New York based Track Entertainment has moved to set the record straight about a dispute surrounding the Power 95 Summer Jam show on May 27.

But a local company underlined its belief that the overseas firm never intended to use local businesses during its production of the show.

Track president Lee Heiman stressed he had worked hand in hand with local businesses and Government offices during the production of the show and in past years as the producer of the Bermuda Jazz Festival.

Mr. Heiman said: "Track has done nothing but produce first class, state-of-the-art, large scale music events, on a scale and quality that Bermuda has not seen before.

"A dozen internationally renowned music stars have been brought to Bermuda to entertain the Bermudian people over the past three years.'' In January of this year, Track contacted Bermudian event production companies Great Sound and Spanish Town about their intent to produce the show.

Request for quotes on staging, lighting, sound equipment and labour were sent out in March to both Bermudian and US based companies.

Great Sound made a combined bid of $82,450 for all elements of the show, on behalf of Spanish Town, Stagedoor Productions and themselves.

They also indicated that the bid was about ten items short of requested materials.

Spanish Town made an individual quote of $25,730 for sound and staging, not including labour, and indicated they were about 30 pieces short of the requested equipment.

Three US-based companies offered a total of $38,000 for all elements of the show.

It was decided to go with the US companies for staging and lighting as the cost was lower, said Mr. Heiman.

Track intended to work with Spanish Town for sound but after a week of unanswered telephone calls it was forced to hire another company.

"Track made every effort to offer the opportunity to Bermudian production companies and even tried to hire Spanish Town,'' said Mr. Heiman.

He added a list of more than 20 Bermudian companies which benefited from the Power 95 Summer Jam show.

Everything from hotels for the performers, ticket sales and advertising to refreshments and merchandise sales were handled by local businesses.

"All in all, Track estimates that it hired the services of over 150 Bermudians, and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars with these Bermudian businesses,'' Mr. Heiman said.

"We have always tried to do right by Bermuda and have helped to shape the image of Bermuda as an exciting entertainment destination through our first-class shows.

"This is why it is so upsetting to us that a small group with incorrect information is given a forum to damage Track's reputation.'' But Great Sound owner James Fitzsimmons said he did not believe that Track Entertainment ever intended to use local contractors.

"Our bid price was not expensive,'' Mr. Fitzsimmons said. "We attempted to keep it as reasonable as possible.

"I am not surprised by Mr. Heiman's comments as I do not believe it was ever his intention to use local sound and light contractors.

"I resent his attempts to impute our reputation by implying that we are outrageously expensive.'' Track Entertainment said, despite the situation, they were looking forward to continuing the relationship with the Island and bringing more international shows to locals and visitors alike.