SO you want to "bus" an artiste? Make him top the charts which will ensure he gets overseas tours, bringing home big money. Then you need to have a fat bank account, the right song and an artiste with at least some talent.
If not, chances are, you could be gambling with your cash. That's what a number of managers feel.
Patrick Roberts, head of Shocking Vibes Production Limited feels while some managers are lucky to spend only a couple thousand to "bus" an artiste, others could find they are spending millions to do the same job.
Admitting there was no price tag in this business, Roberts explained that, "Some managers spend hundreds, some thousands, others millions, to turn an artiste into a star."
Referring to Beenie Man, Mr. Roberts said, "A good amount of resources was spent on Beenie Man." But, Roberts refused to give a figure. "Beenie Man spent 15 trying years before he had a number one song, he got his real bus' in 1993-94."
Manager and record producer Lloyd "Chemist" Roberts who manages Anthony Cruz, quotes a figure of more than $200,000 to manage an artiste with his first song. This will be spent mainly on recording and promotion. It may cost much more if the artiste is not talented, he said.
Chemist explained that some managers who promote their artistes worldwide may spend up to a million dollars, like Chris Blackwell did for Bob Marley.
Ralston Barrett who once managed Serial Kid said no two managers would spend the same amount of money in "bus'ing" an artiste. He said he had spent at least $500,000 on Serial Kid. "This includes producing, promoting and grooming. "I don't believe in just promoting a song, I believe in also promoting an artiste."
And, how does Computer Paul, one-time manager of Tanya Stephens feel about the subject? "I would say half a million is needed to promote an artiste to make him or her marketable. And, this would mean the artiste has some degree of talent. But, some artiste bus' without much money, like an artiste who jumps on the right rhythm, with the right song and get the right promotion."
Bankelous, the manager of Madd Anju says it makes little sense spending money if the artiste does not have talent. "You will have your money, the artiste has a lot of lyrics and still yet he cannot bus. A manager also needs to have contacts. Everyone has to play a role, including the media", he said.
