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The reggae and Dancehall live music concert STING has been around for 40 years showcasing the best of Jamaican Reggae talent and showcasing the best of Dancehall artists.

It should have taken place on Boxing Day but due to a number of challenges, it had to be postponed.

A statement read: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to announce that STING has been postponed. We’ll be back bigger and better.”

This is highly embarrassing and questions have to be asked.

Once again local promotors were unable to put on a good Jamaican live music show instead an attempt turned into a calamity. 

Fingers are being pointed at Head of Supreme Production Limited who put on Sting, Isaiah Laing and his shortcomings.

He has said he had to cancel the show at the last minute because ClearSound Production Services who were contracted to take care of the sound and stage for Sting pulled out

Laing said that his company dutifully sent funds to be paid to ClearSound but because of the Christmas period, those agreed sums did not reach ClearSound’s account on time.

The show was due to take place at JamWorld Entertainment Centre in Portmore.

There are those who say that the show could not go on due to a number of issues that highlight the lack of professionalism and an amateurish approach. Perhaps this is a bit unkind.

ClearSound felt compelled to issue a statement giving their side of why they had to pull the rug under STING.

“Our equipment was set up and we were poised to deliver an extraordinary event despite the chaotic circumstances of no parking lights, inadequate security and other glaring logistical challenges,” it read in part.

This suggests that there were a plethora of issues and that not enough thought and preparation was given into delivering a great show.

It is difficult to ascertain whether enough tickets were sold to make it viable. Vybz Kartel is due to deliver his show, Freedom Street on Tuesday night and given the tight economy, many may have opted for this show instead of STING.

With the highly anticipated Freedom Street concert drawing near, should STING have seen to it that it could have big-name stars on its billing to counter Kartel?  The “Gaza” star always posed a threat to STING and this year the show would have to be memorable. 

During the Christmas season, there are plenty of parties and performances all competing with each other. This year alone there is Kartel, Beres and Buju, Milk & Honey, Frenchmen and of course STING. People flock to these events and there is plenty to go around. STING could have held its ground in the face of this onslaught and still triumphed. The key lay in execution and that is where Laing dropped the ball.

Laing should have seen to it that the production element was assured and that ClearSound were comfortable with all arrangements and constant communication was vital here.

ClearSound issued a cease and desist order related to STING 2024 and pulled out its equipment meaning there would be no show.

“Despite assurances and word-of-mouth promises, a total of only J$1 million was received from Mr Laing which was paid in three parts on December 22, and December 23, 2024 but has not been deposited into our designated account. We also received a photo of a purported RTGS transaction for J$6.5 million. However this amount remains outstanding and we have gleaned information suggesting that the J$6.5 million was never sent,” further read the ClearSound statement.

Laing now refutes this but he should have given a guarantee of sorts to make ClearSound comfortable or paid over sums in lieu of the money clearing in the bank. A show of good faith may very have seen the show taking place on Boxing Day.

Running a business is fraught with problems but people will bear with one provided they sense you intend to make things right and are not playing them for a fool. Laing could have asked his bank to get in touch with ClearSound and assure them the funds would be released imminently thus removing the anxiety. 

Perhaps he did.

You can’t have a show without a stage and sound production. It is clear that ClearSound didn’t believe they were going to be paid in accordance with their mutual agreement and so upped sticks leaving a lot of egg on Laing’s face.

Sting has been a mainstay for decades and a showcase for some of the biggest dancehall acts. Beenie Man, Ninja Man, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Lady Saw, Spice, Merciless, Mavado, Super Cat, and the clash between Ninja and Kartel have all graced the Sting stage.

Now some artists are saying that  Laing and others behind Sting do not treat the artists well and that many are short-changed.

Beenie Man said ”I feel Laing made it get out of hand because the artists were disrespected throughout the years and now no one is sorry for Sting. You have to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. You cannot disrespect people and expect when you are down, somebody has to respect you today -No!”

It is imperative that artists are treated respectfully and promotors do right by them. Keep your word and see to it that everyone feels good.

It is said that Laing proclaimed that he didn’t want to work with old artists. This is a mistake. The kings of Dancehall know how to put on a show and have a catalogue of hits. They bring an inbuilt audience with them. There is always a nostalgia factor that highlights the evolution of the genre. There needs to be a show for these performers.

All too often promoters are dictated to by social media It should be the other way around. Being huge on social media doesn’t make you a good performer. The 90’s  Dancehall stars can guarantee fans that span generations.

By now Laing should have his very own stage, sound and production equipment so that his enterprise is not beholden to anybody. He should be able to take Sting regularly to countries outside of Jamaica, thus promoting Jamaican music globally rather like the NFL has started to play games in London. It wants the sport to go international.

One man who has grasped this concept is DownSound Entertainment boss Joe Bogdanovich. He is totally committed to reggae music and Dancehall and has invested heavily in these Jamaican art forms. He has a business background and is also the lead principal of Argyle Investments. He has made a mark in Jamaica, treating artists with respect and encouraging them to be international stars not shine only in Jamaica.

Artists have good things to say about him and back his enterprises. He has transformed Reagge Sumfest and made it the Glastonbury of the Caribbean. It gets better with succeeding years and has high production values. It is able to attract top talent and is extremely well organised.

Bogdanovich is the main producer of Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Street concert which takes place at the National Stadium today. He will no doubt meet the challenge of filling the 50,000 arena and making it the best Dancehall show over the last decade.

This show will be bigger than Sumfest hence more challenges to overcome. You wouldn’t bet on Bogdanovich not surpassing expectations.

In the prelude to the show, Bogdanovich can be found on press junkets with Kartel, he is supervising preparations, he is paying attention to details, he is bringing professionalism to the task at hand.

One can’t help see the irony that while Sting falters, Freedom Street soars. It is not beyond the realms of possibility to make the Vybz Kartel show an annual event at this time every year, thus eviscerating  STING. It has the potential to draw bigger artists and garner more revenues. It’s something for Joe Bogdanovich to think about. 

Senior Advisor & Strategist for the Ministry of Tourism Delano Seiveright says hotels and Airbnb bookings in Kingston are full and the Freedom Street concert is expected to rake in millions through its multiplier effect on the economy.

So why did Vybz Kartel opt for Joe Bogdanovich to produce Freedom Street? 

Bogdanovich responded, “ Vybz said you guys are the best, you get it done. You pay people, you do great production and you are straight.”

This is a ringing endorsement of how to go about things. 

There is a lesson or two, maybe three there for the organisers of Sting.