MusicTT’s RVRB X, the highly anticipated three-day music conference dedicated to providing knowledge and networking opportunities to music professionals, entrepreneurs, musicians and artistes, concluded on a triumphant note, leaving attendees inspired, enlightened, and eager to utilize their comprehensive newfound knowledge on Sync.
Held at The Brix, Port of Spain, the event, themed “InSync” explored topics such as investing in music, music synchronization and music in film.
RVRB X brought together a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, providing ample opportunities for participants to connect, network, and forge new collaborations. Through informal interactions and dedicated networking events, attendees had the chance to build lasting relationships with fellow professionals, leading to potential creative partnerships that will continue to shape the landscape of music. The event saw 28 performances, 23 sub-events, 22 speakers and 16 partners. Statistics on participant countries and viewers will be released in August as RVRB X content is available on-demand till the 6th of August for those persons who were unable to attend.
At the Opening Ceremony on July 5, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee Scoon, Minister in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, delivered the feature address, further solidifying the importance of MusicTT, and its projects like RVRB X, in the development of the local music industry, “Based on the economic attractiveness of the Music industry globally, the Government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has identified music as a priority area for further development. Accordingly, RVRB X is evidence of the Government’s ongoing commitment to building talent and export capacity in the industry. This type of support from the Government that builds the industry is reflective of the RVRB X Theme: “Meet us at the X”. This serves as a clarion call to action beckoning stakeholders from the music community across the Caribbean and the rest of the world to join with MusicTT as we develop a globally competitive Music industry.”
From 5-7 July, participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves in an array of engaging sessions such as panel discussions, workshops, interviews, business-to-business networking, and mentorship. They received valuable insights from both local and international speakers, which included big names in the music and film industry such as Fela Oke, Hyphen8 Global (UK); Femi Oyeniran, award-winning actor and filmmaker (UK/Nigeria); Jhay C, HIT Music Labs (Australia); Shain Shapiro Founder/President, Sound Diplomacy (UK); Al McLean, GLOBAL Head of Music, EMPIRE Publishing and Founder and CEO of SONGSPLITS; Goodwin Tom, Managing Director at Sony Music Publishing, Nigeria; Solomon Sonaiya, co-founder of Livespot 360 (Nigeria); Nigel Thompson, Film Director; Dr. Jo-Anne Tull, Lecturer, DCFA, The UWI; Nigel Campbell and Laura Dowrich-Phillips of Music Matters Caribbean; and much more.
At the end of each conference day, RVRB X held showcases at various locations: Kafe Blue; Dalai Lama, One Woodbrook Place and The Brix Sugar High. The showcases held performances by local artistes and bands, including SADAEYA, Side Kick Envy, Keilan Jacob, Candice Caton, Yelena, and EKO to name a few. The showcases were headlined by Mical Teja, Braveboy, Collis Duranty and College Boy Jesse.
The success of RVRB X would not have been possible without the generous support of its partners, whose belief in the transformative power of music, especially music in film, fueled the realization of this extraordinary event. Special mention goes out to Fela Oke and Hyphen8 Global for sharing this vision with MusicTT and partnering to pull off this magnificent event as a key partner. MusicTT is deeply grateful to the esteemed speakers who shared their expertise and experiences with the attendees as the connections formed and the knowledge gained during the event will undoubtedly resonate and continue to shape the future of music in the Caribbean and beyond.
“FilmTT was thrilled to partner with sister company, MusicTT for this year’s RVRB X. Music plays a significant role in film, it captivates audiences and transports them to other realms and unforgettable on-screen moments. The knowledge and experience shared by professionals from the two art forms, film and music, were truly invaluable. Some of the topics explored key aspects of this collaboration, including the monetary value of tapping into our music via a visual medium. We hope that everyone who attended RVRB X continues to celebrate the power of music in film, advocating for its significance and pushing its boundaries to new frontiers. Together, we can shape the future, where music and film entwine in ever more profound and transformative ways.” – Leslie Ann Wills-Caton, General Manager, FilmTT.
“This event, if supported and given the chance, has the potential to be just as revered as SXSW, Midem, A2IM and the like, generating revenue and becoming a music business staple and a music tourism asset. My greatest wish is that participants walk away from this conference edified, with a renewed outlook as to the prospects of their careers and work towards positioning themselves for success as the creative entrepreneurs that they are. I graciously thank all the participants who took to social media, WhatsApp, and other forms to share reels, posts and messages of thankfulness and gratitude. Thank you for answering the call and meeting us at the X. See you again next year” – Melissa Jimenez, General Manager, MusicTT.
