Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

For the first time, Jamaica will have a web-based record company in the form of Jarcat Records, www.jarcatrecords.com .

The brainchild of Third World's Stephen 'Cat' Coore, hotelier Donahue Jarrett and businessman Philip Hill, Jarcat Records will also offer a full range of services from distribution to events management.

Though Web-based, it is registered in Jamaica, with an office in Minneapolis, United States.

According to Coore, the company will not do anything that has never been done before, but will have some level of difference.

"There is no company in the world that is doing anything differently now, everything has basically been done already," Coore told The Sunday Gleaner. "One of the things that we will be different about is that there aren't any Web-based companies happening out of Jamaica just yet. It is happening all over the world, but for Jamaica and the Caribbean, this will be one of the new trends of thought."

Web-based release

On the music side, Jarcat Records does exclusive Web-based release, promotion and distribution of Jarcat owned, as well as non-Jarcat owned, recorded material. It also offers music production services for artistes and commercial entities.

There is also film and video production services and production arrangements and logistics and music for soundtrack.

In addition, for both music and film, Jarcat Records does artwork and photography, events management, production and promotion, as well as assistance with legal procedures and agreements.

Apart from the company, all three have achieved success in different areas. Jarcat's CEO, Hill, founded a United States-based corporate technology consulting firm, Philip Hill Associates Inc in 1997.

Jarrett, of Altamont Court hotels, has little singing experience, but has recorded a few songs and has also been in dramatic roles. Jarrett's solo album, Waiting In The Mezzanine, will be released later this year. And Coore, a founding member of Third World, still tours actively with the world-renowned group.

Upcoming album

Good-Hearted People, co-written by Coore and Jarrett, and performed by Capleton and Third World, is set to be released on the Third World and Friends upcoming album.

Despite being involved in different ventures, all the partners believe they can dedicate sufficient time to ensure the company's success.

"The music business has become so much more accessible to everyone with the Internet and how information is exchanged and how people have access to these various things online. That makes it so much easier for somebody who is involved in anything else to work on other projects," Coore told The Sunday Gleaner.

"In days gone by, it would have been very hard for me to tour with Third World and to be developing artistes and to be doing stuff like being involved in a record label. I have been in Third World for 35 years and I am very proud of that. But at the same time I really feel a need to help develop the music and new acts because there is so much talent coming out of Jamaica right now. It is unbelievable."

The feeling is the same for Hill.

"Jarcat Records is our priority," said Hill. "We feel very strongly about what we have put together here and the synergy grows stronger from day to day."

And, with each of the partners covering specific areas, the work will be evenly divided. Hill said he is in charge of the business side of the company while Jarrett and Coore will handle the creative side.

The first fruits of their unison is the compilation Jarcat Grooves, Vol 1, which will be launched on Friday at Red Bones The Blues Café in St Andrew. Like all Jarcat products, the album will be distributed electronically via the Web, as the principals seek to take advantage of the exponential marketing and sales possibilities offered by Internet distribution. The album will feature a diverse array of tunes composed and produced by Jarrett and Coore, as well as by their associates, Kai Wakeling, Shantia and Sean Dayes.

Focus on 'Brand Jamaica'

Like the album, the three who have been friends for more than a decade, say the company will focus on 'Brand Jamaica'.

"The focus of the business is on reggae-based, reggae-influenced music. We have other influences that enable us to have a global offering. We have some rock influences and R&B, but the emphasis is on Jamaican music and Jamaican artistes," Hill said, while noting that the company has networks in London, Austria and the United States.

As expected, they hope the company will be successful. But instead of searching for riches, they want to help develop talent throughout the Caribbean.

"All of us are really looking towards trying to develop talent, not only in Jamaica because there is a Caribbean talent pool. We are just a vehicle for talent. We are very hopeful too," Coore said.