VP Records is excited to announce the launch of an exclusive mix show about reggae and dancehall culture titled “Studio 17.” Featuring popular DJ’s Silent Addy & Yaadcore as hosts, the show will offer a platform for fans to discover and vibe to the latest & hottest music in the culture.

Listeners will also be able to enjoy interviews and guest performances from key tastemakers in the industry. The show’s title “Studio 17” pays homage to the recording studio above 17 North Parade, the record store located in Downtown Kingston, from which VP records originated.

Listen at https://Studio17.lnk.to/Ep001

I-Wayne

Friday, December 15th will see a slew of top-tier reggae / dancehall artists converging in Buff Bay, Portland, Jamaica. This is all in honor of Mr. Portland aka Daryl Vaz’s birthday celebration. Confirmed acts includes: Bounty Killer, Romaine Virgo, Ken Boothe, Bugle, Louie Culture, I-Wayne and that is just to name a few. Musical juggling will be provided by Swatch International and Lil Richie.

It all goes down at the Lynch Park in Buff Bay. Admission is free and all are invited.

As a booking agent, I have been noticing a trend that I think needs to be addressed. A lot of, if not all, Jamaican reggae and dancehall artists seem to be pricing themselves out of the market.

I do bookings for a few events in Europe. Because I know that most reggae/dancehall acts look to that region for work, I always try to seek out Jamaican talent (both established and emerging) to try to get them on my shows. Sadly, their requirements have got so out of hand that I find myself hiring mostly UK and African entertainers.

Reggae and dancehall music is now being produced all over the world. Therefore, the industry is more competitive. Investors and promoters are no longer just looking to Jamaica for these genres. Granted, Jamaica is still considered the home/leader in the reggae/dancehall field, but artists must realize that if their fees and entourage are too burdensome, promoters will look elsewhere.

Expecting a promoter to hire and pay you €2,000 and up, plus fly you, your manager and someone else, when you have no hit and, therefore, cannot bring out the crowd, is ridiculous.

I hope I have not offended anyone with this article, but I am currently in the process of booking for two upcoming events in that territory, and the requests I am getting are so far gone that I had to write this.

Article by Maria Jackson