TONY Rebel, conceptualiser of two-day music festival Rebel Salute, says the plethora of booking agents and international media at this year’s staging has boosted Brand Jamaica on the world stage.

“Booking agents still come to Rebel Salute to book artistes. That’s what they do from long time. Rebel Salute is that spring board that catapults our artistes. They were here from California, Spain, Germany and Italy,” Tony Rebel told the Jamaica Observer on Monday.

“A whole heap a foreign media come. When they go back and tell the story of Jamaica, a lot of people come to visit. The Jamaica Tourist Board and the culture will benefit so the culture is being established more…We wish every aspect of the country would tell such a clean and inspirational story like Rebel Salute,” he continued.

The event ran January 20 and 21 at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann.

Ghanaian artiste Stonebwoy was one of the headliners on night two. Tony Rebel noted that the African lived up to his billing — although he might not have surpassed what Burna Boy was able to achieve back in December.

“I think Burna Boy is a bit more popular in Jamaica. But, Stonebwoy has his own fans and draws his own crowd,” he said.

Night Two also had favourites including Sanchez, Queen Ifrica, Teejay, and Beenie Man. The organiser conceded that more patrons turned out the second night, as they do every year.

“Second night was bigger. It just got bigger. A lot of people watched on the livestream on Friday. On a Friday night, people just come from work and they’re tired, so Saturday night is when more people turn out,” he said.

Plans are already underway for the 30th anniversary, which will be January 19-20, 2024.