According to his website, Ephraim M. Martin, entrepreneur, publisher and TV personality, is the Founder and Chairman of four prestigious annual events. He brought one of them to T&T this weekend – The International Reggae & World Music Awards – and what a farce.
Back on his website: “The mission of the International Reggae & World Music Awards(IRAWMA), established in 1982 acknowledges and honors the accomplishments and contributions of reggae and world music artists, including: songwriters, performers, promoters and musicians. Produced by Martin’s International & Associates, the IRAWMA has been staged in many major cities including: Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New Orleans, New York, as well as both Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The impetus behind the IRAWMA is it’s commitment to promoting greater participation and acceptance of Reggae, Caribbean and World Music, internationally.”
Sounds noble, eh? After all who can not admire someone trying to promote our “greater participation and acceptance”. Award shows are win win win. The promoter (Mr Martin in this case) gets to upgrade his Lexus. The artistes get attention and lots of press, which they love. And the press get celebrity raw material to fill their papers and newscasts (especially on a long weekend, that’s manna from heaven for a news editor.) Win win win. (even sponsors win aligning their brands to celeb moments)
Except there is one more group to impress. The fans. This event never connected with T&T fans because they saw nothing in it for them. One good thing came out of the IRAWMA. We discovered an artist who is “the most improved”. His name is Iwer George.
30 May, 2011, 9:03 pm
Here’s a comment from one fan (on the IRAWMA FB page) who showed up for a IRAWMA Concert, the night after the awards. Looks like this whole event was a bigger farce than I imagined, dr
Something
went really wrong with the concert which was carded for 29th and I
would like Mr. Ephraim Martin to clarify for me exactly wat went on with
his company and the way in which they promoted this event. None of the
advertised acts showed up an therefore leaving patrons with no other
option than to leave the venue, neither with an
apology or a mention of a refund of our money. It was the most
disgusting show that I have experienced in my life and I honestly would
not b attending any event to which Martin International &
Associate LLC is promoting. And it is high time that you foreigners stop
coming to Trinidad and Tobago and literally thiefing money from our
citizens pocket.
31 May, 2011, 7:43 pm
Are you kidding- this was a red-carpet event where the fans GOT to dress up in their fancy red-carpet garb- How dear you imply they got nothing? Are we not third world? We should be oh so grateful…..