THE QUEEN OF HIP-HOP SOUL, MARY J. BLIGE, & PEPSI ®
TAKEOVER NEW YORK CITY FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL
STRENGTH OF A WOMAN FESTIVAL AND SUMMIT
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LIVE NATION URBAN
MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND MAY 10-12, 2024
PRESALE TICKETS GO LIVE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6 – THURSDAY, MARCH 7,
WITH CODE “STRENGTH”
GENERAL TICKET SALES BEGIN FRIDAY, MARCH 8 AT 10A.M. ET.
March 6, 2024, New York, New York – Today, GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated artist, actress, producer, and entrepreneur Mary J. Blige and Pepsi proudly announce the third annual Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit, in partnership with Live Nation Urban, is coming to the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul’s home…… the Big Apple, New York City. There will be three days devoted to music, comedy, female empowerment sessions, keynote speakers and more.
In celebration of Women’s History Month (March), presale tickets go live Wednesday, March 6 – Thursday, March 7, with code STRENGTH, while general ticket sales begin Friday, March 8 at 10a.m. ET. For tickets and schedule, visit: www.soawfestival.com.
Created and curated by the iconic GRAMMY award-winning singer and songwriter, Mary J. Blige, Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit is the only festival experience in the market, brought to you exclusively by an all-Black, female team, and will arrive this spring to the birthplace of Hip-Hop, New York City. After selling out in less than 72 hours last year, the festival will bring, what is sure to be, iconic moments with three incredible nights of music and entertainment, featuring a concert at Barclays with performances by Mary J. Blige and special guests 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Muni Long, Lola Brooke, and Funk Flex; a Comedy Show featuring Tiffany Haddish, Don’t Call me White Girl, and Paris Sashay; Jazz Concert with Robert Glasper; and wrapping up an incredible weekend with a Gospel Brunch, hosted by Mary J. Blige, and Gospel Concert headlined by The Clark Sisters with Femme It Forward.
“I’m so excited to bring our Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit to my hometown, New York City, a place that has always been a huge source of inspiration for me,” said Mary J. Blige, Founder of Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit. “Having the opportunity to continue to uplift, inspire, and build within my community is the reason I created this festival. I’m so grateful for all the support from our performers, attendees, and of course, our partners Live Nation Urban and Pepsi. Nobody does it like New York, so get ready.”
This year’s festival will have an expanded footprint across the New York City boroughs, aiming to create even more opportunities for women and underrepresented groups, to find community and joy.
After an extremely successful launch in 2022, and the overwhelming feedback from attendees, the festival is set to deliver bigger, better and more impactful programming at this year’s Summit, being held on Saturday, May 11 at The Glasshouse.
The Strength of a Woman Summit, hosted by Angie Martinez, will empower and engage with women and will include inspiring programming, pivotal panels, keynote speakers, workshops, and much more!
As a 9x GRAMMY award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, producer, philanthropist and global superstar, Mary J. Blige has dedicated the majority of her career to amplifying and giving voice to BIPOC women, through the art of music and truth-telling. This multi-touchpoint festival, which focuses on music, wellness, tech, beauty and financial literacy, is the evolution of her life’s mission and purpose.
The Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit is engaging with women more than ever before and returns as the go-to destination for inspiring programming, musical performances, comedy, and much more! Following the success of last year, the festival will continue to remain dedicated to curating a safe haven for women, led and assembled by women that sustain the festival’s inaugural blueprint.
Presented by Pepsi, the festival’s inaugural partner returns to support Blige and her impactful work on and off the stage, in a shared mission to inspire and empower the next generation of women. Pepsi will once again bring its powerful platform to the production and event experience across the festival, bringing delicious food by local Black female restaurateurs to the fan experience through Pepsi Dig In—a platform designed to provide visibility, resources and awareness to Black restaurateurs.
“As a brand rooted in celebrating culture and music and uplifting communities, Pepsi is honored to return as presenting partner and co-producer of the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit, continuing our shared vision with Mary to elevate and empower women. The festival’s move to New York City, Pepsi’s own backyard, provides an even larger stage to highlight and support more remarkable women in the community. As it moves into its third year, the festival’s continued success is a testament to Mary’s impact and the power of amplifying Black women and their voices,” said Kent Montgomery, Senior Vice President, PepsiCo Industry Relations and Multicultural Development.
Attend and support the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit in New York City this Spring. Here is the Strength of a Woman Festival schedule of programming and events:
Friday, May 10, 2024
Comedy Show
The Apollo Theatre
Performances by Tiffany Haddish, Don’t Call me White Girl, and Paris Sashay
Jazz Concert
Blue Note Jazz Club
Performance by Robert Glasper
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Strength of a Woman Summit
The Glasshouse
Hosted by Angie Martinez
Strength of a Woman Concert
Barclays
Performances by Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Muni Long, Lola Brooke, and Funk Flex
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Gospel Brunch
Brooklyn Chophouse in Times Square
Hosted by Mary J. Blige
Gospel Concert
Brooklyn Paramount
Performance by The Clark Sisters with Femme It Forward
For more information, please visit soawfestival.com.
For media interested in covering the Festival and Summit, you may access the media credential application here.
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company composed of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. Live Nation Urban (LNU) is a partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company. Specifically focusing on Hip-Hop, R&B and Gospel, LNU builds platforms, events, and festivals globally and develops dynamic content strategies based upon the live properties created. Live Nation Urban considers itself the most powerful source for live urban music. For additional information, visit www.livenationurban.com.
About Miatta Johnson and Massah David of MVD Inc.
MVD Inc is an internationally acclaimed creative production agency led by co-founders and sisters Miatta Johnson and Massah David. The agency has redefined the perception of brand experiences, creating immersive spaces that push boundaries and captivate audiences.
Boasting an impressive portfolio of global brands in music, film, fashion, and technology, MVD Inc has been a creative force for brands like Netflix, Universal Music Group, ESSENCE, The Recording Academy, and many more. This duo impressively captures audiences with innovative creativity and strategic storytelling, making a lasting impact in the industry.
SOAW Press Contact:
Strategic Heights Media
Simone Smalls
Michelle Huff Elliott
Jesse Metres
Live Nation Urban Press Contact:
The Oriel Co.
Nina Lee
Carleen Donovan