Here We Go
Cincinnati was electrified this past weekend as the Cincinnati Music Festival, presented by P&G, brought the city into the national spotlight. With extensive national media coverage, including The Rickey Smiley Morning Show broadcasting live from Fountain Square to over 60 U.S. radio stations, and more than 65 media professionals covering the events, Cincinnati shone brightly. According to Visit Cincy, hotels reached an impressive 87% occupancy rate, maintaining the festival's status as one of the region's largest annual tourism drivers.
“The 2024 Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G was an amazing celebration and a tribute to many R&B music legends with more than 84,000 fans this year,” said Joe Santangelo, producer of the festival. “It was great to see so many fans travel to Cincinnati for the weekend to support the local tourism community.”
As one of the largest urban music festivals in the United States, CMF featured unforgettable live performances. MC Lyte ignited the stage on Thursday night at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center, followed by stellar acts like Maxwell, Ne-Yo, Fantasia, New Edition, En Vogue, and more at Paycor Stadium.
"At P&G, supporting events like CMF is one way we bring to life our commitment to being a great corporate citizen. It’s more than a responsibility; it’s an opportunity to make our community more vibrant, more diverse, more connected, and more attractive," said Damon Jones, P&G Chief Communications Officer.
In addition to sponsoring the event, P&G enhanced the festival experience by bringing 14 of its brands to the venue. Attendees enjoyed free product samples, engaging photo moments, surprise giveaways, and live entertainment.
The weekend also featured signature activities such as the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, Vibe Market Place, CMF Outdoor Museum, Black Men Think Tank, and Festival 513.
The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame celebrated its first anniversary on Saturday, July 26, with the induction of the 2024 Class: Roger Troutman & Zapp, Shirley Murdock, Randy Crawford, and Donald Lawrence. In just one year, nearly 30,000 visitors have experienced this vibrant new attraction
“The Cincinnati Music Festival Weekend is a celebration of our city’s soul,” said Julie Calvert, President and CEO of Visit Cincy. “More than entertaining audiences, the festival cultivates unity and happiness within our community, promoting cultural richness and economic prosperity. This past weekend, and all of the community activities, including Black Music Walk of Fame, that support it and visitors, truly embodies Cincinnati's rich heritage and its ability to shine as a premier global destination.”
Official sponsors of the Cincinnati Music Festival are P&G, Visit Cincy/Meet NKY, AARP, Life Center, Experience Columbus and Central State University.
The Cincinnati Music Festival will return in 2025 from July 31, August 1 and 2. The full lineup of performances will be announced at a later date.