Newsmaker: Shock as Sting 2024 ‘postponed’ over ‘payment issues’

This week's featured development as Newsmaker of the Week is the range of reactions to the postponement of Sting 2024, Jamaica's iconic Boxing Day reggae and dancehall concert.

It was a shocking turn of events for many persons, as the show was cancelled just hours before it was set to take place at Jamworld Entertainment Centre in Portmore, St Catherine on Boxing Day.

Even a man who did not see the news on social media was left stunned when he arrived to see an empty venue. According to media reports, he travelled all the way from Montego Bay in St James.

A post from Sting's official Instagram page on Thursday said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to announce that Sting has been postponed. We'll be back bigger and better!"

For more than four decades, Sting has been a cornerstone of Jamaica’s entertainment calendar, drawing fans from around the globe.

This year’s postponement came amid reports of payment disputes between the event organisers and the production company that was contracted for stage and sound services.

In the latest development, Entertainment Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange expressed regret at the postponement of the show.

In a statement on Friday, Grange said the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport had worked closely with Sting's promoters to resolve the challenges. She said this included high-level meetings to provide guidance on logistics and brand promotion.

Isaiah Laing and Entertainment Minister, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange.

She said the ministry also supported the event by providing the venue and assistance for the Sting launch, along with otherwise facilitating its hosting at Jamworld Entertainment Centre in Portmore, St Catherine.

“I have also publicly endorsed the show in furtherance of our commitment to the industry,” Grange stated. “In addition, my ministry had earmarked sponsorship support to defray some of the event’s expenses.”

Isaiah Laing, head of Supreme Promotions Limited and Sting's long-time lead organiser, expressed disappointment in a release on Thursday, describing the ripple effects the postponement would have on Jamaica's economy and music industry.

“Hundreds of vendors and concessionaires have invested their money and wanted to recoup during the show. Dozens of artistes have rehearsed and are waiting for their chance to shine, and thousands of patrons will be disappointed,” said Laing.

“But this is beyond my control," he declared while assuring that Sting will return bigger and better.

Clearsound Production Services Group was contracted to provide stage and sound services for Sting 2024.

According to Laing, a deposit of $1 million was initially paid to Clearsound, and an additional $6.5 million was transferred via bank deposit last week. He said the public holidays delayed the transfer, leading to a breach of payment policies and the production company’s withdrawal of its services.

But in a statement on Thursday, Clearsound Production Services Group fired back at Laing's comments, and clarified its decision to withdraw its services from Sting 2024.

"We believe it is important to respond to these allegations, which may be deemed as 'prima facie defamatory', released in the public domain, even though responding in this manner is against our professional standards," Clearsound stated.

According to the company, its decision to pull out of the event was due to a breach of contract by Supreme Promotions, specifically the failure to honour a required down payment of $8 million.

Clearsound claimed that despite assurances from Laing, only $1 million was received in three instalments, with the remaining $7 million being promised but not received up to December 26.

"We also received a photo of a purported RTGS transaction for $6.5 million. However, this amount remains outstanding, and we have gleaned information suggesting that the $6.5 million was never sent," Clearsound stated on Thursday.

The company said its decision to mobilise without the full agreed payment was an exception to its standard operating policies. However, the lack of confirmed funds and the absence of critical vendors, such as relative to security personnel and fencing, made it impossible to proceed with the event.

Clearsound accused the promoters of abandoning the facility without arranging for security, forcing the company to secure its equipment at its own expense.

Despite the challenges, Clearsound claimed that its team had completed 95 per cent of the required infrastructure work as per the contract, and remained on location until the receipt of communication of the cancellation from the promoter.

The company expressed its regret at the postponement of Sting 2024 and its impact on the loyal show patrons.

"Our belief in the vision of Sting was unwavering, and we made every effort to support it until the very end. However, we were left feeling abandoned, unsupported, thwarted, and deceived in our endeavours," Clearsound said.

This year’s Sting, branded as ‘Sting Live’, had more than 30 artistes slated to perform, including reggae and dancehall stars Tommy Lee Sparta, Gyptian, Laden and Quada.

Dancehall deejay Tommy Lee Sparta was slated to headline Sting 2024.

Social media personalities like TikToker Pops YG were also expected to make appearances, with Rosalee and Blinga hosting Sting’s TikTok live sessions.

The postponement of Sting has resulted in several reactions, including from dancehall star Vybz Kartel, who will be staging his much-anticipated Freedom Street Concert on New Year's Eve.

In a television interview, Kartel recognised that several artistes, including himself, emerged from Sting.

He described the postponement of the concert as "unfortunate", adding that it was "sad" for the music industry and the fans of dancehall.

In weighing in on some critics who argued that his own Freedom Street concert should not have been scheduled so close to the fixed date of Sting, Kartel pointed to several other popular entertainment events that are being held around the same period of time.

Vybz Kartel 

"It's the festive season... Kartel couldn't do nothing 'bout Sting and Sting couldn't do nothing 'bout Kartel," he posited.

Meanwhile, social media users weighed in on the news of Sting's postponement.

"Sting has not been the same for a long time now, and it's okay to revamp and come again," a male Instagram user wrote.

"From Kartel announce his show, Sting should a just put off, regroup and come back better next year. Guess they learnt the hard way," said a female Instagrammer.

"It's no surprise. The people have already spoken: they're going to Freedom Street," another woman said.

On Facebook, a man pointed to other stage shows and concerts going up against Sting 2024.

"This (the postponement of Sting) was going to happen. It’s not just about the people for staging and sound, but other elements that were playing against them (Sting), like Kartel show and Agent Sasco (show), etcetera," the man opined.

"Sting just doesn’t have the pull it use to anymore," he further wrote.

Commented another man: "For a production company or an events equipment supplier to cancel or refuse to show up is always because of the planner not honouring the contract with the money before set up; no pay, no play is the industry mantra."

A woman said she did not agree with persons bashing the organiser of Sting.

"Everyone has their day, and no one should be bashing (Isaiah) Laing. Financial troubles come and go. Bigger and better Sting we say," she wrote.

Added a man on that point: "Agreed! Laing buss nuff deejay, so we can't a mek fun of a man downfall! Sting just need to come again, revamp and it will gwaan again."