‘VOLCANO’
Continued from Page 30
Caribbean L 30 ife, JAN. 28-FEB. 3, 2022
gae and soca music said.
“Our directors and advisors
have decided to advance it to
May 7, 2023.”
The Chicago-based promoter
said “Right now, in Jamaica, the
virus is not looking any better so
we saw it best to postpone until
2023.”
During a virtual press conference
from his Illinois headquarters,
Martin explained “This
event usually attracts a number
of overseas guests and we want
to make sure that it is safe for
everyone to enjoy. We want to
make sure that travelling is safe
and that there is no chance of
contracting the virus.”
The National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences
also informed their global,
Grammy Awards audiences that
the Jan. 31 presentation would
not be held.
“After careful consideration
and analysis with city and
state officials, health and safety
experts, the artist community
and our many partners, the
Recording Academy and CBS
have postponed the 64th Annual
Grammy Awards Show.”
Disappointed nominees were
forced to the decision that “the
health and safety of those in
our music community, the live
audience, and the hundreds of
people who work tirelessly to
produce our show remains our
top priority.”
The brief announcement
detailed the primary reason for
the postponement was reached
“given the uncertainty surrounding
the Omicron variant.”
“Holding the show on January
31 simply contains too many
risks,” a press release stated.
Since making the initial
announcement, declining infection
rates in some regions of
the country, enabled NARAS to
decide April 3 an appropriate
date for celebration of last year’s
biggest achievers in music.
According to reports the
music industry has been heavily
impacted by the national
surge in casualties of the Omicron
variant. Described as more
infectious than the deadly delta
variant that forced a global shutdown
in 2020, the milder mutation
has all but crippled live performances
because of its ability
to easily infect and spread.
Reportedly, the variant
accounts for 90 percent of new
infections in New York, Southeast,
Midwest and Pacific south
west.
Live music makes up more
than 50 percent of total revenues
and is derived mainly from sales
of tickets to live performances.
With a reduction in tourists,
Broadway has also been impacted
by the variant. Live presentations
already affected include
“MJ The Musical,” “Moulin
Rouge,” “The Lion King,” “Mrs.
Doubtfire,” “Harry Potter and
the Cursed Child, “Tina,” “Ain’t
Too Proud,” “Hamilton” and
“Aladdin.”
Until the Omicron variant
loosens its grip on the nation,
the entertainment industry will
continue to pause some of the
major events annually staged
here, overseas and throughout
the world.
the party starts, and beautiful
women begin to fill the joint,”
Driven said. “Crooners Konshens
and Kemar are depicted
romancing the gorgeous
ladies. At first, I’’s dancing,
then there’s kissing, and by
the end, there is a harem-like
boudoir sequence.
“Amassing nearly a quarter
of a million views in just
two weeks’ time, “Volcano”
is a fantastic follow-up to the
release of Konshens’ highly
anticipated album Red Reign,”
she added. “The 18-track
project dropped in late 2021,
and he reiterates has no plans
of slowing down.”
Driven said Konshens’ previous
hits, “Bruk Off” and
“Turn Me On”, became “hugely
popular, elevated the artist
to new levels, and brought
attention to the genre globally.”
He recently received a warm
reception, when he arrived in
Kenya to perform at a new
year’s celebration in Nairobi,
Driven said.
She said Kemar Highcon
also performed at the aforementioned
grand event,
marking his first time being
on stage there.
In 2018, Driven said Kemar
made waves with “So Saucy,”
which became a summer
anthem and helped put him
on the map.
“The formidable pair
is quite a powerhouse, and
‘Volcano’ is nothing short of
fuego, with a fiery feel down
to the finish,” Driven said.
Continued from Page 29
sulting services, Playbook MG
said in a statement on Tuesday
that it specializes in branding,
public relations, media strategy
and digital marketing.
Haitian-born co-founder
Marie Driven and Jean Jones
said they have continued to
expand virtual assistance
in the age of COVID-19 and
remain “flexible with the everchanging
landscape of working,
living, surviving, and
thriving while in the throes of
a pandemic. “
“The Brooklyn-based firm
has been steadily grinding, is
now listed with Dun & Bradstreet,
and recently up sized
their Industry City office to
accommodate their growing
company,” Sarah Freiseis,
Playbook MG, special projects
manager, told Caribbean Life.
The Brooklyn Award Program
was established to recognize
the best of local businesses
in the community.
Awards are given to those
companies that have shown
the ability to use their best
practices and implemented
programs to generate competitive
advantages and long-term
value.
“These are local companies
that enhance the positive image
of small businesses through
service to their customers and
community involvement,” Freiseis
said. “The overarching
mission is to identify the small
business community’s contributions
to the US economy.”
Konshens (left) joins Kemar Highcon in “Volcano.” Nick
Playbook MG Music
Continued from Page 29
Haitian-American publicity guru, Marie Driven. PlaybookMG/
Marie Driven