Lebanese singer Fares Karam has said he is surprised by reports that he "dominates" Lebanese folk music, saying: “The stage is available for all, and anybody who wants to be a star should work to convince people of their talent which will lead to the love and support of fans.” Karam denied managing and manipulating the industry and fans to exclude competitors and new artists from the folk genre, stating “people choose the voice that they love and the song they prefer”. He added his principles would not allow him to "exclude others from success”.