One of the country’s well known music producers, Craig “Belee” Bellot, is announcing good results with a 7-month old Dominican music web-site that allows persons from any part of the world to purchase their favourite Dominican (and Caribbean) music online. The site already carries a range of popular Dominican music groups like Triple Kay, Michele Henderson, among many others including some brand new break-out artistes from rural Dominica.  Of special interest to visitors at this time is the availability of the WCMF World Creole Music Festival commemorative CD # 3.

Says Bellot,”The idea is to organize all Caribbean music into a central portal for listeners as well as providing musicians with a viable revenue stream if they can produce good music. Bellot notes that the site also uses an algorithm which allows listeners to rank songs, which lets the good music float to the top of the listings.  The web site (which already includes big names like Kevin Little, Sizzla, Jean Paul and the legendary Bob Marley from the wider Caribbean) allows the artiste to upload their own music and sell it online for 99 US cents a song.  Buyers from any part of the world may use their credit card to purchase the music at their convenience.
    
One user, a Dave Shillingford, based in Michigan, USA, recently complimented the music sampling procedure of the site, stating “it was as easy as i-Tunes”.  Another, Jim Garraway from Calgary, Canada, commended the invaluable opportunity created for Dominican artists, promptly bought six songs, and immediately registered to upload his own music!

The website www.numusiczone.com is by all accounts very professionally built and very user-friendly  –  no doubt reflecting much of Bellot’s studies at New York’s University of Plattsburgh from where he graduated this year with a double major in computer technology and music. He also picked up special awards for outstanding achievement in both fields and for consistent appearance on the Dean’s List for high academic achievement. 

Bellot harbours hopes of further expansion of the enterprise. “We are currently looking to enhance even more the user friendliness of the site as well as recruiting as many high caliber musicians as we can to get there music online in a legal way.   Of course, this takes resources and we are currently seeking venture funding for the process”. 

Bellot has in the past produced CDs for several Dominican performers including Michele Henderson’s SOUNDCHECK (a Dominican album-of-the-year), the reggae group Sub-Urban’s “2-MUCH”, and tracks for Dominican folk groups and calypsonians. He has also produced cellular ring tones on a commercial basis.