A Love Letter to Essence Music Festival from a New Orleans Girl
1995 called, she wants her vision back….These are my confessions.
An Open Letter to Essence Music Festival
Dear Essence Marie Festival,
I'm writing this while watching Don Lemon's coverage of New Orleans, he has me in a chokehold, celebrating everything New Orleans has to offer. The way he leans into every syllable of "Baby" like he's drinking a BOW WOW on instagram at Neyows restaurant.. It was hilarious watching our city light up and be the star of the show. He's getting tourists ready to book a flight to Nawlins. Don was the first person I heard mention NBA Youngboy. Never heard of him before, Don. The man's doing a whole TED Talk on the spirit of resilience and survival after Corporate America.. I'm taking notes. Don should be KING of a parade. Essence, let me be clear: this is a love letter. The real kind. The Mary J. Blige kind of love. The kind you write when something you cherish is struggling, and you know in your heart it can be better. I had to spin the block on this conversation before the new year. I see these expensive tickets are being sold without artists again. Now, New Orleans is one of the vibiest cities, but we need more.
As a New Orleanian who's been attending Essence Music Festival since I was twenty one, I've watched this event become part of our city's rhythm. Every July, like clockwork, Essence came home. We'd hit Canal Place and the local malls, carefully curating our festival looks, buzzing with anticipation. The people watching and fashion bomb daily looks are the star of the show. What happened to all of the white on Sundays? Let’s bring that back ….Come to New Orleans dressed to impress, like a well dressed po boy, but for every season. I won't lie, I've been meaning to write this for a while now. So here it is: I am using my inside voice with some honest thoughts and tips from someone who's been there from the beginning, because I believe Essence can reclaim its magic. For the record, my entire blog is my inside voice. Last year was a hot mess, girl. I have been venting on Threads and I have also been reading about the common concerns and discourse about Essence. Most of the Threads around Essence come across as Content Creators inquiring about press trips and locally creators wanted to know how to get involved. Many local creators have their own ‘Essence’ themed events. Why can’t we collaborate more? Essence is for the aunties and the creators that yall send in are not aunties…in my opinion. Zone in on the older generation a little. That would be Gen X now. Honestly, Essence is better without those press trips. I do want those girlies and guys to visit and I have so many recs. New Orleans is a laid back town. That’s why Frankie Beverly and Maze did so well here. We don’t need the velvet ropes here. I wish brands like Kensington Grey Agency would be a little more inclusive with New Orleans girls. There are very few creators here with over one hundred thousand followers. That is their client base, but I feel like they can do more to give back to the culture of creativity. We Love Us! Be transparent and communicative about where you will be and what you are looking for. Use New Orleans to set the stage. We will support that. Engage with the local creators here. You would be surprised what a little hello will get you..I get kicked out that hotel lobby at Virgin every year for them. They are always really soft and nice about it. I was one of the first creators to have a staycation at that hotel and they kick me out every year for creators. Why don’t we have a Kensington type firm in New Orleans? I get so upset that we have to constantly pull from outside when all of the Magic is right in the city. Why do we have to pull Creators from outside the city? Do we need a therapy session? Let’s recruit internally, in our market, then ask externals for help. New Orleans has tons of great Creators for Essence to partner with. It’s up to them to engage with the people in the city. I started reposting many of the Creators works that often get overlooked.
Why Essence Marie, because Marie is the most popular middle name in New Orleans. Chile, for Creole New Orleanians pre-1910s, women commonly used Marie as their first name followed by the second common name. After the 1910s, when English became the norm in schools, the trend reversed: Marie became a middle name with English-speaking names used as first names. Chile, Marie wasn't just common, it was THE traditional naming pattern for Catholic Creole women in New Orleans. The practice shifted from Marie as a first name (like Marie-Louise, Marie-Anne) to Marie as a middle name after 1910. My middle name is Marie. Marie is a beautiful nod to the city's Creole heritage. We want Essence Marie back! My middle name is Marie. Marie is the kind of girl that does not beg for attention, like New Orleans. She demands presence. The kind that teaches grace and has an authentic history. Back to my story..
Before the Music Stopped
Before the music stopped, we were so magical. Black Girl Magic. Dope Girl Magic like Tank without the Bangas.. All the things. I am talking nostalgia and power of a Southern Black Owned Festival in New Orleans. 1995 was the year we built US. You were a community investment. Guess what, 1995 called, she wants her vision back. We want Marie back. We want to return to the roots of Essence. Did that movie Girls Trip create a more unrealistic version of New Orleans? I am not sure. Sasha Franklin was a gossip columnist and that was not real. Remember, New Orleans is not a real place! Come to New Orleans, I will have an itinerary that is just as star studded as a brand deal. If you need a brand deal to have fun in this town, you are not doing New Orleans right. I do want to see a BETTER flow of communication between the Marketing agency and other content creators. I no longer want to be part of the event in that way but there are hundreds of women in New Orleans who want in. Why do you all come to our city and ignore us? That’s what it reads to many creators in the city.
It's ironic that Essence Fest was founded by Black men, but it has been celebrated more by Black women. Edward Lewis, a visionary from the South Bronx, created this for us. He and George Wein conceived this festival as a one-time celebration of Essence Magazine's 25th anniversary during New Orleans' slow July 4th weekend. What started as a single celebration became a 30-year love affair between a festival and a city. You brought us acts like Luther Vandross, Maze, Diana Ross, Anita Baker, Chaka, Juvie, Master P, PJ Morton, Destiny’s Child, Patti Labelle, Teena Marie, and Aaliyah. I attended the concert with my best friends and twin sisters the year of Katrina (2005) and coincidentally it was Destiny’s Child. Our favorite performances, ever. It was definitely a symbolic experience with Rhonda, Dawn and Shawn. Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? Do you know how divine it is to see Nas in a hotel lobby in New Orleans? It's magical because New Orleans is not a real place. Don't tell anyone…but Essence, you were "the party with a purpose", music that made us dance paired with empowerment that made us think. Black Excellence at our fingertips. Back to my story….
Something shifted with Essence, in recent years. When Essence was sold to Time Inc. in 2005, it became the first African-American magazine owned by a white man. Dat’s right! After 34 years of Black ownership, we lost something intangible but essential. Content that aligned with Black feminist thought decreased. Susan L. Taylor's "In the Spirit" column; the soul of the magazine that addressed spirituality, domestic violence, and self-esteem, lost its prominence. In 2011, they hired a white male managing editor whose conservative views contradicted everything Essence stood for. The authentic voice that made Essence special became diluted. And though the festival continued, we could feel the difference. The vision wasn't quite ours anymore. New Orleanians want to be part of the story. We want to be the main character.
Essence, for three decades, you've been our homecoming, a celebration that centered Black women and poured over $316 million into the heartbeat of our city. You hired more than 2,000 local workers. You filled our hotels with laughter, our restaurants with conversation, and our streets with pure, unfiltered joy.
We want Essence Marie back, with the Whova app.
We're tired of the red tape strangling our local businesses, the bureaucratic knots that make something beautiful feel impossible. The magic of Essence in New Orleans isn't just about the festival, it's about the fit. It's about how this city and this celebration move together like they were always meant to.
Here, you don't just talk about spinning the block, you actually do it. People walk from the Convention Center to the Quarter, down to Canal, weaving through the soul of this city with Essence all dressed up. Everything's within reach. The music spills out of one venue and follows you to the next. The culture isn't confined to a single space, like the convention center, it flows through the whole city. People love that culture of New Orleans. We are truly a hospitable place. That's what makes it work. That's what makes it ours.
I know you heard this before but I want to reiterate, we're not just asking for Essence to come back to our city like the previous years. We're asking for our homecoming to return, because New Orleans without Essence Marie feels like something's missing, like we're waiting for family to walk through the door.
What Happened in 2025
This year was a hot mess. Not rats on Bourbon mess, at least those rats know where they're going. This was more like I've-been-wearing-the-same-shirt-for-three-days-and-just-realized-it's-inside-out mess.. In my New Orleans accent, let’s spin the block. Let’s circle back. CLOCK IT! Get the chat back poppin. What’s going on? We were sent some vague promises after the last Essence Fest. And we need to talk about it. I have been feeling this way for beau coup years. After reading the history, I see why….You have to get back to the heart & soul of Essence Music Festival, the foundation. All I can think of is Steve Harvey suits being the talk of the town and Black Excellence events lighting up the streets. If you don’t agree with my writing, like they used to say in New Orleans -’ Talk what you know’. Meaning speak from lived experience, not hearsay. I am speaking from first hand stories and info from credible sources. Hey, out of towners, we don’t need any Monday morning quarterbacking. Talk what you know!
My twin sister and I got tickets at the last minute. I wish Essence could comp media with passes and we can in turn help boost the concerts. That would work wonders for the creatives in this town. Use the creatives to promote the events ahead of time. There were so many empty seats. We could have lit that dome up and been invited to the party. Win/Win!
The Superdome's terrace level, where 60% of Essence seats are located, sat mostly empty all three nights. Shows ran so late that Lauryn Hill didn't take the stage until 2:30 a.m., performing to a nearly empty venue. Stephanie Mills wrote an open letter describing "chaotic and stressful" backstage conditions, poor scheduling, and serious sound system problems.
I read …. the lineup lacked a stadium-sized superstar, and performer names were released too late; April and May announcements for a July festival when people travel from across the country. The convention center had hours-long lines, vendors ran out of product too quickly, and the entire production felt strained. I took my kids to the Convention center and honestly the line was smooth. I will say that process worked for me. I am not sure about others experiences. I really enjoy the vibe in the Convention Center, it just needs to be refined with the Marketplace logistics.. Hopefully the brands can be up front about their merchandise to avoid any friction in the lines.
But beyond logistics, something deeper fractured. Attendees voiced concerns that the festival's traditional Black American focus; rooted in descendants of slavery and Southern Black culture, felt sidelined in favor of broader Pan-African inclusion. Turns out, New Orleans is a real place. We have history and legacy that we built here. What was meant to honor the full diaspora left some feeling like the original family was being asked to share their own homecoming without acknowledgment. While the goal was inclusion, it made some residents feel overlooked, like the very community the festival was created for wasn’t being properly recognized. In simple terms, some Black people in New Orleans felt pushed to the side at an event that was supposed to be for their specific culture. Been in this city for Forty - Seven years. So much has changed and we always FINISH STRONG. Hit the Sean Payton!!!
New Orleans has always been a melting pot. African restaurants, Caribbean markets, diaspora businesses; they've become part of our city's landscape, and many of us have cultivated relationships within these communities. I love visiting Compere Lapin, Queen Trini, Dakar Nola, Addis Nola and some other diaspora restaurants in the area. I see both sides. Their culture is part of our story as well. This wasn't about xenophobia or resistance to inclusion. For us, it's not about keeping others out. It's about sacred ground feeling uncertain beneath our feet. Coincidentally, a group of local Black Africans came together hosted Taste of Africa after the festival. Like right after. What a coincident. I was intentional about participating. I even hosted it. LOL jk.. No seriously..I had a mission in mind to prove that we were a melting pot here. Of course Content Creators followed me, but it wasn’t meant for y’all. This was meant for me to write about. You see, there’s a WHY for everything I do now.
After Katrina, the world didn’t think New Orleans would return. We didn’t think we would return. Throughout that process, we were living in fear, not knowing if our city would ever return. Don’t forget, we are the city that care forgot.
The book 1619 Project was based on the slave trade in New Orleans. Did the people complaining realize we are all descents from Africa?
The Super Lounge Controversy
There’s a woman in the city that has a IG page and she starts it with ‘ I wasn’t gonna go there’. Well, I wasn’t going to go there but….Due to ongoing Superdome renovations, many original Superlounge spaces were unavailable. Instead of scaling back, the festival reintroduced Superlounge as a premium lounge experience—described as an "intentional evolution." We are broke. The economy is broke and I don’t know if you heard the city is in a deficit. How involved are you in the day to day here?
The Problem:
Superlounge access was limited to those with VVIP tickets (those cost $800-$1,500+ per weekend)
What used to be intimate, included performance spaces became an expensive add-on
People were upset about luxury pricing for what used to be a complimentary experience, especially in this economy
Essence's Response: They admitted on Facebook: "Was it confusing? Yes. Did we get it right? No. And the frustration. Fair." They promised clearer, earlier communication next year.
What Super Lounges Used to Be:
Small, intimate stages throughout the Superdome where rising stars and legends performed close-up sets - I want to see D Nice in the Super Lounge - I want to see you bring more local artists to the Super Lounge as well
Included with regular concert tickets - we are in a recession
Fan-favorite feature known for unmatched energy and personal connection to artists
Lucky Daye had a special Super Lounge performance in 2025 (a hometown celebration for the Grammy-winning New Orleans native)
Suffice it to say: Super Lounges went from beloved complimentary intimate spaces to VVIP, only luxury lounges due to renovations, and people were NOT feeling it. The complaints were in dozens. It was so embarrassing.
What New Orleans Needs to Survive This Festival
Let's be honest: New Orleans doesn't just host Essence Festival, we give you our whole city for the weekend. Our streets, our culture, our infrastructure, our people. And when hundreds of thousands descend on us in one weekend, we need you to help us hold it together. If Essence does not get this right this year, I won’t return next year. My family will go to Chicago or Martha’s Vineyard to see family.
Infrastructure that can handle the weight:
Realistic timelines that don't run until 3 a.m., incurring massive overtime costs and exhausting our workers
Sound and technical systems that work—not just for the headliners, but for every artist on every stage
Convention center flow that respects people's time, with adequate staffing and supply planning
Clear communication between production teams and local services
Economic partnership that's genuine:
Prioritize Black-owned vendors and local businesses—not just in talking points, but in actual contracts
Support local artists with meaningful stage time, not just filler slots
New Orleans restaurants and vendors should be guaranteed entry
Make New Orleans a priority - Where the ‘Who Dat’ marketplace?
Ensure your production partners reflect the community you celebrate (yes, we know Solomon Group produces this, and yes, that matters)
Return investment to the neighborhoods that absorb the impact
Be transparent about corporate sponsorships and ask for help - Notice I did not mention Target in this until now
Cultural clarity about who you are:
Honor your founding purpose: celebrating Black American women, Southern Black culture, and descendants of slavery
Expand thoughtfully without erasing your foundation
If you're evolving toward Pan-Africanism, bring us along in that conversation—don't shift without us
Remember that "for us, by us" meant something specific in 1995, and it should still mean something today
Operational excellence:
Release full lineups early, by February, not May - It’s almost February
Book at least one undeniable superstar who creates that "wow factor" - DESTINY’S CHILD would be a HIT or a rising star like Olivia Dean
Bring back livestreaming for those who can't afford to travel
Treat artists with respect: proper schedules, functioning equipment, professional conditions
Get the WHOVA app so we can stay connected during the fest. Tales of the Cocktail and the Black Feminist Fest did well with it
Work with Creators in the area to help market the event
I love the Weloveus emails with the black owned business - BUT…I WASN’T GOING TO GO THERE but can you add New Orleans brands - WE LOVE US TOO!!!
Be responsive to the DMs on Essence Festivals page
Because We Still Believe
Richelieu Dennis stood up and took accountability: "It's our fault, because we engaged them, and it's our job to make sure that everything is delivered properly." That matters. You heard us. You responded. You're working on it.
And we're still here because we still believe. We need that Queen energy back. This city is so resilient. We survive & thrive!
We believe in the Essence Festival that changed our lives.
We believe in the festival that proves Black culture is economic power. That shows our joy is resistance. That turns July 4th into Independence Day for real, even though we should be celebrating Juneteenth.
We believe you can be better. Not because we want to tear you down, but because we know what you're capable of when you get it right. Partner with locals in New Orleans.
Moving Forward
I recently attended The Boy is Mine Tour in the dome with The Black Promoters Collective in New Orleans. It wasn’t the same type of tour like festivals but then there’s the recency effect. The tour was small but it ran smoothly and reminded me of that old Essence feeling. I added the video as my blog announcement, intentionally. Miss Kelly did her thing. Talk about MOTIVATION! I need a Solider..where dey at, was amazing!!! Felt the spirit of Destiny’s Child like Essence 2005. We want that ole thang back, E. New Orleans will continue to open our arms to you. I know you heard this before but we'll staff your events, fill your hotels, cook your meals, play your music, and welcome your visitors with the hospitality only we can give. Where Black NOLA Eats founded a group because of the discourse with majority restaurants. Did Essence realize that? They have not been engaging with them at all. What happened to us?
But we need you to remember: this is a partnership. We're not just a backdrop for your brand. We're the soil you planted in, the roots that have held you for 30 years. 30/30..Treat us, and our city, like we matter.
Bring back the Black Girl Magic. Honor your history while building your future. Center the people who built this festival with you. Invest in excellence, not just scale. And remember that sometimes the most powerful growth happens when you tend your roots before reaching for new branches.
LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS if you have anything to add
We love you, Essence Festival. That's why we're writing this.
Now come back home for real.
With hope, history, and hunger for what's next,
Lynn Wesley Coleman
Wife, Mother, Sister, Friend, New Orleanian!