After a strong start, we haven’t yet hit 200 signatures. I encourage everyone to participate more actively as we work towards our goal. As I gather more information, it’s becoming clear that our music consumption isn’t aligning with where it truly matters. We’re in a relay race, and someone forgot to register the team. We’re running, but no one knows who’s on the team. In other words, we think we’re in the game but not actually in it.

The survey data shows that the largest group of DJs worldwide who consume/use our music are Latino DJs, a fact I didn’t know. This means that many DJs who play Soca and Calypso aren’t on platforms where their efforts can be properly counted, leading to minimal representation. That needs to change.

DJs who are abroad, those in the Caribbean islands, and those in Central and South American[Caribbean] territories who are passionate about Calypso and Soca need to find ways to ensure their numbers are represented. This can be done by curating more regularly, using consistent hashtags, and actively populating platforms like Spotify and Pandora. If you’re doing a mix show once every three months, that’s too infrequent. Aim for at least twice a month. Also, curate your mixes as playlists and link them to your accounts on these platforms.

There’s much more to discuss, but this is where we stand now. If you’ve signed on, please encourage others to join the movement. Together, we can make a real impact.

Samuel E Archer