Everybody's been talking about it. The fact that music mogul, VP Records has plans to close its office located here in Kingston.

This office is run by their hard-working and vivacious marketing manager, Yolan Zanders, who has been the face of VP Records locally for some time now. In fact, it was in 2004, to mark VP Records' 25th anniversary, that the label announced that they were returning to Kingston as the largest independent reggae music label in the world.

"Establishing an office in Jamaica will allow for our partners in the music and business communities to have greater accessibility to VP," Randy Chin, VP's head of marketing, was quoted as saying. "We look forward to continuing our successful endeavours in bringing Jamaican music and culture to the world."

The new office, it was announced, would be headed by Yolan Zanders who, at the time, expressed her excitement at being part of the VP family. "It's great that there is an office in Jamaica, where reggae lives," she had said.

Everybody knows that if you need anything at all from VP - from the proverbial pin to an anchor - just call Yolan. And, Yolan seems to be always on call, as I personally have called her at various hours of the day . and night . and somehow she always picks up the phone. Of course, we gave Yolan a call to find out what really was happening, but she is well schooled. "Yes, I have heard it . everybody's been calling me and asking if it's true that the office is closing," she said. Stating that nothing has been said to her officially from VP, she denied further comment.

However, we must also remember VP has been laying off staff since it bought out Greensleeves Records and that Cristy Barber, who was director of A&R at VP from 1998 - 2000, has been back at VP since January this year when it was announced that she was appointed vice-president of marketing and promotions at the company.

Artistes signed to VP include Beres Hammond, Morgan Heritage, Mavado and TOK.

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