| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Newark, NJ (September 10, 2024) – Iconic New York radio station WBLS will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary with DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! through a historic one-night-only musical experience showcasing five decades of definitive R&B and Hip Hop artists. This event, powered by SJ Presents, in collaboration with the Black Promoters Collective, will take place on Friday, November 8, 2024 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, uniting a legendary list of icons spanning generations. Celebrating WBLS’s rich legacy as a beacon of culture and music, the fifty-year milestone event will deliver bespoke performances, one-of-a-kind collaborative moments, and surprise appearances from special guests, all honoring the generations of music that have graced WBLS’ airwaves. The momentous lineup will feature superstars Charlie Wilson, Chaka Khan, Bobby Brown, SWV, Keyshia Cole, Jaheim, Anthony Hamilton, Hezekiah Walker, and others to be announced in the coming weeks. The roster will also feature The Furious Five, Roxanne Shante, Nice & Smooth, Black Sheep, Full Force, Shannon, Meli’sa Morgan, Fonda Rae, and Taana Gardner, all of whose profound cultural influence represents the station’s impact on both radio and New York, at large. Legendary DJs Marley Marl, Kool DJ Red Alert, and Chuck Chillout will also appear. “We’re excited to be throwing the party of the year on November 8th,” said Program Director Cynthia Smith. “For 29 years, I’ve been part of this brand, watching the station grow, engage with the community, celebrate cultural moments, and launch the careers of dozens of R&B artists. I’ve been looking forward to this event since we started planning it!” “Working with WBLS for over twenty years has been an incredible honor and privilege,” says Shelby Joyner, President of The Black Promoters Collective. “WBLS has been more than just a radio station; it has been a cultural institution, a voice for the community, and a bridge between generations of music lovers. Their dedication to uplifting Black music and artistry has been unmatched and celebrating their 50th anniversary with this monumental event is truly special.” “As an aspiring ten-year-old deejay growing up in New York City, WBLS was a foundational inspiration – my daily source of Hip Hop and R&B, my guide to all that was classic, and my blueprint for all that was cutting edge,” says DJ Cassidy. “I revered station icons Frankie Crocker and Mr. Magic, innovators who transformed the airwaves with a melting pot of pivotal music that transcended genre, breaking records of the day into anthems of today. Decades later, the station’s influence still rings loud across the city and even the globe. It will be my utmost honor to Pass The Mic Live to over twenty of my Hip Hop and R&B heroes to celebrate fifty years of WBLS, an undisputed cultural institution.” Tickets will be available for purchase via Ticketmaster and blackpromoterscollective.com, this Friday, September 13th. # # # ABOUT WBLS WBLS (107.5 FM), known as the World’s Best Looking Sound, has been America’s most recognizable Black radio station. A leader in Urban Adult Contemporary radio, WBLS is the #1 source for R&B, with a deep commitment to community engagement, making it a cultural cornerstone in the New York Tri-State area. With a reach of over 2.3 million listeners, WBLS commands a loyal audience, 60% of whom are between the ages of 25-54. It boasts an on-air talent roster of award-winning and internationally acclaimed personalities such as Steve Harvey, Ann Tripp, Déjà Vu, JusNik, Lenny Green, Donnie McClurkin, Dahved Levy, DJ Marley Marl, Kool DJ Red Alert, Chuck Chillout, Rev. Al Sharpton, Open Line, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, and more. WBLS remains the #1 source for R&B music, lifestyle, and essential community-focused information. It is owned by the multicultural media company MediaCo Holdings. ABOUT SJ PRESENTS SJ Presents Inc. has over 20 years of experience in the world of music and entertainment, concert production, and event/partnership marketing. SJ Presents is birthed from a brand that has produced and promoted sold-out concerts for legendary greats and fan favorites like Erykah Badu, H.E.R., Usher, Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Chaka Khan, Tyrese, Earth, Wind and Fire, New Edition, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and comedians Martin Lawrence, Monique, Tracy Morgan and Cedric the Entertainer. SJ Presents has worked alongside leading New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut venues, including Madison Square Garden, The Beacon Theater, Barclays Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Prudential Center, and The Bushnell Theater. SJ Presents builds and leverages complete 360-integrated marketing and promotional campaigns and makes it known that they are not only a concert production and promotion company but a lifestyle entertainment brand. For more information, visit www.sjpresentsinc.com. ABOUT THE BLACK PROMOTERS COLLECTIVE The Black Promoters Collective (BPC) is a coalition of six of the nation’s top independent concert promotion and event production companies. As a 100% Black-owned business, its mission is to be the world’s leading producer and provider of culturally relevant live entertainment experiences. To learn more, visit http://www.blackpromoterscollective.com. ABOUT DJ CASSIDY Grammy nominated performer and producer, DJ Cassidy, has been at the nexus of culture for over half his living years, as the definitive deejay of music impresarios, entertainment moguls, fashion icons, nightlife innovators, and world leaders. He’s notably performed at both of President Barack Obama’s Inaugurations, Barack and Michelle Obama’s 50th birthdays at the White House, Jay Z & Beyonce’s wedding, and countless affairs hosted by the most influential pop culture icons of our time, ranging from Oprah Winfrey to The Kardashians. With his beloved brand, DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic, the modern day maestro has transformed how we experience our favorite songs and our favorite artists. As he continues to seamlessly bridge generations through his globally beloved “Pass The Mic” series, DJ Cassidy is transformative in his unique ability to unite everyone, everywhere, through the spirit of celebration. DJ Cassidy has taken his show on the road with Pass the Mic Live! headlining sold out arenas nationwide, in addition to a historic event at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall in celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary. In July 2024, Cassidy brought the trailblazing experience to Las Vegas for an iconic one month residency at Planet Hollywood, featuring Hip Hop royalty Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Akon, Public Enemy, Jermaine Dupri, Too Short, and many more. Most recently, DJ Cassidy acted as the first musical maestro of the Democratic National Convention Roll Call, curating songs for all fifty seven U.S. states and territories, and conducting the groundbreaking seventy-five minute segment on live television viewed by fifty four million people. With the viral Roll Call becoming the most talked about moment of the entire convention, The Hollywood Reporter declares, “DJ Cassidy may have just changed the face of presidential politics forever.” For more information, visit http://www.djcassidy.com. WBLS Celebrating 50th Anniversary with DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! on November 8 |
