Trinidad and Tobago had one of its best Carnivals recently. From the colorful costumes to the music that delivered excellent Calypso and Soca that were presented in style by the steelbands competing to win the title of best for each category, like many of us living overseas and those who simply could not travel to the homeland to participate in the festival, we needed a way to see what was going on to celebrate our rich culture. If only the shows could be streamed! At the heart of the digital revolution that brought relief to people was WACK Visual Radio 90.1, a cultural beacon that had become synonymous with the island's rich cultural traditions.
WACK Visual Radio has been revolutionary, bringing the culture of Trinidad and Tobago through its online service that delivers local content 24/7/365. Through painstaking initiatives, they have learned from experience the ins and outs of streaming local content, starting with audio, then transitioning to studio video, and then showing it all over the country. It has been a long and costly road. It is difficult to get people to pay for 'we ting,' and through his efforts, Mr. Kenny Phillips brought the shows free of charge, asking for donations to cover the costs of equipment, cable streams, and payment to staff. Usually he brought the shows at a loss, but Kenny is a culture warrior that loves bringing the culture to an international audience with the hope that people will see the value of the service. Kenny not only streams live events, but he also records and uploads the videos online for archival purposes and so that people can relive those moments. This effort was not just about entertainment; it was a mission to keep the essence of Trinidad and Tobago alive and thriving.
For Carnival 2025, the hope was to partner with the main players with a shared interest in promoting our culture. TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organization) and PanTrinbago teamed up with WACK Visual Radio to deliver on a promise of globalization of our culture. The station's commitment to showcasing calypso and steelpan music aligned perfectly with their goals. By streaming shows online, WACK Radio provided a platform for artists to shine, connecting them with fans and supporters far beyond the island's shores.
If this partnership worked, those living overseas could sit back and enjoy as many events as they want at a reasonable cost. TUCO and PanTrnbago both required payment for their respective products! WACK promoted and broadcast the events, but TUCO and PanTrinbago should have done so by advertising the programming on their pages and other assets. Many shows were streamed with some impact from poor internet service and then a misunderstanding that led to a free show (intended for donations) being turned into a PPV event on TTT. The paid service on TTT did not proceed as expected, necessitating WACK's intervention. Fortunately, WACK Visual Radio stepped in to assist. The unexpected decision to charge for the show came as a surprise to WACK, and it was painful to explain to those waiting for the free stream to begin and who were told it was now a pay-per-view event. Obviously people were upset, and such a situation should not happen again... it does harm to the product.
For TUCO, the highlight of the partnership with WACK came when Mr. Kenny Phillips handed over a check to the organization representing the proceeds (fee for service and donations) from the streaming of Carnival events. This gesture was more than a financial contribution; it was a symbol of unity and shared purpose. The funds were earmarked to support calypsonians and steelpan musicians, ensuring that their art continued to flourish in the face of modern challenges.
In the end, Carnival 2025 was not just a celebration of culture; it was a testament to the resilience and innovation of Trinidad and Tobago. WACK Visual Radio 90.1, TUCO, and PanTrinbago had shown the world that the spirit of the island could transcend borders, bringing people together in a shared love for music, dance, and heritage. And as the final notes of calypso faded into the night, the legacy of their collaboration remained, a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come.
Final Thoughts:
Please keep in mind that a "free broadcast" is not really free! Staff, transportation, internet service, and many other unanticipated expenses must be covered by someone. WACK Visual Radio is not pleading for money when they make their donation requests. Business is expensive, so if you or we are passionate about the product, we should at least contribute to its launch. Just letting you know!
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online through social media platforms like SoundCloud, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Along with email subscriptions, we advise you to explore your favorite content on Threads, Bluesky, Twitter/X, and FeedSpot/RSS Feed. Many thanks in advance.
Participants in the 2025 Trinbago Carnival:
Origin: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad
Organizations: WACK Visual Radio 90.1FM, PanTrinbago, and TUCO
Genre: Carnival Culture
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫ Please click the music player button below to listen now (a small triangle in the music player/TV frame).