SINGLE DAY TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
FOR FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND-LONG CELEBRATION (JULY 2, 3 AND 4) IN NEW
ORLEANS

NEW YORK, May 6
/PRNewswire/ — As ESSENCE celebrates its 40th anniversary, this year’s
ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is presenting three female
headliners who are icons emblematic of the ESSENCE brand.  Each night of
the fourth of July weekend-long
celebration in New Orleans will
conclude with a headlining performance from these powerful women: Janet Jackson (Friday,
July 2), Alicia Keys (Saturday, July 3) and Mary
J. Blige (Sunday, July 4).  This
year’s multi-generational list of performers also features some of
today’s greatest African-American artists and also honors the local
music of New Orleans (full
night-by-night line-up is below).  

Throughout the weekend,
EMF attendees are invited to free daily seminars featuring some of the
biggest names in entertainment and the nation’s most influential
speakers, artists, authors and leaders. The matching of the day-long
experiences with live music late into the evening–all set against the
classic backdrop of New Orleans–makes
for a truly unique weekend.  

Each night, music fans
will gather at the Superdome and this year for three nights of
entertainment hosted by “Nephew Tommy” from the number one
syndicated rated radio show, The Steve Harvey Morning Show.  On
Saturday, festival participant Steve Harvey
will serve as co-host for the evening’s musical celebrations.

The 2010 ESSENCE MUSIC
FESTIVAL night-by-night line-up (as of 5/6) is as follows:

Friday, July 2:  Main stage: Janet Jackson, Charlie
Wilson, Raphael Saadiq, Monica.  Superlounges:
Chrisette Michele, Irma Thomas, Arrested Development, Big Sam’s
Funky Nation, Mary Mary, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz
Orchestra, WAR, Little Freddie King, Ruben
Studdard.

Saturday, July 3:  Main stage: Alicia Keys, Gladys
Knight, LL Cool J, Keri Hilson.   Superlounges:
Laura Izibor, Sam & Ruby, De La Soul, Mint Condition, Leo Jackson & Melody Clouds, Joe, Rebirth
Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band.

Sunday, July 4:  Main stage: Mary
J Blige, Earth Wind & Fire, Jill Scott,
Trey Songz.  Superlounges: Estelle, Hot 8 Brass Band, Lalah Hathaway, Ivan
Neville‘s Dumpstaphunk, Shamarr Allen
and The Underdawgs, Melanie Fiona, PJ
Morton Band, Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ
Swingers.

For those who haven’t
yet purchased weekend passes for the 2010 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL, single
day tickets go on sale Thursday, May 6
and are priced from $53–$212 per person per night.   Meanwhile, weekend
packages ranging from $159–$636 per person continue to offer music fans
the best way to enjoy a full three days of entertainment.

For additional
information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about
the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL, visit www.essencemusicfestival.com.
 For the most updated information on the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL’s
weekend long festivities, please visit Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ESSENCE-Music-Festival/42125257610?ref=ts)
and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/essencemusic).
 

The presenting sponsor
for the 2010 Essence Music Festival is Coca-Cola.   Other 2010 sponsors
include Coors Light, CoverGirl Queen, Ford, McDonald’s, Olay, Pantene,
Tide, and U.S. Army;  AARP, CNN, HBO, My Black
is Beautiful, TBS, TVOne.

The 2010 ESSENCE MUSIC
FESTIVAL is executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC and produced by
Rehage Entertainment. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence
Communications Inc. (ECI).

ABOUT ESSENCE
COMMUNICATIONS INC.:

Essence Communications
Inc. (ECI) is the number one media and communications company dedicated
to African-American women.  With a multi-platform presence in
publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is “Where Black
Women Come First”.  The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE
magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American
women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival,
ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood,
Window on Our WomenSmart Beauty I, II
& III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and
ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 40 years,
ESSENCE magazine, which has a brand reach of over 8 million, has been
the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of
African-American women’s lives.  Additional information about ECI and
ESSENCE is available at www.essence.com. (WOW I & II) and

Essence Communications, Inc.