Education
JAM | Jun 28, 2022

Education highlighted as big contributor to new generation of artistes’ success

Ategie Edwards

Ategie Edwards / Our Today

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Mr Vegas (Photo: Facebook @MrVegas)

While there may be some who discontinue their studies to pursue a music career, these same school dropouts will find that being properly educated is vital for any successful, long-spanning career in the industry.

Dancehall veteran Mr Vegas, speaking with Youtuber and twitch streamer DJ Akademiks on his Spotify Exclusive Off The Record podcast, said education has carried the artistes of today much further than artistes in his era or the era before him were able to go.

“I think on an educational level, I think the new generation of artistes, I think they are more educated. They went to like high school, completed high school, college, university,” Vegas said, using Chronixx, of St Catherine High School, and Alkaline, who went to Ardenne, as examples.

The Standing On The Sun singjay continued, saying: “So them have better knowledge or understanding a the business compared to many of the artiste back in the days… . I think the illiteracy level was higher… and even the era before me was worse.”

DJ Akademiks (Photo: Complex)

While the Jamaica-born Akademiks attributed this generation’s success to technology, Vegas maintained his stance that education was essential, as adequate knowledge of the business of music was key.

Sharing similar sentiments was Professor Donna Hope, who told Our Today that it is important for artistes to surround themselves with educated teams and not just employ family and friends, as is usually the case.

“It is important that all artistes coming into the business, or who are already there, pull together the team. It is always about the team, and, if is your baby madda you’re going to use, send her up UWI (University of the West Indies) fi do the ECEM (Entertainment & Cultural Enterprise Management) programme,” said Hope, professor of culture, gender and society at The UWI.

Donna P. Hope, professor of culture, gender and society at the University of the West Indies. (Photo: mona.uwi.edu)

The professor went on to note that music education is now more accessible, with courses being offered on the music business at local institutions, as well as books on the know-how which outline past mistakes, and the Internet.

And with more exposure to information than their predecessors, Hope explained, “that’s why they are doing so well today”, referencing artistes’ ownership of their intellectual property rights as a clear indication.

“Information that you need to have in your hands, is important for the business that you’re doing. So you want to be creative out there, make sure you have the right business support… .

“They have to make sure they build out the teams, not just based on loyalty and who has been there with you… but also based on expertise and experience that can take you to higher heights…,” she stressed.

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