Warner Music, Tuff Gong ink deal

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Warner Music Group and Tuff Gong International signed an exclusive licensing agreement, which will see Tuff gong distributing Warner's releases throughout the Caribbean.

The deal covers both new and catalogue releases, as well as local synch, licensing and live performance rights.

Through the license Tuff Gong will distribute the albums of some of today's top artistes including Wiz Khalifa, Bruno Mars, Flo Rida, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Estelle. Warner's extensive catalogue also features icons such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Eric Clapton.

"We are thrilled to get the opportunity to work with Warner’s impressive global catalogue and artistes, and we are looking forward to a partnership that will allow us to bring a new dimension to the already vibrant Caribbean music industry," said Cedella Marley after the musical union.

The Jamaica Observer caught up Myshjua Archibald who has been appointed by Tuff Gong to oversee the Warner license as label and product manager in the region.

Archibald who flew in the island for a series of meeting including one with Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS) said it's a great time for music right now.

While not giving away much on upcoming plans surrounding Warner Music’s involvement, Marley said she is excited about the potential for Jamaica’s music globally.

In a release Stu Bergen of Warner Brothers Records said Marley and her team at Tuff Gong are "proven experts in the Caribbean music market, thanks to their un-paralleled local knowledge and marketing expertise they will provide a first-class service for the distribution of Warner's diverse repertoire across the region. We see this agreement as a great way of introducing our artistes to new markets and fans, as well as another step towards our goal of making our extraordinary music available as widely as possible around the world."

Countries covered by the new agreement include Jamaica, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad &Tobago, Turks & Caicos and The Virgin Islands.

(from Jamaica Observer)