IT is that time of year when the rear-view mirror assumes added significance as we look to the past, in our effort to make sense of the present and divine the future. It is also that time of the year when we begin to pass judgement on the quality of the contributions made in various spheres of human activity during the preceding twelve months, firm in the conviction that what prevailed in the not-too-distant past will have an enormous influence on what emerges in the immediate future.

So the question that will certainly occupy the minds of those who seek to provide commentary on the developments of the preceding year is: Who stood tall and who did fall, as we said goodbye to the first decade of the 21st Century?

As the decade drew to a close we counted the loss of many figures who had played such vital roles in the determination of who we are. We will sadly recall 2010 as the year we lost Rex Nettleford, Gregory Isaacs, Barry Chevannes and John Maxwell, in that order. It was the year we said goodbye to Sonia Pottinger and Zola Burse, both of whom made their invaluable contributions to Jamaican popular entertainment without drawing too much attention to themselves.

Last year will also be remembered as the year in which Sean Reid, a young graduate of Pembroke Hall High school, would serve notice to Jamaica and the world, that he had not only found the formula for making hits, but had discovered the secret to resuscitating careers. Young Reid, who is better known to us as Sean Nizzle, was not only responsible for the emergence of the artiste Khago, who by most accounts has been deemed the best new artiste for 2010, but the return of such notable figures of Jamaican music as Mr G, Richie Stephens and Fambo to the positions of prominence which they formerly occupied.

If current trends hold, it is safe to say that Sean Nizzle will remain a dominant force in Jamaican music, this year and beyond.

Vybz Kartel once again demonstrated that he has an uncanny knack for directing public attention, not only to his talents, but his antics. The self-described teacher, left no doubt in the minds of those who would take notice, that his hit-making capacity showed no sign of impairment. Clarkes, Cake Soap, Dumpa Truck, Like Christmas, Hot Grabba were just a few notable examples of Kartelian creativity which resonated with his public.

There is no doubt that 2010 witnessed the rise of Khago and I-Octane. It now seems that no show in the foreseeable future will be deemed adequate in its billing without these two entertainers being slated to perform.

The Doctor, Beenie Man, once again demonstrated why he is considered ‘the greatest’ by so many. His seemingly inexhaustible desire to be in the thick of things once again ensured that retirement will not be an option any time soon.

Gyptian enjoyed tremendous international exposure with his single, Hold You, which seemed a departure from what we had grown accustomed to hearing from this very talented artiste but which won him plaudits beyond our shores, including MOBO and the Soul Train Awards. I was happy to see the honouring of Karl Young, founder of the phenomenally successful IRIE FM, and Barrington Seymour Gordon (Barry G) with national awards. Karl was one of the giants lost in this anno horribilis for Jamaican popular culture. Karl’s posthumous honour was certainly well deserved, even if belatedly conferred, given the critical role IRIE has played in Jamaican popular culture since its inception some 20 years ago.

I always wondered what would it take for Barry G, who for me is a colossal figure in Jamaican popular culture, to be considered worthy of a national honour. When I tell my teenage children about the impact Barry G had on radio in his heyday, they believe this is the stuff of fiction. They are unable to grasp that any radio personality could have made such an enormous purchase on the popular imagination. Yes, Boogie Man, this one is more than well deserved.

The discussions in Jamaican entertainment circles for most of 2010 were dominated by the legal woes facing Buju Banton and the cancellation of visas which hit some of our leading Jamaican acts. The hope is that both these issues will find resolutions before we herald 2012, the year we celebrate 50 years of Jamaican independence.

The new year started with the debate about the role of sponsors in the promotion of entertainment events. There are those who argue that the decision of a number of corporate entities to get into the direct staging of free entertainment events, circumventing traditional promoters, will have a deleterious long-term effect on the music industry. What is clear is that traditional promoters will definitely have to look at the value proposition that they are offering their patrons and make a determination on what steps they will take to attract patrons.

It may behove some of these promoters to embark on selling experiences rather than artistes. This might be the only way they are able to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. The sponsors are not necessarily philanthropists, though they sometimes assume such a role. They are in business to make money and have as their primary mission the satisfaction of shareholder value, which is sometimes short-term oriented. The quarterly reports can mean whether or not a company executive stays or goes. This means that the company executives are going to ensure that they represent the interests of those who hire them. Promoters must now think of new ways to engage the sponsors and their audiences.

clyde.mckenzie@gmail.com