Quickies: Bigger MIA Awards

The second staging of the local Music Industry Achievers (MIA) Awards will be hosted on June 27 at a location to be announced. The organisers of the event will also host the nomination party on May 2.

This year's staging of the MIA Awards will boast 33 categories and three special honours. The annual show will also unveil four MIA ambassadors who will be a part of their sponsorship team.

CEO of the MIA Awards, Queenie Doyley, says the event will be bigger and better and hinted that there would be some very influential sponsors on board. This year's staging is expected to have high-energy performances from Pamputtae, D'Angel, Teflon, Stacious, Raine Seville, Patexx and others. It will be hosted by Jade of ZIP 103FM and Sasha Bling from FiWi Choice.

The event is endorsed by popular promoter Stampede of Stampede Street Charts and Nick Foto Works.

Bonafide Band 'Sold Out'

Las Vegas, Nevada-based roots reggae band Bonafide is gearing up to release their album, Sold Out. The band, which gained popularity for their single Leaving This Morning, featuring Vybz Kartel, will launch the set next Wednesday at Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Avenue, St Andrew.

The band will also host an album party on Saturday, March 31 at Pier 1, Montego Bay. Both events will feature Busy Signal, Etana and Hawaiian superstar Fiji, all of whom feature on Sold Out.

Bonafide is in Jamaica on a press tour until April 1, then they return to Las Vegas for further promotions.

The double-disc album has 24 exclusive tracks and also features Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley on the collaboration Start And Stop.

The launch will be hosted by Ron Muschette and Elise Kelly (Irie FM).

Serani on US mini-tour

Dancehall singjay Serani again left the island yesterday, hitting the road after recently returning from a two-month European tour. For the next two weeks, he will hit the stage in Connecticut, New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, Long Beach and more locations.

He said, "The European tour was a great one. We were able to cover a lot of areas and reach a lot of old and new fans. My aim for this US mini tour is also the same - to continue getting the music out there and, like many of my fellow artistes, I want to continue doing my best to rep dancehall and reggae music on the international stage."

Serani, known for Doh, No Games and She Loves Me, among others, also said, "Now I'm also focusing on promoting one of my new singles called All I Need on the Off Da Bench Riddim. He has also released a medley video for the Knockings Riddim featuring Chino and Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor. His recent releases also include Naah Beg Friend on Fire Links' Off The Bench Riddim and Make Me Stronger on one of Stephen McGregor's latest riddims.

Chino releases 'Hustler' video

Dancehall and reggae artiste Chino McGregor has released a video for one of his latest singles, Hustler.

The video concept, like the lyrics, pays homage to all ambitious persons and is reminiscent of another of his singles, Work, which was not only featured on his US album, Chino, but also makes a brief appearance at the end of the Hustler video.

Hustler is produced by Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor and the video, directed by Michael 'Biggz' Burbridge, will make its TV debut this weekend.

Chino said, "Since its release, Hustler has been getting a lot of positive feedback. The lyrics are positive and optimistic and basically lets persons know that as long as it's honest work, they should be diligent and stick to it, because they have to make it one day."

Also in the works is a video for the sultry new single, So Do I, by Chino and his brother Stephen. "There will be a lot of surprises in that video and a lot of well-known faces. I don't want to give too much away, but it's going to definitely be one to look out for," Chino said.

The singjay recently returned from Belize and is expected to leave the island in a few days for a European tour.

Caribbean Tales 2012 in Barbados

Barbadians and visitors to the island will once again experience the glorious creativity of Caribbean films and filmmaking through screenings and innovative training opportunities when CaribbeanTales 2012 comes off from April 10 to 15 at Island Inn. This will be the third edition of the Barbados edition of the festival, which is also held annually in Toronto and New York and is a highlight of the regional cultural calendar.

CEO of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, Frances Anne Solomon, speaking at the festival's media launch in Bridgetown last week, revealed a full programme to be rolled out at venues around the island, including Island Inn Hotel, Frank Collymore Hall, George Washington House and Olympus cinemas.

The festival kicks off with an opening gala on April 11 headlined by the Caribbean premiere of Sing Your Song: the Harry Belafonte Story, an "inspiring and deeply beautiful" documentary about the famous actor-singer of Caribbean heritage, Harry Belafonte. The film, which had its world premiere as the opening film at the Sundance Film Festival last year, will be screened alongside two new Barbadian short films: A Day In A Bajan Life, produced by Penelope Hynam, and Panama Fever by Alison Saunders.

Film challenge

Solomon, who is a filmmaker in her own right and CEO of the only distribution company dedicated to Caribbean films, likened the festival to a tent with many different stalls which are the various activities taking place during the festival. One of the more exciting opportunities for filmmakers during the festival is the '48hr Film Challenge'.

Patrick Cozier, who is also the secretary general of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, noted that 10 years ago he had declared the cultural industries as "the best economic Greenfield open to the region" and that he stood even firmer behind that statement today. Cozier pledged the support of regional broadcasters for the festival and urged the private sector to step up to the plate to provide financial support to ensure the sustainability of the burgeoning new sector.

Tulisa Contostavlos sex tape leaked

A seven-minute clip sex tape alleged to feature X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos engaging in oral sex with an unidentified man, reportedly filmed backstage at a gig, has been leaked according to the website nottulisa.com, which features the video.

A sarcastic posting on the website says: "Not Tulisa and an ex-boyfriend recorded themselves having sex in a public place, shot backstage at a music gig, on his BlackBerry ... . You go, girl!"

"This crystal-clear movie is in no way a hidden camera! Just look at Not Tulisa playing to the camera, smiling and laughing ... the naughty little minx! The fact it is filmed in a PUBLIC PLACE makes the whole sex act even more risky, as anyone could have been watching or taking pictures. Not Tulisa is known for her bad-girl background and we are sure this finally shows her how her fans want to see her: raw and risky with a badass sex appeal ... . In the background you can hear people moving around and you can clearly hear the chatter proving this was indeed a PUBLIC PLACE. As Not Tulisa has gone on record saying she 'has never allowed anyone to film her having sex', this is definitely Not Tulisa. Just to make that clear. Not Tulisa, okay (sic)."

Blackmail attempt

Claims of a sex tape first surfaced in August 2011 when an unnamed man tried to sell it for £50,000, although the footage has not been made public until now.

At the time of the original claims, a spokesperson for Tulisa said: "This tape is 100 per cent fake and is just someone trying to cash in on her X Factor role. Tulisa has categorically never allowed anyone to film her having sex. She is horrified that someone would go to the extreme lengths of fabricating a video. It is absolutely not her."

Ricky Martin believes 3-y-o son meditates

Livin' La Vida Loca singer Ricky Martin raises three-year-old twins Matteo and Valentino and has revealed the boys have very different personalities despite their genetic connection.

Ricky says Valentino is obsessed with nature and he believes when the tot goes off to explore the family garden, he is finding peace with the natural world. The pop heartthrob - who had the kids with a surrogate mother - said: "Valentino is mister peace and love. He loves flowers and nature. If I ever wonder where he is, he'll be somewhere behind the bushes covered in mud."

"I know this sounds crazy, but I think he meditates. He goes under the water. I'm like, 'He's gone. He's travelling right now.' He's very Zen and noble.

"Matteo, on the other hand, much prefers to take charge - even if it's over his own brother!" Martin said. "He's more alpha and a leader. He's like, 'You don't do that, this is what you do.' He tells his brother what to do and what not to do."

The 40 year-old star - who is in a relationship with stockbroker Carlos Gonzalez Abella - admits his sons have changed his life in every way, and all for the better. The Evita actor added in an interview with The Advocate magazine: "Every decision I make and everything I do is based on their needs. I don't want to sound clichéd, but they teach me new things every day."