Essence Festival of Culture leaders repeated their commitment to New Orleans earlier this month as they announced another star-studded lineup and a new podcast competition for the July event.
“This is our city, too, you all. We love being here,” Rakia Reynolds, who works with Essence Fest’s owner, New York-based Sundial Media Group, told local reporters and social media influencers.
But behind the scenes, Essence and the city are trying to work out the specifics of how to ensure the festival keeps coming back to the Crescent City…