The COTT Foundation – Empowering composers, lyricists and songwriters

VISION

To be recognised as the leading Music Rights Foundation, a key facilitator of cultural and economic opportunities, an enabler of social welfare and a catalyst for education and empowerment.

MISSION

Through innovative, enterprising and focused activities, to foster development and increase the profile of the music of Trinidad and Tobago, by enhancing the welfare of composers, lyricists and songwriters, facilitating recording and performing opportunities and developing partnerships with organisations committed to the development of the music industry.

CORE PURPOSE OF THE COTT FOUNDATION

• To help create and sustain an environment in which composers, lyricists and songwriters are empowered
• To help create and expand opportunities for composers, lyricists, and songwriters to have their works performed and/or recorded.
• To encourage an environment in which the public has a better understanding of the value of music and copyright and their importance to the cultural and economic life of the Trinidad and Tobago society
• To enhance the welfare of and provide assistance to composers, lyricists and songwriters engaged in the creation, performance or recording of musical works in Trinidad and Tobago

CORE SERVICES OF THE FOUNDATION

• Empowerment of music creators
• Facilitating cultural and economic activities
• Educating the public about the value of music
• Social welfare development

ABOUT THE COTT FOUNDATION

The Foundation is the first of its kind to be established in the Caribbean region. The distinguishing feature of the Foundation is that its focus is on the creators of music – composers, songwriters and lyricists and the development and promotion of all the various genres of "Trinidad and Tobago's music"

The COTT Foundation is a charitable organisation, established as the philanthropic arm of the Copyright Music Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT). Essentially, the Foundation has been set up to do what COTT as a legal entity cannot. The core business of COTT is licensing the use of music, collecting royalties and distributing royalties to its members and international affiliates, however the demands of COTT members go beyond the core functions of COTT. To date there is no other organisation within Trinidad and Tobago with such a mandate.

The Foundation aims to meet the needs of COTT members and lyricists, composers and songwriters in general in terms of empowerment, the development of human capacity, creating opportunities for them to have their works performed and/or recorded nationally, regionally and internationally. In so doing, the COTT Foundation is geared towards the promotion of the music of Trinidad and Tobago, its musi industry and looking after  the social welfare needs of COTT members (e.g. through the provision of medical insurance and pension plans)

One key thrust of the organisation is a result of the generally low appreciation for music as a viable industry and career option in Trinidad and Tobago. By extension, many do not understand the value and importance of copyright, and the need to educate and empower the public remains critical.

In view of this, we invite you to invest in the COTT Foundation and think of the social benefits to be gained as we continue to build a creative industry that will promote worldwide that the creativity, diversity and richness that is Trinidad and Tobago's music and culture.