy to you?
Maddzart: “Innocence is sexy, i mean a well clothed inexperienced look is good...not the putting it out there look. Ladies need to allow men to make use of the naughty mind we were born with, let us think and imagine”
Entertainment Macco: What quality do you admire most in the opposite sex?
Maddzart: “Honesty and physically nice teeth..”
Entertainment Macco: What is it that separates you from others in the industry?
Maddzart: “I am well rounded I do everything, produce, arrange, perform, play instruments, sing, manage, write, mix and master and the list goes on.”
Entertainment Macco: What is the best advice you ever received and from whom?
Maddzart: “My granny - Do good and good will follow you, she is blind and just turned 96 a couple weeks ago.”
Entertainment Macco: How can interested parties find you?
Maddzart: “Facebook and Twitter”
Entertainment Macco: Is there anyone you would like to acknowledge?
Maddzart: “My band members, family, fans and supporters and everyone... It is hard to call all the names...the list is going to be so long....but my fans are the water in my rain....”
In the last interview published, we highlighted allegations made by the President of the Recording Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (RIATT), Mr. Fabien Alfonso towards the Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT). It was alleged that COTT deductions have been much higher than the advised percentage. After the interview published we spoke with Ms. Melissa Arnaud, COTT's Comunication Officer, who was more than willing to assist with all the queries and questions raised by RIATT and COTT members. Attached are two documents which COTT has used to help address this matter..... This interview is like no other, as it tackles the business and operational aspects of the industry. Yes we macco these issues too.
Entertainment Macco: Can you please give a brief description of COTT, how long has the organization been around and what exactly the organization does, and how does one become a member?
COTT: "The Copyright Music Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) is a non-profit making membership organisation of songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers of all genres. The organisation was incorporated in 1984 and has been operating since January 1985. COTT administers, i.e. grants permission for the public performance, broadcasting, communication to the public, mechanical reproduction and synchronisation rights granted by law to music users from the creators and owners of original music.
To be eligible for COTT membership you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
• your music is published by a person or company that carries on business as a music publisher, OR
• your music has been released as a commercial recording, OR
• your music has been publicly performed or broadcasted within the last year and that performance is licensed by COTT (i.e. on radio, television, in concert, clubs, etc.).
There is an application fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) Non-refundable"
Entertainment Macco: In the press release issued by COTT (seen below), the increased percentages were as a result of the "onset of the Global Recession" and "the imminent mortgage obligation for its new Headquarters", was this information ever communicated to the members?
COTT: "This was communicated to our members as it is our obligation to do so. In fact, we had members meetings throughout the period addressing this, sent letters to all members and met with those who were aggrieved." | |||||
| PRESS RELEASE |
Entertainment Macco: Has COTT ever taken 78% in administration rates?
COTT: "Administration rate refers to the overall cost of collecting relative to overall revenue and it has never been 78%. There are different distributions streams which will have their own administration costs attached to them. The 78% refers to one of those distributions streams, General Distribution. Note this distribution stream is the most costly to collect because of the non compliant nature of music users in Trinidad and Tobago generally. Representatives of COTT must actually visit clients (most times repeatedly) to collect what is owed to members and endure the trials when facing uncooperative clients. Unlike our sister organisation TONO, in Norway, which has no representatives as music users voluntarily pay for use of music without an approach from TONO."
Entertainment Macco: What is the highest amount that COTT has ever deducted to cover administrations expenses?
COTT: "60% in 2009; this is year that COTT has taken out 78% in the general distribution category."
Entertainment Macco: Pardon my ignorance but i am under the impression that COTT works with other copyright organization's worldwide and collect royalties for nonmembers and this money is then sent to the organizations that represent these members, are COTT administration rates deducted from these monies as well? and is it at the same rate as deducted from members of COTT?
COTT: "Yes we do for both instances."
Entertainment Macco: If for a particular period the administration rates are unusually high, does COTT attach an addendum to member statements with an explanation?
COTT: "COTT, as happened in all occasions and mentioned previously, has communicated to its members through our members meetings, which happens after a royalty distribution, and sent letters when these incidences happened."
Entertainment Macco: The dates that you supplied the deduction rates span from 2006 -2009, with the exception of 2007 the rates have steadily increased and as you state this is due to the global recession and the acquisition of the new headquarters, so has the deduction rates for 2010 increased from the 60%?
COTT: "No, in fact it has decreased as the unaudited administration rate for 2010 is 40%."
Entertainment Macco: Since the release of the letter by members of COTT and RIATT, have members been contacting the organisation to highlight their concerns? Is this the first time that members have raised questions with regards to this issue?
COTT: "Firstly, RIATT has no formal relationship with COTT. As such our obligation is not to this organisation but to our members. Since the release of the letter, we have had 3 members contacting us directly i.e. they have sent in letters. Also, administration rates are one of the key performance indicators that are used in the management of collecting societies and are always monitored by the Board and Management."
Entertainment Macco: When does COTT plan to finalise a date to meet with members?
COTT: "We have scheduled to meet on Thursday April 14th 2011 at COTT’s Head Office, 139-141 Abercromby Street, Port of Spain for 5:30pm with our members only."
Entertainment Macco: With your press release you also included page from a WIPO Document (See below) The Setting -up of New Copyright Societies written by Dr Ulrich Uchtenhagen, page 11 point 24 where it states verbatim:
"24.A copyright society can only claim to have “efficient management”
if the costs of that management remain within a reasonable range.
Here again, international standards apply as already mentioned. The
deduction of costs up to 30% for the management of performance and
broadcasting rights and up to 25% for the management of reproduction
rights, can be justified on condition that the distribution activities
lead to regular, detailed and individual accounts for each author and
publisher. These percentages can be provisionally exceeded in times of
high inflation, for instance, or where there has been large-scale investment
in facilities such as the procurement of a data processing system.
Be that as it may, a copyright society whose deductions continually
exceed the above-mentioned standards signals problems of
sustainability and is therefore considered ripe for a review of its administrative
structure."
Based on the figures you provided showing an increase in fees, is COTT in Trouble?
COTT: "The document supplied was the “guidelines” that RIATT used to support their argument and as such we supplied it to you as reference. To give some background information, The Setting -up of New Copyright Societies – Experiences and Reflexions paragraph 24 is premised on what was written in paragraph 23:
“23.Whether or not the amounts paid are commensurate depends essentially on the calculation of the tariffs, constituting the calculation basis for the royalties or remuneration paid by the users. Guidance is given by national usage and international standards, particularly:
- the “10 % rule” according to which the authors and publishers are entitled to 1/10th of all income obtained by copyright users from the exploitation of the works;
- the “pro-rata temporis rule” according to which the 10 % share of the authors and publishers is proportionally reduced where protected and free works are exploited together;
- the “ballet rule” according to which the 10 % share of the authors and publishers is also proportionally reduced where several works are exploited at the same time.”
 |
| WIPO DOCUMENT |
Entertainment Macco: Alright understood, continue...
COTT: "None of COTT’s tariffs are at a 10% level, as per paragraph 23. Given the non compliant nature of music users in T&T it is highly unlikely that COTT can collect at this level successfully, though it would be great to do so, as the market does not support that level of tariff,. Finally, but most importantly, in the preface to the publication mentioned above, a disclaimer reads as follows which is very important:
“The opinions contained in this publication reflect only the views of the author and not necessarily those of WIPO”
Therefore by this document, WIPO does not set any admin rates or tariff rates for Collective Management societies, which is outside its remit."
COTT: "The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest. WIPO was established by the WIPO Convention in 1967 with a mandate from its Member States to promote the protection of IP throughout the world through cooperation among states and in collaboration with other international organizations. <http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/what_is_wipo.html>WIPO’s Member States determine the strategic direction and activities of the Organization. They meet in the Assemblies, committees and working groups (WIPO decision-making bodies).There are currently 184 Member States, i.e. over 90 percent of the countries of the world (membership criteria). < http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/how_wipo_works.html>"
Entertainment Macco: What else is there to know about WIPO?
COTT: "It is important to know that WIPO does not set standards for Collective Management Organisations such as COTT, CISAC does. CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, works towards increased recognition and protection of creators’ rights. CISAC was founded in 1926 and is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation. Its headquarters are in Paris, with regional offices in Budapest, Santiago de Chile, Johannesburg and Singapore."
Entertainment Macco: What are the aims of CISAC?
COTT: "CISAC’s main activities and member services aim to:
- To strengthen and develop the international network of copyright societies
- To secure a position for creators and their collective management organisations in the international scene;
- To adopt and implement quality and technical efficiency criteria to increase copyright societies’ interoperability;
- To support societies’ strategic development in each region and in each repertoire;
- To retain a central database allowing societies to exchange information efficiently;
- To participate in improving national and international copyright laws and practices.
As of June 2010, CISAC numbers 229 authors’ societies from 121 countries and indirectly represents around 3 million creators and music publishers within all the artistic repertoires: music, drama, literature, audio-visual, graphic and visual arts. < http://www.cisac.org/CisacPortal/afficherArticles.do?menu=main&item=tab2&store=true> COTT is the only Collecting Society in Trinidad and Tobago recognized by CISAC. Also, COTT is the only Collecting Society in T&T recognized by the 228 author/composer societies in the world."
