Jeremy Harding inside his studio. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

It's nothing personal, just business for music manager Jeremy Harding. understand that, and you will understand him. Known by many for his no-nonsense managerial skills, Harding has been integral in steering the multi-platinum success of dancehall artiste Sean Paul. Don't for a second think that you can jive him when it comes to management - simply put, Jeremy don't play that! "When people think of Jamaica, they think of this laid-back mentality, and that everything is irie all the time, so they can go around certain issues with regards to the business of music and treat us a certain way, that's when I have to straighten them out, and let them know, I don't run my thing like that." Thinking carefully, he continued, "sometimes you have to play the heavy or people will walk all over you and not take you seriously".

It took years of experience in the 'biz' for Harding to come to this rationale, " I have had experiences and have learnt how the game works. Other managers make sure to manage in a certain way, but it's because I am from a Third World country that people sometimes think that they can just deal with my artiste anyway they feel like and make certain moves without going through the proper avenues. It's all about business, so let's do this right with all the proper paperwork, speak to my lawyer."

His business savvy has helped rocket Sean Paul to the forefront. But management was a career path that Jeremy basically stumbled upon, as he is, in his own right, an accomplished producer. Remember Sean Paul's Baby Girl on the Fearless rhythm. Or better yet, Mad Cobra's Pet & Pamper, Dutty Cup Crew's Stick Up, Sean Paul's Infiltrate, Mr Vegas' Nike Air, and the most successful of them all, Sim Simma(Who Am I) by Beenie Man, in the '90s, all on the Playground rhythm. those were hits because of Harding's production skills. "I never intended to be an artiste manager, it really is a situation that just happened. I produced many of Sean's earlier songs and when the 45s were pressed and labels put on, my number was on them. So people would like what they heard and call me to book him, so I was managing him by default. I was doing well with regards to production, so it really was about helping him out. It was not until he decided to do an album, when I officially became his manager".

Sitting in his studio located in Jack's Hill, Splash wondered if Harding had discarded producing altogether, as he has not released a rhythm in recent times. "I miss producing. I do a lot of mixing and recording here, however with production, I do try but most of my time goes into managing".

Does he manage anyone else? "I now manage Leftside".
Harding has been unnecessarily pinpointed on several occasions as 'a politician's kid' and has been ridiculed for 'coming from uptown', something that he thinks is nonsensical. Did those things help him in the music world? Not at all, he says. "I do what I do for the love of the music, it's not about politics or where I come from." With a chuckle, he continued "things might have even been harder for me with regards to getting into music and the business because of these things".

It was while pursuing a degree in Chemistry at McGill University in Canada that Harding realised that he wanted to do music. A decision that parents, former senator Oswald and horticultural maven Marigold, were not too keen about. Jeremy today understands their former doubts saying, "I will probably be just as sceptical about a decision like that with my children." After McGill, he entered the recording arts school Trebass, where he did a two-year production course and after a while came back home and jumped into music.

Splash asked Harding what was his stance on the media, to which he respectfully answered: "the media has a love for sensationalising controversy, what sells, or makes for good headlines. I think the media should have more positive articles."

Don't let his stern demeanour fool you. Behind it all is a proud Jamaican, who has been molded by experience, to be all about the business, "I am a hard worker," saidHarding, who is known to be up till the wee hours of the morning, doing studio work.

Work aside, there is actually a softer dimension to Harding. As a newly-wed, he is ready to start a family in the near future, but definitely holds the family he already has dear to his heart.

With regards to where he sees the music business going in the future, Harding said, "Big changes are coming, the model of the business is changing. More and more, the labels are becoming content providers for everything, from ring tones to wallpaper. CD sales are down and the production and the whole sound of the game is changing too. It's not simple. We will all just have to wait and see what happens."

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