Discussions on current news. http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/index.php Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:31:19 +0000 30 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2845-bujus-trial-delay/ THE TRIAL of reggae superstar Buju Banton has again been pushed back, leaving the Jamaican to spend more time in an American jail before getting a chance to clear his name.

This has left the legal team of the reggae icon frustrated.

"The trial was pushed back to September 20 despite our objection," David Oscar Markus of Buju's legal team told The Sunday Gleaner.

"We are ready to go and Buju is looking forward to his day in court," Markus added.

United States District Judge James Moody Jr last Thursday granted a one-week delay in the start of the trial based on a request by attorneys representing one of Buju's co-defendants, James Mack.

Mack's lawyers had written to the judge seeking more time to prepare his defence.

"The court grants this continuance to allow defendant Mack additional time to prepare for trial. The court finds the ends of justice served by the continuance to allow the defendant more time to prepare outweighs the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial," the judge said in his ruling handed down last Thursday.

This is the fifth change in the scheduled start of a trial for Buju, who has been languishing in custody in Florida since last December when he was arrested on charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine, and aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Buju - whose correct name is Mark Myrie - Mack, and Ian Thomas were held following a sting operation by US law- enforcement officials.

Latest album

Initially, their trial was set to begin on March 3, but due to conflicting reports, the defence moved to start the trial on April 12. The court granted the motion and set the trial to begin on April 19. This was later shifted to June 21, and then to September 13.

The new trial date is just over one week before the scheduled release of Buju's latest album titled Before The Dawn.

The album will contain 10 tracks that comprise some of the more prophetic songs written by Buju since his entry into the music business more than 20 years ago.

The album's unofficial anthem is Innocent.

Source:Jamaica Gleaner]]> Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:31:19 +0000 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2845-bujus-trial-delay/ http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2770-reggaedancehall-dying-in-the-us/ It would seem that the Reggae/Dancehall music fraternity is being hit by one blow after another. Top deejays have lost their US visas and work permits, and Buju Banton, Ninjaman and Flippa Mafia are off the scene — all facing criminal charges.
The big question now is, how will this impact the dancehall community at large. Already, the top annual reggae show in the United States — Irie Jamboree — has cancelled this year's staging.

Irie-Jamboree vice-president Louis Grant told the Sunday Observer that visa cancellations, primarily regarding Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Busy Signal, Mavado, Vybz Kartel, Jah Cure and Sizzla, as well as a few other notables, coupled with the incarceration of top tier acts Buju Banton and Ninjaman, were the primary reasons the decision was taken not to host the show, one of North America's premier reggae festivals.

"Not having access to this cluster of acts to factor into our line-up has adversely impacted us this year. At the very least, this situation is progressively becoming dire and needs to be strategically and properly addressed, via fair and prompt intervention, so that fair and prompt resolution can be achieved post haste," Grant said.
For G City Entertainment promoter Casey Rankine, although many of the major acts are out of commission in the United States market, it is "business as usual".
"It has not greatly affected my plans. The major challenge is the economy -- weak audience turnout and poor ticket sales," Rankine said.

In fact, according to him, the situation has now created an opportunity for other good artistes.
"There are other artistes who have done work for years, or upcoming talents, and this gives them the opportunity to be highlighted, so we are looking forward to working with them," he said.
New York-based publicist Anthony Turner says the unavailability of the aforementioned artistes is not the greatest challenge for promoters in the US right now.
"Even if those artistes were available, it would not be a given that they could have brought in a full house or that the event would have been a guaranteed success," he said.
Like, Rankine, Turner said one of the biggest challenge facing promoters now is the economic recession.

"There are other factors to take into consideration too, such as finding affordable venues and receiving quality sponsorships," Turner shared, adding that unlike events in Jamaica, US sponsors do not give a lot of cash support, so promoters rely heavily on gate receipts.
But while some US promoters are experiencing challenges as it relates to the staging of reggae events, for Eddy Edwards of Riddim Marketing, it's all about having the right packaging. Edwards, who has hosted plays, church festivals and other family-friendly events, says he walked away from "the whole dancehall mix up".

"I lean to cultural and clean lyrics artistes, so as a result, I am not affected by what's going on right now. If you notice, somehow, those are the ones not in trouble," the promoter said.
He admits that the numbers have been down because of the recession, but says because of the nature of his events he has enjoyed enough support to make them viable — that plus the fact that the artistes with whom he has been working are "very reasonable".

However, Irie Jamboree's Grant is not swayed by the argument for cultural productions.
"Our very pervasive culture is so much a part of generations "X" and "Y"'s pop culture, that these kids, primarily of Jamaican and a wider Caribbean descent, will just not allow that to happen," Grant said.

He admits that growth may be stymied for several reasons, the main culprit being the lyrical content of some of the songs. But, he says recent steps by the Broadcasting Commission has helped to address, in a very profound way, guidelines that give "the stamp of approval to songs" which ultimately get played on the airwaves in Jamaica.
Grant believes that this move has helped to shape, and usher in a revolution of greater creativity in writing and consequently, many of the dancehall acts and music producers have made notable adjustments to their art.

"On a personal level, I am particularly happy for this advent, as the songs that get sent to us on a daily basis are better songs, if only by "air play" standards, which ultimately bodes well for the longevity and sustainability of the industry at large," he said.

According to G-City's Rankine, the solution going forward is for dancehall acts to "always keep it professional in terms of management, performance, public appearances, by keeping their artiste fees at a fair market value, and adjusting their attitude towards promoters, without (whom) they would have no shows, remembering at all times that it's a business."

Source:Jamaica Observer]]> Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:56:15 +0000 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2770-reggaedancehall-dying-in-the-us/ http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2769-luciano-claims-innocence/ He Is celebrated and revered for his uplifting musical messages, delivered through songs including Sweep Over My Soul and What We Need Is Love. He was even awarded the Order of Distinction by the Government in 2007.

But earlier this year, reggae star Luciano hit the headlines in a shocking story that brought his reputation into question. Following a shoot-out between a gunman and police officers at Luciano's home in in March, the reggae star was charged with harbouring a fugitive.

The gunman, Andrew Senior, also known as 'Conqueror', shot and injured three police officers in the incident, which eventually ended when he was shot and killed by the police.

Subsequently, Luciano, whose real name is Jepther McClymont, was arrested and charged with harbouring the gunman, an accusation the singer refutes.

"You see what happened ... my gate is always open to Tom, **** and Harry," says 45-year-old Luciano. "But I've learned that that is to my own peril. Out of the kindness of my heart, I open my home to people, but not everyone that comes in has good intentions. That's the situation I found myself in."

He continues: "This was someone I started helping from years ago. He was trying to change his life - he had children. But I got caught up in this situation. This man was wanted [by the police] but he wasn't advertised as a wanted man. So the way that the security forces went about handling this situation was really barbaric.

"They [the Jamaican government] acknowledged me as a man who was worthy of being given the Order of Distinction; a man who has respect in the community.

"So when they learned that I had a wanted man at my place, they should have approached me better than they did, rather than accosting my property the way they did.

"Even an inspector told me that after the case is over, I could sue the authorities for reparation of my house and for the way that they damaged my property and defamed my character. So I know my rights. But for now, I just swing low and take it easy."

He continues: "They [the prosecutors] have nothing on me. My record is clean. They're accusing me of harbouring a fugitive but it wasn't like that. The brother was looking for a safe haven and unfortunately, he came to my property."

Due back in court next month, does Luciano regret opening his home and extending his kindness to so many people?

"When you're seen as a leader, people will always come to you with their problems," he says. "Some people go to pastors - look at [alleged drug lord] Dudus and Reverend Miller.

"That's the thing; people who need help aren't going to go to the government because the government will lock them down. So that's the position that a lot of artistes find themselves in; people come to us for help. But this situation has really opened my eyes. It's nice to be kind but you have to be careful too."

Though Luciano explains he wasn't at his property at the time of the shoot out, did it frighten him to think that he too could have been caught up in the crossfire had he been home?

"Honestly empress, I grew up rugged. I never grew up as no soft, uptown yute". So I'm used to the obstacles that come along life's way. But what did frighten me was that any of my family could have been hurt in this situation. But thanks to the Almighty, they came out scratch free."

Now, with his focus back on his music, Luciano (or Luci, as I found myself calling him, thanks to his endearing character) is excited about the release of his new album, United States of Africa. The album title addresses Luciano's desire to see the various African countries uniting to form 'one Africa'.

"The various leaders in Africa have to recognise this need," he says. "Once the leaders realise that Africa was once a mighty nation, they'll realise that they need to come together as a nation. The so-called leaders of the world are calling for one world order - so why not one Africa? Why should a man from South Africa need a Visa to get into Ethiopia? It's a joke. We can't just turn a blind eye to this, empress."

Well known for his desire to educate and inspire people through his music, Luciano doesn't stray from this way of thinking on his latest offering.

Proclaiming himself a messenger, the star has little time for the more frivolous aspects of reggae's dancehall scene, and so, unsurprisingly, didn't get caught up in the 'Gaza vs Gully' warfare that dominated the dancehall scene last year. (For those not in the know, Gully and Gaza - in short - were two opposing groups in the dancehall scene. Gully is spearheaded by dancehall star Mavado, while Gaza was fronted by fellow deejay Vybz Kartel).

"Ah, it's a joke ting, man," Luciano said of the warfare between the two groups. "I believe all of that is for the yute - just like Christmas. When you're a child, you enjoy Christmas, but when you grow up, you realise that Santa Claus is false!"

So, of course, Luciano has no intention of joining the dancehall bandwagon. Instead, he says he'll continue to spread positive messages through his music.

"Not everyone has gone into this dancehall craziness; talking about Gully and Gaza and all that kind of stuff. There are big people in this world; educated people who have studied and are elevated and know what's important in life. There are plenty of people who still want good, conscious music. So all when me reach 90 years old, me still ah go strike di hammer [laughs]!"

United States of Africa, Luciano's latest album, is now out on VP records.

Source:Jamaica Gleaner]]> Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:48:01 +0000 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2769-luciano-claims-innocence/ http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2552-mavado-being-courted-by-def-jam/ Jamaica Observer - The management team of deejay Mavado is tight-lipped on alleged negotiations with US record label Def Jam.

"If and when negotiations are complete we will make an announcement," stated a source who declined to be named for fear of jeopardising possible negotiations. "We talk to many labels...and as a businessman I cannot comment on that."


The source called the allegations "mere rumours" but at the same time would not deny that Mavado is exploring options for a new label.
Def Jam, ultimately owned by major label Universal Music Group, has greater marketing and reach than Mavado's current independent reggae label VP Records. It would also allow Mavado to maximise his record sales in the US (which is the world's largest music market) as his performance income was hurt following the revocation of his US Visa earlier this year.

Mavado described as the Gully God has a loyal following and the best Billboard chart performance among locally based hardcore deejays. His 2009 album Mr Brooks topped the reggae charts and his 2006 single Weh Dem A Do peaked at 20 on the rap songs chart.

Def Jam artistes include Jay Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross, Nas and others, but has no major reggae artiste under its roster. However the current number one reggae album on Billboard, Distant Relatives by reggae artiste Damian Marley (Tuff Gong) and US rapper Nas (Def Jam) was released jointly on Universal Republic and Def Jam Recordings. Additionally, Elephant Man has released singles under Def Jam UK. The label was founded by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons.]]> Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:12:04 +0000 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2552-mavado-being-courted-by-def-jam/ http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2550-elephant-mans-team-exploring-options-after-taxman-seizes-deejays-benz/ The Star - Attorneys for deejay Elephant Man are still looking into the entertainer's legal options concerning the millions he is said to owe in taxes.

On Tuesday, the colourful deejay made headlines when the Special Enforcement team at the Inland Revenue with assistance from the St Andrew police visited his residence and seized his Mercedes Benz.

As previously reported in THE STAR, the inland revenue department said the operation was aimed at seizing assets to settle million of dollars in unpaid taxes. According to Elephant Man's attorney Roderick Gordon, he was involved in internal meetings with the deejay and his management yesterday, going through all the paperwork and examining their options. Up until then the deejay's team had not been in contact with the tax office.

The Special Enforcement team at the Inland Revenue visited Elephant Man's popular Havendale home on Tuesday where they claimed to have found nothing of value, after which investigations led the team to a house off Hope Road, St Andrew, where a red convertible Mercedes Benz vehicle belonging to the deejay was seized.

Meris Haughton, the director of communications at the tax department, while declining to disclose the exact amount owed by Elephant Man, said his arrears are in the millions. Haughton explained that in cases like these, delinquent taxpayers have ten days to pay off their arrears or the confiscated asset will be auctioned. She said if the proceeds from the auction does not cover the debt, the taxpayer could face criminal or civil charges.

In March, the tax department had placed Elephant Man on a list of 50 high-profile delinquent taxpayers.

Elephant Man is known for songs such as Sweep, This is How We Do It featuring Bounty Killer and is expected to perform tonight at Reggae Sumfest, Dancehall night.]]> Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:01:29 +0000 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2550-elephant-mans-team-exploring-options-after-taxman-seizes-deejays-benz/ http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2525-sugar-minott%e2%80%99s-family-unhappy-with-cemetery/ Jamaica Observerces - RELATIVES of the late Reggae artiste Lincoln ‘Sugar’ Minott, are angry that the cemetery in the Harkers Hall district in St Catherine where the singer is to be buried is not in a satisfactory state.
“The cemetery is in a terrible condition,” Conrad Newland, cousin of the late singer said.
“It is over a year now that the cemetery has not been bushed. And still the parish council is collecting people’s money and not maintaining the place. Then it better we don’t pay.”
Newland, who said only last week he buried his mother at the cemetery, noted the cost to bury in a sepulchre is $15,500 while a vault is $7,500.
“Why you paying you money and they not using that money to maintain the cemetery?” Newland asked. “Right now if you go over there to visit you dead bush reach you at your waist.”
“They need to clean it and close the cemetery gate,” Alyson Newland, Minott’s cousin added.
She explained that when the parish council was approached, they stated that cleaning of cemeteries was being done in phases, and they have not yet gotten to Harkers Hall cemetery.
Minott will be buried in the same cemetery where is father and other relatives had been laid to rest.]]> Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:42:51 +0000 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2525-sugar-minott%e2%80%99s-family-unhappy-with-cemetery/ http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2502-kartel-wants-compensation/ Jamaica Gleaner - Lawyers representing dancehall star Vybz Kartel are heading to court to seek compensation from the State for his detention.

Kartel, whose correct name is Adijah Palmer, spent a little more than two weeks in custody after he was detained under the state of emergency.

But attorney-at-law, Valerie Neita-Robertson, believes the State overstepped its bounds and she wants compensation for the artiste, who was finally released by the police about 7:30 p.m. last Friday.

According to Neita-Robertson, National Security Minister Dwight Nelson had signed an order on Tuesday, July 13, authorising the release of Kartel.

She told The Sunday Gleaner that her client's prolonged detention resulted in him losing several contracts, including a show he was booked to perform in in Nassau, Bahamas, yesterday.

No respect

"They do not respect or regard authority. They have no respect for anybody, and this has to stop," said Neita-Robertson.

"From what was told to me, utterances were made to certain media personnel by police officers that they were not releasing him until today (Saturday). I would draw a conclusion from that they didn't want him to meet this engagement," Neita-Robertson said

She alleged that the detention order which her client was served did not state a reason as to why he was being detained.

The attorney said while the police's interview with Kartel was very cordial, there was no specific offence which the police sought to question him about.

"When an order is given under the law, then the law must have its course. Police cannot just decide that they are not doing what they are supposed to do and we sit back and accept it," an obviously upset Neita-Robertson told The Sunday Gleaner.

"We want to cooperate and want crime to go down, but we will not put up with slackness."

Neita-Robertson charged that Kartel was not the only person who had been kept in police custody after the national security minister signed their release order.

She said several other persons, including women, were being illegally held by the police despite the order for their release.

The attorney said she had also been informed by the national security minister that one of her clients was to be released and placed under house arrest on the recommendation of the Emergency Powers Review Tribunal.

"That was days ago, and it has not been carried out," said Neita-Robertson.

As one of dancehall's hottest acts around now, particularly with his hit Clarkes enjoying heavy rotation, Kartel demands, and is guaranteed, top dollar for each show.

Last week, his publicist, Claude Mills, said due to his incarceration, two shows in the Caribbean were postponed. The shows were scheduled to be held in The Bahamas and Trinidad on July 17 and 24, respectively.

He also missed Tidal Wave, which was held at Waves Beach in Portmore, St Catherine, one week ago, leaving his bank book millions of dollars lighter.]]> Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:02:00 +0000 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2502-kartel-wants-compensation/ http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2481-big-yard-ceo-concerned-over-copyright-breach/ The Star - Some promoters have come in for scathing criticism from Scikron/Big Yard CEO Robert Livingston with regards to their reluctance to seek permission from studios before they use their songs to promote events.

Livingston was speaking exclusively with THE WEEKEND STAR recently, shortly after the unauthorised use of one of the studio's most popular hits was used to promote an event that was held a few weeks ago.

The move by promoters, Livingston said, almost cost him, because at the time, he was negotiating for the song to be used in the campaign for the Smirnoff Dream weekend, set for the Emancipation weekend in late July.

exploiting record

"A lot of promoters and people who are into exploiting record for commercial uses have to now look into now clearing the songs with the copyright's owner because this is what we live for," Livingston explained. "If I have a popular song and you can take it and do what you want with it and you don't help me to promote it in any way because sometimes they use these songs in a commercial and they think they are helping the song, but they're using a popular song. I have never heard them use a song that is not popular."

In this instance, the popular song that was used to promote the event was Richie Loop's My Cupp, a song which has dominated local charts and also doing well in several markets overseas.

"I had a deal that I had done with Smirnoff, and it doesn't look good that I have a deal with Smirnoff and then they just take my song and use it," Livingston said, the anger heavy in his tone.

He said that the use of My Cupp in the commercials jeopardized his agreement with Smirnoff.

"I went to them and said I haven't used the song in any other commercial and after I said that to them, two minutes later there is a commercial running on the radio," he said. "And I am like, where did this come from? They have no authorization to do that."

Repeated efforts to reach the promoters of the event failed.

What has to happen, if the entertainment industry is to be cleaned up, is that the rights of others need to be respected. "Not just on music," he said. "We need to start looking into those things because our market is small and you have people who live directly off their music. I don't want to say my thing is exclusive, whether it's money or I just give you the rights to use it, something has to be done."

Livingston opined that the music industry in Jamaica is becoming more organised and everyone is recognising that players in the industry are losing big on the financial side of the business. "So whatever ways that the music can be used in branding other similar means it's a form of income, so when someone deprives you of that it's taking away a big portion of your income."]]> Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:40:09 +0000 http://www.mediagalaxyzone.com/topic/2481-big-yard-ceo-concerned-over-copyright-breach/