Head of the Solid Agency Management Company Sharon Burke, has defended her artistes, Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel, as well as her actions at the recently held Caribbean Reggae Fest concert in Miami, Florida.
The promoters blame Sharon Burke, the head of the Solid Agency record label, Baby Cham, and the Ruff Kut Band.
According to reports out of Miami, the show, held at the Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami last Sunday, went well. Despite a smaller crowd than last year's estimated 35,000, the show had everything flowing smoothly except for the time factor.
Late start
The show was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and end precisely at midnight, but it reportedly kicked off three to four hours later, leaving the big dancehall names at the end of the show with little time to perform.
With 50 minutes to go, Capleton, Sizzla and Beenie Man had reportedly not yet performed. Capleton reportedly commanded twenty out of that 50 minutes, while Beenie Man and Sizzla reportedly used 15 each.
A representative of Anchor/Minott Promotions, the persons behind the event, laid it all out in a recent local radio interview. He blasted Burke, Cham, and the Ruff Kut Band, and accused them of being the main reasons that the show ran out of time.
He claimed that the Ruff Kut Band was three hours late for unknown reasons and that delayed the show. His other troubles he said came because Sharon Burke demanded too much money for Vybz Kartel's performance and demanded it before he worked, while Baby Cham demanded his fee before working as well.
Neither Staff nor Cham could be reached for comment up to yesterday, but Burke defended her actions.
Did not like set-up
When contacted, she told THE STAR that she did not like the set-up of the show, and the agreed procedure for payment of her artistes Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel was not followed.
"As an example, on Bounty Killer's contract it reads that he is to be paid no less than one hour before the show at the hotel, that never happened," she noted.
"In every contract we have ever done, I don't want to be exposed a certain way. I don't want to be exposed with collecting money at the venue. I am a woman and this is dangerous to do. It presents a situation I don't like."
With regard to the reported high fee charged for Kartel, Burke explained that it was what they agreed on before. "I put my price to you as his manager and if you choose to pay it you do if you agree. If you don't agree don't contract him to work," she noted. "He advertised Kartel without a contract or without a deposit, we got the deposit only two weeks before the event. I think from the beginning we should have known."
In terms of next year, Burke was just as doubtful as the promoters about her involvement. "This was my first one and it is my last so it doesn't matter to me. It is not my fault that the turnout was less than expected."
