Jamaica’s premier summer music event Reggae Sumfest, is again living up to its reputation of delivering only the finest acts, by bringing one of the music industry’s most celebrated pop stars, Usher, to this year’s 18th staging.


The International R&B star has been confirmed as a performer to take the stage at the show which runs in Catherine Hall, St. James between July 17 and 24.

Usher will join a cast of fellow performing giants such as Chris Brown, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, Jah Cure among others.

Though not his first local performance, Usher has been on a phenomenal streak in recent times, with memorable music and electrifying performances. His latest album Raymond V. Raymond which was released on March 30 this year, debuted at number 1 on the US Billboard 200 charts. His latest single OMG featuring Will.I.Am is also currently blazing the airwaves, clubs and parties across the world.

This is only his latest crown in a career decorated with accomplishments. Usher has won 5 Grammy awards, 8 Soul Train Awards, and 19 Billboard Music Awards.

He made his musical debut in 1994 with the single Think of You but it was not until 1997 that Usher gained popularity with the hit song My Way. Since then, he has turned into a virtual hit-maker.

In 2001 Usher released the album 8701, which went four times platinum riding on the success of hit singles such as U Remind Me and U Got It Bad. In 2004 Confessions sold over 10 million copies in the US. It was ranked as grossing the highest sales in the first week for an R&B artiste in history. Subsequently, the album sold 20 million copies worldwide and was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2008, his album Here I Stand sold over 5 million copies worldwide and was certified platinum.

In addition to Usher’s recording feats, he is also known for his talent on the stage, and on the screen. Usher appeared in the 1998 film The Faculty and a year later She’s All That. As a Humanitarian, Usher founded New Look, a non-profit organization that seeks to give young people a ‘new look’ on life through the use of education and real life experiences as the incentive.

With a string of accolades and awards, there is no doubt Usher will add considerable value to an army of stars now billed for the greatest summer Festival in Jamaica.

Reggae Sumfest is the most celebrated and supported Reggae Festival in Jamaica, and attracts the world’s leading musicians and performers. In its near 20 year history, the show has boasted a superb entertainment package, loaded with the best performances, food, music, and culture. This year’s Festival runs from July 17-24 at Catherine Hall, St James.

Red Stripe is back as a sponsor of Reggae Sumfest, after a one-year hiatus. The brand now joins fellow Platinum sponsors Ibero Star, Digicel, and the Jamaica Tourist Board. Gold Sponsors include CVM, The Gleaner, and Irie Fm.

Saturday, July 17

Beach Party, Cornwall Beach

Errol Lee & The Bare Essentials

Brown Sugar

Press Fyah

Bumpa

DJ Bambino

DJ Baby Thug

Danger Zone

Thursday, July 22
Catherine Hall, Montego Bay

Vybz Kartel

Mavado

Elephant Man

Spice

I-Octane

Demarco

Kiprich

Konshens

D'Angel

Assassin

Ce'Cile

Voicemail

Chino

Ding Dong

Khago

G-Mac

Tifa

Besenta

Chumps

Dada

King UJah

Taz

Friday, July 23
Catherine Hall, Montego Bay

Chris Brown

Jah Cure

Queen Ifrica

Etana

Tony Rebel

Gyptian

Hezron

Steele

Lymie Murray

Sophia Squire

Macka Conscious

Saturday, July 24
Catherine Hall, Montego Bay

Usher

Shaggy

Beenie Man

Tarrus Riley

Gramps Morgan

Chris Martin

Protoje

Richie Loop

Zamunda

Ras Penco

QQ

Fire Lion & Ferrari

Dominican-born, New Jersey-based, Reggae artist King Tappa hopes that the message in his song “Domestic Violence” will resonate with listeners and bring greater awareness of the effects of domestic violence on women and children. As Father’s Day approaches, his message that parents’ actions affect their children could not be more timely.



He says he was inspired to write the song not only because of stories shared with him by his friends, but because he too has also witnessed domestic violence first hand. Additionally, co-writing the song with Melissa Casimir allowed for a broader perspective, which led to an in depth discussion of the issues and set in motion the concept for the video which depicts the issue from the point of view of the child.


According to King Tappa, “The video was shot that way because we wanted to let the audience know the effect that violence can have on kids. The main character was surrounded by a lot of violence but she didn't give up on her education, and despite being sad, she still comforted her mom, who was being abused, and remained a strong figure for her family.”


His message to parents, “Spend as much time with your kids as possible because they need it. In the world that we're living in right now there's too much negativity surrounding us and we as parents should teach our children good values and show them love—not only by words but by example. Kids look up to their dads, so if a father is showing positive things most likely the kid will follow that path.



When it comes to domestic violence, says King Tappa, most people don't know the signs and those who do won't address it. “The most important message here is to seek help, speak about it.” He is doing his part with this song which encourages the victims of domestic abuse to find a partner who will treat you like a good woman/who will hold you on a pedestal/who praises you for all the good you do.


“Domestic Violence” was produced by Martiniquean Daniel "Don Shorty Productions" Dubois, on the Head In Stars Riddim. The official video for the song was directed by Mo Green of Cape Verde. The video has been picked up for rotation by Tempo and has been presented to several other networks including BET. Look out for more songs from King Tappa this year and please support his fifth annual Project Book Bag drive aimed at offering literary support for Dominica’s youth.


www.myspace.com/kingtappamusic

www.myspace.com/projectbookbag

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE MUSIC PAGE

It was almost 9:00 PM when I made it to Christopher's Jazz Cafe in New Kingston on Thursday Night. For a show scheduled to start at 7:30PM (8:00 island time) I was pretty late. Lucky for me, so was Tanya Stephens. Lucky for her, the bar took up half of the room, and having received a complimentary drink upon entry, most patrons were sufficiently inebriated.

By the time she strolled in draped in black (big black shades, black button-down, black leather pants and a pair of seriously haaawttt black biker boots) and flashed a braces-free smile, all was surely forgiven. And she started. "We need to go way back, I mean way back....to when artists had watch and did know how to tell time." Oh what an apology- only as Tanya would do it. Known for her "sick sense of humour" her excuse that she had to find a wig sent the crowd into peals of laughter. How can we not overlook her tardiness, after all she haffi look good for us right? LOL.

Tanya speaking to the captive crowd

Photo source

She kicked off her set with well-known favorites like "What's Your Story", "Cyan Breathe" "After You", "Boom Walk" (AKA Long Ding Dong), "Home Alone"( AKA Easter Bun AKA Girl Like Me AKA What would you do -LOL), "White Lies". In between songs she took time to share with the audience her views on life (it's all in the mind, if I make up my mind to have a good time, I have a good time), domestic disputes (bawl,vent-do not slash the tires. Get a lawyer), infidelity (no one runs from freedom, only from bondage), and men who are not too well- endowed (Bigging up di men wit di short ding dong in the house). But the audience was constantly reminded that she was not there "for moral guidance" or to give "rules to live by"


Intermission came a little to soon, boy, people were all wrapped up in the intimate vibe. Oh gosh, you should see dem plead for her to keep singing. Tanya had to get her drink on too, so she just flashed a big grin and made her exit. Ok. We'll wait. And let me tell you, wait we did. Now I know it was standing room only and for anyone trying to make it to the front door, it was an awkward dance of avoiding too close bodies, and half drunk glasses of liquor- an exercise in making moves and going nowhere. (Time out for a short visit down memory lane-I don't know how to swim, so when I was younger, I would say I can swim but only underwater. Funny thing is, I would be underwater kicking my legs and flailing my arms, but when I came up for air, I was still in the same place. Hahaha. That's what it was like trying to move in that club that night. Jah know...memories boy...anyways back to the review). Ya, but really I think most people stayed cause they really loved Tanya and she hadn't pulled out the big guns yet.

During the second set she spoke of her new album Infallible which she is giving away for FREE. Yes my people F-R-E-E. Some songs from the album include "Train of Thought," "Siddung Pon It", "No Means No", and the awesome HIV/AIDS awareness song "Still Alive." One ting I noticed, all the leave she wanted to leave and go wet her throat, Tanya loves the stage and she loves pleasing her fans even more, so when di jukebox came out, she just fired round after round of hits! The crowd was matching her word for word "I wish you woulda treat me like your glock/I woulda love it if you keep me pon cock/I wish you woulda treat me like your yatch/keep me wet while de waves dem a rock...and by the time she got to the hook, "these streets don't love you like I dooo" the glee was contagious, the collective voices filling the room and everyone singing the song to that person that they just love sooo much who never gave them their all. Next tune from de jukebox. "I said if we never...." pppuuuullllll uuuuuppppppp!!!! Bullet! Bullet! (lyrical bullets, The Lime and Tanya don't promote war uzeet) Madness!!!! Yow.. trust me. You had to be there to feel the energy. And so the hits kept coming- by request: "Goggle", "Still A Go Lose", "Cherry Brandy", "The Truth" "Damn You", "Reminiscing", "Do You Still Care" AKA Bubba, "Spilt Milk", "Put It On You" "Gangsta Gal" and "Do You Expect me". And then it was over. Time for the pics with the fans. And in true Tanya fashion, time for de boots fi come aff. I went home on cloud nine anxious to download my copy of Infallible.

Tanya Stephens and Ayeola (in Mamayashi)

Photo source

I've listened to Infallible, it's awesome. Tanya is older, she is occupied running her bar H2O in Ocho Rios, her kids are growing up and the maturity is reflected in the music. No "Gangsta Gal" here, but don't get it twisted, she still has her swag. Some of the songs I like are "Infallible" (it's a message to her child saying basically I am not infallible but listen to the wisdom I have gathered over the years), I also like "Turn It Up" (it's just bold, when I heard her sing it at the club I was like "Damn it sound like a threesome about to go down!LOL), "Siddung Pon It" ( I love the repeat of raaeee which is one of the favorite terms I've learnt in Jamaica:-). "Pull Up" could be a groovy Soca-and I'm partial to Soca. "Train of Thought" has a bluesy, bluegrassy, folk vibe. What else? I pretty much love dem all you know. Tanya cyan do wrong my be. So since it's FREE go cop that and make sure to attend her shows after all is not record sales that fattening her bank book, uzeemi.

To pics from the show click the following links:***Note, they are facebook pages**
IShango Photos
Social Lingua

Big ups to Christopher's for the awesome live music and Nuff Respect to the bandMo' Muzyk Pros!!

Oh and big up to Tanya's #1 FAN Tiffany who is a MAJOR reason why I am writing this review. Thanks for the motivation my girl...Is not everytime the words want to come out of my brain and on to the paper.

A favorite from "Infallible"



Classsicccccc!!!!

The Nas and Damian Marley show in London has been canceled as a result of the shutdown on flights in the U.K.



However, travel restrictions have been lifted and flights began landing again in the U.K. on Tuesday night (April 20). The volcanic ash from Iceland closed U.K. airspace for six days, and across Europe more than 95,000 flights were canceled.

The TCO-promoted Nas and Damian Marley Show at the Electric Ballroom has been canceled, though. They have collaborated on the "Distant Relatives" (Island) album, out May 17. Tickets will be valid for the July 20 London Hammersmith show.

Melissa Auf der Maur had to cancel shows last weekend in Oslo and London, where she had a sold-out date at Cargo. But she has been traveling across sea and land to make a newly-booked date at London Jazz Café today (April 21). There is also an April 21 screening of the film accompanying the new album, "Out Of Our Minds" (Roadrunner), and a Q&A at London's ICA.

LCD Soundsystem had to pull its Dublin dates but the act said on Twitter "we will make it to London." They traveled from L.A. to Spain and will continue to the U.K. for April 23 at Brixton Academy.

Other acts have been unable to make shows in Europe. Swedish act Nina Kinert and U.K. band Delphic both canceled French shows, and Bobby McFerrin pulled his April 18 Paris gig, which is rescheduled for May 3.

U.K. singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner has been stuck in Hong Kong. His April 21 Paris show has been postponed to June 14.

Source

In what will be his first ever visit to the United Arab Emirates, reggae star Damian Marley will close the three day World of Music Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival on April 24 in Abu Dhabi. The second ever WOMAD festival also comes just a few weeks before the release of Marley's highly anticipated collaboration album with Nas, titled 'Distant Relatives.' As GulfNews reports, Marley will perform alongside some of the biggest names across the globe, including Femi Kuti, Tinariwen, Babylon Circus, and Transglobal Underground. Check out the full announced lineup abelow:



Photo source

WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2010 Lineup, April 22 - 24:
Damian Marley
Illham Al Madfai
Mayra Andrade
Amparo Sanchez
Faiz Ali Faiz
Drummers of Burundi
Titi Robin
Sierra Maestra
Rachid Taha
Tinariwen
Musafir Gypsies of Rajasthan
!Gubi Family
Habib Koité
ABRI
Debashish Battacharya
Chemirani's
Transglobal Underground
Rango
Femi Kuti
JAADU (Faiz Ali Faiz with Titi Robin)
Hanggai
Hakim
Babylon Circus
Le Trio Jourban
Zawose Family

Source

What happens when Matisyahu, the Hasidic rapper previously nominated for a Best Reggae Album Grammy, applies his falsetto and beatboxing skills to a Kings of Leon hit that just took home both the Best Rock Performance and Record of the Year Grammys? A surprisingly tender performance that brings out the bittersweet yearning of the Followill boys' "Use Somebody."




Sans his usual wide brimmed black hat and with his payos curls tucked under a baseball cap and hoodie, Matisyahu closed eyes and transformed Kings of Leon's mid-tempo love song, stripping the power ballad down to an acoustic guitar and the delicate upper registers of his own vocal range. The reggae singer, whose track "One Day" was one of NBC's official songs of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, chose to cover "Use Somebody," he says, "because I felt it was a great vocal performance... There are a lot of songs out there about the music and how it makes your body feel, but this song is about the vocal and the emotion that comes across in his voice."

February marks Reggae Month in Jamaica; and several events, conferences, symposiums, galas, concerts, exhibition, trade shows are taking place to mark this special time in the Jamaican cultural calender. Here are some events listed below which may be of interest to you:


The 2010 edition of Reggae Month will seek to highlight and celebrate the roles of key individuals and their contributions to the development of Reggae, with musicians and icons the likes of Bob Marley and Dennis Brown being at the forefront of the celebrations.

Freddie McGregor current head of JARIA

The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA) has been given the mandate, by the Ministry of Culture, to plan and coordinate the 2010 celebrations.


Monday Feb 1
Birthday Party in Celebration of the 'Prince of Reggae' Dennis Brown, Downtown Kingston.


Tuesday, February 2-Friday February 5
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) presents a Bob Marley Symposium at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre commencing at 10 am. The theme is "We Don't Need No Trouble-What We Need Is Love." Stops will also be made in Portland, Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth.
The symposium will feature presentations in tribute to Bob Marley by renowned musician Ibo Cooper, musician and producer Grub Cooper, Rev. Dr Basil Chambers and Howard Hendricks. Also included in the symposium are the finals of the inaugural Bob Marley Secondary Schools Debate Competition and the Bob Marley Song Rearrangement Competition. The symposium are open to the public and admission is free.

Wednesday, February 3
Spotlight on Mento and Ska, featuring performances by the Charles Town Maroon Drummers, Kingston Drummers, Gilzene and the Blue Light Mento Band and students from the Music School at Edna Manley. Time – 8 p.m. to 12 midnight

Wednesday February 3
The Berhane Selassie Art Gallery will be launched tomorrow at Tuff Gong International Ltd. on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston. It is named after Bob Marley, as ‘Berhane Selassie’ is the name (meaning ‘Light of the Trinity’) that was given to him when he was baptised in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in 1979. The gallery will display the works of local and international artists, and will also become a part of Tuff Gong’s Making of Music Tour (which covers various aspects of music production in Jamaica)


Thursday, February 4-Sunday February 7
Africa Unite - Smile Jamaica Youth Symposium - Liberty Hall, Kingston


Thursday, February 4
6th Annual Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, 8PM


Friday, February 5
Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes & Affiliates – JAVAA – kicks off what is expected to be another year of sublime entertainment events at The Gardens, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, w.ith their annual tribute to “Bob Marley & Dennis Brown, the King & Crown Prince of Reggae”

Friday, February 5
Annual Bob Marley Lecture - UWI Mona Campus. Every Friday there will be a Reggae film in N1 Lecture theatre. Don't miss!


Saturday, February 6
Bob Marley Day - Bob Marley Museum Kingston


Monday, February 8
Visit by JARIA to Boys' Town school-music expo.

Saturday, February 13
Sugar Cane Ball - Round Hill Hotel and Villas Resort, Hanover


Sunday February 14
Hanover Charity Polo and High Tea - Chukka Blue Ranch,


Monday February 15
Bob Marley Creative Expressions Day at Bob Marley Museum in Kingston


Monday February 15
JARIA visits Alpha Boys School for music expo

Wednesday February 17- Saturday February 20
International Reggae Conference is for artistes, industry practitioners, researchers, academics, fans and other interested parties who can bring significant insight into the international reggae music industry. The conference aims to expand the reach of persons committed to the international development of Jamaica’s music and open the door to a pool of talent, skills and expertise which will be reflected in the conference proceedings and range of participants.
Official Site
Of interest to me is the meeting with August Town community and UWI principal and other representatives on the topic "Music in The Community." That takes place on Friday the 18th from 6:30-8 PM followed by a concert.


Sunday February 21
A special edition of Jazz in the Gardens at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel


Monday, February 22
Reggae Gospel concert


Wednesday February 24
Reggae Academy Awards national Indoor Sports Centre


Thursday, February 25
The Reggae Film Festival 2010 at the Hilton Kingston, produced by film-maker and film festival organiser Barbara Blake Hannah, will open February 25 with a Red Carpet Gala Reception and screening of the documentary Made in Jamaica. This features a galaxy of reggae stars including Capleton, Bunny Wailers, Third World, Beenie Man and Lady Saw, all of whom are among the VIP reggae celebrities invited as special guests.


Saturday, February 27
Knutsford Live-a free concert in the heart of New Kingston featuring top Jamaican artists.

Sunday, February 28
JARIA honour awards, a glamorous gala event where special recognition will be given to industry pioneers who have figured prominently in the outstanding penetration of Jamaican music culture across the world.

MONTHLONG

This entire month The Lime will feature a special edition of 20 Questions focusing on trends in Reggae which is the theme for the International Reggae Conference. In addition to the 20 questions we will as new, upand coming, old-school reggae artists of their opinion on Reggae and Reggae month. In addition we will feature non-Jamaican Reggae artists and find out how they were introduced to Reggae and how it has impacted their lives!

Reggae Month, which was first staged in 2008 by the Ministry of Culture, is a celebration of Reggae music geared at heightening the impact of the musical genre on the country's social, cultural and economical development.

Grammy nominations have just been announced and of the 30 odd potential nominees in the Reggae category, the number has been whittled down to four.

Albums up for the award are:

Buju Banton is a nominee for the 2010 Reggae Album category. He's been under a lot of pressure from gay rights groups (who've forced the cancelllation of some concert dates due to homophobic lyrics of some of his songs.

Rasta Got Soul Buju Banton[Gargamel Music, Inc.]
Brand New Me Gregory Isaacs[Tad's Record]
Awake Julian Marley[Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic]
Mind Control — Acoustic Stephen Marley[Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic]
Imperial Blaze Sean Paul[VP/Atlantic]

To see the other categories click HERE to go to the official nomination page

Reggae crooner Ras Penco raises the bar this holiday season with the launch of his second single, its accompanying video, and takes off for Europe.

"Be By My Side" is the follow-up to his massive hit "Thousand Miles," and the Uprize Music artist recently journeyed to Hollywood to film the romantic video."It was a great experience being on the yacht out in the ocean," discloses Penco, on the Los Angeles movie-like scenario. "We were looking for a special feel and we came to Hollywood to get the appropriate look to fit the vibe of the song."
"Be By My Side" was produced by Uprize Music and is currently enjoying great rotation in the Caribbean, especially in Jamaica, where it enters the top ten on the FIWI Reggae Singles Chart and comes in at #25 on the Jamaica Weekly Countdown this week (Nov. 30, 2009). "I'm getting a good response so far in the dancehall and on radio, and the TV stations just started playing the video," the artist states enthusiastically.
The single was co-written by Penco, who says it came "naturally" because he wanted to return with an appropriate follow-up to the "Thousand Miles" story. "I was looking for something along the same storyline to give the fans," he says. "It's a continuation of the same story."
A busy holiday season is on the horizon for Penco. Following his European tour, local fans will see him perform at this year's Island Explosion and West Kingston Jamboree. Negotiations are also underway for him to perform at the highly anticipated Sting in Portmore, Jamaica.
"I'm working hard in the studio right now so everyone can expect my new album," reveals Penco. "After this third single, my main focus will be on putting together material and working on my craft. I also have a new band, so I'm rehearsing with the band right now and we'll be launching it in December." With two consecutive hit singles and videos in rotation and a third single in the works, Ras Penco continues his reign as the new face of the conscious genre. Stay updated with artist news and tour information on Ras Penco by logging on to www.myspace.com/raspenco.

EUROPEAN TOUR - DECEMBER 2009
Dec. 2.......... Zurich, Switzerland

Dec. 4....... ...Sand, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Dec. 5...........Watt, Rotterdam, Netherlands

MANAGEMENT/BOOKINGUPRIZE MUSIC

Richard Myrie1-954-931-2679

mailto:Myrie1-954-931-richard@uprizemusic.com

Donovan "Don Corleone" Bennett and Alaine Laughton have been working together musically since 2005 and have been rumoured to be making more than music together.

Arite so they kinda admitted to it withouth really saying so much in an interview last year with Jamaica Observer. The last song that Alaine released (as far as I know) was an ode to her love for Don Corleone. Its's called "Without You." Well the two have ended their professional relationship and apparently the intimate one as well. It gets interesting.

Alaine released a song with Chino called "Me and You (Secret)" See video below. Pre de lyrics nuh --Chino: "me a pre you from long long time hope one day you would be mine/ nobody haffi know bout mi and you/nobody haffi know bout the things we do.....Doh worry bout your boyfriend and what him a go tink"
Of course tounges were wagging, Chino and Alaine? Word? didn't he like just have a baby (or fathered rather)? Did he break them up? Ray, Ray Ray, Rah, Rah, Rah.....

Well look. Don Cornelone come out with a song...a response maybe? Oh and not by himself eh. He got the very talented and obviously very sexy Kirs Kelli to help him. Ouch. It would hurt if Alaine actually cared. He says "girl it's over and done....she sings on the chorous"I'm moving on cause I just cant take your love /It's a blessing from above....here's the key tho the door" and he mentions "we're no Secret Lovers" in the song too.





I personally love that "Without You" song...here ya go...enjoy.

True feelings???? True story???? gimick???? not sure but Don Corlone if you looking for a muse calle me 845-2936... I sing I write...no I wont do a Lisa Hype (Ya I know I'm good/ you see I just give you a wicked hook dere...u zeit, u zeit???)

Is reggae superstar Bob Marley bigger than Jesus? That's debatable, but the music legend who died 28 years ago is about to challenge Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson for the title of richest dead celebrity.

Some of the merchandise available on the Official Bob Marley online store.

Toronto-based private-equity firm Hilco Consumer Capital has struck a management deal with the Marley estate, which is expected to generate worldwide annual sales in excess of $1 billion by 2012. That seems like a huge number, but by some estimates the Marley name, sound, and image already generate as much as $600 million in pirated merchandise."Marley is a strong global brand," says Mickey Goodman, a professional marketer and professor at New York University's Stern School of Business. "He enjoys a high level of awareness, and people feel positive about his music."




The Exoudus album was voted in 1999 by Time magazine as the greatest album of the 20th century! Still making Marley some dough!


Major licensing agreements for the Marley brand are about to be launched in two key areas: consumer electronics -- including headphones, docking stations, and speakers -- and health care, which will likely feature skin-care products and herbal supplements. Also in the works, according to Hilco, are deals for a Marley-branded calming beverage, a video game similar to Guitar Hero featuring Marley's songs, and a chain of restaurants celebrating the music superstar.


Could this be commercial overkill for the Rastafarian whose spiritual songs about social injustice, hope, and redemption have become anthems for billions of fans, from Marrakech to Tokyo, and will it alienate them?"This is not just about money," says Jamie Salter, Hilco's chief executive. "We have to believe in the people and products we partner with." Salter adds that the Marley estate will have final say on all business ventures, and that charities will figure into the overall mix of Marley branding.



Licensing of dead celebrities is an industry that has exploded in the last decade, thanks in large part to the proliferation of websites and blogs devoted to their memory. Typically, an estate receives 10% to 15% of gross proceeds from a licensing deal, which in this case will be divided between Hilco and the Marley family.The artist who created such reggae hits as "One Love," "No Woman, No Cry," and "I Shot the Sheriff" fathered a total of 13 children, some out of wedlock, and it's not clear how many are included in the estate.

The Marley Resort in The Bahamas

Salter declined to explain how proceeds will be divided between his management company -- which also has an equity stake in a number of high-profile brands, including Polaroid, Sharper Image, and fashion label Halston -- and the Marleys.However, at a conservative 10%, licensing fees from $1 billion in annual sales should pull in about $100 million for Hilco and the Marleys. That tops the latest figures reported for Presley ($55 million), John Lennon ($15 million), and Jimi Hendrix ($8 million).Michael Jackson -- who is worth more dead than alive with an estimated $90 million in earnings in the last 12 months -- appears to be Marley's nearest rival for the richest-dead-celebrity crown. However, much of Jackson's reversal of fortune is due to a sharp spike in the sales of his albums and merchandise in the weeks following his death, as well as the one-time success of "This Is It," a film documenting rehearsals for shows he never performed at London's O2 arena.

Bob's son Rohan is in charge of Marley Coffee, yet another product using the Marley Brand

But the danger of operating the Marley marketing machine in overdrive is that it could irreparably harm the natural mystic's image. Some brand experts now view Elvis as more of a caricature than icon as a result of overexposure.For Sanjay Sood, director of the Entertainment & Media Management Institute at UCLA, there's one question to ask: If Marley were alive today, would he want his name associated with a particular product? "A lot of artists would say 'no,'" says Sood. "Otherwise, they would have done it when they were alive."Presley's estate, which is managed by New York-based CKX, launched a line of clothing that turned out to be a bust. (CKX also controls the Muhammad Ali brand and has an equity stake in the company that produces the "American Idol" television show.)More recently, Lennon's widow Yoko Ono has licensed her husband's song "Real Love" to be used by JC Penny (JCP, Fortune 500) in television ads, and she's given Ben & Jerry's ice cream permission to release a Lennon-inspired flavor called "Imagine Whirled Peace."Salter of Hilco says the Marley brand has a long way to go before reaching saturation, noting he also considered doing business with the Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe, and Jimi Hendrix estates, but settled on the Rastafarian from Trench Town, Jamaica, because that's where he says he saw the biggest potential.There has never been a better time, it seems, to be a dead celebrity -- or perhaps, more precisely, the heir to a dead celebrity's name. Dont't!

Hiers to the Marley Empire: Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani, Damian
Source

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley present “Distant Relatives,” brought to you by VTech at National Geographic's Grosvenor Auditorium on December 12.

Photo source

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley explore the origins of the deeply-rooted, reggae and hip hop genre, tracing both sounds back to African Music. They will debate and celebrate the implications of this culture’s impact on the global community with a panel of pioneers — from DJ Kool Herc and DJ Red Alert to Jamaican dancehall legend, Daddy U-Roy, King Jammy, and moderator Sway Calloway of MTV. This event will also be streamed live and broadcast online at Natgeomusic.net.

This event will be followed by an after-party and open-mic show at Zanzibar, a Washington, D.C. nightclub, and will feature all event participants. Ticket price includes entry to the after-party.
Event is general admission. Tickets are limited, and all tickets must be picked up at the door. The event at National Geographic is being filmed for an upcoming documentary.
More information on the after-party.



The album Distant Relatives is set to drop sometime in 2010. Serving as a social commentary with content heavily revolving around Africa, features so far are rumored to include Young Jeezy, Joss Stone, Stevie Wonder, Stephen Marley, Snoop Dogg and K'naan.

Rastafarian firebrand Anthony B will rub shoulders with international superstars Jay Z and Rihanna when he attends the 37th annual American Music Awards show on sunday November 22nd.

Anthony B and Jesse Jackson at the latter's recent birthday party, all part of his marketing and PR campaign

The 2009 American Music Awards will be held at the Nokia Theatre and broadcast live on ABC.
He opted to attend this event and promote his Rise Up album on the west coast instead of performing on the US leg of the One LoveTour.


.“I am looking forward to walking the red carpet and doing interviews about the Rise Up album. We ah go campaign it hard and meet and greet as many people as possible because the buzz on Rise Up is great so far, and when the nomination time comes for the album, I want them to be acquainted with what Anthony B represents,” he said.A

Anthony B will be working with well-known publicist Angel who hailsfrom California, and once worked with Michael Jackson in his heyday.Rise Up, which appears on theGreensleeves/VP Records imprint, isalready shortlisted for a Reggae Grammy nomination this year.“If this happens, it will be my very first Grammy nomination, and Ifeel the album deserves consideration because it has an authenticreggae feel, and the reggae world will respond to it,” he said.


Anthony B will be hosting his annual charity-based event in Trelawny on January 1. Further, he has five shows lined up for Central andSouth America in January.“

Check out his lates single "You Hold Me" on rotation on Jamaican TV...

I follow Etana's MySpace blog and it's always been very personal: Her Moods would range from enlightened, to happy, artistic and adventurous. She her experiences touring with comments such as "It was amazing on stage with alborosie in Italy.".... "Can't wait to be in Sweden again. Unconditional love" ...."I wanted to tell the promoter I did not want to perform so late but couldn't leave you all hanging and after I stepped on that stage"...."We need to get back to the days when music meant something for everyone in it. We need to get to loving music again. It's more than just a hustle. It's our history, future, changes moods and emotions. Music is life."

Well ever since she has signed on with new management Irish and Chin, the personal comments have stopped. It's not all bad though as the more recent blogs are very informative. Check out the most recent post below:

For popular Reggae singer Etana, the month of November has been chock-full of
excitement. It's been non-stop action for "The Strong One," who jump started an
intense promotional campaign with a video shoot for her compelling new single
"August Town" and promotional tour in the Caribbean. The video shoot for "August Town" went off with a bang. With August Town as the setting for the video, the Director vividly captured the realness of August Town and Etana herself. Members of the community played a key role in the video, which brings "August Town's" tell-tale lyrics to life. Fans will be thoroughly entertained by the "August
Town" video, which will air on all major Caribbean TV outlets later this month.

Fresh off the heels of the "August Town" video shoot, the soulful crooner
touched down in Trinidad, Antigua and Barbados this past weekend for the first
leg of her promotional tour, dedicated to introducing her dynamic new music to
the media and fans. With a string of TV, print and radio interviews lined-up,
Etana promoted new music including "August Town," "Free" and "Happy Heart."
During the Caribbean media blitz, Etana was professionally to meet the DJs that
have embraced her music over the years. Furthermore, the songstress was thrilled
to put a face to her music and name. According to Etana,"It was great meeting
face-to-face with members of the media, who have supported my music." "These are the people that have the power to make or break your music...it's important that
they receive my new music first hand," Etana added. "Many artists take DJs and
radio jocks for granted, yet these are the people solely responsible for
planting and nurturing the seeds of artists" says Etana's manager Garfield
"Chin" Bourne of Irish and Chin, Inc. "Because I started as a sound man, I will
always respect a DJ's role and encourage my clients to do so as well."

Much to Etana's credit, the Caribbean media professionals displayed an outpouring of love and support to her. And to make the promotional visits even more worthwhile, there was an overwhelming amount of positive feedback to Etana's new
music. Humbled by this, Etana took part in each interview with ease. On the
Irish and Chin organized promotional tour, which will span over the next three
months, Etana will also visit England and key markets in the United States.
"This promotional tour is an ideal vehicle of further exposing my music to the
media and fans," says Etana. "It's a career first for me to embark on an effort
solely designed to promote my new music."

This week, Etana will return to Jamaica to film a video for "Free." The video, which will be shot by famed director JayWil, is set to vividly depict the chanteuse's new beautiful ballad. Meanwhile, a video for the sensuous single "Happy Heart" will be filmed soon.

Etana's highly anticipated sophomore album is scheduled for a Summer 2010
release on VP Records. Surely, this effort will replicate the success of her
debut album The Strong One, which was heralded by fans and critics alike --
copping numerous awards including "Album of the Year" at the 2009 International
Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) in New York and Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards (EME) in Jamaica. Irish and Chin is a leading dancehall
entertainment company that excels in professionalism. From staging landmark
events to managing sound systems and artists, Irish and Chin has successfully
thrived for over 10 years. The company's approach has always been grassroots
marketing and branding. Although Irish and Chin is based in Jamaica, the
company's true strength lies in the international market.

I like the personal touch, so I hope Etana, that you still add your two cents on the page!

Log on to Etanas's blog.

Ok so Sharon Burke posted online a couple days ago that she was headed to South Africa, I figured that meant that Etana was gonna be there and yes I was correct, except here's the interesting note. She is being Managed by Irish and Chin and booked by Headline Entertainment. So being the likkle investigator that I are a(if you know Bounty Killa you WILL find this funny), I went to investigating. So on Etana's site it does state that Irish and Chin is Management and Headline is the contact for bookings however she is still under Solid's roster of artists that they book. Now is this an oversight??? or just something that will be quickly taken care of after the transitional period???


Oh yeah and she is in Johannesburg for the 2009 Arts Alive Festiva. Etana’s participation in the Festival was organized as a cultural exchange through a cooperative agreement between the the governments of Jamaica and South Africa. Her week-long trip to South Africa will culminate with two highly anticipated performances at the Soweto Festival on September 25 and the Eldo Jazz Day Festival on September 27, and she will be gigging at some local clubs.

This is not her first trip to Africa. to find out the two other African nations Etana has visited click HERE

And go to our interview page to read her interview with The Lime!

Etana's contact:
PUBLICITY:

Flair Lindsey
Irish and Chin, Inc.
publicity@irishandchin.com
(718) 878-6323, (202) 277-8191

MANAGEMENT:

Garfield “Chin” Bourne
Irish and Chin, Inc.
chin@irishandchin.com
(876) 926-7562/(718) 878-6323

BOOKINGS:

Jerome Hamilton
Headline Entertainment
jerome@headlinejamaica.com
(876) 960-0382

The song is off his Made in Jamaica album. Love the concept! Take a look:

Irish and Chin is bringing an unforgettable night of Reggae Dancehall and sound system entertainment, dubbed "Reeewind, The Past Meets The Present," to New York on Saturday, October 3. "Reeewind" is a once-in-a-lifetime event featuring the legendary King Stur Gav sound, Mighty Crown and top artists U-Roy, Charlie Chaplan, Brigadier Jerry, Beenie Man, Capleton and Luciano. The event is slated to vividly highlight the era of yester-year, showcasing the legendary and current artists performing on the King Stur Gav and Mighty Crown sound systems respectively.

Click HERE for more info about the artists and the event itself!

Don't forget World Clash will be held in Montego Bay April of next year! Log on to www.irishandchin.com to find out who will be there!!!!!

According to The Jamaica Observer:

The authorised Bob Marley documentary will still premiere in Germany for Marley's 65th birthday amidst reports that production was stalled due to changes in directors.
Photo source

"It is in the post-production stages and shall premiere at the Berlin Film Festival next February," Janice Allen, film manager at Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), told the Observer. "We are still in discussion as to when it will be premiered in Jamaica."

JTI had facilitated the acquisition of documentation needed to commence filming on the island, including licences, and permits Allen said.

The Berlin Festival is one of the world's leading film festivals. Founded in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978.

US media reports last month stated that Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme was the second major director to leave the project, following Martin Scorsese. Scorsese directed the iconic Bob Dylan documentary.

"I am not aware of that," stated Allen, who was briefed by Cinecom, the local arm of the production team.

US producer Steve Bing has been working closely with the Marley family in order to portray the life of the reggae legend, who is referred to as the Che Guevara of music.

Allen said that the documentary was important not only to the Marley family but to Jamaica as it would "tell how he impacted the world".

JTI helped facilitate the 99 films made in Jamaica over the 2008/9 fiscal year, which was a 20 per cent decrease over the previous year. Even with the reduction, these projects earned six per cent more at $480 million. Indeed, more money was made from fewer films but many projects were foreign-based and their profits would have been repatriated. The number of persons employed remained stable at some 2,000 persons.

Film projects include feature films, television commercials, television productions, music videos, documentaries, television series, concerts, festivals and special events.

Source

Despite pressure from gay rights groups, Buju Banton is still headlining shows accross the US. One such is Reggae Bash 09. He will be performing alongside Beenie Man, Wayne Wonder and Red Rat. Main Sponsors are Hollywood Toyota. For sponsor info contact Charles Higgins at chuckbfla@hotmail.com. Vendors call 954-801-2257



It's really sad to me that gay rights focus on "Boom Bye Bye' a song that Buju wrote decades ago. He has so many other positive songs eg "Destiny,"How Could You," and so many others. I don't agree with banning his music or blocking concerts at all. I am a big fan of Buju. I am sure that the people who attend his show are adults and choose to purchase tickets and go, I am sure they are attending as they are already familiar with his music, so what is bannig the show going to do???? They will still play his tunes. I in no way encourage gay bashing or the like but to me its like saying give one man his freedom by taking away the freedom of another....how is that just????

Click HERE to see if he will be in your area

Tony Braxton has a new single out called "Yesterday," said to be off her new album due sometime in Feb. of 2010. Shaggy and Sean Paul are rumored to be on the album which will have a noticeable reggae influence.



Log on to ToniBraxton.com for a live webchat on 09/17 at 4PM where you can ask questions about the album, and check her out on VH1 Divas later on that night at 9/8PM central.