In Bogotá, there is talk of an agenda, promoted by private and governmental entities, whose goal is to establish the Colombian capital as the main musical center of Latin America by 2025. A somewhat pretentious idea, but one that could bring significant benefits to the city.
Therefore, before we fill ourselves with gadgets, We need to fix the basics.. We have two problems regarding contemporary genres that deserve our attention: On the one hand, there is a large amount of local talent that does not find real avenues for disseminating their music, and therefore does not obtain sufficient tools to develop a professional career. The second problem is that a significant portion of the public is unaware of the vast array of artists developing around them. These issues are so serious that, in reality, until they are addressed, we'll just be buying little glass mirrors, believing they are crown jewels.
These issues are ignored by the private sector, since many of them Investors currently involved in the music business in Colombia are not interested in leaving their comfort zone. They do well by performing concerts for wealthier people and hoping, in the best-case scenario, that the national bands that accompany them in the process can go from being the opening acts for the international artists who visit us, to being quickly exported to first-world markets. This might only be useful to a few, very few.
A lie has been used to justify these kinds of events for quite some time: It is believed that, because Colombia is a Caribbean country, full of good folklore and "party joy", There is no popular space for contemporary genres. Some people, with no shortage of racist and classist contempt, say that the only music "the masses" in our country can listen to is reggaeton and similar rhythms. This assertion loses all validity when you visit any working-class neighborhood in the city and notice the number of musical projects related to rock, fusion, and hip hop that are developing every day. The cultural officers of the local mayoral offices can attest to this with their figures.
There is a significant portion of the youth audience that is not included in the statistics of the music business. because he doesn't have the budget to pay for a ticket to the city's main private festivals. But it is an audience eager for information and has clearly demonstrated on several occasions that when it encounters a national proposal that it likes, She has given her tremendous support. We saw it with Aterciopelados, 1280 almas or Ultrágeno, to name a few examples.
But for this audience to forge closer ties with the musicians in their community, they need to know about them, to know their songs, to have access to their creations. And that is where, now more than ever, if we truly intend for Bogotá, and therefore the rest of Colombia, to become a leading musical center, We must demand the full participation of public media. The State must take action.
The current scheme of Radionics, main public broadcaster of contemporary music, It must go beyond its current goals. We know, and cannot deny, that those in charge of this media outlet are deeply interested in promoting the musical culture of their listeners and have established, throughout their years of existence, a good relationship with the local scene., However, its current programming does not fully address the current development needs of the Colombian domestic market. Its audience figures are interesting, but not enough. Critics of the station believe its interests are confused with the needs of private event promoters, and therefore label Radiónica as "elitist" in its management.
The Colombian State must commit to the development of its national cultural industries, facilitating the promotion of its artists, in order to meet the need for a space that can truly contribute to the country's economy. If the State has invested a significant portion of its budget in the creation and maintenance of its own media, the artists who carry out their activities within its borders should be the main protagonists of the dissemination carried out. Public broadcasters should be "nac&pop", that is, national and popular.
Therefore, in the specific case of Radionics It is necessary to increase the presence of local material in its programming now and apply a clear policy to include a percentage greater than 50% of Colombian songs within its broadcast time. A decision that must be reflected at all times, at all times, and not only during the least attended hours.
I know that those in charge of this radio station (including several friends) will criticize this proposal. I know their arguments against it: They believe there is not enough quality material to put together that programming. They say that the audience reached so far, if this measure is applied, will be lost in a matter of days. They warn of a rapid deterioration of what has been built up to this point.
The work of the programmers at this station has always been reliable and full of good intentions., But times set the pace. to build more quickly and solidly what can be a more complete scene, more inclusive, more democratic And, to use capitalist terms, more productive and profitable. Some of its listeners will drift away and will surely be welcomed by private media outlets, where they speak to them in perfect English and have Billboard magazine as their benchmark and bible. But I'm sure, and I'll bet anything, that, If things are done right, the audience will grow from the previously ignored areas.
This decision, which cannot be the only measure to strengthen the growth of the Colombian music scene, It would strengthen the work not only of the committed bands, but also of those actors involved in the process., That is, producers, recording studios, rehearsal spaces, local promoters, small and medium-sized music businesses, and so on. No one, if we think about it clearly, could feel harmed by this provision. It's clear that it hasn't been applied. because we fear non-existent consequences.
The interest of public radio should be to stand with its own people, with our people. It's time to shake things up and create the conditions to establish a truly inclusive cultural framework. This, and other decisions that require a stronger commitment from the State, could level the playing field for a more equitable and broader market development. Perhaps in this way, in the coming years, we would see Bogotá, alongside other major Latin American cities, It would develop the musical atmosphere it deserves.
Ps. Isn't it time for the Mayor's Office of Bogotá to seriously consider creating its own contemporary music radio station?