STOCKS and Securities Limited (SSL) may well play a major role in the proposed Initial Public Offering (IPO) for Caribbean Music Publishers, Inc (“MUSIC”). SSL has been appointed lead broker for the proposed admission of the music publisher to the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Junior Market.

MUSIC will be classified as an Intellectual Property Company and will enter into publishing contracts with Caribbean songwriters and develop them on a global platform. As a publisher, MUSIC will also be responsible for promoting songs and administering the collection of global royalties and distributing them to the rightful owners.

SSL President & CEO, Mark Croskery, noted that “SSL is excited to list the first start-up company to be regulated and listed on the Junior Market, one of the foundation reasons for the platform. The company’s Board will be comprised of Caribbean and Canadian directors given the company’s focus on developing Caribbean songwriters. SSL welcomes Kris Astaphan, back to Jamaica, who will serve as the company’s chairman. Astaphan brings a wealth of experience to the table having held a top position previously at a well-known publicly listed Jamaican company.”

In addition, Ivan Berry who serves as Advisory Board, Chairman, boasts almost three decades of experience in the entertainment industry. As Head of A&R and International for Sony BMG Canada from 2000-2004, Berry was responsible for the development, recording and international marketing of Sony BMG Canada’s domestic roster. From 2004-2006, Berry was Senior Partner of Ole, which is now one of the world’s most successful music publishing and intellectual property companies. In 2006, and as a natural transition, Berry and his co-partner launched tanjola Inc., a joint venture with Ole that focuses on music publishing, and tanjola Entertainment Inc., a full service entertainment company which covers the complete spectrum of talent recruitment and development for songwriters, artists, and producers.

Other confirmed Directors are, Derek Wilkie, Managing Director of CRS Music in Barbados, Chairman, Copyright Society of Composers Authors and Publishers Inc (COSCAP) and Chairman, Caribbean Copyright Link (CCL); as well as Dwyer Astaphan, St. Kitts’ former Labour Minister of National Security. The remainder of the Board will be announced in due course.

The IPO is expected to be concluded on or before October 31, 2011.