By Teino Evans, Staff ReporterTHERE HAS been much talk and controversy over whether or not Rising Stars winner Winston 'Cavan' Lewis should have received a million dollars in cash, rather than call credit from event sponsors Digicel as part of his top prize.
However, New Reality Television, producers of Rising Stars, and main sponsors Digicel do not see what all the fuss is about, as they say the million dollars in call credit was not even the main prize.
In a recent release, New Reality Television made it clear that the main prize of the Rising Stars competition was the recording contract and not the one million dollars worth of call credit offered by Digicel.
RECORDING CONTRACT
"The prize of a recording contract was announced at the launch of the talent search and was repeated in the advertising and further communication," Mike Hogan, executive producer of Rising Stars, said.
In addition to the recording contract, Winston 'Cavan' Lewis was also presented with $1million dollars in Digicel FlexCards compliments of Rising Stars' main sponsor, Digicel.
"We are honoured to be associated with the development of Jamaican music through Rising Stars," said David Hall, CEO of Digicel Jamaica. "Our addition of call credit to the main prize of a recording contract is simply a token of our appreciation for Cavan. We wish him all the best with his recording career and we are confident that he will continue to shine," Hall said.
Despite members of the public making an issue of the million dollars in call credit, it can only be counted as secondary to the main prize of the recording contract.
Cavan seems not to be dwelling on the issue, as he has already trying to get his phone cards sold. "Mi still a try get dem deal out," Cavan said.
'NUTT'N NUH GUH SUH'
However, Cavan says in another publication, the report about him selling over $800,000 worth of phone cards or the rumour that Digicel has given him a portion in cash is incorrect.
"Nutt'n nuh guh suh and mi still a try get di cards dem deal out," Cavan said.
Also, in case persons are wondering about the details of Cavan's recording contract, he says he has not had a chance to go through it with his lawyers, but that is all in the plan.
According to the Rising Stars producers, the production arrangement that had been signed between Digicel's Rising Stars and Gee Jam Productions was for three seasons.
ARTISTE DEVELOPMENT
Under the agreement, the winner of Rising Stars and three of the runners-up will undergo a period of artiste development at the company's recording facilities in San San, Portland. This will take place for one month. Cavan's song will be recorded at the facility and produced by Alborosie, Gee Jam's resident in-house producer, and is set for release in Jamaica before Christmas 2004.
