Fantan Mojah - file

Reggae artiste Fantan Mojah is chastising some Jamaican artistes for undercharging promoters to perform at major festivals in other countries.

According to the artiste, the Marleys have made reggae music a valuable product, however, the genre is devalued every time an artiste performs for a rate below his/her worth.

"Dem cheap because a nuh suh the Marley dem set it. Reggae music a nuh small fry music enuh; nuh badda feel like a foreign artiste alone can ask for big price. When you are going to do a promotional tour, that is a different thing, but if you are going to a major festival with over 30,000 patrons plus sponsorship, how are you going to charge only 3000 EUR ($450,000)?" he said.

make a sacrifice

Fantan Mojah says recording artistes should make a sacrifice for the benefit of the music industry.

"Di youth dem must know the value of dem music and don't cheap out the thing. Mi know say bills haffi pay and the youth dem haffi guh school but sacrifice fi the greater good man. Man all a leave Jamaica guh all the way a Europe for 1500 EUR ($225,000). Yu know how far Europe deh bredda?," Fantan Mojah said.

The artiste advises other artistes to research the markets and know their strengths and weaknesses before selling themselves short.

"Too much commercial dread inna music these days man. Yuh couldn't tell Peter Tosh and dem man deh fi guh perform fi certain things," the singer said.

Fantan Mojah is expected to leave the island for five shows in Europe this month. He is also slated to do a comprehensive tour of Europe during the winter season.

The recording artiste recently received over 3 million hits on YouTube.com for his single Rasta Got Soul. This he credits to his strong European fan-base, highlighting that the song is seldom played in Jamaica.

Fantan Mojah is currently in Nassau where he is to make an appearance at an event.

curtis.campbell@gleanerjm.com