ON a continued quest to ensure that Guyanese music is recognized worldwide, Kross Kolor Records is set to spearhead and launch a network that it believes will set the way forward for Guyana and Guyanese musicians.

Owned and managed by long-time veteran Burchmore Simon, Kross Kolor Records, has over the years, played a major role in the entertainment arena in Guyana, contributing to the high quality of music being produced in the country to date.
The Guyana Music Network, a Kross Kolor Records initiative, is designed to change the way we look at The music industry in Guyana, and to reorganize and consolidate for its growth and commercialization.
Among Caribbean countries, Guyana cuts a lonely figure in the music industry. Over the years, many attempts have been made to form and consolidate an organisation that would secure the affairs of musicians in the country, but all efforts have been to no avail.
Even as studios have improved their equipment and engineers their skills; songwriters their writing and performers their game’ the music industry in Guyana is almost non-existent.
There are no associations, no unions, no copyright society, absolutely nothing indicating that this industry is ready to rival any of our sister Caribbean countries, much less farther afield.
This state of affairs has resulted in stagnation of an industry that has the potential to outsell rice, sugar and bauxite; and its concomitant woes: frustration, poverty, and discouragement. In other words, after decades and a pantheon of stars of the likes of Johnny Braff, Mark Holder, The Yoruba Singers, Adrian Dutchin, Jumo Primo, Big Red, Fiona, The Mighty Intruder, Celia Samaroo, Mighty Canary, Mighty Rebel, Charmaine Blackman, Dave Martins, Terry Gajraj, Joyce Harris, Bonny Alves, Keith Waithe, Melissa Vanilla Thomas and others too numerous to mention (any omission is unintentional); and after being ahead of the other Caribbean nations in the 50s and 60s where music was concerned, Guyana has been relegated to last position, and is struggling to survive.
One can agree that, over the years, our Guyanese artistes have faced many hardships. They have been disrespected by promoters, who have constantly given them little or no prominence when promoting events, or not advertising them even if they are booked, or wanting to pay little or nothing for their services. They have also been shunned by some DJs, who will play only foreign recordings 24/7, without playing a song from a Guyanese artiste; preferring to feed our children trash and feel good about it than aid in the positive development of their own.
The concept of the network is extremely simple: “Haan wash haan, mek haan come clean”. The task is not impossible, but will call for hard work and dedication by all. We, the stakeholders, will have to start loving ourselves and what we produce. We also have to encourage others to love what we produce, and support each other in all areas of the industry. We can turn it around!
The introduction of the Guyana Music Network will be done on Thursday, 27th June, 2013 at the Umana Yana at 17:30 hours. Come out and let’s stop blaming everyone else for the impending demise of our music. Let’s stop waiting for manna to fall from the sky. Self-sufficiency beats dependency any day!