To go after creation of ‘Performing Rights Organisation’ here

By Telesha Ramnarine

RON André Elvis Telford is a Guyanese-American music executive who left Guyana when he was just four years old, but the 36-year-old has not forsaken the land of his birth and would travel here annually, as many as three times per year!

His company, Creative Titans, is based in the United States of America, and its goal is to find talent from all across the world, including Guyana, and hone such talent to the point that the individual may be able to secure a record or publishing deal.

And it becomes easier to find such talent owing to his multinational partners namely, Andre Gomez of Guyana, Adrian Johnson of Trinidad and Tobago and Noorez “Nunu” Rhemtulla of Tanzania.

Ron has had various roles across the music industry since 2008 and the team has been putting emphasis on finding and procuring talent from Guyana, the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America and territories outside of North America.

“Our mission is to go after Guyanese talent, and we do have our eyes set on a few persons, but we will have to first sit down with them,” Ron told the Pepperpot Magazine in an online interview on Friday.

His company has the capacity to sign an artist upward of US$5M. “With this capacity, we can go after writers, producers, artists, from all across the world,” Ron noted. The company managed Guyanese singing sensation Tameka Marshall for a while, but things did not work out. Ron said the team still wishes her well and hopes for the best with her career.
Meanwhile, just recently, Creative Titans entered into a multi-million dollar joint venture partnership with Concord Music Publishing. Success has come over the last two years via their Creative Titans imprint – Creative Titans is a hybrid music company that leads with artist management and music publishing.

Most recently, Ron played a key role in putting together Vybz Kartel “Watch Over Us”, Koffee “Toast”, Jorja Smith “Be Honest”, Koffee feat Gunna “W” and Ludmilla “Verdinha”. Last summer, he worked with Kim Frankiewicz, Harri Davies, Tom Desavia, and Jeremy Yohai in closing the deal to bring Walshy Fire (of Major Lazer) to Concord Music Publishing.
Colombian songwriter and producer, Bassto, will be the first signing under this new joint venture. After a year of collaborating with established music creatives across the USA and UK, Bassto has become a heavily sought-after producer and skillfully contributed on several hits this year.

Guyanese star, Dominic “Remar” Weekes, who is being managed by Jonathan Beepat, has been working with Creative Titans while they help to orchestrate a US/UK publishing and record deal for him.

“From the first day of interacting with the team at Concord, both UK and USA staff, I knew we would be able to mesh a fruitful business relationship – I felt at home. We are very excited to lend our A&R insight for music creation and be a champion for the writers that we publish,” Ron expressed.

Performing Rights Organisation

Apart from finding Guyanese singers and songwriters, Ron has his eyes set on creating a performing rights organization in Guyana.

He said because Guyana has no such organisation, it makes it difficult for major companies across the world to come and do business here. It also hinders local artists from being adequately compensated for their work.

“We’re taking slow, baby steps to ensure that this becomes a reality. This will enable artists to access the worldwide markets,” Ron said.