New York, NY – VIBE Magazine joined forces with Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin to announce the details of the 1st Annual VIBE MusicFest, the century’s hottest new music festival taking place June 10-12, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia. Housed in the city’s state of the art event facility, the Georgia World Congress Center and Georgia Dome, this 3-day cultural and musical experience will include an array of activities, bringing the style and flair of VIBE magazine to life.

The MusicFest will feature icons of the music industry, bringing the best in R&B, hip-hop, world music and gospel to Atlanta, GA. This year’s main stage performers at the Georgia Dome will include an exciting combination of Grammy Award winners, multi-platinum selling artists and hot comedians such as multi-Grammy Award winners Kanye West, Big Boi of Outkast, and Ludacris, old school rap phenomenon Doug E Fresh, comedian Tommy Davidson as well as a list of the nation’s hottest talent including TI, Faith Evans, John Legend, and an array of up and coming performers such as Keyshia Cole. Many more exciting main-stage performers will be announced in the coming weeks, along with a night-by-night breakdown of artist performances. Tickets will go on-sale at 10am EST on April 2nd and can be purchased at the Georgia Dome Box office and online at www.ticketmaster.com and via phone at ticketmaster, 1.800.326.4000.

“Atlanta is a city with a rich history of great musical traditions; we are thrilled that the first VIBE MusicFest will join that cultural legacy. We have diverse musical and cultural appetites here in Atlanta, so we look forward to experiencing the sounds and excitement this festival is sure to
bring,” said Mayor Shirley Franklin.

True to the spirit of Black Music Month, the VIBE MusicFest will celebrate the impact of black music and entertainment on the fabric of universal culture through a series of daytime events in the famed Georgia World Congress Center and the International Plaza. While the nights will be filled with sounds from the nation’s hottest vocalists, the scenic mix of outside/inside event space at the GWCC, will be the site of an array of daytime events where MusicFest participants will experience a diverse number of exhibits designed to bring the pages of VIBE to life with activities that include: a food fair that will appeal to any palette, a book fair, an interactive game and technology experience, fashion and beauty make-overs, and music showcases featuring the industry’s hottest up and coming talent and old school groove artists. Fest fans will also have the rare opportunity to meet their favorite musical artists, celebrities, comedians and sports icons face to face.

As an added attraction, VIBE will also kick off an informative panel and seminar series featuring senior level professionals and inspirational speakers from music and entertainment related industries as well as politics, business and academia.

“We are so excited to celebrate Black Music Month with a festival in Atlanta, a city that represents the very best in music today,” says VIBE President Kenard Gibbs. “The VIBE MusicFest will attract not only Atlanta residents, but also VIBE readers from across the country and will showcase the ultimate in urban music and lifestyle,” says VIBE Editor-in-Chief Mimi Valdes.

“We are very happy to welcome VIBE MusicFest to Atlanta,” said Spurgeon Richardson, president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. “As home to some of the hottest acts in music today, and as the number one destination for African-American travelers, Atlanta is a perfect host for this festival. We look forward to what we hope will be the first of many VIBE MusicFests.

ABOUT VIBE
Founded in 1993 by music legend Quincy Jones, VIBE magazine is the preeminent brand in urban music and culture. With a guaranteed circulation of 850,000 readers, VIBE, a monthly, reaches an audience of over 8 million. Published by Vibe/Spin Ventures LLC, a leading music/lifestyle media company that also publishes Spin magazine, VIBE recently won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in its circulation division. The win marked the first time a magazine with a primarily black readership won in the General Excellence category.

CONTACT: Elaine Garza / (c) 917-693-7064, (w) 212-231-7471 / egarza@vibespin.com