Peter Thomas to host Music Festival in MoBay!

In May, the Peter Thomas Entertainment Group will launch the first annual VIBE International Music Festival & Lifestyle Conference in Montego Bay. The recently opened Montego Bay Convention Centre will be the base of operations for the conference and music festival. The five-day event will take place from May 26 to 30.

Originally conceived in 1993 as 'How Can I Be Down?' (HCIBD?) by Thomas to provide industry insiders with a venue to network, learn and showcase their talents, products and services, the conference has evolved into the number-one urban entertainment, marketing and lifestyle conference.

The new conference is updated, re-imagined and redesigned. It will encompass all facets of the urban and entertainment industry: fashion, film, digital and multi-media and, of course, the source from which all else flows, hip-hop music.

The conference will address emerging and non-traditional industry sectors, providing industry insiders with the information and resources to evolve in to dynamic, multi-dimensional music entertainment companies. The conference will provide insightful and pivotal information on music downloads, broadcast and broadband video, podcasting, ad-supported audio, advertising and fashion branding.

"The urban hip-hop lifestyle and entrepreneurial spirit is not just transforming the music world, it's transforming the world," Thomas said. He pointed out that each day of the conference will offer intense, highly informative and entertaining workshops and panel discussions. Supply chain vendors from digital studio equipment and digital download stores will populate common areas giving attendees the opportunity to familiarise themselves with some of these new distribution channels. In addition, each night will provide participants with the opportunity to make key industry contacts and linkages at the lavish dinners and networking events.

The opening ceremony will feature a keynote address from our chairman, Russell Simmons. There will also be a celebrity golf tournament with actor-comedian turned author Steve Harvey and a host of golf fanatics at the White Witch Golf Course, Rose Hall.

Peter Thomas is a renowned entrepreneur and is the owner of the Atlanta's Uptown Restaurant and Lounge. He is married to Cynthia Bailey of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.