In order to do anything great you have to have a wide base.

Now, that is one truth that cannot be disputed however the real trick it seems is acquiring that base in order build something worthwhile. Pyramid Entertainment Management Inc is one company which has used this method with great success. Started in 2003 by Santia Bradshaw and Jerome Hamilton, Pyramid specializes in artiste management and bookings for artistes from various genres which include soca, reggae and alternative music.

Pyramid is not only concerned with the development of the Bajan culture but the culture of the wider Caribbean, as they were the ones responsible for hosting the Barbados Music seminars in 2006 and 2007, in Barbados, specifically aimed at artiste development, innovations and other issues which affect the regional music industry.

More recently, Pyramid has through several ventures in 2007 made significant moves to promote the many artistes on their roster. Early in the year, the Pyramid company launched the Pyramid Music Group, a music content label which has the added responsibility of producing music videos and entertainment programmes. The group’s first video production was the incredibly successful Woman By My Side by Pyramid artiste Peter Ram. Since then their production credits have included: Beautiful Surprise by Philip 7, From this Day on by Kitorah, Soca Junkie by Mr. Dale, Pumpin by Peter Ram, Nah Going Home by Biggie Irie, Caan Wait and Girls Gone Wild by Lil Rick. The last five soca videos were actually done by Jamaican video director Jay Will who chaired the promotional tools / media workshop at the music seminar in February, 2007.

Pyramid also, with the help of Sesame Flyers International, created the Pyramid music truck specifically for the 2007 New York Labour Day parade. Based on the overwhelming success of that venture for the 2008 edition of the T & T carnival, Pyramid Entertainment with the help of the mas band Tribe unveiled the Pyramid "All Star" music truck. This again proved to be a brilliant move by the group as their truck was one of the stars of the T & T carnival with many observers, regional and international flocking to the "All Star" truck for a chance to be near the truck’s featured artistes: Biggie Irie, Mr. Dale, Peter Ram and Trinidadian guests Bunji Garlin and his wife Faye-Ann Lyons.

The Pyramid group has also erected a 20’ X 8’ double sided billboard on the east/west corridor of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway which reads “From Carnival to Crop Over" and features images of four of the Barbadian superstars on the Pyramid roster, Biggie Irie, Lil Rick, Mr. Dale and Peter Ram. This is a move that could not only help these artistes but the general festival culture of Barbados as even the visitors to the island will be made aware of these artistes and their music.

Overall, Pyramid Entertainment Management Inc has shown itself to be a company which is probably the only one of its kind in Barbados and the Caribbean. Never before has a regional company tried to innovate the concept of artiste promotion and development in this way both within the region and beyond. Pyramid seems to be clearly determined to use the base they have created for their artistes to springboard the culture of the Caribbean to the international success it has been denied for years. I for one hope they succeed.

Source - Headline Entertainment

Date - February 29, 2008