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 3 Ways to Think Like a Businessman, According to Executive Walter Davis Tragedy Left MTV Reality…

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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3 Ways to Think Like a Businessman, According to Executive Walter Davis
3 Ways to Think Like a Businessman, According to Executive Walter Davis

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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