Paul Husbands: The Caribbean Entrepreneur Redefining Music Streaming and Event Discovery
From a college project in Barbados to an award-winning Caribbean music streaming platform, Selecta Charts founder Paul Husbands is building a digital space where Caribbean artists, music lovers, and event promoters can connect, discover, and grow.
Caribbean music has shaped global entertainment for generations. From the infectious rhythms of soca and calypso to the worldwide influence of reggae and dancehall, the region's musical contributions are undeniable. Yet, despite this international impact, emerging Caribbean artists continue to face challenges in gaining visibility, accessing digital opportunities, and reaching audiences beyond their home markets.
For Barbadian entrepreneur and creative visionary Paul Husbands, these challenges presented an opportunity to build something different.
As the founder and CEO of Selecta Charts, Husbands is working to redefine how Caribbean music is discovered, streamed, and celebrated. What began as a graphic design school project in 2011–2012 eventually evolved into a dedicated Caribbean music streaming platform, officially launched on April 8, 2017.
His vision extends beyond music streaming. With the expansion of Selecta Charts Events, launched on October 1, 2026, Husbands is also creating opportunities for event promoters and cultural entrepreneurs to connect with audiences across Barbados and the wider Caribbean.
His entrepreneurial journey has been marked by persistence, innovation, and recognition. From winning two major awards at the 2017 Caribbean Startup Summit to representing Barbados through the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), Husbands has continued to pursue his vision of a stronger digital ecosystem for Caribbean creatives.
In this edition of Caribbean EMagazine's Entrepreneur & Creative Spotlight, we speak exclusively with Paul Husbands about his journey from designer to technology entrepreneur, the challenges of building a Caribbean-owned streaming platform, his latest venture into event discovery, and his ambitious plans for Selecta Charts' 10th anniversary in 2027.
Exclusive Q&A with Paul Husbands
THE ENTREPRENEUR BEHIND THE BRAND
Caribbean EMagazine: Before we discuss Selecta Charts, tell us a little about yourself. Who is Paul Husbands, and how did your journey into entrepreneurship and technology begin?
Paul Husbands: Thank you for the opportunity to be interviewed, Janet. Let's see, I'm an artist, actually. Not a singer, but a writer, designer, and recently, a filmmaker. I actually stumbled into entrepreneurship and technology; it was never my intention. But I knew that to make this dream I had in school a reality, I would have to make it a business.
Caribbean EMagazine: What inspired you to create Selecta Charts in 2015? Was there a particular experience or gap in the Caribbean music industry that made you realize this platform was needed?
Paul Husbands: Barbados' music industry is seasonal and overly reliant on our annual Crop Over festival to provide our artists with a platform. I believed a change needed to be made, and modern technology was the solution. What if we had a platform that amplified the value of our artists year-round, and not just during the summer? So, in 2011–2012, the Selecta Charts concept was birthed as a school project during my Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design at Barbados Community College.
Caribbean EMagazine: Selecta Charts officially launched on April 8, 2017. What was that journey like between developing the initial concept and bringing the platform to life?
Paul Husbands: It was exciting but very challenging because, in 2011, CDs were still the main channel through which music was consumed. So, nobody ten years older than me believed the concept of streaming-only could work. It was like explaining rocket science; no one understood or got it. But I believed in it, and I knew platforms like YouTube were the future. So, I saved my own money after graduating and invested in making that dream I had a reality.
Caribbean EMagazine: Building a digital music platform is no small undertaking, especially in a region where access to funding, technology, and industry resources can be limited. What were some of the biggest obstacles you encountered, and how did you overcome them?
Paul Husbands: The biggest obstacle I had was access to web developers who had the skills and time to join me on my crazy journey. After we launched in 2017, the Bitcoin industry blew up in Barbados, and most of the top local developers transitioned into working in Bitcoin full-time. I had the vision, the designs, and the research from school, but in those early days of Selecta Charts, I lost my development team. So, I had to outsource development to international developers to get the project back on track.
REDEFINING CARIBBEAN MUSIC STREAMING
Caribbean EMagazine: Global streaming platforms already dominate the music industry. What makes Selecta Charts different, and why do you believe Caribbean music deserves its own dedicated streaming platform?
Paul Husbands: Global streaming platforms never catered to or prioritised Caribbean music. And the few times they do, they only highlight the Caribbean artists who have already made a career, not the upcoming talent that was bubbling under the surface. Caribbean music and culture are too vast to be overlooked, so I took the risk of attempting to fill that gap.
Caribbean EMagazine: One of your platform's messages is that the people decide what rises to the top. Can you explain how music discovery, listener engagement, and chart rankings work on Selecta Charts?
Paul Husbands: Yes, the "Charts" in Selecta Charts is a big part of the platform. The people are the ones who make a hit a hit, and I applied that same logic to our platform. So, the songs that users listen to the most are the ones that become most visible and climb the highest on our charts. It's a fun way to let the artists and their fans compete for the top spot.
Caribbean EMagazine: Many independent Caribbean artists struggle to reach international audiences. How can artists get their music featured on Selecta Charts, and what opportunities does the platform provide to help them grow their fan base?
Paul Husbands: First of all, for independent Caribbean artists building a career, the music has to be good, or at least catchy, if you want to build any audience, much less an international one. Secondly, joining Selecta Charts is absolutely free, and so is uploading your music. Artists can download the Selecta Charts app, create an account, and start uploading their music today. It's that easy. Once the music is published and the artists do a good job of marketing their music on the platform, then the music has a chance to reach more listeners. It's a win-win deal, but you have to put the work in. Like anything in life, really.
SELECTA CHARTS EVENTS — CONNECTING CULTURE AND EXPERIENCES
Caribbean EMagazine: You have expanded the brand with Selecta Charts Events, a platform dedicated to discovering and promoting Caribbean events. What inspired this expansion, and how does it complement the music streaming service?
Paul Husbands: Oh yes, our latest addition! Believe it or not, Selecta Charts Events originally soft-launched in late 2019. I had been meeting with event promoters across the island for months, recruiting them to get on board, and then boom... COVID hit in 2020, completely decimating the event industry for two years.
So, this was always in the cards as the next chapter of Selecta Charts' business plan. Fast forward to 2026, and those plans have finally come to fruition.
Caribbean EMagazine: Barbados has a vibrant entertainment industry, particularly during Crop Over. How is Selecta Charts Events helping promoters, event organizers, and cultural entrepreneurs reach larger audiences?
Paul Husbands: The feedback so far has been phenomenal from event promoters. The events added to our platform have already received over 10,000 views since launching last month on October 1st. It's free to add events as well, with premium features available as optional paid upgrades.
Caribbean EMagazine: One attractive feature is the opportunity for event organizers to list their events for free. Why was making event promotion accessible an important part of your business model?
Paul Husbands: Selecta Charts Events was created to scale benefits for both free listings and paid listings. So, all event promoters can experience the benefits of using our platform in proportion to how much they choose to invest in it. We are confident that promoters will be so impressed with the free version that some will consider upgrading their events to take advantage of the full suite of features.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP, INNOVATION & BUSINESS GROWTH
Caribbean EMagazine: As a Caribbean entrepreneur operating in the technology and entertainment industries, what has been your biggest business lesson so far?
Paul Husbands: With the right research and team, you can outperform any competitor in the world. Even from a tiny island in the Caribbean.
Caribbean EMagazine: Developing a music streaming service involves technology, music licensing, partnerships, marketing, and ongoing operational expenses. How have you approached building and sustaining the business, particularly during its early stages?
Paul Husbands: Wearing multiple hats, haha, plus balancing my own personal career in marketing to keep the bills paid. This venture would not be possible if I could not run the company by myself. From designing the experience to marketing, business relations... the whole nine yards, that's all me. And my developer, of course. That's how I've kept the costs down throughout the almost 10 years I've been in this business. In reality, I can't afford myself, haha.
Caribbean EMagazine: What has been your proudest achievement since launching Selecta Charts? Is there a particular milestone or moment that made you realize your vision was becoming a reality?
Paul Husbands: The same month we launched in April 2017, Selecta Charts won both of the top awards at the Caribbean Startup Summit in Barbados. We won the 1st Place Pitch Prize and the Audience Choice Prize. That same year, I represented my country in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), an entrepreneurship program founded by Barack Obama. It has been a whirlwind ever since.
At the end of 2025, we signed a major partnership with Barbados Today and The St. Lucia Times to promote Caribbean music, and earlier this year, we formed a new partnership with the National Transformation Initiative (NTI) as well. It's been an unbelievable journey that 18-year-old me at school could never have predicted.
Caribbean EMagazine: With artificial intelligence and emerging technologies transforming the music industry, how do you see these innovations influencing the future of Selecta Charts and Caribbean entertainment?
Paul Husbands: It's going to create even more opportunities for Caribbean artists to create music far more cheaply. But a high output of cheap music is not necessarily a good thing for the industry. For us, we have some cool ideas in the works for how AI can be used to help users discover more of the music they love.
CULTURAL IMPACT & THE FUTURE
Caribbean EMagazine: Caribbean music has influenced global entertainment for decades, yet Caribbean-owned platforms often struggle to receive the same recognition as international companies. What do you believe needs to change to create more opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs?
Paul Husbands: Once we can demonstrate the value of our culture to the world in an indisputable way, we will get our just recognition. Look at how long it took Afrobeats music to gain global acclaim, despite how large Africa is. Meaningful change takes time and precision.
Caribbean EMagazine: Looking ahead over the next three to five years, what is your vision for Selecta Charts and Selecta Charts Events? Are there any upcoming developments, partnerships, or expansions you can share with our readers?
Paul Husbands: We have a huge goal to embark on in 2027 for our 10th anniversary. We are aiming to be in partnership with global distribution platforms like DistroKid, TuneCore, ONErpm, you name it. That's our next major milestone we are working towards.
Caribbean EMagazine: What advice would you give to young Caribbean entrepreneurs who have innovative business ideas but may lack the funding, connections, or confidence to get started?
Paul Husbands: Do the research and find the advantage your competition hasn't tapped into yet. Then save the money and find the right people to help you build a prototype. Get that prototype in front of the right audience with the right message, and you'll be surprised how far you can get.
Caribbean EMagazine: Finally, what legacy do you hope to build through Selecta Charts, and what message would you like to share with Caribbean artists, music lovers, and entrepreneurs around the world?
Paul Husbands: Selecta Charts is built by a creative for creatives. I understand the plight of the creative journey as much as any artist, and I believe that together we can achieve the impossible. This platform is for you, the ones making the impossible happen.
QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS — GETTING TO KNOW PAUL HUSBANDS
Beyond the business and technology, we asked Paul a few quick questions about his musical influences, Caribbean culture, and personal journey.
Caribbean EMagazine: What was the first Caribbean song or artist that made a lasting impression on you?
Paul Husbands: In Barbados, we grew up on TV Channel 8 with lots of Beres Hammond.
Caribbean EMagazine: If you could collaborate with any Caribbean artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Paul Husbands: Rihanna. No explanation needed. Call me RiRi.
Caribbean EMagazine: What is one Caribbean festival or cultural event everyone should experience at least once?
Paul Husbands: Crop Over in Barbados!
Caribbean EMagazine: What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
Paul Husbands: I used to be in a hip-hop dance group called Idi-inc. IYKYK.
Caribbean EMagazine: Describe your entrepreneurial journey in three words.
Paul Husbands: Best Choice Ever.
Caribbean EMagazine: Complete this sentence: "The future of Caribbean music is..."
Paul Husbands: ...on Selecta Charts.
Building a Digital Future for Caribbean Creativity
Paul Husbands' journey demonstrates how a creative idea, backed by persistence and a willingness to embrace technology, can evolve into a business with ambitions extending far beyond its original concept.
From developing Selecta Charts as a student at Barbados Community College to navigating technical challenges, earning entrepreneurial recognition, and expanding into event discovery, Husbands has remained committed to creating opportunities for Caribbean artists and cultural entrepreneurs.
His experience also highlights the realities of building a technology business in the Caribbean, where entrepreneurs may find themselves balancing multiple professional responsibilities while working to turn ambitious ideas into sustainable ventures.
As Selecta Charts approaches its 10th anniversary in 2027, Husbands is looking toward potential partnerships with major music distribution platforms and exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance music discovery.
For emerging Caribbean entrepreneurs, his journey offers a reminder that innovation does not have to originate in a major global technology hub. With research, determination, and the right partnerships, ideas developed on a small Caribbean island can pursue opportunities on an international scale.
And for Husbands, the mission remains rooted in the creative community that inspired the platform from the beginning.
"Selecta Charts is built by a creative for creatives." — Paul Husbands
Discover Selecta Charts
Music Streaming Platform: Selecta Charts
Event Discovery Platform: Selecta Charts Events
Website: selectacharts.com
Events: selectacharts.com/events
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selectacharts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SelectaCharts
Caribbean EMagazine's Entrepreneur & Creative Spotlight celebrates Caribbean innovators, entrepreneurs, and creative visionaries who are building businesses, challenging industry conventions, and contributing to the region's cultural and economic development.
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