NEW YORK, December 18, 2014 – ESSENCE, the premier brand for African-American women, will kick off a year-long commemoration of the 45th anniversary of ESSENCE magazine in 2015 with an unforgettable Black Women in Music GRAMMY® Awards Week celebration. Now in its sixth year, Black Women in Music will honor GRAMMY® Award winning singer-songwriter Jill Scott for her incredible achievement, singular artistry and powerful storytelling.

“Jill Scott is the quintessential ESSENCE woman. Like many of the female artists who inspired her – she has touched the collective soul of women across generations,” said ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief Vanessa K. DeLuca.

 

For the first time, ESSENCE will invite a passionate community of music fans to join a host of industry influencers for the invitation-only event held on February 5, 2015, which will include an exclusive performance from Scott as well as several featured performances representing the classic eras in music – 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and beyond.

 

Michelle Ebanks, President of ESSENCE, added: “ESSENCE was groundbreaking in its founding 45 years ago, as is Jill Scott in her impact on music and the arts. She is a fearless innovator, and it is our honor to continue to build community by bringing together music industry influencers and fans during GRAMMY® Week for an epic celebration.”

 

Established in 2010, ESSENCE Black Women in Music continues to herald the accomplishments of both emerging and established artists and influencers during GRAMMY® week. Previous celebrants include: GRAMMY®-winner Mary J. Blige, GRAMMY®-winner Kelly Rowland, GRAMMY®-nominee Janelle Monáe, music industry veteran Sylvia Rhone, and singer/songwriters Solangé, Lianne La Havas, and Emeli Sandé.

 

The 2015 ESSENCE Black Women in Music event is sponsored by Lincoln, Colgate® Optic White® and Glade. Stay tuned to ESSENCE.com for highlights and behind-the-scenes access. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @essencemag #EssenceRedCarpet. Join in the discussion on Facebook.

 

 

 

About Jill Scott

 

Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actress are only a few titles held by Jill Scott. Before having the #1 album in the country with “The Light Of The Sun,” the triple threat began her career collaborating with musical icons The Roots, Will Smith, and Common in the late 90s. Never limited to music, Jill Scott is a true multimedia brand across books, clothing, TV and film, including credits such as Baggage Claim, Steel Magnolias, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? and Lifetime’s Sins of the Mother. In 2002, Scott also founded Blues Babe, a registered 501(c)3 foundation that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support minority students pursuing college degrees.

 

About ESSENCE Communications Inc.

 

Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media company dedicated to African-American women, with a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events and online. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Festival, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood and Black Women in Music, Window on Our Women and Smart Beauty consumer insights series, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media. For 44 years, ESSENCE, which has a brand reach of 11 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information and specific solutions relating to every area of African-American women’s lives. Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at essence.com.

 

About Time Inc.

 

Time Inc. (NYSE: TIME) is one of the largest media companies in the world reaching more than 130 million consumers each month across multiple platforms. With influential brands such as TIME, PEOPLE, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Real Simple, Wallpaper, Travel + Leisure and FOOD & WINE, Time Inc. is home to celebrated events and franchises including the FORTUNE 500, TIME 100, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive, Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year, the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen and the ESSENCE Festival.

 

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CONTACTS:

 

Dana Baxter

dbaxter@essence.com

212-522-1634

 

Sheila Harris

sharris@essence.com

212-522-1089