Irie TV & Irie-TV.com Respond To Scandalous Trademark Infringement Accusations

New York: Irie TV and Irie-TV.com are the registered trademark and domain name of Irie Jam Media, a New York based media group that has been in operation for over 15 years. We started from humble beginnings in 1993 as a radio outfit, doing a one-hour weekly radio simulcast in the tri-state area with our then Jamaican media partners Irie FM of Grove Broadcasting Corporation Limited. Our working relationship with Irie FM/Grove continued unabated for 4 years until it was mutually agreed to terminate the agreement.  Irie Jam Radio has since expanded our operations. Today we are full-fledged media entity that includes registered companies Irie Jam Media; radio (Irie Jam Radio), Internet (iriejamradio.com, Iriejammedia.com, Iriejamboree.com, irie-tv.com); TV (Irie TV); record company (Irie Records) and concert promoters (Irie Jamboree) - North America's premier reggae festival.

To set the record straight, Irie TV is a registered trademark in the USA and has been so since 2003 when we registered the name and started broadcasting on Cable Vision. We took a hiatus to restructure our operations and are now getting set to launch the first 24-hr Caribbean IPTV network that will broadcast content to Caribbean nationals living in the Diaspora. Late last year we became aware, through a letter from Irie FM/Grove Broadcasting Corporation Limited that our intention to launch and operate Irie TV would constitute an infringement of their absolute right to use the Irie trademark and all common law representations thereof. We directed the letter to our attorneys and communicated to Grove Broadcasting Corporation Limited that our attorneys would act appropriately.

We were therefore shocked and appalled that Irie FM/Grove would have gone public with a false and unsubstantiated statement that can and has caused irreparable damage to the integrity of Irie TV/Irie Jam Media, which has operated with impeccable credibility for almost two decades.  We take the actions of Irie FM/Grove Broadcasting Corporation very seriously, as we feel their actions were fundamentally scandalous, reckless and malicious, orchestrated to cause damage and to malign our wholesome reputation in the industry.  Our lawyers are currently investigating the matter and will take the necessary legal action to protect our interests. They will respond to Irie FM/Grove Broadcasting Corporation through the appropriate legal channels.

Yours truly; Robert 'Bobby' Clarke, CEO, Irie Jam Media, Irie TV

VP Records To Buy Greensleeves Records?

It is being reported that VP Records, the world's leading reggae record company, announced on Monday, January 28th that it has made an offer to purchase Greensleeves Records & Publishing from Zest Group plc, subject to the approval of Zest's shareholders. VP Records would inherit a catalogue comprising some of the most notable albums of the genre, from Elephant Man to Yellowman and hit songs recorded by such acts as Rihanna, Sean Paul and Shaggy.  Chris Chin and Randy Chin, respectively Chief Executive Officer and President of VP Records, further added: "Although Greensleeves has historically been our competitor, we have always had the utmost respect for what Greensleeves stood for. The label and its founders had a long-term commitment to Reggae music, and no one is better positioned than VP Records to understand the need to respect this legacy. We will ensure that Greensleeves remains alive as a brand synonymous with excellence in Reggae and Dancehall music."  Olivier Chastan, Vice President of VP Records, concluded: "The addition of Greensleeves to our catalogue will ensure that the genre remains an important category in music. I am incredibly excited about the addition of classic works such as Wayne Smith's Sleng Teng and Yellowman's Mr Yellowman.  "Greensleeves Publishing is just as rich with a large catalogue that includes major recent hits like Sean Paul's Like Glue and Wayne Wonder's Bounce Along, both written by Steven 'Lenkey' Mardsen and Donovan Bennett's Pon De River, Pon De Bank written for Elephant Man among other compositions. Moreover, Greensleeves' unique English roots will allow VP Records to consolidate its presence in Europe."  Steve Weltman, Zest's Chief Executive, commented: "The combination of Greensleeves and VP Records will ensure the future of Reggae music around the world. VP Records is committed to preserving the legacy of the Greensleeves label that was begun by its founders Chris Sedgwick & Chris Cracknell in 1977."  VP Records is the world's leading reggae record label and home to global superstars such as Beres Hammond, Sean Paul, Morgan Heritage, Elephant Man, and others. VP Records is also the fastest-growing music publisher in the reggae and dancehall music genres.

New Documentary ' Reggae Uncensored'

A riveting new documentary that examines the underbelly of the reggae culture internationally with shocking footage and brutally frank interviews is scheduled for release in the American market during Reggae month, on Tuesday February 26, 2008.  Appropriately named Reggae Uncensored, the footage showcases key elements of Reggae and its sub-culture in a candid way with sustained images of sizzling performances strung together with generous portions of drugs, sex and the inevitable passa passa.  The DVD gives an inside look at what's really going on in the world of reggae music. It takes the viewer on the road, back stage, behind the hallowed closed doors and beyond the eye of mainstream media to document the real truths.  The first of several episodes features today's brightest and biggest stars: Damian Marley, Sean Paul, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Sizzla Kalonji, Ninja Man and Junior Reid. The documentary also features the contemporary crop of hit makers - Mavado, Collie Budzz, Ding Dong, Aidonia, Macka Diamond and Empire Isis to name a few.  This groundbreaking DVD title is broken down in chapters very much like a storybook. Some of the chapters are called 'The Return of Ninja Man,' 'Irie Jamboree,' 'Ravers Clavers,' 'Shopping with Macka Diamond,' 'Labor Day on the Parkway,' 'The Rise And Fall of a Jamaican Don' and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley. In defining his role in the reggae music business with host Chyna, Marley commented, "We are in a position where we can help and be a voice others who really do not have a voice for themselves."  Reggae Uncensored is 90 minutes long with English subtitles to support the Jamaican Creole. Other parts of the series are to follow. The documentary was produced by Nutz Films (New York City) in collaboration with Chyna Doll Productions and is being distributed worldwide by Gold Dust Media.  "We feel extremely proud of the world class quality and professionalism of this exciting new product, and we feel this DVD will continue to push our music to new levels of understanding and acceptance globally," remarked Ray Stewart, executive producer of Reggae Uncensored.
 

The American Foundation For The University Of The West Indies (AFUWI) Pays Tribute To Digicel Founder and Chairman Denis O'Brien

The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) has paid tribute to the contribution to Caribbean life made by Digicel, the region's largest mobile telecommunications operator.  Digicel Founder and Chairman Denis O'Brien was awarded the AFUWI Corporate Leadership Award at the 11th annual AFUWI benefit gala which took place on Monday night (January 28th) in New York City.   Denis O'Brien accepted the award on behalf of Digicel's 4,000 employees region wide adding that: "Our phenomenal success over the past seven years is due to the many talented and committed Caribbean individuals who have built Digicel. I am proud to call Digicel a Caribbean home grown multinational company".   He also added that each of Digicel's staff members have been granted share options in the business to ensure that they share further in its success.  Digicel is now setting up sister operations in the South Pacific and O'Brien explained to the gala audience that he has brought many of his Caribbean managers to the Pacific to help build and run operations there. He spoke of Jamaican Tanya Menzies, who started as a customer care agent with Digicel Jamaica seven years ago and has recently been appointed as CEO of Digicel Tonga in the Pacific. O'Brien encouraged members from the corporate American community and Caribbean Diaspora community present at the benefit gala to invest in the Caribbean adding that there has never been a better time to develop businesses in the region. Founded in Jamaica in 2001, Digicel now operates in 23 markets with more than six million customers. The company is responsible for making mobile telecommunications accessible for the first time ever to many communities across the region by lowering rates, offering nationwide coverage and 24/7 customer care.   The Digicel founder congratulated the University of the West Indies on their 60th Anniversary and commended the role the UWI has played in unlocking the potential of the region.

Akon & Alicia Keyes To Be Honored For Support Of Reggae

In Jamaica, at the fourth staging of the Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards, (EME) two international super stars, Akon and Alicia Keys will be honored for the continued support of reggae music.  Among the 25 categories in the EME Awards is one called International Friends of Reggae, and the organizers have announced that Akon and Keys have been selected as this year's recipients. The event takes place at The Gardens of the Pegasus on Thursday, February 7.  Senegalese hip-hop mastermind Akon is very popular in the dancehall and has a large fan base on the Island. He has visited Jamaica on several occasions where he has interacted with artistes and got intimate with the music. Akon recently completed a collaboration with Shaggy, What's Love, a single that fuses Shaggy's macho hardcore deejaying with Akon's flowing R&B hooks. Female artiste Tami Chynn was recently in Atlanta working on her upcoming album with Akon, who is reportedly producing some of the tracks. Interestingly, the two were spotted together last November at the American Music Awards (AMA).  In one single night, Alicia Keys arguably did more for reggae than a lot of people have taken years to do. At the AMAs, keys called on stage Junior Reid, Chakademus and Pliers and Beenie Man to perform with her live in front of millions of people. It was an awesome, electrifying performance that is still talked about today.  According to the organizers, plans are underway to have Akon come in person to accept this honor award.