ESSENCE ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MALACO MUSIC GROUP IN RECORDING DEAL WITH R&B STAR 2011 WINNER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

R&B’S NEWEST SINGING SENSATION GRETA PRINCE
TO PERFORM AT 2012 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL

ESSENCE ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MALACO MUSIC GROUP IN RECORDING DEAL WITH R&B STAR 2011 WINNER

NEWEST SINGLE “YOU SHOULD KNOW” AVAILABLE NOW ONLINE!

(June 5, 2012- New York, NY)— After being crowned the winner of ESSENCE + Pebbles R&B Star competition, singer Greta Prince returns to the stage a year later where her life changing journey began and will make her Superlounge debut at this year’s ESSENCE Music Festival 2012 July 5-8 in New Orleans. In addition, ESSENCE announced today a promotional partnership with The Malaco Music Group who has signed an exclusive recording deal with the R&B star winner that encompasses her debut single as well as future works during the terms of the agreement under the Malaco Records label. Her first single, “You Should Know,” is available now online and will hit airwaves on radio and internet stations in the coming days.

Today’s announcement marks the conclusion of an extraordinary past year for the Charlotte, NC native former accounts receivable specialist now living in Atlanta, GA. After beating out hundreds of aspiring hopefuls in ESSENCE’s and platinum recording artist Perri “Pebbles” Reid’s search for America’s next R&B singing sensation, Greta impressed the panel of celebrity judges, music industry professionals and ultimately the fans who voted for Greta as the winner at the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival. Greta received the grand prize of a one-year artist management contract with music industry veteran and president of KWL Enterprises Kevin Liles, who’s launched the careers of best-selling acts TLC and Trey Songz, and capped her victory by opening for Mary J. Blige in front of 50,000 people at last year's Festival.

Comprising recording studios, record labels, music publishing companies, direct marketing operations, and distribution services, the Malaco Music Group takes original music from concept to consumer. Malaco has been making and marketing definitive Soul, Blues and Gospel music since 1968. Notwithstanding, Malaco's move into mainstream Urban music, Malaco’s expanded repertoire also includes Jazz, Christian, as well as Children's music. Malaco is home to many recording artists and songwriters with a catalog of thousands of original recordings and musical copyrights.

For information about ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL, visit ESSENCE Music Festival. Join the Festival community: follow us on Twitter @essencemusic #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival on Facebook.

The 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival, in partnership with QuintEvents, has created “ESSENCE VIP Events” to offer fans the ultimate in “insider access”, with exclusive VIP ticket, travel and hospitality party venue packages. The Official packages are available now at www.QuintEvents.com and will be featured on the Official website, www.ESSENCEVIPEVENTS.com in early 2012.

The presenting sponsor for the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival is Coca-Cola.  Major sponsors include Coors Light, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Ford, My Black is Beautiful, U.S. Army and Verizon. Official Sponsors are CNN, State Farm, TV-One and Visa Pre-Paid.

The 2012 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC, a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI).  GeChar is the executive producer of the 2012 ESSENCE Empowerment Experience.

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 Music 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 (mobile, television and VOD). For 42 years, ESSENCE, which has a brand reach of over 8 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 www.essence.com.

CONTACTS:
Mozell Miley-Bailey, ESSENCE                                  Sheila Harris, ESSENCE
212-522-1634                                                             212-522-1089
mmileybailey@essence.com                                         sharris@essence.com