Nanko - Nathaniel Stewart

By Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Has Nanko gone 'Loco'? Word in the street has it that Nanko has reportedly run off abroad, leaving his management label, Downsound Records, hanging in the balance.

It has been rumoured that Nanko left the island to join his mother and sister abroad, as they felt that Downsound Records were reaping all the benefits from his success, leaving the artiste with very little for himself.

Efforts by The Star to reach Nanko for a comment were unsuccessful as his cellphone went straight to voicemail when several calls were made to it.

However, in a statement released by Downsound Records, they say that it came to their attention that in a recent interview on radio, comments were made by Nanko with regard to his business arrangements with Downsound Records.

Management contracts

Downsound Records in their statement said, "We would like to respond and to set the records straight. Nanko has been signed to Downsound Records and Jo Bogdanovich in production and management contracts since December 2005. By virtue of these agreements, Downsound has expended a significant sum of U.S. dollars for recordings, videos, personal expenses and the promotion of recordings and the artiste Nanko."

According to Downsound Records, in response to concerns raised by Nanko, his mother and their representative, the management contract between Downsound and Nanko was modified and a new agreement signed on March 23.

However, they say that immediately after the new contract was signed, "Nanko left Jamaica and has refused to take calls from Downsound or to respond to emails and other attempts to communicate with a view to following up on performance obligations secured by booking agents engaged by Downsound to represent Nanko."

As a result, Downsound says it has had to contact several promoters to cancel engagements and has suffered severe damage to its business reputation and incurred significant financial losses.

They added, "There is absolutely no truth to the allegation that Downsound has taken all monies paid by promoters for its own benefit without making payment to Nanko. The relevant contracts between Downsound and Nanko do make provision for Downsound to recoup its investments from the income generated from Nanko's services as an artiste, and that is what Downsound has been trying to do."

In addition to recouping its expenditures for development, promotion and personal advances, Downsound says it is also entitled to receive a management commission of 25% as well as to share in the proceeds of sale of recordings produced.

"This is the norm in the music industry both at the local and international levels," the release said. But they say that in light of Nanko's surprise act, "a clear decision by Nanko to act in breach of his management contract with Downsound, we have now instructed our attorneys to file suit against him, as all our efforts to speak to him, his mother, and his representative Vonnie McGowan have proven futile."