Ad revenue a must for VCN

Virtue Communications Network (VCN) is one of the stations which have been flourishing with the growth of cable television in the Corporate Area and Portmore.

However, managing director, Anthony James, says that for companies like VCN, who are without access to advertising revenue, survival may be short-lived.

"We need sponsorship desperately if we are to at least break even," James says.

Like the cable service providers, cable stations, including VCN, are not allowed to sell advertising by the Broadcasting Commission. Without advertising revenue, they have to rely totally on sponsorship. But, in a declining economic climate, sponsorship becomes harder to come by.

James, an employee of the Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, formed VCN in July 2000. He said he always had a "keen interest" in video production and television and with local cable stations concentrating on dancehall, he saw the need for some variety.

VCN started covering events like citizens' associations meetings, followed with sporting events mainly in St. Catherine and more recently has been covering the very popular karaoke shows.

It is linked with seven cable companies ­ Jamaica Cable Vision (Spanish Town); Logic One (St. Andrew); Allied (Washington Boulevard); Sauce (east Kingston); Oliver (Portmore); Star Com(Greater Portmore); and JACS (Port-more), where it started last year.

The company has a staff of three ­ James, managing director, Bruce Wallace, assistant production manager and programmer Timika Edwards and operates from James' home in Waterford.

It is on 24/7 on some services and only weekends on others. It features: Rising Achievers, About Young Artistes, Your Health and You and high level coverage of sports in Portmore and Spanish Town.

Farmore Productions' new recruits

New recording/sound system outfit, Farmore Produc-tions, has recruited promising Clarendon deejay Genius and veteran dancehall artiste Dugsy Ranks, as its first label acts.

Genius (Wendell Townsend) is from Four Paths, Clarendon and is rated as one of the most promising new acts in the parish. He has already recorded two songs for the label, Woman You Have It Up and Bussing Out. A video has been produced for Bussing Out and is being rotated on television, in anticipation of the release of his debut singles.

A former student of Denbigh Secondary, Genius says his idol is Louie Culture.

Dugsy Ranks (Romeo Hinds) is a 15-year veteran of dancehall music who has had hits like Wifey on Dave Kelly's 'Pepperseed' rhythm, No Send None Go War (RC-One) and Hot Girls Patrol (Da Spooky).

In fact, Dugsy's link with Farmore came out of his relationship with musician/producer Da Spooky (Gary Jackson), formerly of Shocking Vibes Productions, who heads Farmore's music production unit and is responsible for their debut rhythm, Curel El El.

Dugsy, who hails from Waterford, says he is concentrating on a sophomore album which will include a number of hip-hop tracks.

Beenie's tour info

Beenie Man's current tour hits the American Midwest this week as follows.

Tonight: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Tuesday: Minneapolis, Minn-esota

Wednesday: Kansas City

Thursday: Boulder, Colorado

Saturday: Portland, Oregon

Sunday: Vancouver's Comm-odore Ballroom in Canada.

The tour is playing a double role, as it is also a promotional tool for Tanto Metro and Devonte's new CD, The Beat Goes On (VP).

The first track to be officially released from the album is the Jeremy Harding-produced Give It To Her on the hot Liquid rhythm, expected to be one of the major hits of this winter season.

The promotional programme has included interviews, autograph signing and other promotional appearances, as well as an album release party at the Baja Beach Club in South Florida.

Back in business

Beenie Man's tour has certainly been the highlight of the period with shows being postponed left, right and centre, but things seem to be picking up now.

Rootsman Promotions in St. Vincent is staging Reggae Dancehall Fever at Victoria Park in Kingstown on November ninth, featuring Junior Kelly, General Degree and DJ Delly Ranks.

This is an annual event which also features top St. Vincent acts and will mark Junior Kelly's first trip to the island.

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