NCF Songwriting Camp Participants Secure Publishing Deals

Bridgetown, Barbados – The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) proudly announces the outstanding achievements of its 2024 Global Songwriting Camp, reaffirming its dedication to empowering local songwriters as they access the global music industry.

Held in collaboration with DWB Publishing UK, an internationally recognised publisher behind numerous chart-topping hits across Europe, the United States, and Asia, the camp culminated in several groundbreaking milestones for local musicians.

Five original songs created during the camp – “Tainted,” “Stuck to You,” “Don’t Take Me Home,” “Let It Go,” and “Love Is Our Rebellion” – have secured single song publishing deals with DWB Publishing. These agreements highlight the exceptional talent nurtured throughout the camp and Barbados’ potential in the global music market. Each song was written and produced via a collaborative process of a team of new and credited local songwriters and the international facilitators. The fifteen musicians benefiting from these publishing deals include Michael Mercer, Casheda Dottin, James Cumberbatch, Shenelle Pollard, Letitia Christian, Dondria Forde, Shekara Straker, Marley Kirton, Israel ‘John Boss’ Savoury, Daniel Harvey, Shana Hinds, Heather Headley, Danielle Austin, Nicholas King, and John Yarde.

Additionally, DWB Publishing and the National Cultural Foundation have sponsored six scholarships awarded to participants recommended the facilitators during Songwriting Camp. The selected writers are Marley Kirton, James Cumberbatch, Mikey Mercer, Casheda Dottin, John Yarde, and Camille ‘Adaeze’ Evelyn. Throughout 2025, these writers will engage in a four-month online mentorship program that includes a three-day intensive professional songwriting camp in the United Kingdom.

“This year’s workshop marked the third in a series showcasing the Foundation’s commitment to our artistes, and by extension, the music sector,” stated Lisa Howell, Business Development Officer for Music and the songwriting camp’s coordinator. “The National Cultural Foundation’s Business Development Department continues our overarching efforts to develop the music business in Barbados. We began with an online digital distribution workshop three years ago under the TuneCore programme, followed by Digital Distribution and Publishing workshops in 2023 featuring global professionals from Warner Publishing and Believe Music. Recommendations from these workshops aligned with our broader music programming, which aims to achieve globally competitiveness. Consequently, the NCF sent representatives to an international songwriting camp in Spain in February 2024, leading to the establishment of our own NCF International Songwriting Camp here in Barbados.

We have exceeded our key performance indicators (KPIs), and additional opportunities for song placements and publishing deals are in progress.” She further expressed, “We are immensely grateful for these opportunities created. While much has been accomplished, we recognise that there is still significant work ahead as we navigate entering the global space, which requires opportunities to enable them not only to produce exceptional work but also to generate substantial income.” (PR)