Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter 
Cavan won the first competition, in 2004. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
The Digicel Rising Stars singing competition is already a local phenomenon and, with Greensleeves aboard for the 2007 season, the next stop is the world.
This will be one of the most significant additions to the 2007 season. The winners of the first three seasons were offered management contracts from GeeJams and then Shocking Vibes. The management contract will be dispensed with this year, to be replaced with a recording contract instead. The winner will record a minimum of two singles, while the second and third place finishers will record one single each.
"We are looking to get involved with new talents in Jamaica. The business has been suffering for a lack of new artistes in the past few years. We are looking to help in developing some new good artistes," said Daniel Kuster, head of the A&R department at Greensleeves.
"I am a fan of the show. I have watched sincethe first season. It's a good show; I like the structure. One thing needs to improve though - nobody outside of Jamaica knows them. You have great talents and they are popular in Jamaica. The world needs to know about them," he said.
Greensleeves, currently dominated by dancehall artistes, is going out on a limb in committing to working with the winner.
The first three seasons of Rising Star have been dominated and won by singers; a deejay is yet to win. According to Kuster, this is the reason no particular producer has been selected to work with the project. He made it clear that the most suitable producer will be assigned to the newest rising star in order to maximise his or her potential. The waiting game is now on to see who will be the next big thing out of Greensleeves.
Open to anything
"This makes it exciting. We are open to anything. We're are looking forward to it as it possibly give Greensleeves the opportunity to branch out a little but more," Kuster said.
The excitement is also spilling over at Headline Entertainment, the talent liaison agency for the competition.
Jerome Hamilton of Headline said, "Greensleeves is an international company and it specialises in recording and distribution. There will be an advantage over last year and the year before. We have a combination of things that will give it the best shot. That is one of my missions, to break them out a lot."
Shows are important to an artiste's livelihood and he wants to see the winners and finalists get to a point where they are doing shows at least twice per month overseas. He believes Greensleeves will help to make that happen.
"They saw the value of the competition. Jamaica is a country that produces great music and they wanted to be a part of it. This is the next step for the competition. It is an opportunity to step outside of Jamaica," he said.
"Last year, was my first time working with Rising Stars and it was a phenomenal experience. I was am amazed at the impact and effect it had. We are going to do a lot more to help the contestants," Hamilton said.
An 2005 winner Christopher Martin did not have this perk, he thinks it is a good move for the competition and the winner stands to benefit much. Martin is a household name in Jamaica because of the competition and said he would be ungrateful if he were to complain. Furthermore, his management company in now in dialogue with famed singer and songwriter, Ne-Yo, about international prospects.
"I am happy for them. If they stay in one place they would be dormant. My workload will not change. People still love Chris and want to hear his music. You know if you work hard anything can happen," Martin said.
