Currently, Myspace does not have a music category for Soca; the most widely produced musical genre of the English speaking Caribbean. While the populations of countries like Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica are small by comparison to those of major music markets, the impact of the music of the Caribbean is global.

Most Soca practitioners already have profiles on Myspace. If you're still unsure what type of music we're talking about here, think of these names: Kevin Lyttle, Alison Hinds, Rupee, KMC, Jamesy P. All of these artists have enjoyed a certain level of mainstream success in the United States and the UK. The success of these breakout artists is only a tiny sample of catalogue produced by hundreds of musicians who in many cases are more popular within the region than those whose songs have ventured out.

Soca artists on MySpace are forced to describe their craft as Tropical, Zouk, Fusion, Reggae or even R&B. It is an insult to these professionals who have fashioned lucrative careers in an art form that is widely popular and inherently cultural. Their music finds no recognition on the internet’s most popular music networking portal.

We are proposing that MySpace does the following:

Short Term

• Create a Soca music category in MySpace Music (so that the popularity of these artists and their music can be easily monitored by fans)

• Feature the profiles of some of these artists. When you consider that Machel Montano sells out Madison Square Garden for two shows in a single night. No one can deny that there is a widespread audience for the music. MySpace can get in on an underground scene that is bubbling impressively right before the eyes of mainstream America.

Mid Term

• Post artist interviews and articles written by professional writers who know the scene.

Long Term

• Create a MySpace site for the English Caribbean. Currently, users in that part of the world are covered under the umbrella of Latin America, however, the Spanish site alienates users in more than 20 territories. These are the lands of Soca and Reggae music, not Reggaeton and Salsa.

Why should MySpace care?

The opportunities for MySpace to cash in financially are tremendous. Each of these gorgeous island havens spends millions annually promoting their respective carnival celebrations, which drives the production of new music, as soca provides the soundtrack for the modern Caribbean carnival.

• Increased potential for online advertising revenue

MySpace can look forward to being an important online hub for the corporate promotion of international and intraregional travel, and the services of multinationals serving the Caribbean. Nationals tourist boards approach tour companies, airlines and media outlets in all the major markets to draw in vacationers to their sandy shores. MySpace is currently not benefitting from this opportunity.

• The Soca Market pays in Dollars and Euros Carnival celebrations patterned on the Anglo-Caribbean model are popular in North America and Europe.

They account for the largest outdoor summer festivals in... London - Notting Hill Carnival New York – Brooklyn West Indian Day Parade Toronto - Caribana There are also large soca scenes in Berlin, Miami and Japan. Remember, Soca is THE music of Carnival. MySpace currently has no presence at these huge international music events generating hundreds of millions or dollars for the local economies of these world class cities.

• Lucrative market for music sales

We are aware that MySpace is fine-tuning the details to make it possible for artists to sell their music directly though the site. Consider the possibilities, particularly within a genre where the vast majority of its popular artists are not represented by a major music label. Due to soca’s intrinsic link to carnival culture, these artists often produce full length recorded albums on an annual or bi-annual basis. Artists such as Destra Garcia, Bunji Garlin and Shurwayne Winchester regularly interact with their large fan base by touring extensively all year at mid to large-sized urban venues. Without a dedicated soca category, MySpace makes it difficult for fans to browse soca artists. Given current circumstances, MySpace could miss out on the opportunity to cash in on a percentage of the revenue generated by popular independent artists.

This group exists to advocate that MySpace should begin to recognize the musical landscape of the English speaking Caribbean by making the smart decision to add Soca music to its ranks.