Next week in Denmark, Kross Kolor Records CEO Burchmore Simon and his team mates Melissa Roberts and Denis Ward will attend WOMEX (World Music Expo), probably the single most promising event that will surely ensure a place for Guyanese music in the world’s’ sphere.
The annual expo attracts record labels from around the world and has become a significant meeting place that has ensured the careers of performers take a giant leap into the mainstream of things. According to Burchmore, the expo which lasts from the October 27 to 31, will see the attendance of over 500 companies from across Asia, Europe, North and South America.
Burchmore stated that 20 companies have expressed an interest in Kross Kolor and its offerings and all meetings have been concretized. Kross Kolor team members will also be attending a number of workshops and mentoring sessions with top executives and technical experts in the areas of marketing. The repertoire being presented spans a wide cross-section of music from jazz to chutney, pan and folk and features over 30 individual talents from Guyana most of whom have recorded at Kross Kolor.
Kross Kolor sees this as an exceptional opportunity for the fledgling industry in Guyana to make a giant step forward. “Guyana like other country’s face many challenges when it comes to marketing music but ours is made more difficult through a lack of modern copyright legislation, the absence of more radio stations and the lack of a moral commitment to the development of Guyanese music by some DJs and VJs who prefer to spend their time pushing foreign music and artistes much to the disadvantage of their countrymen and women.
The attendance of Kross Kolor Records at WOMEX has been made possible through The Matching Grants Initiative administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the diligent work of its staff members. Go-Invest, GT&T and Banks DIH also played their part in ensuring the attendance of the Kross Kolor team.
