The recent revelation of Vybz Kartel’s staggering 1.35 million USD performance fee for One Caribbean Music Fest in Trinidad & Tobago, is the subject of a debate among music industry players.

Garfield ‘Chin’ Bourne, co-founder of Irish & Chin, one of the most respected reggae promotion companies globally, initiated the debate.

Chin suggests that the Fever hitmaker will go down in history as one of the highest paid dancehall entertainers of all times.

Chin says the substantial payments made to Kartel will trigger a significant price increase for booking Reggae and Dancehall artistes.

Chin’s statement shared in an Instagram post, has sparked a heated debate among industry heavyweights. In the comments, Spragga Benz shared his belief that the revelation can empower artistes with pulling power to demand a fairer share of profits as artistes will now know how much can be generated from a properly executed concert.

Konshens joins the conversation and counters that simple economics dictates that not every artiste can command Kartel’s fee, given his unique experiences, sacrifices, and luck. Konshens emphasized, that artistes can’t expect the same rewards without putting in the same effort while facing similar challenges.

Veteran broadcaster Collin Hinds also weighed in on the comments, writing, ‘Kartel commands a certain price’ adding ‘artistes of a somewhat lesser influence who decide to gauge their price off a Kartel ceiling will need to calculate with caution or risk unemployment’.

One Caribbean Music Fest was one of the scheduled twenty stops across the globe making up Vybz Kartel’s Worl’ Boss Tour which commenced in Guyana on May 24.