Soundbridge Music Education Program
Empowering the music industry in Trinidad and Tobago through education, infrastructure, and funding.
Program Overview
Monk Music proudly presents Soundbridge, a transformative initiative to bolster the music industry in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) through education, infrastructure, and funding.
  • A multi-faceted Education Program
  • Exclusive online music education content, courses, and in-person workshops.
  • Presented in a masterclass format.
  • Specifically developed for creators in Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Created by Monk Music founder and Caribbean music icon Machel Montano and his team.
  • Featuring Machel Montano collaborators, including a host of world-renowned, award-winning music artistes, executives, and professors.
  • Our Mission
  • Provide inspirational content and practical strategies.
  • Empower music artistes, producers, executives, and other service providers who cater to the music business in T&T to build and sustain long-term careers doing what they love.
  • Through the lens of Machel Montano’s success
  • Core message: “If I could achieve it, so can you.”
  • Modules begin with a short anecdote from Machel and/or a special guest collaborator, illustrating how the topic relates to Machel’s career, and how it can be applied practically by creators now.
  • Soundbridge is supported in part by the Shaping the Future of Innovation Grant, funded by
Program Objectives and Highlights
Objectives
  • Provide inspirational content and practical strategies to empower music artistes, producers, executives, and other service providers.
  • Help build and sustain long-term careers in the music industry in T&T.
  • Reach and engage a broad cross-section of the country, including those from rural and low-income communities.
Program Highlights
  • Launch Date: TBD - Tentative Q4 24 / Q1 25
  • Duration: 1 year
  • Target Audience:
  • Trinidad and Tobago-based Music industry professionals and creatives (artistes, songwriters, producers, designers, videographers, marketers, executives, and more.)
Expected Impact
  • Direct impact on over 1,500 lives in Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Enhanced access and opportunities for for creators with the least access.
Educational Content
Masterclass-style Videos
Featuring Machel Montano and other renowned music professionals.
Skills-based Course Materials
Accompanying the masterclass videos to reinforce learning.
Industry Best Practices
Strategy documents and content calendar templates.
In-person Workshops
Panel discussions and office hours for hands-on learning.
Core Music Business Skills and Advanced Specializations
Master the essential skills and advanced specializations needed to thrive in the dynamic world of music business. From artist management to digital rights, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to succeed in the industry.
Core Music Business Skills
1
Artist Management
Career development, branding and image, touring and live performance management.
2
Music Marketing and Promotion
Social media strategies, digital marketing, content creation, fan engagement.
3
Music Distribution
Digital distribution platforms, physical distribution (vinyl, CDs), international distribution strategies.
4
Royalties and Revenue Streams
Understanding royalties (mechanical, performance, etc.), licensing and sync deals, merchandising.
More Core Music Business Skills
Music Publishing
Copyright law, songwriting and co-writing deals, publisher agreements.
Contract Negotiation
Recording contracts, management contracts, live performance agreements.
Financial Management
Budgeting for music projects, accounting and bookkeeping for artists, financial planning and investment for long-term stability.
Public Relations and Networking
Public Relations
Media relations, press releases and media kits, crisis management.
Networking and Relationship Building
Industry networking, collaboration with other artists and professionals, building a supportive team.
Advanced and Specialized Skills
Digital Rights Management
Protecting intellectual property online, handling digital rights and piracy issues.
AI and Technology in Music
AI-driven music production, emerging technologies in music creation and distribution.
Data Analysis and Market Research
Utilizing data to inform marketing strategies, understanding audience demographics and behavior.
Music Production and Sound Engineering
Basics of recording and producing music, mixing and mastering techniques.
More Advanced and Specialized Skills
Brand Partnerships and DIY Music Business
Brand Partnerships and Endorsements
Negotiating endorsement deals, creating brand partnerships, leveraging artist influence for brand promotion.
DIY and Independent Music Business
Building a career without a label, self-promotion and distribution, crowdfunding and alternative financing.
Practical Applications and Workshops
1
Live Performance Skills
Stage presence and performance techniques, vocal and instrumental coaching, audience interaction.
2
Creative Development
Songwriting and composition, creative collaboration, developing a unique sound and style.
3
Music Video Production
Concept development and scripting, filming and editing techniques, distribution and promotion of music videos.
4
Content Creation for Musicians
Blogging and vlogging, podcasting, leveraging different media formats for promotion.
5
Personal Branding
Building a personal brand as an artist, consistent branding across platforms, visual identity and aesthetics.
Marketing and Outreach Plan
Our comprehensive integrated marketing plan leverages various social media platforms, with interest targeting in Trinidad including Soca, Reggae, Carnival, Steelpan, Jazz, Pop, Music Production, Technology, and more.
We will also target the existing Monk Music and Machel Montano fan bases through email marketing, and leverage our existing network of clients, influencers, press, radio, and promoter partners to drive awareness for the program and it's partners.
Proposed Event Calendar for Soundbridge Launch
1
Media Launch & Showcase
A high-profile event introducing the Soundbridge initiative, featuring keynote speakers, previews of the educational content, live performances, and industry stakeholder testimonials. Held at a premier venue like Queen's Hall or NAPA, with event partners like Scorch/Caribbean Music Con, PanTrinbago, NAPA, private sector sponsors, local universities, MusicTT, and local media.
2
Workshop 1: Introduction to the Modern Music Business
A foundational workshop on music industry careers, roles, and the unique challenges and opportunities in Trinidad and the Caribbean.
3
Panel Discussion: Digital Marketing & Advertising for Music
A panel of experts discussing digital marketing, advertising, and social media strategies for music promotion in the Caribbean context.
4
Registering & Monetizing Music
A deep dive into music registration, monetization, and the role of performance rights organizations, featuring guest speakers like Dana Shayegan, Dae Bogan and Josh Norek.
Weekly Office Hours with Experts
Join us for our one-on-one office hours, held weekly with a variety of local and international music industry experts. Local artists, producers, songwriters, influencers, and creative executives can register for 30-minute sessions to discuss practical career strategies, plan releases and projects, and pick the brains of our knowledgeable team.
Contact
  • Dana Shayegan
  • dana@machelmontano.com
  • +1 (310) 988-5120 Mobile & Whatsapp
  • +1 (868) 620-4245 Trinidad Mobile
Empowering Creatives in Emerging Markets
Our mission is to support creatives in the Caribbean by addressing talent scarcity and revenue challenges. By expanding into new markets and overcoming platform limitations, we aim to build sustainable careers for local artists.
Problem of Scale
One of our primary challenges is a lack of enough creative talent (particularly music artists) in our current market. This hinders our ability to generate the revenue required to make our business sustainable. To overcome this, we need to expand into other Anglophone Caribbean markets to identify new clients and projects for investment.
Limited Revenue
Another significant obstacle to scaling is that YouTube, a widely used platform for streaming music in Trinidad and Tobago, does not generate royalties since the country is not one of YouTube’s monetized territories. This limits the revenue potential for local artists and reduces overall financial returns.
Stackable Credentials Program
Our program will be built on the concept of Stackable Credentials to provide a flexible, skill-based learning journey for creatives. The program will consist of three layers:
• Layer 1: Foundation – The essentials, covering basic knowledge and skills.
• Layer 2: Specialization – Intermediate-level topics based on the user’s area of interest.
• Layer 3: Enhanced Specialization – Advanced skills branched out into multiple segments, allowing users to further focus on their specific interests.
Each topic will include a curated playlist, offering Transversal Competencies (broad skills that cross different areas) instead of a linear learning path. Users will start with the foundational elements, and then choose their own journey, diving deeper into specialized topics.
The program will be structured into timed layers, with each phase lasting a specific number of weeks. For example, the foundational layer may take three weeks to complete. The program will be modeled after best practices from platforms like Masterclass and Udemy, incorporating video lessons and Monk Labs for in-person practice.