Award-Winning Entertainment Executive to Attend
St. Kitts Music Festival
Max Gousse to Conduct Workshop and Scout Local Artists
Performing at the 20th Annual Event
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Gousse to St. Kitts. Over the past 25 years, he has spearheaded some of Hip-Hop and R&B’s biggest projects and discovered some amazing talent, including international stars who have performed at St. Kitts Music Festival previously,” said the Hon. Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry & Commerce. “In the history of our Music Festival, this is the first year we will have so many local artists performing. Having Mr. Gousse scout the Festival and conduct workshops with local talent will be a great opportunity for our nationals to further their careers in the music industry.”
In addition to attending the Music Festival, Max Gousse will also participate in a workshop for local artists and conduct a second workshop specifically for the local artists performing in the festival, wherein he will also evaluate their respective performances. The local acts scheduled to perform on Thursday night at the St. Kitts Music Festival include Shanna, Nicha B, KJah, KES the Band, Nu Vybes Band International and the Small Axe Band, while Dejour, Mod Stoney, I-Mark, Rodney and Crucial Bankie will be performing on Friday night.
A multifaceted businessman, Max Gousse has worked as the Sr. Vice President of A&R* for Sony’s Epic Records, Executive Vice President of Music World Entertainment, and Sr. Vice President of Universal Music Group’s Def Jam Record’s A&R division. During his run at Epic, Max discovered and developed the hottest R&B group of the millennium, B2K. While at Music World Entertainment, Gousse supervised all recordings and strategic partnerships for the company’s roster of A-list artists such as Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. At Def Jam, he worked with some of hip-hop’s most notable artists including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna and Rick Ross. Gousse is also responsible for Beyonce’s Grammy Award winning hit Single Ladies, and Grammy Award winning albums B-Day and I Am…Sasha Fierce. (* In the music industry, A&R stands for Artist and Repertoire, and refers to the division of a record label that is responsible for scouting and artist development.)
Along with an impressive track record in the music industry, he has also produced #1 box office hit movies You Got Served, as well as the soundtracks for movies Barbershop and Cadillac Records. Gousse has over 100 million units sold, and his film and music projects have grossed over $500 million worldwide. He is also a consultant to several major labels and music publishers including BMG, Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Tyrese, UMG, Razor and Tie, Ballup, and Reach Global. His most recent discoveries include YG (Def Jam), Ty Dolla $ign (Atlantic Records, DJ Mustard (Roc Nation) and Kieran Alleyne (Artistry/Virgin Records).
Now entering its 20th year, the St. Kitts Music Festival attracts both locals and visitors alike. It features a wide range of musical styles on the popular market, including R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Soca, Calypso, Gospel and Contemporary music. Past artists have included such prominent acts as John Legend, Lionel Richie, Jason Derulo, Trey Songz, T-Pain, Michael Bolton, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, UB40’s Ali Campbell, Wyclef Jean, Ne-Yo, Air Supply, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Shaggy, Kelly Rowland, Tessanne Chin, Toni Braxton, Beenie Man, The Commodores, Dionne Warwick, Billy Ocean, Sean Paul, Boyz II Men, King Konris, Stephen Marley, Regina Belle, Maxi Priest, Beres Hammond, Roberta Flack, Biggie Irie, Bunny Wailer and Lord Nelson. For more information about the St. Kitts Music Festival, visit www.stkittsmusicfestival.com or “like” the St. Kitts Music Festival’s Facebook page.
About St. Kitts:
St. Kitts is currently ranked, with sister island Nevis, at #6 on a list of the Best Islands in the World, #6 on a list of the Best Caribbean Vacations, and #4 on a list of the Best Beach Honeymoon Destinations in the World, #3 on a list of Best Caribbean Honeymoons, and #10 on a list of the Best Affordable Caribbean Destinations by US News & World Report. It is also ranked at #7 among the Hottest Places to Travel this Winter by CNN Money based on bookings received by Virtuoso, #8 on a list of the Top 10 Best Islands for a Holiday by Places To See In Your Lifetime, #14 on a list of the 50 Travel Destinations That Will Be Huge In The Next 10 Years as well as #8 on a list of the 25 Best Caribbean Islands by Business Insider, one of the Top 12 Best Caribbean Vacations on FlipKey.com, the vacation rental company of leading travel website, TripAdvisor®. In 2016, St. Kitts has been ranked #15 of The Top 21 Destinations for 2016 by Robb Report and one of the Ones to Watch in 2016 by Travel Weekly. St. Kitts & Nevis have been named #13 on a list of the most popular Caribbean islands among the very rich by Bloomberg Business online, one of the Top 15 Emerging Travel Hotspots for 2015 by The Huffington Post and has been ranked by The New York Times at #34 of the 52 Places to Go in 2015.
Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and white sandy beaches combine to make St. Kitts one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. Located in the northern Leeward Islands, it offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, and touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the more traditional vacation pastimes available are watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, dining, gaming at St. Kitts’ exclusive casino or simply relaxing on a sandy beach. Accommodations range from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels and resorts.
For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888-395-4887, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn, visit www.stkittstourism.kn, or connect on Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube.
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