A transformative partnership has been formally established between Barbados TODAY, St. Lucia Times, and the data-driven music platform Selecta Charts, marking a revolutionary advancement for Caribbean media and entertainment. This unprecedented collaboration is poised to fundamentally reshape the promotion, distribution, and celebration of regional music across the archipelago.
The alliance merges one of the Caribbean’s most extensive digital news networks with an innovative charting system specifically designed to elevate artists spanning multiple genres. Paul Husbands, CEO and Founder of Selecta Charts, characterized the partnership as an unparalleled multimedia initiative within the region’s music industry. He emphasized that integrating established media reach with cutting-edge musical analytics is paramount for both sustaining and expanding the creative output of Caribbean artistry.
Hermina Elcock, Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of both Barbados TODAY and St. Lucia Times, described the venture as a strategic fusion built upon digital expansion, innovation, and cultural preservation. She clarified that the initiative extends beyond conventional content publishing, serving instead as a dynamic mechanism to capture the region’s cultural essence and amplify its creative talent. Elcock confirmed the synergistic compatibility between the entities, noting that the news outlets contribute audience reach and credibility, while Selecta Charts injects technological innovation and excitement.
The integration is projected to generate substantially increased visibility for musicians from Barbados, Saint Lucia, and the broader Caribbean community. Weekly Top 10 charts, specialized genre features, and enhanced digital engagement mechanisms embedded within the news platforms will provide exposure on an unprecedented scale. Husbands anticipates a significant surge in user engagement, facilitated by the extensive insular demographic reach of the media partners, which is expected to incentivize broader artist participation.
A primary objective of this collaboration is to address the seasonal nature of Caribbean music releases, which traditionally peak during carnival and festival periods. The implementation of consistent weekly charts is designed to motivate artists to produce and distribute music throughout the entire year—an innovation Husbands identifies as potentially the most impactful outcome.
Elcock reinforced that sustained year-round cultural engagement will strengthen both the creative economy and the regional digital ecosystem. The partnership strategically targets younger, music-oriented audiences while simultaneously offering existing readership novel cultural experiences, effectively broadening cultural discourse across the Caribbean.
Both leaders envision expansive future possibilities emerging from this foundational partnership, including live events, creator collaborations, video productions, and sophisticated digital campaigns. Elcock characterized the alliance as merely the inaugural step toward establishing an entirely new multimedia landscape that enables global brands to deeper comprehend and engage with Caribbean culture.