CJ Milan

Founder & CEO of Reggae Fest & Epic League Entertainment

Described by The New York Times as a different type of turn up,” Milan’s Reggae Fest empire — which includes spin-off events, such as Reggae Fest Live, Reggae Fest Blaze, and Yacht Fete — has built a name for itself through its inclusive and sold-out experiences.

In the last eight years, the New York-based promoter has expanded her nightlife events from underground Brooklyn warehouse parties in the mid-2000s into an international nightlife movement, dubbed by Eventbrite as “the largest and fastest growing dance parties in the U.S.” 

Milan estimates that she has drawn roughly 300,000 people to Reggae Fest events since 2016 when she first introduced the brand onto the New York nightlife scene. It quickly expanded  from local venues such as Times Square's BB King’s into major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Orlando. 

Milan launched Yacht Fete in 2018, a series of dance parties aboard the Hornblower Infinity, New York City’s most exclusive and largest capacity yacht on the Hudson River.

In the last two years, she added Reggae Fest Blaze, an outdoor dance festival, and Reggae Fest Live, which features live performances from some of the biggest reggae, dancehall, soca, and afrobeats artists.

Private and collegiate events are also part of Milan’s brand. In 2019, her company Epic League Entertainment produced the Miyake Mugler Porcelain Ball at Time Square’s Playstation Theater, sponsored by Fenty Beauty with Rihanna in attendance. 

Epic League Entertainment also regularly produces concerts and events for elite universities, notably New York University and Yale University, the latter for which Milan has organized three annual Black Solidarity Conferences in 2018, 2019, and 2023.

Leveraging the culture of reggae and dancehall for an unforgettable experience, Milan has built a brand that consistently sells out venues with capacities ranging from 2000 to 5000, including NYC’s Rooftop at Pier 17, MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, and the Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore. Milan’s hard work and dedication further paid off in 2023 when Reggae Fest received its first-ever sponsorship by none other than ADIDAS, with plans of future sponsorships in the works.  

After years of hosting sold-out events stateside, Reggae Fest crossed international borders in 2023, bringing the vibes to Toronto’s acclaimed live music venue HISTORY, and quickly selling out the 2500 capacity location. 

Next up for Reggae Fest is the brand’s first-ever arena event over Labor Day weekend in 2024 at NYC’s Barclays Center; a feat accomplished in less than a decade after Reggae Fest’s incorporation. In July of 2024, Milan is collaborating with Culture Fest to put on a massive outdoor music festival in Washington, D.C., with an estimation of at least 15,000 attendees over the course of one day. Also in the works is the brand’s breakthrough into Europe next summer at London’s famed music venue, Electric Brixton. 

As a female in a male-dominated industry, Milan’s journey is a testament to her unwavering determination and leadership, proving that skill, ambition, and dedication knows no boundaries. The future is indeed bright for Reggae Fest and any endeavor that Milan gets involved with.