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Soca Fraternity Urges Festivals Commission to Restrict Live Coverage of Monarch Shows
The National Soca Fraternity of Antigua and Barbuda has formally written to the Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, Elisabeth Makhoul, requesting a ban on live media coverage of the upcoming Soca Monarch Semifinals and Finals.
In a letter signed by Chairman Peetron Thomas and Secretary Tammisha Roberts, the fraternity asked that there be no live streaming, live broadcasting, or real-time social media updates during the events scheduled for Friday 18 July and Saturday 3 August 2025.
“This decision is aimed at preserving the live event experience, protecting the creative content of our artists, and encouraging full attendance and support for the show,” the letter stated.
While the fraternity is not the organiser of the events, it described its appeal as a step to safeguard the interests of soca artistes and to ensure the sustainability of the competition.
The letter emphasised that the fraternity values the role of media in promoting culture and talent but prefers that coverage be limited to post-event content, including interviews and highlight reels, shared under coordinated and controlled conditions.
“We look forward to continuing a positive working relationship as we celebrate and elevate our local talent together,” the fraternity noted, asking for confirmation of receipt and offering to provide further clarification if needed.
ANR has seen the letter which reads:
Subject: Request to Refrain from Live Media Coverage – Soca Monarch Semifinals & Finals
Dear Elisabeth Machoul
I hope this message finds you well.
On behalf of the National Soca Faternity of Antigua and Barbuda. I am writing to formally request that there be no live media coverage—including live streaming, live broadcasting, or real-time social media feeds—of the Soca Monarch Semifinals and Finals, scheduled for Friday 18th July, 2025 and August 3rd, 2025.
This decision is aimed at preserving the live event experience, protecting the creative content of our artists, and encouraging full attendance and support for the show. We value the role media plays in promoting our culture and talent, and we welcome post-event coverage, interviews, and highlight reels under controlled conditions, which we’re happy to coordinate with you in advance.
organizing committee.
We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation, and we look forward to continuing a positive working relationship as we celebrate and elevate our local talent together.
Please confirm receipt of this request and let us know if you have any questions or need further clarification.
Warm regards,
Peetron Thomas and Tammisha Roberts
Chairman and Secretary
National Soca Faternity of Antigua and Barbuda
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I hope the festivals commission will not be intimidated. Only if the NSF has been legally assigned the rights to the performance by ALL the competitors can they demand no LIVE coverage. In any event, I trust that is in their particiation agreement and their understanding that if they participate the event will be broadcast live. Peetron can only demand that his performance is not carried live.
Oh Please. Peetron go back to singing gospel music and fooling-off the church people if this is the sort of foolish suggestions you going to make for our carnival.
Is not the same artists that spend the whole carnival season begging the public to share their music on YouTube and put it in their reels?
150,000 views on social media is better for the county and our carnival than 1,000 paying persons at soca semi finals.
As much as they may have a point, I don’t think ANY coverage of ANY show begins at the same time. It usually is delayed for at least two hours sometimes between the show and actual televised coverage.
I want to know how will this benefit persons whom are unable to attend the shows? How will the promoters and other artiste see the talent and the wonderful music that local Antiguan artiste made? How will this promote regional integration among other artist around the Caribbean and internationally? Before these decisions are being made have conscience for other artiste that wants to reach far and show their talents beyond Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of the Caribbean Islands🤦🏾♀️
No body had a problem with it. You just come. Just chill.
Smfh so stupid to suggest day. Social media ENGAGEMENT is the reason why the show is soo POPULAR Peetron.
If u nah want people see you on stage singing, keep outta carnival n go back to being ah church choir bwoy. Peetron run outta church n just start go carnival last week and now want mash up fu arwe subbed
Totally disagree. What about the Antiguans living in the diaspora who wants to get in on the action on what’s going on? Do they not exist anymore lol?
Utter nonsense. Broadcast Live or later won’t make a difference as to the attendance.
There are so much more pluses for live streaming an event and goes beyond the narrow parameters that Peetron Thomas & Tamisha Roberts have considered and thought of. Live streaming provides a convenient and flexible way for people to tune into the event. Individuals who may not have been able to attend due to scheduling conflicts, travel restrictions or other barriers can still benefit from the valuable content and discussions. By providing a live stream, you offer an inclusive experience to everyone interested in engaging with the event. It also has the potential to increase engagement and interactive input with social media and the online community and provides a platform for listeners and viewers to ask question, share thoughts and engage with analysts and presenters in real time. I respectfully hope that the request is turned down.
This request by the National Soca Fraternity is a very backward move in this day and age where coverage of such an event can only benefit the artform and the country as a whole.
In every civilize country throughout the world, streaming of sporting and cultural events is a standard procedure. Please get with the times, we are not living in the stone age.
Peetroon please list each member of your fraternity who asked you to do that. Failure to do so will render your so-called fraternity useless.
I live in new york and it has encouraged me to come home to antigua just by watching the live show. Not only I but many others. Backward move
@Audley Phillip
Oh shut up!!! You always a run ya mouth inna everything
Ok “Eatron” you want everybody come a the venue fu you nyam dem off? LOL!
This show has become a s**t show in my opinion.
Live or streamed it does not bother me. I will not be wasting my time on it.
What kind of reference I can use for this beign??? Woke,T’s,scumbag,jews ( Blackie version ) she/he,non binary,etc,etc,etc.
Ps too much news paper coverage lately for this beign and now??,. Egos floating. ( if this beign has )
In Grenada our Semis and Finals are Pay Per View and our venues are still packed. Additionally, most of the online viewers are Grenadians in the Diaspora and those who can’t physically attend the event for whatever reason.
Trying a “media blackout” will do more harm than good as you’ll be encouraging the audience to go live from the venue and you’ll be losing support from the same media you depend before, during and after the Carnival.
Try doing a Pay Per View and each artistes can request a small percentage of the earnings. In that way everyone wins. Trying to “shut out” the media in a time where artistes, Carnival events etc. depend on the media, especially social media platforms is just crazy.
This makes more sense. I applaud this message