<B>Audrey LAMARQUE</B>

Audrey Lamarque, publisher, has been involved in musical business for 40 years. As such she is confronted with the problem of piracy. She participated in the musical revolution that was like the counterpoint of South Africa’s darkest era. She found a second home in Mauritius in 1993 and, though uncompromising on some issues, she does not regret this choice.

Warner, BMG, Sony, EMI… Behind these major labels, there is a name: Audrey Lamarque Music Enterprises Ltd. Audrey Lamarque is the exclusive representative of these record companies in Mauritius. And this is not accidental.

“I was born in Johannesburg. My mother was of French origin and my father was English. I learnt some French but we mainly spoke English at home.” Music came early in her life when Audrey followed piano courses. However her future job, although related to music, would be “something totally different”.

When she joined EMI as a trainee music publisher in 1964, Audrey became more involved with legal tasks. “It was wonderful all the same as I went regularly to international meetings like Midem. I met exciting people there.”

In 1965, Audrey started an independent company with local artists: 3rd Ear Music. Under the pressure of apartheid, it was something hazardous. “In concerts we organized, blacks and whites were mixed. This was the wonderful power of music and it was like a breach in the system.” With friends, she organized concerts in the townships. David Marks was among them. “In those times, artists like Johnny Clegg became almost as significant as political leaders against apartheid.”

Through her work, Audrey had developed numerous links with the Johannesburg jet set. It was on that basis that she was to be introduced to Sir Gaëtan Duval. “We became good friends and it was hiewho invited me, among the VIP people, to come for the first time to Mauritius.”

The event was the launching of the Club Med, but in fact it would be also the decisive occasion for a major change in her life. Her future husband, a water-ski instructor, was already there. But years passed before they decided to settle in Mauritius. “In 1992, we chose to get engaged. But apartheid was still going on,and it was difficult. So we decided to marry here.” The couple decided to live in Mauritius in 1993.

And she does not regret their choice. “Mauritius is peaceful. And we now find people are less sectarian than 20 years ago. Indian sitcoms on TV, for example, are followed by all; and everybody enjoys Karishma in Kehta Hai Dil”.

So there are no clouds in the sky? “My philosophy is that you cant have everything. The real problem here is drugs. We cannot let our children hang off a cliff.”

But Audrey Lamarque has another real concern; being a music publisher, she is confronted almost daily with the problem of piracy. “Each week the anti-piracy unit warns me about new cases. I have to go to court to defend the copyright.”

Is there a solution? “Piracy cannot be eradicated. But it could be better controlled. And the record industry should adapt to realities.” Meanwhile video-clubs that pirate everything cannot be stopped, and the artistic value of records and DVD is being eaten away.