SRP Records, the label formed by the powerhouse Grammy nominated writing/production team of Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken, are releasing a series of mini viral films. SRP are responsible for discovering and signing Rihanna, Shontelle, Vita Chambers and Hal Linton among others. As a writing/production team they have sold more than 70 million records, penning hits for artist such as Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera and Shakira among others.

The first video which premiered on July 26, 2010, compromises of exclusive never before seen footage of Rihanna – taken from the archives, including up to the day she auditioned and signed with Island DefJam. Go behind the scenes of the entire SRP Family, make sure to subscribe to their Youtube channel and follow them on Twitter!

Rihanna was interviewed by Justin Lee Collins last night for his new TV show, called “Justin Lee Collins: Good Times”, that will air on Channel5 soon.

RihannaDaily gave 6 lucky fans the chance to attend and ask RiRi questions. One of the fan questions from “Freida” were chosen to be asked in the fan segment of the show!

Any future plans to work with Shontelle?

No plans, but I would like to.

‘Rise Again’ – the song written by international reggae sensation and Grammy Award-winning artist, Shaggy, to support the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti on 12th January – is available on iTunes for download and purchase for 99 cents (US) now with the artists and label donating their proceeds to the Digicel Haiti relief fund.

‘Rise Again’ is a Caribbean song, which was written and performed by Caribbean artists for the people of Haiti. And with the New York Times hailing the song as “fast becoming a post-quake anthem,” ‘Rise Again’ has had a fantastic reception and is already getting heavy rotation radio airplay and news coverage across the globe.

Directed by internationally renowned film and video director, Jay Will, and filmed around Port Royal in Jamaica, the video’s central theme is of people from across the Caribbean coming together to rebuild Haiti and help the people of Haiti to rise again.

Artists featured on ‘Rise Again’ include Shaggy; Sean Paul; Sean Kingston; Barbadian Artists, Alison Hinds, Shontelle Layne and Edwin Yearwood; Trinidadian Soca Artists, Destra Garcia, David Rudder and Kes Dieffenthaller; Jamaican reggae artists, Tessanne Chin and Etana; and Haitian artiste, Belo. The track was produced by Christopher Birch.

Check out the video above of the beautiful and talented Barbadian singers Shontelle & Vita Chambers at Hilton Beach with friends on January 1st, 2010.

Shontelle couldn’t attend this year’s annual Barbados Music Awards due to her heavy schedule, but she did win two awards which her father and mother (who looked fab!) came up on stage to gave a very warm acceptance speech on her behalf.

She won “Album of the Year” and a special “BMA Platinum Award” for now being Barbados’ 2nd best selling female of all time, since her debut album “Shontelligence” was certified platinum.

Another highlight of Sunday night’s annual Barbados Music Awards will be bringing it on home to the delightful Shontelle Layne, who in just one year after releasing her debut album ‘Shontelligence’, is already reaping the successes with RIAA Platinum Certification (for sales of 1 million units in the USA) for her lead single ‘T-Shirt’. As such, it is only fitting that she be awarded for this feat and the BMA organisers are doing just that.

Shontelle will be awarded the BMA Platinum Award at this the 5th anniversary gala, for outstanding record sales during the period of October 2008-September 2009. This will be a special award added to her already multiple BMAs for the veteran of this particular stage, having performed for three consecutive years at the show.

She has also reaped success with her follow-up singles ‘Battle Cry’ and ‘Stuck With Each Other’ featuring R&B star Akon. She is now ranked as Barbados’ second best-selling female of all time! Check out Shontelle’s nominations below:

Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays YOU! (From me & Bey – Above) LOL!

I just love Christmas! It’s my favorite time of year! Family, friends, my dogs, FOOD, good times, memories, reflection. Most importantly a little or rather HUGE reminder of Jesus and his birth. The love He has for us and the sacrifices he made for us. I won’t get into too much or bore you with an essay. But I just wanted to take some time out to let you know how much I appreciate you and how much you have changed my life. I have been through so much these past few years. Moving to NY from this tiny island of Barbados has been the most MAJOR decision I have ever had to make in my life and I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for YOU. YOU have been the best Christmas gift of all!

I know right now some of us aren’t having the “happiest” or “merriest” Christmas and some of us are having the BEST Christmas EVER! If things are rocky and rough for you or someone you love and care about right now, I’m praying for strength. Strength for you to make it through. Strength for you to learn and grow from it all. You are in my prayers every day and I love you very much. Hang in there. This too shall pass… this is our Battle Cry…

Now I did mention that Christmas is a lot about reflection and we often stop for at least a minute to think about all that we, individually and collectively, have been through during the year and how we can make things better next year. Take a look at these 10 Most Memorable Moments of the Decade I found on this BlackVoices site. To be honest I don’t often visit this site but I was online researching the most impactful moments of recent times because I felt a strong desire to give some hope and spread some motivation and inspiration. Some of these moments are EPIC, some are Progressive, some are Devastating, some are Proud.

Hopefully it makes you realize that even in the worst of times, as humans, as citizens, as neighbors, families, friends, Nations, we always find a way to overcome the worst and we learn, and we grow and we improve ourselves and our lives, our relationships, our dreams, our families, our teams, our homes, our communities, our networks, our judgment, our tempers our hearts, minds and souls. Check it out for yourself! Reflections: ==> [click here]

On that note, I’m having the time of my life here in Barbados. I hope and I pray that you and yours see a new year filled with laughs, joy, love, generosity, good health and prosperity.

Hope this makes you smile: Merry Christmas from me, Martin and BLG, and my DJ Shortman! http://youtube.com/watch?v=LrogF1JMPzs

Joy to the World! Love

Shontelle, xoxo

Check out this exclusive HQ scan of Shontelle featured in the December 5th issue of Billboard Magazine, in stores today! For those who might not be familiar with Billboard Magazine, it is one of the most popular music magazines in the US for music industry professionals and fans.

The article also introduces four of the other upcoming young, gifted and talented Barbadian artists who relocated to the U.S. in search of stateside success (Vita Chambers, Jaicko, Hal Linton & Livvi Franc), who without a doubt are all going to get it! Get familiar!

Click the banner above to proceed to the photogallery, then click the image again for HQ.

Photo credit: Billboard (Marketing Dept)

Check out these rehearsal and backstage pictures of Shontelle, Hal Linton, Vita Chambers and Melanie Fiona from yesterday’s NFL Thanksgiving Motown Tribute. Vita shed happy tears after the show So proud of everyone! Bajan Invasion to the world. (Thanks Vita for the pics!)

Barbados Nation Newspaper - November 27, 2009 (Click above to enlarge)

A LAUNCH INTO international stardom or a clear message that there is more to Barbados than being an outstanding tourism destination? Perhaps, it was a mix of both when three young up-and-coming international songbirds from Barbados – 16-year-old Vita Chambers; Hal Linton, 23, and Shontelle, 23 – were given what is being considered a chance of a lifetime career booster to open and star in the halftime entertainment show at the Silverdome in the United States’ National Football League’s (NFL) traditional Thanksgiving Day game. All three Bajans have music contracts with Motown-Universal and SRP, a music production company headed by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers.

“I hope the whole of Barbados is watching,” Chambers told the WEEKEND NATION just before going onto the field to open the entertainment segment of the game which was a tribute to the famous music label Motown that’s celebrating its 50th anniversary. “This means a lot to me to be able to do this, to be invited to sing before 70,000 people in the stadium and before a live television audience of millions. It’s a chance of a lifetime. It certainly means a great deal, quite a lot to all of us and I hope that Barbadians would see it.” The game and performances were televised yesterday afternoon live on the Fox Channel on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s Multi-Choice TV, with the Bajans on show just after 3 p.m. Barbados time.

Shontelle, who helped to close out the six-minute performance that featured half-dozen outstanding artistes, described it as “definitely a major opportunity to appear live before such a large audience and to be a part of a 50th anniversary celebration for Motown which has given the world such legendary artistes as the Supremes, Jackson Five, Michael Jackson and Marvin Gay.” “I have had the opportunity since leaving Barbados to appear in a large stadium and arena and that was always exciting,” she said. “But it was nothing like this. The fact that it is being broadcast live, literally it kind of blows your mind. I really can’t believe it is happening.”

(Read more…)

Today over 18 million football and musical fans around the world witnessed the “FUTURE OF MOTOWN performing the HISTORY OF MOTOWN” at today’s (November 26) NFL Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers football game halftime show. Motown celebrated 50 epic years of being one of the biggest & most musically influential labels worldwide.

The artist featured were non other than the ubertalented Motown acts Shontelle, Hal Linton, Vita Chambers, Melanie Fiona, Kem and Forever the Sickest Kids. They all brought their A-game singing their hearts out to massacre classics like “Heatwave,” “I’ll Be There,” “Higher Ground,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” “Aint No Mountain High Enough,” and “Dancing In The Street.”

Click the banner above to proceed to a special Universal Motown online store where you can purchase the “The Motown 50 Medley” that was performed and much more. All proceeds from the Motown Medley will be donated to The United Way for charity! So make sure you get your copy and support! Watch the highly anticipated performance video below to witness today’s epicness for yourself! Photos coming soon…

EVERYONE KILLED IT! 246 BARBADOS STAND UP!

Check out these EXCLUSIVE photos of Universal Motown artists Melanie Fiona, Vita Chambers, Kem, Shontelle, Hal Linton (Motown’s brightest new stars) and label President Sylvia Rhone at the Detroit Boys & Girls Club’s “I Am Thankful” Dinner in Detroit, where they joined United Way in volunteering by serving dinner and sang some Motown classics.

After this they head over to the Detroit Lions / Green Bay Packers game for their highly anticipated performances tomorrow on Thanksgiving day (November 26) for the Motown’s 50th Anniversary Halftime show which is being sponsored by The United Way.

The 2009 United Way Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show: “A Motown 50th Anniversary Tribute,” will take place during the first game of the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader when the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, November 26 at 12:30 PM ET on FOX.

Shontelle, Linton and Chambers are all proud of their Bajan roots. “It’s a really proud time for us,” Linton said as he spoke about the rising success of Barbadian musicians. “Barbados is a real musical town and that shows by the amount of artist coming out from there.”

Shontelle adds, “Barbados, the most easterly island in the Caribbean is small, completely accessible and a friendly wonderland, booming with life, wonderful people, vibrant culture and art; the best beaches; top rated hotels and resorts; award-winning restaurants and the best local food on the planet! If you are a nature lover, it doesn’t get much more beautiful than Barbados.”

Shontelle, Hal Linton and Vita Chambers fans can visit www.nfl.com/thanksgiving to find out how to download a copy of the halftime performance, as well as music from the other Motown halftime performers. Proceeds will benefit United Way.

Source: CaribbeanTravel (BTA) | Learn more about Barbados – (Read more…)

Taking place during a busy week in Detroit, the ‘I Am Thankful’ dinner precedes a special 2009 United Way Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show. Scheduled to take place during halftime of the first game of the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader when the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, November 26 at 12:30 PM ET on FOX, this year’s halftime will celebrate Motown. Featuring a number of Motown recording artists and other talent, halftime will be dedicated to the legendary recording label’s 50th Anniversary.

For more information on both events visit liveunited.org

The Motown 50 Medley is now available on iTunes and Amazon MP3! Shontelle covered Motown classic ‘Ain’t No Mountain High’ (originally sang by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) and did an amazing job with Hal Linton as Marvin Gaye’s vocals. Make sure you go get it!

Check out the Motown 50 Medley single cover and NFL Thanksgiving promos below