Fab 5 celebrates 50 years - Band earns just 5% of 2020 bookings
Published:Friday | December 18, 2020 | 12:12 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
The numeral five is playing out its significance in the life of legendary reggae band Fab 5 this year, and, as some love to say, ‘numbers don’t lie’. Last November marked 50 years since the Frankie Campbell-led aggregation started its musical journey and plans were in place to celebrate this fabulous half-century. Then COVID-19 came, and plunged the music industry globally into economic despair, so much so that in its 50th year, Fab 5 earned a meagre five per cent of what they had been booked for in 2020. And like many others, Campbell, who is also the chairman of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates, is asking how can persons in the music industry survive.
“One of our sponsors of the virtual show that we did on November 29 asked me, ‘How after 50 years Fab 5 is broke?’ Well, the question I would like to ask any company is this: Could they remain viable and active earning in 10 months only five per cent of their regular income? The answer is an overwhelming no!” Campbell told The Gleaner.
NOT REALITY
He added that the music and entertainment industry is no different than any other sector being affected by COVID-19, and pointed out that the perception that all musicians and artistes are rich, with huge bank accounts, is not the reality for 95 per cent of the industry.
“The entertainment industry needs to get back to work in short order as most of our members are suffering. Virtual online performances are not as easy to generate meaningful income as some people believe, and with music sales for performers over 40 years old almost non-existent, the options of earning an income have all but disappeared. So as we await the year 2021 with bated breath, our only hope is that Jamaicans will adhere to the COVID-19 government protocols, so we can get back to some sense of normality sooner [rather] than later,” was his wish.
But, ever the realist, Campbell admits that his band is not seeing a silver lining at this point. “COVID is still spiking, not only in Jamaica, but in our traditional reggae music markets of the USA and Europe, making the summer of 2021 doubtful for major tours,” he shared with The Gleaner.
Last week, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie reiterated that a ban has been placed on the staging of parties and events as part of measures to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus. He added that while the Government has no intention of stifling the entertainment sector, the Disaster Risk Management Order No. 16 will remain in force until January 15, 2021. The order imposes a ban on nightclubs and on parties of all kinds.