The management of Jamaican recording artiste Joby Jay wishes to publicly address the events surrounding her scheduled appearance at Acoustic in the Park on Saturday, March 29, to provide clarity in light of the “unprofessional handling” of her booking and performance arrangements.

The following is from Joby’s management team.

Late Booking & Initial Mismanagement

Joby Jay was officially confirmed for the event on Tuesday, March 26 at 7:33 PM—a mere 3 days prior. The agreed arrangement included transportation, hospitality, and rehearsal with the event’s backing band. However, by Friday, March 28, no rehearsal was scheduled, and the Musical Director disclosed that he had not been informed about Joby Jay and could not accommodate her.

Attempted Resolution

At 12:24 PM on March 28, Joby Jay’s management contacted promoter Carlton Barrows, presenting two options: remove Joby Jay from the lineup, or hire her personal musicians and cover their fee. Mr Barrows confirmed his intent to keep her on the lineup and agreed at 12:33 PM to cover the cost of her musicians. A follow-up email was sent by management outlining expectations.

Show Day Breakdown

The flyer stated a start time of 8:30 PM. However, the show began at 10:00 PM. Joby Jay’s musicians arrived at 10:07 PM, followed shortly by Joby Jay. No communication or hospitality was provided. After inquiry, it was shared that 5 acts were ahead of her.

From 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM, there were no updates, and the artiste and team waited in their vehicles without care or clarity. Upon second approach, Mr Barrows admitted uncertainty, citing he didn’t want to “disrespect” any other acts by adjusting the lineup. By 1:30 AM, other artistes and band members began leaving. Joby Jay’s management informed the promoter that they were also leaving due to the conditions and upcoming engagements.

Post-Event Communications

On March 31 at 10:49 AM, an official email was sent requesting compensation for the musicians. No formal response was received. On April 2 at 11:12 AM, Mr Barrows emailed an apology, taking full responsibility and admitting his team lacked the experience and expertise to manage the event effectively. While management acknowledged the apology, they made it clear that no future involvement would be considered unless serious changes were made. They also reiterated the need for urgent payment to the musicians. Despite a WhatsApp follow-up and promise of payment by next week Friday, the matter remains unresolved.

Next Steps

We wish to make it unequivocally clear: Joby Jay and her management will not be held liable for the compensation of the musicians contracted under this agreement. Failure to resolve this matter will result in legal action to secure the remuneration rightfully owed. We sincerely thank Joby Jay’s team of musicians for their professionalism and patience amidst the chaos. It is deeply unfortunate that their dedication was met with such disregard. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism in all our engagements and continue to advocate for fair treatment and respect for Jamaican talent.