Essence Music Festival Still Going Strong After Nearly 2 Decades

Almost 19 years after Essence magazine launched its first festival in New Orleans to "party with a purpose" and celebrate black culture, music and people, the Associated Press reports that Essence Fest may be facing new competition. Suggested Reading The Heartbreaking Reason Gabrielle Union Lets Money Dictate Her Choice in Roles Nick Cannon Was Asked…

Almost 19 years after Essence magazine launched its first festival in New Orleans to "party with a purpose" and celebrate black culture, music and people, the Associated Press reports that Essence Fest may be facing new competition.

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Like Essence this weekend, last weekendโ€™s BET Experience, held in Los Angeles, had Beyonce as a headliner. It also had panels discussing topics important to the community and spanned a three-day weekend โ€” a format Essence until recently had used for years.

But Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc., said the similarities end there.ย 

โ€œYes, thereโ€™s some overlap,โ€ Ebanks acknowledged. โ€œBut weโ€™re relentlessly focused on our community and serving the black woman like no one else does or can because sheโ€™s worth it. Thatโ€™s our goal and we believe we do that better than anyone else.โ€

So far thereโ€™s no sign that the BET Experience โ€” a celebrity-driven lead-in to the cable networkโ€™s BET Awards show โ€” is taking away from the Essence experience in New Orleans.ย 

The cityโ€™s hotels are showing healthy bookings, and music fans are ready to party. Many are arriving early to catch the Essence Festivalโ€™s outdoor celebration on the riverfront on Thursday.

Read more at the Washington Post.

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