Machel Montano
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
TRINIDADIAN Soca singer Machel Montano will reportedly be paid $100,000 to close out the Music Masters Concert for the upcoming Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, according to a source on the National Festival Commission.
This is reportedly $40,000 more than Baha Men, this country’s Grammy award winning band, will be paid to play at the concert, the source said. The Tribune was told that some Bahamian acts requested larger payouts than the Caribbean singer.
According to the well-placed source, Baha Men requested $200,000 to close out the event while Bahamian singer ‘KB’ requested $150,000 – despite him “never being paid more than $3,000 to perform at any event in The Bahamas”.
The source added: “Baha Men settled at $60,000 to perform during the event, that is what was agreed to initially but then they came back and said they wanted $200,000 to close after it was announced that there would be no headliner. That is twice what Machel is being paid, inclusive of his entourage and expenses.”
Yesterday, the Bahamas National Festival Commission announced the line up for the Music Masters Mega concert in May. Although Machel Montano will close out the Music Masters concert, Commission Chairman Paul Major told The Tribune he is not considered the headliner.
He refused to comment on how much the artists are being paid individually, however he said in total, all of the artists, local and Caribbean, are being paid less than the $1 million that was being offered to international singers, Rihanna and Janet Jackson.
When asked why Machel Montano was chosen to close out the concert, Mr Major said the singer, who has been dubbed the ‘King of Soca’ was selected “because he has both Caribbean and international appeal.”
“We believe he can get not only Bahamians to come out to the event but also people from around the Caribbean and the world. He is a well-known, well-respected artist. He is well known in Toronto and New York and all over and people will come to see him and he is much cheaper, nowhere near the $1 million that was offered to other artists.
“We are still showcasing Bahamian talent and for the record all Bahamian artists were invited to participate, some chose to and some did not but no one was excluded or discriminated against. I also noticed Isaiah’s (referring to Isaiah Taylor of Baha Men) comments, for the record he was offered the closing position, but he wanted twice as much as Machel,” Mr Major said.
According to The Nassau Guardian, Mr Taylor, Baha Men’s founder, said he was left “depressed” by the news and while he respects Machel Montano he feels “insulted”.
Scheduled for performances during the May 7-9 peak of the Junkanoo Carnival season are Bahamian artists Ronnie Butler, Baha Men, Visage, and Julien Believe, the commission said.
Trinidadian artists Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin are also set to perform.
According to the Festival Commission, a top group out of Haiti also will be performing during Junkanoo Carnival.
The government initially budgeted $9m for Junkanoo Carnival.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 9 years ago
Baha Men are Grammy winners. Machel is not. I expect my Bahamian band to be paid the 200 grand they asked for.....
GrassRoot 9 years ago
yes, Bahamian first. right?
asiseeit 9 years ago
Believe in Bahamians, maybe next year a Bahamian can headline.
duppyVAT 9 years ago
Not only Bahamian citizens should boycott this ............. but the Bahamian musicians as well. We have to teach these stupid PLP politicians a lesson this time around.
TalRussell 9 years ago
by TalRussell
proudloudandfnm 9 years ago
KB got boungied. Told him not to trust the PLP....
ohdrap4 9 years ago
serves him well, he flip-flopped
TalRussell 9 years ago
.Comrades, whether a government can continue will be tested by how the natives react to Carnival 2015. All I ask is for the prime minister to please delete and return the Junkanoo name back to the natives. The PLP cabinet have no right to further destroy the good name of Junkanoo. We need a fresh "King's Counsel" Lawyer willing to challenge on behalf of the natives, the right of Carnival 2015 to have incorporated Junkanoo, into their name. Return Junkanoo back to the natives - now.
PLP cabinet ministers, if you want to sink with the Carnival 2015 ship - more power to you baby - but don't take Junkanoo down with you. This is getting to damn personal, for the natives to allow the further unauthorized use of their beloved Junkanoo name. PM you need to tell the person who registered the Junkanoo name, that it was never their name to register and obtain $$profit$$ - off the backs of taxpayers.
Tommy77 9 years ago
That's a lot!!
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GrassRoot 9 years ago
they should have made it 100,000.01 BSD, isn't that the threshold for VAT?
MonkeeDoo 9 years ago
You all is too fool. You think these organizers goin take a chance on any local yocal sharing the pie with them. An you know nothing don't move till it get greased. An even if they did, you know it goin' get out. A dude in Trinidad gone get paid in US Dollars and that don't have to go in any bank here, for anyone to know how it spend. Yinna gettin smart though so that's good.
GrassRoot 9 years ago
Hey!!! I can sing!!!!
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrades the economics just don't make sense but then again, it's Carnival 2015. If as reported the Trinidadian is to be paid $100,000, why would Baha Men still be paid $50,000 - considering this is the same amount they were to be paid, had Janet Jackson or Usher performed for the reported 1. 9 million dollars. I am told the the highest performance fee the Trinidadian has been paid for any performance, is a tops of $10,000. It truly is taxpayers' better in Bahamaland.
Prime Minister just you return the Junkanoo name back to the natives and the natives will leave you to deal with, all the damn Trinidadians, Baha Men's and KB's, your PLP heart wants to deal with. PM you have been served with a "Cease and Desist Order.".an order issued by the natives to stop Carnival 2015, from using da Junkanoo name.
Greentea 9 years ago
Well if you are going to appropriate carnival then you may as well go whole sail! I like Bahamen- they are good. But they do not draw the numbers of Machel Montano. He is an extraordinary performer. A thousand percent more appropriate than Pit Bull- who was rumored to be coming at five times this amount. Make him an honorary Bahamian and "Get sumtin' an wave!" Get sumtin' an wave!"
kkphilli4 9 years ago
The Grammy award song "Who Let the Dogs Out" originated in Trinidad by a calypsonian in the 90s. It was not an original song by Bahamen unfortunately.
I don't believe however, that the name Junkanoo and Carnival should be quoted in the same sentence. Nowhere else in the world can you find our fabulous Junkanoo. Carnival on the other hand is synonymous with Trinidad and they are proud of their culture. We listen to their soca daily on the radio.
Can't we be proud of Rake n' Scrape and our fabulous Junkanoo. We are losing are culture and that defines our identity.
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrade Kkphilli, speak louder, speak louder cuz it's important the PLP cabinet hear from the other side, from all who believe we Junkanoo name is a treasured native trademark, that is too sacred.be mixed up amongst these Trinidadian and Paul Major matters. Did Carnival 2015 really pay out $50,000, to project the Junkanoo name - and if so, to whom is da individual/company? How can 'anyone" have the bullocks to register the trademark name of Junkanoo, an intellectual property that has been "used" for many years in the public domain? Why would you, the government, pay for something already owned by Bahamaland, via its public domain use? Which intellectual property lawyer approved that you the government had to"buy back" something, the damn government already owned? Carnival 2015 might as well start addrssing questions - cuz the facts are all on public accessible records?
BAHAMASJUNKANOO.COM Updated Date: 2014-09-29 Creation Date: 2011-12-19 BAHAMASCARNIVALJUNKANOO.COM Update Date: 2014-08-29 Creation Date: 2014-08-29
positiveinput 9 years ago
I was listening to 94.9fm today and during the session promoting the Junkanoo Carnival, the intro of a soca song stated, "Trinadad - Nassau Carnival. I was like wtf. For sure they wouldn't get a dollar out of my pocket. Day after day this Carnival bull is a slap in the Bahamian artist face. I hope these foreign artist could vote come next election.
RTStorm 9 years ago
More soca artists may have been signed and are on the way. LOL. . . . . I hope ALL can vote!!!! Perry dem will have to scrape the bottom of the barrel for votes come 2017.
Baha10 9 years ago
Never heard of the Guy, but looks like our internationally "unreknowned" Entertainers thought they could blackmail the Government into paying them over the top money to perform, when they should be eager and willing to support our Country in promoting an exciting new touristic product, so hats off to the Government and the Commission for protecting our tax dollars.
ohdrap4 9 years ago
he is the trinidadian michael jackson
lookup youtube as 'too young to soca' he was 9 years old and it is a cute video in the school yard.
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrade Ohdrap4 it does appears likes you's is starting the April Fools' Day jokes a few hours early. But if not, it is a clear reminder of how Carnival 2015 runs under Ministers Obadiah & Danny, along with Paul Major. A timely reminder that despite the rest of the country having a very distinct revulsion for anything connected with Carnival 2015 - them fellows over at Carnival 2015, they in they heads are hearing totally different voices. But they hold the power of government and don't give a good damn about how they are hell bent on ignoring the emotional attachment the natives have formed over many years for they Junkanoo. Just the excruciating emotional alone is too much natives to bear. Comrade this has become much too emotional, too personal for the natives to bear - in fact I cry as I collect me thoughts. A people who have been accused of just not understanding Bahamaland's culture. You can do what you want with your Carnival 2015 and Trinidadian featured act. Just go tell Obadiah, Danny and Paul to tell their "Trinny Michael Jackson," go ahead and take the taxpayers100,000 thousand dollars but to keep his damn hands of we Junkanoo name. Tears of disappointment still flowing down me cheeks that done turn all red.
Amen!!
jackbnimble 9 years ago
In my mind this was always about replicating the Trinidadian carnival. The PM said as much as he seemed to envy the Trinidadians' ability to draw an international crowd annually with their carnival and wanted to do it here. Watch the youtube video promoting it. A bunch of Trinidadians promoting "we" carnival.
This whole thing has been a mess from the start. Frankly, I am not shocked at this. It was never about our culture. I was always just about replicating Trinidad.
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