Reggae Sumfest boss Joe Bogdanovich has clarified the reasons behind Bounty Killer’s absence from this year’s festival, attributing it to business issues.
Speaking exclusively with World Music Views at the Reggae Sumfest 2024 launch at the Iberostar Resort in Montego Bay, Bogdanovich stated, “The reason why is because when it comes to the business, people just don’t get the right understanding of the business. That’s basically all it is.”
On Wednesday, Bounty Killer, whose real name is Rodney Price, announced that he would not be participating in Reggae Sumfest this year due to “circumstances beyond his control.” Additionally, a tribute scheduled for the “5 Star General” has been cancelled.
The cancellation follows Bounty Killer’s performance at the Sashi Festival’s return, held at Plantation Cove, St. Ann, on Saturday, May 25.
The Sashi Festival faced its own challenges, with the cancellation of headlining acts Keyshia Cole and Busta Rhymes, who were set to perform alongside Ne-Yo and rapper Jadakiss.
Reggae Sumfest revealed their official 2024 lineup, featuring eight events over seven days, with Beres Hammond, Babyface, Capleton, Beenie Man, Turbulence, Dexta Daps, and Teejay among the top acts.
The media launch was hosted by media personality Debbie Bissoon, with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett present, sharing numbers about the impact of Reggae Sumfest on tourism. The Mayor of Montego Bay, Richard Vernon, and producer Skatta Burrell, head of A&R at Downsound Entertainment, also spoke.
Founder of Reggae Sumfest, Robert Russell, who was announced as the deputy chairman of Downsound Records, also brought greetings via the vote of thanks. He spoke on the resilience of the festival which is celebrating 31 years this year stating that, “Many festivals have tried to copy Reggae Sumfest, but none have managed to do it like Reggae Sumfest.”
