A one-stop shop website listing Bermudian musicians and artists will be up and running by the end of the year.

In 2004, Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler commissioned a report on Musicians and the Entertainment Industry in Bermuda.

Recently activist, Stuart Hayward chaired an Implementation Task Force (ITF) to carry out the recommendations in the report.

One of those suggestions was a website listing different artists and musicians on the Island, which reached the testing stage under Mr. Hayward.

In a half-day "Meeting of the Minds" workshop last week, the Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artists (BFMVA) said it would continue work on the website and hoped to have it ready by year-end.

Following that meeting, BFMVA President Wendell 'Shine' Hayward also said the workshop, which included Government agencies, employer representatives and stakeholders, had been a success.

He said: "This has been a tremendously successful exercise and has truly been a 'meeting of the minds'.

"We are grateful for the attendance and input from all the stakeholders and look forward to an improved working relationship that will benefit local entertainers and Bermuda's entire entertainment industry. "

In addition to the BFMVA executive, attendees of the February 9 meeting included Cultural Affairs Minister Dale Butler and representatives from the Ministries of Immigration, Tourism and Telecommunications.

While Denise Davis, from the Department of Immigration explained policies and fees for foreign musicians, related promoters, managers and technicians, Darlene Hartley from KJazz and Sturgis Griffith from CITV revealed opportunities for local music.

Also on the agenda was Hiram Edwards, Telecommunications Ministry, telling them about the policy requiring airplay of locals by local broadcasters and invited Federation members to monitor and report.

Offering more opportunities for local producers, promoters, entertainers and technicians, was Shane Mora, part of the Bermuda Music (Jazz) festival team, to partner in this year's festival.

While Karen Pollard of the Bermuda Festival said she looked forward to a database of Bermudian musicians and artists making it easier to invite them to participate in the festival.

Bermuda Hotels Association CEO, John Harvey encouraged the Federation to reconnect with overseas Unions before attempting to renegotiate a collective bargaining agreement — the last one was done more than 25 years ago.