Thirteen years after taking a bold step to safeguard and protect the music rights of musicians in Saint Lucia and other sister islands of the English speaking Caribbean, the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation (ECCO) for Music Rights Inc. is stronger than ever, determined to see that musicians get what they deserve.
This society of writers and publishers of music, established in Castries, St. Lucia, has reciprocal agreements with Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) throughout the world (also called ‘societies’), ECCO represents and can license virtually the whole worldwide repertoire of copyright music for public performance, broadcast, cable transmission, online and mobile use. In addition ECCO will also license mechanical reproduction on behalf of writer and publisher members and is planning to perform similar tasks for the related rights of producers and performers of sound recordings with respect to the right of equitable remuneration when recordings are used in broadcasts and/or public performances directly or indirectly.
In answering the call for representation from creators in the other Eastern Caribbean countries and to address: (a) changing macro-economic environment, (b) changes in the regional music industry and (c) to ensure competitiveness and sustainability of the Caribbean Copyright Link (CCL) now the Association of Caribbean Copyright Societies (ACCS), – CCL presented the Performing Right Society (PRS) with a business case calling for the release of the Eastern Caribbean Territories to a single entity. PRS agreed to transfer the rights for the administration of the international repertoire within the Eastern Caribbean to HMS (the only established society existing in the Eastern Caribbean) with effect from 1st January 2009.
ECCO was originally known as the Hewanorra Musical Society (HMS) Inc. which was the national society for St. Lucia. Following a series of consultation with creators throughout the region and with the agreement of HMS members in St. Lucia, the name of the society was changed to the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc., reflecting its regional make-up. Similarly, the composition of the HMS Board was changed to ensure broader representation from Eastern Caribbean States. In addition, the mandate of the society was increased to include the administration of rights for performers and producers of sound recordings alongside that of writers and publishers.
ECCO collects fees by issuing licences to music users granting them permission and authority to the restrictive acts as defined in the Copyright Acts of the region, including; public performances, broadcasting, communication to the public, reproduction etc. ECCO is a non-profit making organisation. Having recovered its running costs it pays the remaining money collected to the members identified on logs supplied by the radio stations and data collected from major events. ECCO also collects royalties from around the world for its members through reciprocal agreements with other CMO’s overseas. Member states of ECCO consist of: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, British Virgin Isles, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
ECCO’s Board of Directors are as follows:
Kendell ‘Scady’ Eugene (St. Lucia) is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist, DJ, host, promoter, writer and recording artiste with a passion for youth development and the creative industries.
Courtney “Curty” Louis (St. Lucia) is an award-winning songwriter and producer. Louis is the owner and CEO of music label Stratosphere Muzic which he founded in 2011.
Bruno N. Leonce (St. Lucia) is a father, singer, songwriter and performer.
He is the former treasurer of the North Castries Youth and Sports Council, Managing Director of Apex Construction & Equipment Services, Ti Helen Beautifying Landscaping. He is the Co-owner of Krome Productions and Alert Watch Enterprise.
Vernalderine Francis (St. Kitts & Nevis) is the co-owner of ROOCOO, a multimedia solutions company that includes music publishing, registered in St. Kitts & Nevis. As a part of the work done by the company she has been involved in assisting clients in negotiating music synchronization licenses, transcription licences and endorsement deals and also assisting clients in understanding the need for and the use of cue sheets.
Lancelot Chapman (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) started in music when he was about seven years old in Trinidad where he lived. As a child he took part in many talent programs on radio and performances in school concerts which propelled him to enroll into the Young Artists Group in Port of Spain, Trinidad. He migrated to attend school in the USA where he lived in both New York and California where he learnt to play clarinet and guitar.
Melissa ‘QPid’ Moses (St. Lucia) is a Singer/Song writer, Radio Personality and popular Soca and Calypso Artiste. She is a mother of two and alongside her busy schedule still is engaged as a Certified Zumba Fitness Instructor and online marketing affiliate and also a Board Director of ECCO 2019 -2022.
Michele Henderson (Dominica) is a recording artiste who started singing from an early age in the village of Grand Bay, in her homeland. By the time she was nine years old, she was enrolled at the Kairi School of music where she learned to play the flute and the recorder and while landing leading roles in the school’s choir. Michele has toured with the band ‘Impact’ engaging in many festivals and concerts regionally and internationally.
Nigel Nicholas (St. Lucia) is a past student of the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School and a graduate of the New England Institute of Technology, Rhode Island USA. This young talented Saint Lucian entrepreneur, is skilled in New Media Technology and Broadcasting.
Nicolas is a producer as part of the production studios of ‘Slaughter Arts Media’ who shaped the way and brought to the fore many St. Lucian artistes. He also went on to produce songs for many celebrated regional acts.
Rankin Morgan (St. Lucia) is an active member of ECCO since 2009 and has made a valuable contribution through music production, song writing and artiste management. He is the Managing Director of 123 Digital Limited which is a marketing /advertising agency that specialises in digital technologies. Morgan was instrumental in leading his team to win the Idea of the Year Award at the 2013 St. Lucia Business Awards. Dazzle Magazine is a publication that highlights young entrepreneurs and professionals.
Vaughn Skerritt (Antigua) has been associated with Antigua’s local music scene for well over 30 years in the genres of Hip Hop, R&B, Dance Hall and Soca. He has produced and designed winning soca monarch performances for winning Soca Monarchs of Antigua. He was the first agent for ECCO in Antigua and serves as a Director on the Board of ECCO from 2021 to present.
Ian D. Sanchez (St. Lucia) is ECCO”s Vice-Chairman who has been involved in the Saint Lucian music industry for over 30 years. He has under his belt a career in the music industry as a promoter, artistes manager, events manager/co-Ordinator and publisher.
Sanchez became one of the incorporators of H.M.S. (Hewanorra Music Society; the national music society of St Lucia), in 2001 following the transition from PRS.
David Jordan (Chairman, St. Lucia) holds as Masters in International Affairs, BSc in Economics – is a development Economist with several years of experience. He currently serves as Chairman of the Foundation – FRIEETAD in the OECS Inc. and Principal to Giordano Associates Ltd. www.giordanoassociatesaltd.com -a consulting firm registered in Saint Lucia.