2/8/10

WACK 's CEO, Kenny Phillips, writes to his Internet Listeners

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One of the biggest event in the Carnival season, Calypso Fiesta was held last Saturday. Fans worldwide tuned in to WACK to be part of the excitement.  The site saw a huge increase in visitors.  The average time of visit also spiked.

The show was offered on WACKT TV free of charge with the CEO asking your support by way of donations. Sadly with all the visitors shown, we received only 17 donations on Saturday and Sunday combined for a total of $300US [$1,800TT].  Each show offered comes with an average production cost of $12,000-$15000 [TT] depending on venue.
To all who supported, thanks for your donations and continued support.

Yours in culture,
Kenny Phillips
How many times have you heard about Trini 'storming ah fete' or that 'fuss Trini like freeco' and on and on ... yes we in, we support yuh and when  you give your heart and soul and expect a little respect ... FLATLINE!
Surely I will not have many who would support my comments here but then again I don't have a reputation for keeping my mouth shut to please people. I guess the CEO was disappointed that he did not get the support that he expected when he provided the feed for free. Indeed, this was a noble gesture with the expectation that people will donate to nullify the cost of the production. Well that was a wakeup call for all the support that people seem to be providing in the blabber mouth shout box.  Everyone supports the station in some form and not everyone is comfortable giving money to a commercial enterprise that is in business to make a profit. I don't subscribe to donating to commercial entities and that is what Wack is, "A Commercial Entity!"
I guess you did not see that coming when you started reading the post but at the same time this does not mean that I have not supported the station. I have done so in my own small way and I don't need to state what I have done - it is pointless to do so.  To be honest I contacted Kenny and told him to provide the feed free to those who contribute. There were conditions to the free feed of course. I did not expect the CEO to provide the Calypso Fiesta for free - I was very surprised! However, this venture on his part did prove that people want to see/know what is going on back home especially for King Carnival.  This show should have been a fee for service - this was a big show! I expected WACKy Tuesday to be free and a few others but not the main shows.
As I said Wack is commercial enterprise and I never liked the "donate to keep the Internet fee free"; I still believe that this is the wrong approach for a commercial enterprise. Something like this would have been appropriate for a 'not for profit entity' not a commercial radio station. Wack has benefited immensely from the internet broadcast and has followers around the World. Wack was unknown in Trinidad (especially Northern Trinidad) when they already had a huge following in North America. Everyone knows that "one hand doh clap, it takes two to tango etc". Well Wack has grown in popularity in Trinidad and the advertising dollars are better indeed and still growing. The bigger the support they get at home so too will the support and numerous references to the shout box family will diminish. The problem is that they have not found a way to harness the advertising dollars that the internet has to offer. When that day comes they will still need the visitors to the webpage to keep the advertising dollars flowing (both sides have their ace to trump the other - or do they?).
No one overseas knows what the CEO of WACK has in store for the station's future but I am sure he is very disappointed that he did not get the expected support from those who used the site to listen/view the calypso feed.  I don't place to much importance on any of this  to tell you the truth and here is why... for those who don't know RADIO is FREE for those wanting to listen except, of course, for the paid services. The stations survive by garnering advertising dollars to support their activities. WACK can stop providing a free service and charge for the feed or just ride the wave until it crests in their favor.
Oh I forgot to state that I have already used PayPal to donate my $10.00 for WACKy Tuesday or was that for the Calypso Fiesta? Look, donate if you want to and do it because you think it is the right thing to do (no strings attached). However, don't be critical of those who don't donate.
The answer is very simple; charge for the shows then live with the results! If your product is good it will sell; if it does not succeed then find another strategy to get the outcome that you desire - just don't lament the lack of financial support!
"To all who supported, thanks for your donations and continued support."
Trust me here, he was simply being politically correct!

 
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2/7/10

Calypso Monarch Finalists 2K10

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What yuh say? No! Aloes does cure belly pain and make 'tings right' but too much sugar spoil the ting eh! Many are lamenting the fact that Sugar Aloes did not qualify for the finals with an original composition but Protector with a sampling from Jimmy Cliff made it to the finals. Yuh see, nevah ah dull moment with Trini competitions eh boi...
However one may feel there will always be a problem with the decision of the judges. I am still wondering how some of the 35 semi finalists got in ahead of last year's second place finalist Joanne "Tigress" Rowley. But no one made a fuss about it so whatever happens next will not surprise me.  The decision of the judges is always the final statement.  Maybe it is time that the formula for selecting the people who judge these competitions to be revised. Maybe we need to come up with a new formula to train then select a pool of judges for these competitions. What is your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Here are the Finalists of Calypso Monarch 2010 competition

Twiggy

All Rounder

Brian London

Skatie

Devon Seales

Kizzy Ruiz

Kurt Allen

Protector

Nicole Greaves

Roderick Gordon ’Chucky’

Singing Sandra

Sean Daniel

Mr Shak

De Fosto"

 
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Will Deso Sing? WACK Radio's 4th Annual Calypso Competition

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The fourth year of the WACKy renditions is here once again. This is the most anticipated competition that is of no significance to Trinidad and Tobago's carnival and one that I will be logged on to and laughing my proverbial arse off! 
Now if you really want to have a good time (for those of us living away from the homeland) then the computer is the place to be. Just remember the competition is on  Tuesday 02/09/2K10. Just tune in to the station via www.wackradio901fm.com to listen to the start of the madness (this will take place all day). I advise you to log in to www.dlime.blogspot.com where there are two chat boxes that allow you to participate in the chat all day. Why Dlime? Simply put I expect the WACK shout-box to be swamped with users chatting that would make it difficult to keep track of all the talk. Dlime will take some of the load away from the WACK site (WACK audio feed included).
Last year everyone wanted to hear Kung Fu sing (Heshimu took care of that in song) and obviously the big question this year is: Will Deso sing or simply come on stage and pull off a Cowen Borneo or, as some WACKO's believe, not show up at all with a very lame excuse? The man has already behaved like a primadonna demanding to sing in position number 2. He also wants Roy Cape to supply the music for his  miracle rendition. Will Deso sing? No, wait just one minute now, can Deso sing? Kenny is already laughing his behind off or just might be running scared. This is not a case of Deso winning the competition but could turn  out to be a competition for bragging rights for the rest of the Sundays this year that Kenny and Deso will work together or could it be the end of a good friendship... Tune in on Tuesday for the live Television broadcast on WACK's TV page.
I guarantee you that you will laught your pwefen off - and yes I predict a new winner this year! Yes I said it after winning the first three installments Damion will be dethroned this year! Many of the competitors have 'hired guns' writing and coaching them for the competition - I predict a new champion this year!

 
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2/4/10

CAREFUL - Official Video - Lil Bitts

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Here is a taste of one little artiste whose music is on the rise. Take a look and listen up then leave a comment. It is the official star of the run-up to a very Wacky week - The reign of King Carnival is on our door step! 


 
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The 2010 International SOCA Monarch Finalists

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Compliments Julian182 from Islandmix
Groovy Finalists:
Fayann Lyons- Start Wining
Lil Bits- Careful
Zoelah- More Water    (St. Vincent)
Nnika Francis- Survivor     (Grenada)
Miss TC- Hot Sun & Riddim    (Barbados)
Farmer Nappy & Kerwin Dubois- Pavment
Shurwayne Whinchester- Murdah
Patrice Roberts- Wuk It
Chucky- Driffin
KMC- Nah Bad-Talk Man
Ainsley King - Bawl Out




Power Finalists:
Fayann Lyons- True Lies
Blaxx- Hunting
Tallpree- Wicked Jab    (Grenada)
Farmer Nappy- I Pay For This
JW & Blaze- Palance
Shall Marshall & Screws- Police
Tian Winter- Soca Rebals  (Antigua)
Iwer George- Party Hard
Super Jigga TC -Template
Skinny Fabolous- Beast Leggo    (St. Vincent)
Mr. Killa- Swing It Way     (Grenada)
Daddy Chess -Ready Or Not     (Dominica)
KMC F.Ronnie McIntosh-While You Can






 
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Thirty-five calypsonians named for Calypso Monarch Semifinals

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The next post has the playlist with audio to listen to the songs competing for the big prize. Here is the link to the player if you came to this post from another website.

Breaking News - Trinidad News and Tobago News
A total of 35 calypsonians have advanced to this Saturday’s Calypso Fiesta at Skinner Park in San Fernando, following preliminary judging at various tents across the country.
The lineup contains a mixture of young calypsonians along with seasoned veterans, who will compete for a place in the Big Yard on Dimanche Gras night, February 14, 2010. The finalists will challenge reigning Calypso Monarch, Chalkdust. Saturday’s show gets underway from 12 noon.
The full list of semifinalists is as follows:
Tobago Chalkie, Alicia Richards, Twiggy, Brother Valentino, All Rounder, Anthony Johnson, Brian London, Skatie, Dee Diamond, Devon Seales, The Stinger, Duane O’Connor, Eric James, Heather Mc Intosh, Joel Parsons, Karen Eccles, Karene Asche, Ninja, Kizzie Ruiz, Kurt Allen, Lesley Ann Ellis, Short Pants, Protector, Sugar Aloes, Michelle Henry, Nicole Greaves, O.C., Count Robin, Mr. Chucky, Singing Sandra, Sean Daniel, Mistah Shak, Spicey, Gypsy and the Original De Fosto Himself.
Meantime, the preliminary round of the Extempo competition was held at the Strand Entertainment Centre on Monday night and the results are expected to be announced later this week.
http://news.bn.gs/

So can someone explain how Joanne "Tigress" Rowley did not make it to the final 35 for Saturday's Calypso Fiesta? Hold on now, wasn't she the 1st runner up last year? Wait now, haven't you heard her offerings this year? Politics in Kaiso is ah bitch that bites you in yuh arse when yuh least expect it... Maybe the new land tax should have been praised in song because singing about the people cacada backfired this year... the music is sweet and the lyrics biting and just right but this will not work with the government providing the purse for the competition. This does not mean that someone from the government whispered that she should be left out - no that is not what I am saying here. However the way things work in Trinidad is that  the people running the show know what needs to be done - "just so" as Trinis like to state.  I don't know if her lack of participation in the calypso tents played a part in her "dismissal" this year.
Well let's see what will happen ... winds of change are sweeping across TUCO and your guess is as good as mine... changes eh.

 
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