THE SECOND annual Caribbean Music Expo (CME 2000) opens in Ocho Rios on Wednesday, November 29 and runs until Sunday, December 3. The Expo is billed as an international music business convention catering to the music of the French, Spanish and English-speaking Caribbean.
One of the main features of the CME is the conference series designed to address a variety of issues related to the business of music. The conference will be staged at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande over a three-day period and will feature seven panel discussions and a workshop on music production and songwriting.
The panels will examine topics such as Music Promotions and Distribution on the Internet, Music in Advertising and Sponsorship, The Media and Music, Artiste Management, Music and Sex, Challenges to Growing a Caribbean Music Industry, plus an open question and answer session called What's On Your Mind?.
On Saturday December 2, there will be a one-day workshop on Music Production and Songwriting. This will be facilitated by top local and international songwriters and producers.
According to the CME's project manager, Jacqueline Stevens, several major international names have been confirmed for the CME 2000 panels and workshops.
Speakers already confirmed include Montell Jordan, Eddy Grant, Mary J. Blige, James Dorsey of Arista Records, Ajax Scott of Music Business International, Dean Garfield of the Recording Industry Association of America, Sydney Miller Jr., of Black Radio Exclusive, Jackie Rhinehart of Universal Records, Kenard Gibbs of VIBE Magazine, Jerry Juste of Motown, Maxine Stowe of Universal Records, Gary 'Dr. Dread' Himelfarb of RAS Records, Kendall Minter, John Tucker of BET, Jon Baker of Gee Jam Studios, Murray Elias of VP Records and Ann-Marie Nicholson of The Source Magazine. A number of local and regional music and media representatives are also expected to participate in the presentations.
Local presenters will also include Dr. Omar Davies and Olivia 'Babsy' Grange. The keynote address for CME 2000 will be delivered by well known New York based entertainment attorney Paul Marshall.
The Caribbean Music Expo is designed to provide a forum for networking between regional music and media personnel and music and media representatives from around the world.
