Reggae Sumfest to leverage the reach of Realvibez Media to promote the 16th Annual show

Realvibez has signed on as the official web partner of Reggae Sumfest 2008, the largest multi-day Reggae festival in the Caribbean, now in its 16th year.

We have created a microsite at www.realvibez.com/reggaesumfest that is home to video clips from previous events, music playlists from performers, a blog and the ability for users to sign up for mobile text alerts. Realvibez will also serve custom advertisements based on a visitor’s country and language in order to effectively leverage the global nature of Reggae’s appeal.

Realvibez Media, the parent company of Realvibez.com, will also leverage strategic partnerships with major social networking sites. As the only Caribbean media partner with these sites, Realvibez’s channels are exposed to a potential audience of over 70 million users, the largest of any Caribbean media company. Video clips will be promoted during the next few months on these channels, gaining additional international exposure for Reggae Sumfest. Realvibez Media will also create and manage a digital strategy, including a MySpace profile, Facebook Fan Page and Youtube channel.

“We are excited to take advantage of the opportunity to work with a leading venture like Realvibez,” said Johnny Gourzong, CEO of Summerfest Productions, producers of Reggae Sumfest. “Realvibez gives us the ability to leverage the power of online portals and the unique capabilities of the web for marketing and promotions, especially with their ability to serve different ads based on a visitors’ country and language.”

“Realvibez has the largest potential audience of any Caribbean media company and we are glad to work with forward-thinking partners,” said David Mullings, CEO of Realvibez Media, the parent company of Realvibez.com. “Our goal has always been to expose good Caribbean music to the World and Reggae Sumfest is among the best partners to facilitate this dream.”

Confirmed performers for Reggae Sumfest 2008 include a who’s who list: Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel, Busy Signal, Wayne Marshall, Brick and Lace, Sizzla, Mavado, Busy Signal, Richie Spice, Etana, Taurus Riley, Queen Ifrica and more.

Realvibez.com/reggaesumfest is already live and content will be added on a regular basis.

KINGSTON JAMAICA – May 9, 2008. Concert of the Year and Promoter of the Year were two coveted awards won by Reggae Sumfest and Summerfest Productions at the 27th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) on Sunday, May 4 at the Apollo Theater in the historic Harlem, New York, beating out several large international Reggae concerts which also vied for this honour.

IRAWMA established in 1982, outlines its mission as that of acknowledging and honouring the accomplishments and contributions of entertainers in the categories of Reggae, Caribbean and other World music. Its intent ; to provide a forum for songwriters, performer and musicians to be recognised for their artistic efforts and achievements with the overall objective of promoting greater participation and acceptance of Reggae, Caribbean and World music globally. With 28 years under its belt, IRAWMA is well recognized as the industry’s oldest and most prestigious event in its chosen category. The ceremony has been staged in many major US cities as well as in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The public is able to vote for their favourite nominee in each category on the internet.

An ecstatic Johnny Gourzong, executive director of Summerfest Productions, commented on receiving the awards, "We are of course extremely proud to have been awarded Concert of the Year and Promoter of the Year. As you know Reggae Sumfest is now celebrating its 16th year, and over the years we have always put Jamaica’s finest performers on stage along with highly acclaimed international acts. Our production standards are also first class. We do extensive marketing and we have put together an excellent team to ensure that all the necessary elements are executed in the most effective way. We are therefore very happy to see our efforts recognized by our global audience and awarded by the International Reggae and World Music Awards”.

Entertainers from the reggae and soca worlds turned out in their fineries to mingle with media and industry friends, of course with the hope of winning one of the coveted awards. Over 40 awards were given out to various artistes

Machel Montano of Trinidad and Tobago copped three coveted awards; Bob Marley Entertainer of the Year, Most Outstanding Stage Personality of the Year and Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer awards. Beenie man emerged as Recording Artiste of the Year while Etana came away with the Best Female Vocalist and Tarrus Riley, the Best Male Vocalist of the Year.