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Joe Bogdanovich Bought Reggae Sumfest Now The New Chairman

Downsounds Records CEO, Joe Bogdanovich, is the new chairman of Summerfest Productions, the promoter behind the annual Reggae Sumfest music festival in Jamaica.

Bogdanovich has been rumored for weeks to be partnering with with the Sumfest to attract a bigger audience for the show this year. But now former chairman Robert Russell, has confirmed that the American businessman is taking over the reigns of the company after reaching a deal three weeks ago.

“We needed some new pairs of eyes with new energy,” Russell said. “He has a wealth of experience and lots of contacts, both here and overseas, as well as some visionary ideas, including streaming the festival in 3D. This will be the first time it’ll be done. It’s going to be amazing. Also, we’re looking at doing a North American tour.”

Johnny Gourzong will remain the shows executive producer and Tina Davis the festival manager.

Robert Russell also assures patrons that the Reggae Sumfest format will remain the same and that the show will not become a dancehall based show despite Bogdanovich’s heavy ties in dancehall through Downsound Records.

“The show will basically remain the same,” Russel said. “We may have sound system play-off on the Thursday night at Pier One, but we’re still in the planning stages,” he said.

Joe Bogdanovich is the head of Downsound Records and also major shareholder in Kingston Live Entertainment Group, the company behind Famous Nightclub in Portmore and Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records in Kingston.

Reggae Sumfest held its first show back in 1993 and grown into the biggest reggae show in the world featuring both local and international acts like Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Sean Paul, Buju Banton, Beyonce, Rihanna, Usher, Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, R Kelly, Ne-Yo and more.

Reggae Sumfest 2016 will be held on July 17-23 at the Catherine Hall entertainment complex in Montego Bay.

11 Comments

  1. A who dah man deh?

  2. Honestly who is he ? Where did he come from ? Russia ? How did he get involved with dancehall ?

    • no, California. and he has been around forever, co owner of sting,etc. .corporate American who owned lots of companies, and also worked at NYSE…. did a whole lot for dancehall and reggae in Jamaica. is this really first time u hearing of him??

      • Yes lol seriously. I was just curious on his background. Why Jamaica ? What made him so infatuated with reggae and dancehall ?

      • I don’t know if ‘infatuated’ is the word, but reggae/dancehall is genesis of all modern music, why not? Perhaps same reason Chris Blackwell made Marley?

  3. i cant be mad at him, i actually expected this. I hope ppl are not outraged when foreigners continue to buy out JA, the JA govt does not support its music, they are sitting on gold and refuse to acknowledge it (first they embraced pop music, then soca), but foreigners are gonna take over all of those lucrative things that JA govt takes for granted.

    I cant even be frustrated with the foreigners any more, dancehall is next (its vulnerable and waiting for some1 to take control, shame seh it wont be Jcan ppl), and sadly they will make soooo much money off of it you wouldnt believe.

  4. someone please tell me who the hell this guy is. why can’t a JAMAICAN person own it.. like wtf or is he JAMAICAN? I have no desire to google him.

    • Jamaicans who have to means to buy this product have elected not to. Please stop being so naive. This man has been in Jamaica doing more for our people and this country. Way more than most Jamaicans with the same or greater means have been willing to do.

    • cuz clearly , Jamaican never wanted to own it.thats why pinnacle is pinnacle and chronixx got yeezys on

  5. Beyoncé and Rihanna at Sumfest? stop playing?