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Music industry players fear looming monopoly
Yasmine Peru
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Producers, managers and artistes in the reggae music industry have expressed shock and distress at the recent release by VP Records that they have made an offer to buy out competing record company, Greensleeves.
When contacted by the Observer, a number of them were caught off guard, as it was the first they were hearing the news (See release on pg 21) and said they "needed to really formulate a response". The initial responses, however, were mostly the same lament, "So VP have the monopoly, now."
One artiste manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had heard the rumour about six months ago and "had suggested to somebody" that they make contact with another company which would be equally interested in acquiring Greensleeves. "This monopoly thing can't work," he emphasised.
A number of local artistes had been signed to Greensleeves, but the word is that they contracts had expired. Efforts to reach two such artistes, Vybz Cartel and Macka Diamond proved futile.
VP representative in Jamaica, Yolande Zanders, was unable to give any further comment, as she said that the principals of the company were at Midem, France, at the annual music expo and would not return to their New York base until next week, "at which time they will issue a comment."
It was in March 2006 that Zest Group PLC, acquired the entire share capital of independent reggae record label and music publisher Greensleeves Records for £3.25m in cash and shares. This acquisition made the Zest Group, one of the largest independent reggae publishers and record labels in Europe.
Greensleeves is based in Isleworth, Middlesex, and has a promotions office in New York. The company has an established presence in a number of the specialist reggae markets throughout the world and, in particular, the UK, the USA, Japan, France, Germany, Benelux, Canada and Scandinavia.
Greensleeves was founded in 1975 and the Greensleeves record label was launched in 1977. For over 27 years it has been one of the companies at the forefront of the constantly evolving reggae genre of music. Initially 'roots' reggae was its main focus, with artistes such as Dr Alimantado and Augustus Pablo being closely associated with the label. In the early 1980s Greensleeves launched the first record of 'digital' reggae emanating from Jamaica, Wayne Smith's Under Me Sleng Teng, and released many digital recordings over the following years including Gregory Isaacs' Rumours.
Greensleeves has a comprehensive reggae back catalogue - 400 albums and 900 singles - from the 1980s onwards.
Yasmine Peru
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Producers, managers and artistes in the reggae music industry have expressed shock and distress at the recent release by VP Records that they have made an offer to buy out competing record company, Greensleeves.
When contacted by the Observer, a number of them were caught off guard, as it was the first they were hearing the news (See release on pg 21) and said they "needed to really formulate a response". The initial responses, however, were mostly the same lament, "So VP have the monopoly, now."
One artiste manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had heard the rumour about six months ago and "had suggested to somebody" that they make contact with another company which would be equally interested in acquiring Greensleeves. "This monopoly thing can't work," he emphasised.
A number of local artistes had been signed to Greensleeves, but the word is that they contracts had expired. Efforts to reach two such artistes, Vybz Cartel and Macka Diamond proved futile.
VP representative in Jamaica, Yolande Zanders, was unable to give any further comment, as she said that the principals of the company were at Midem, France, at the annual music expo and would not return to their New York base until next week, "at which time they will issue a comment."
It was in March 2006 that Zest Group PLC, acquired the entire share capital of independent reggae record label and music publisher Greensleeves Records for £3.25m in cash and shares. This acquisition made the Zest Group, one of the largest independent reggae publishers and record labels in Europe.
Greensleeves is based in Isleworth, Middlesex, and has a promotions office in New York. The company has an established presence in a number of the specialist reggae markets throughout the world and, in particular, the UK, the USA, Japan, France, Germany, Benelux, Canada and Scandinavia.
Greensleeves was founded in 1975 and the Greensleeves record label was launched in 1977. For over 27 years it has been one of the companies at the forefront of the constantly evolving reggae genre of music. Initially 'roots' reggae was its main focus, with artistes such as Dr Alimantado and Augustus Pablo being closely associated with the label. In the early 1980s Greensleeves launched the first record of 'digital' reggae emanating from Jamaica, Wayne Smith's Under Me Sleng Teng, and released many digital recordings over the following years including Gregory Isaacs' Rumours.
Greensleeves has a comprehensive reggae back catalogue - 400 albums and 900 singles - from the 1980s onwards.
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