The beginning of the Great Music Association

My journey with the Central Music Association began in the middle of the 2019 gathering that would chart the course of our musical heritage here in Papua New Guinea.

It was a conference aimed at addressing important copyright issues within our creative industries. When we sat down, representatives from various sectors, the silence that greeted the question of who represented the music industry was great.

It was a time that revealed a great gap that we lacked a tool to unite us to defend the work of our musicians.

I remember the hushed whispers and looks of realization as it became clear to our Australian facilitators and ourselves that no top music group was present. This was not just an absence.

It was an opportunity, a call for change. PNG’s vast diversity and regional pride in music, which often sees artists clinging to their regional roots and styles, meant that a unifying medium was not only needed but necessary.

It was in the rich conversation of informal discussions that the idea of ​​CMA emerged. Artists, myself included, recognized the complexity and diversity of our situation, many of us from the southern region of Papua, and the idea of ​​a music association that could embody our collective identity was compelling. However, there was a very broad, very narrow debate until the proposal to form a Central State party emerged, uniting us under common cultural values ​​and a common Motu language.

The way the CMA was established was a response to the history of fragmentation. As record labels like CHM and PACIFIC Gold closed or downsized, and as bedroom studios began to flourish and music production software became available, our artists were left without a ‘home’.

This devolution highlighted a key issue: our artists were not being compensated for their work, unlike in places like Australia, where the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) ensures artists receive the royalties they deserve.

As the current president of the CMA, I remember the heartfelt discussions with our respected elders and renowned artists from Dika Dai, the legendary engineer, to Mark Tau and the brilliant new voice. Their struggles underscored the critical need for partnerships like ours. Their experiences, their stories, were the foundation on which CMA was built to defend the rights of artists, promote opportunities, and promote the growth and development of music in Papua New Guinea.

Our registration as an official entity on September 17, 2020, made a big difference. Since then, CMA has been a catalyst for unity and advocacy, pushing forward initiatives, digital development, and workshops that resonate in the Central Region.

We stand not only as a party but as a movement for quality, justice, and recognition. With eyes on the horizon, I am committed to leading the CMA in harmonizing the various songs of our nation. Together, we are writing a new chapter in PNG’s music story that honors our past, celebrates our present, and builds a bright future for every artist in our beautiful land.

Rigo District – are you ready? Save the date and mark your calendars for May 24th, 25th and 26th; In collaboration with the Central Music Association, the Central Regional Government and the National Commission for Culture is proud to bring you the grand Inaugural Music Festival, which will be organized at Kwikila Station in Rigo District, Central Region.

Stay tuned for more updates!
Allen Kedea, President of the Central Music Association (CMA)