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Jill Scott, Migos, Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), Jidenna and many more perform at ONE MusicFest 2017

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One MusicFest

ONE MusicFest 2017 Featuring Jill Scott, Migos, Jidenna, Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, & More

 

 

 

Over 20,000 attendees traveled to experience ONE MusicFest, the Southeast’s largest urban music and arts festivalin Atlanta, GA. Celebrating nearly a decade of incredible music and art, ONE Musicfest boasts its most diverse and dynamic lineup yet this year. Celebrating with a pre-festival concert, fans enjoyed performances by Thundercat, J.I.D, Ari Lennox and Noname at the Tabernacle Atlanta. Then ONE Musicfest took over Lakewood Amphitheater for 11 hours of nonstop music on two performance stages and three DJ stages. Headline artists included A-list superstars: Jill Scott, Yasiin bey (formerly known as Mos Def) in his farewell performance, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, 8Ball & MJG, Pastor Troy, Jidenna, Kaytranada, Too $hort, Tank and the Bangas, and more.

 

 

Founded by Jason Carter, ONE Musicfest has been one of Southeast’s largest home-grown, musical arts festival to date including over 20,000 plus attendees. Carter has brought Atlanta music lovers the best and the brightest urban alternative acts performing in a welcoming, hospitable setting, creating an atmosphere where everyone can enjoy and discover music. Atlanta City Council presented J. Carter and the ONE Musicfest organizers with a City Proclamation announcing September 9th as officially ONE Musicfest Day in Atlanta, Ga.

 

“There is a lack of representation for soul, progressive hip-hop, alternative and rock, represented under one roof, in the format of music festivals in Atlanta”, states J Carter, ONE Musicfest Producer. “We have noticed that while there are many pockets of individuals that share taste in the same music, rarely do you see them share in this together. ONE Musicfest was created with the idea of ‘music as the universal language’. Over time we aim to grow this fest into a phenomenon and bring together different sectors of individuals through a unique music platform.”

 

This year, ONE Musicfest set out in hopes to unify the community through music. ONE Musicfest is the only place to see this roster of incredible acts join together for ONE purpose – which was to witness a wide variety of sounds, from rock to hip-hop, electro, reggae, funk, disco, house, alternative and soul while having your musical senses stimulated. ONE Musicfest’s main focus was to create a roster of performers that would be enjoyable for multiple generations. “It is an honor to curate this festival line-up year after year with musical legends while also showcasing emerging artists to a sold out crowd in a city with a rich music legacy”, states Cynthia Charles, Festival Director and Lead Talent Buyer.

 

For more information, visit www.ONEMusicfest.com and join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram via @ONEMusicfest and #OMF2017.

 

 

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BET MEDIA GROUP HONORED BLACK LGBTQ+ TRAILBLAZER WITH A POWERFUL NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

FROM BOB THE DRAG QUEEN’S GROUNDBREAKING RECOGNITION TO HOPE GISELLES’S INSPIRING REMARKS– THE 3RD ANNUAL BET BLACK + ICONIC SOIREE HIGHLIGHTED THE BRILLIANCE AND IMPACT OF BLACK LGBTQ+ LEADERS

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(New York, NY)– May 28, 2025 – The 3rd Annual BET Black + Iconic Soirée made its Washington, D.C debut with inspiring evening celebrating the past, present, and future of black LGBTQ+ excellence. The 2025 theme, “Excellence Ascending,” paid tribute to cultural change makers leading with authenticity, courage and purpose.

Hosted by entertainment journalist and Access Hollywood anchor Scott Evans, the Soirée gathered trailblazers across activism, arts, business, and media for a powerful evening of storytelling , performance, and legacy-building.

Highlights from the BET Black + Iconic Soriée Included:
  • Ashlee Davis, J.D. received the Executive Realness Award for her trailblazing work in civil rights leadership, including her legacy of impact across government and corporate sectors.
  • Hope Giselle, a powerful advocate and author was named Emerging leader for her unrelenting work championing visibility and inclusion for Black trans communities.
  • Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, was honored as Active Advocate for her decades of leadership advancing reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ rights.
  • Ashlee Marie Preston, a nationally recognized activist and media strategist, accepted the Creative Visionary Award, saluted for using her voice to shift narratives and build intergenerational coalitions.
  • Bob the Drag Queen, Emmy-winning entertainer and global icon, received the Culture Trailblazer Award, closing the evening with a heartfelt speech about identity, freedom, legacy.
  • The Center for Black Equity and the Take Resource Center each received $5,000 through the BET Thrive Fund Recognition, honored for their work advancing Black LGBTQ+ wellness, equity and community organizing.

The night also featured a soul-stirring medley performance by Broadway powerhouse Avery Wilson, fresh off stage from The Wiz revival. Presenters included Eva Marcille (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Carter The Body (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Bryan Terrell Clark (Diarra from Detroit, BET+), and Arrington Foster (The Family Business, BET+), each bringing star power and heartfelt tributes to the evening’s honorees.

“From the very beginning, we knew this couldn’t be just another event,” said Tiyale Hayes, EVP of Insights and Multiplatform Analytics and Co-Lead of Social Impact at BET, During his opening remarks. “It had to an intentional space to uplift stories too often silenced and celebrate contributions that have shaped the world in powerful ways.”

The evening also spotlighted Gilead Sciences, a long standing partner of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée. Gilead’s Rashad Burgess, Vice President of U.S. Advocacy and Health Equity, emphasized and the importance of equitable healthcare access, visibility, and long-term impact for Black LGBTQ+ communities.

Additionally, the event welcomed Truth Initiative as a new partner of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée. Dr. Kendrick Dartis, Vice president of Outreach and Engagement, addressed the urgent issue of tobacco use in Black and LGBTQ+ communities and emphasized the need for culturally relevant cessation support. He also announced a $5,000 BET Thrive Fund donation, sponsored by Truth Initiative, to Us Helping Us– a D.C.- based non profit dedicated to advancing health equity.

BET Black + Iconic Soirée stands as defining moment in the 45th anniversary year of the media group– underscoring its mission to center Black culture, honor its LGBTQ+ communities, and drive meaningful, measurable impact.

Join the conversation using #BlackAndIconic and relieve the nights most powerful moments on BET’s official social channels. The Televised premiere date and time will be announced at a later date.

ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ:PARAA;PARA), is the worlds largest media company dedicated too entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Back audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international. For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements visit bet pressroom.com.

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