Joe Bagdonavich at Reggae Sumfest 2022.
Photo by Anthony “ER Guru” Turner
Reggae Sumfest Executive Producer and CEO Joe Bogdanovich says ticket sales for the summer festival, from Jul. 13 to Jul. 19, in Montego Bay, Jamaica are “moving along nicely.”
Bogdanovich told Caribbean Life on Tuesday, April 22, that since he launched Reggae Sumfest 2025 last Friday, ticket sales have been “off and running.”
“We got off to a late start, but sales are moving along nicely,” said Bogdanovich, who was recently in New York for Vybz Kartel’s historic back-to-back, sold-out concert at the Barclays Arena, downtown Brooklyn.
“Early Bird VVIP Centre Stage tickets for Friday night are now sold out, so, too, are Weekend Early Bird Ultra VIP Seat tickets,” he disclosed.
Asked about the “Vybz Kartel effect” on ticket sales for Festival Night 1, Friday, July 18, Bogdanovich said things were going better than expected.
“Friday is looking very strong, while Saturday is closing the gap daily since we launched on Friday at 6:00 p.m.,” he said.
Bogdanovich also said that online ticket sales have exceeded expectations, with strong support from international markets including the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, the USA and France.
“There’s no festival like Reggae Sumfest — it’s a different kind of cultural energy,” he said, stating that the festival’s marketing push “spans social media, online radio, the US Diaspora, and the official website and reggaesumfest.com, where fans can find details about the lineup, tickets, and more.
“Traditional promotion methods, such as flyers and posters in Diaspora communities are also being used,” he added.
As for the artists’ lineup for the 34th edition of Reggae Sumfest, Bogdanovich said more announcements are coming.
“We’re looking forward to announcing a surprise artist and other fun-loving elements that will add even more spice to this 34-year-strong reggae/dancehall celebration,” he said.
Bogdanovich stressed that Kartel will headline Friday night’s star-studded lineup, alongside Masicka, Tommy Lee Sparta, Govana, Skeng, D’Yani, Laden, Shaneil Muir, Young Wild Apache and Jah Fabio; while Saturday will feature Tarrus Riley, Protoje, Shenseea, Lala Ike, Fantan Mojah, I-Wayne, Pressure and Bugle.