As the Chutney Soca Monarch (CSM) celebrates its 25th anniversary, Southex CEO George Singh is confident there will be adequate funding from Government, state companies and private sponsors.
Singh launched the 2020 edition of the CSM yesterday at the Paprika Bistro in Gulf City Mall, San Fernando.
Boasting that the event he first staged in 1996 began on a “barrel stage,” Singh said CSM’s metamorphosis has positioned it as one of the largest and “most extravagant” events on the Carnival calendar.
“This success story is not a story of my success but the success story of hundreds of artistes, producers and dancers, among many others, that have been able to get access to life-changing sums of money,” Singh said. “The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, state companies and sponsors that have contributed to this show can be proud today to see that these monies have not been handouts but investments in our music industry.”
The CSM was cancelled in 2018 after the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), which has been the title sponsor for the event for 16 years, withdrew its customary funding. The Ministry of Finance intervened and Southex was able to host the 2018 edition of the event, although Singh said at the time he had to “scale back” the production.
NLCB retains its role as title sponsor for the 2020 competition.
Singh said yesterday he is still working out “issues” with sponsors to finalise the value of the sponsorship for this year’s event.
Thirty-five semi-finalists will compete at the Space La Nouba nightclub in La Romaine on January 18.
The final is carded for February 8.
The refurbishment of the event’s traditional venue, Skinner Park in San Fernando, has prompted the relocation of this year’s grand final to Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.
In December, Singh announced there will be no general admission charge for patrons attending the event, though access to VIP areas will come at a cost.
Asked by journalists how Southex would make money from the event, Singh said, “Sponsorship and support is really what pays for the event.”
“Over the years, people would see thousands of people in Skinner Park, for example, and take those thousands and multiply it by the gate (admission price) and feel ‘George make a set of money.’ But at the end of the day, five to six thousand people were coming into Skinner Park without paying, through either sponsors or different sets of tickets that we had to give away.”
Singh said it was an easy decision to scrap admission prices.
“Chutney Soca Monarch for us is not about making money anymore,” he added.
Guardian Media Limited (GML) is a partner for the event.
The competition will be broadcast live on CNC3 and Sangeet 106.1FM.
Singh revealed plans to include diaspora markets in the broadcast of the competition, with live feeds of viewers in New York, Toronto, Miami and Orlando integrated into the production of the event on CNC3.
In forecasting that 2020 would be the “most successful CSM yet,” GML’s digital manager, Andy Sieupersad said, “CSM has made a stellar contribution to the Carnival landscape by blazing trails and setting trends to a buoyant and dynamic industry. CSM continues to push Indian culture to new heights and this is why Sangeet 106 and CNC3 are proud to be media partners in this landmark event.”
Fifteen people, including renowned sitarist and musicologist, Mungal Patasar, nine-time CSM winner, Rikki Jai, and chutney icon, Drupatee, will receive special recognition awards at the grand final in honour of their contributions to the art form.