With those words, Ivan Berry, CEO of embattled music publishers C2W Music set the stage, at the Knutsford Court hotel in Kingston last weekend, for the company's transition into the now oft-mentioned "360 Model" in that it will, in addition to its core business, C2W will enter the artiste management business and also strengthen its existing sub-publishing collection deals with global music labels /publishers BMG and Warner-Chappell. "We are now an 'all-rights company'" Berry stated, but with a proviso that event promotion will not be a significant avenue of investment for the company. there are, however, plans to revive the Songwriting Camps, which while draining cash, also produced, according to the exec, much of the company's copyrights bank.
Berry, a former BMG exec, spoke passionately, candidly and at length about the company's vision, trials and prognosis. C2W presently holds some 900 copyrights, a few of which have begun to turn some much-needed revenue for the company. Notable among them are the tracks "Richest Girl" by Etana, and "Without A Woman" which is the lead single on the rising new album by Maxi Priest (featuring Beres Hammond). Another C2W property, "Supersoaker" has been recorded by soca star Skinny Fabulous in tandem with top Romanian singer, Andreea Balan.
The company, according to both Berry and President Derek Wilkie, did turn a profit for the 2nd quarter of this current year, and projections are for the third quarter to be similarly profitable.But they declined to give actual figures, and clearly, it will take many quarters of profit to wipe out the deep red stain on the company's books to date, not least a USD620,000 loss for the year just ended and a liabilities over assets ratio of roughly 9:1
The AGM also wlecomed new directors, drumming legend Sly Dunbar and Clyde Mckenzie, the latter present for part of the meeting
