Essence Communications, Inc. and iClips Network, L.L.C. today announced a partnership to present live video streaming of the 2008 Essence Music Festival on essence.com and iclips.net.

The live video stream will be comprised of musical performances from the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this Fourth of July Weekend, as well as interstitial programming including celebrity interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

This first-time broadcast of the 14th Annual Essence Music Festival inaugurates a three-year deal with iClips to expand the Festival’s footprint online.

In addition, select performances will be available on-demand on essence.com and iclips.net at the conclusion of the Festival.

Viewers can register at Essence.com and iClips.net from July 4-6 to access the iClips player and launch the video streaming event.

“Essence Communications is pleased to partner with iClips to smartly extend the Essence Music Festival footprint to the Web,” said Michelle Ebanks, President, Essence Communications, Inc., “By creating a live streaming experience, the Essence Music Festival — already the nation’s largest annual celebration of Black music and culture – is poised to reach fans all over the world with fantastic performances and backstage highlights.”

“iClips has always been a huge fan of this event and the Essence brand. We are ecstatic about the opportunity in bringing the Essence Music Festival to a worldwide audience over the Internet. Furthermore, the stellar line-up, the great city of New Orleans, and the fantastic backdrop that the Superdome Venue creates could not be any more spectacular,” Nate Parienti, Co-Founder of iClips was quoted as saying.

The 14th annual Essence Music Festival will celebrate another momentous year in New Orleans this July 4, 5 and 6 with the biggest names in entertainment. Performing on the mainstage at the Louisiana Superdome: Kanye West; Mary J. Blige; Chris Brown; Rihanna; Chris Rock; Keyshia Cole; Jill Scott; Maze featuring Frankie Beverly; Morris Day & The Time; LL Cool J; J. Holiday; Musiq; plus, a star-studded celebration of living legend Patti LaBelle featuring original LaBelle members Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx; Angie Stone; Ledisi; Chrisette Michele; Ruby Amanfu; and more!

Broadcast Schedule
All scheduled times are CST.

Friday, July 4: 7pm CST

Saturday, July 5: 6pm CST

Sunday, July 6: 5pm CST

Essence Communications, Inc. and iClips Network, L.L.C. today announced a partnership to present live video streaming of the 2008 Essence Music Festival on essence.com and iclips.net.
The live video stream will be comprised of musical performances from the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this Fourth of July Weekend, as well as interstitial programming including celebrity [...]

Rihanna’s entire appearance on FNMTV:

Rihanna’s entire appearance on FNMTV:

Here’s a video of Chris Brown and Rihanna as they hit the red carpet separately at the 2008 BET Awards Kevin Frazier talked to them about their relationship.

Here’s a video of Chris Brown and Rihanna as they hit the red carpet separately at the 2008 BET Awards Kevin Frazier talked to them about their relationship.

From Extra.com:

Rihanna, R&B’s hottest singer, lit up the Empire State Building yesterday in support of her “Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded” CD, and she confessed to our AJ Calloway that she’s not in love. Somebody tell Chris Brown!

Visit Extra.com to watch an interview help on top of the Empire State Building.

From Extra.com:
Rihanna, R&B’s hottest singer, lit up the Empire State Building yesterday in support of her “Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded” CD, and she confessed to our AJ Calloway that she’s not in love. Somebody tell Chris Brown!
Visit Extra.com to watch an interview help on top of the Empire State Building.

From MTV.com:

Some 20-year-olds prepare for summer by, among other things, sending out resumes for that dream internship, stocking up on sun protection or registering to retake a class they just couldn’t get right the first time. Rihanna, however, spends the warmer months far differently from her peers: protecting her title as reigning Queen of the Summer Jam.

From 2005’s “Pon de Replay” to 2006’s “S.O.S.” to last year’s “Umbrella” (ella-ella-eh-eh … sorry, I had to), the leggy songstress takes her role as purveyor of catchy tunes very seriously. As she once told MTV News, “It’s important for me to make sure that my hottest song comes out in the summer.” Hottest song in the summer! Get it!? Anyway!

Naturally, she’s got something ready for 2008: “Disturbia,” penned by boyfriend Chris Brown, her latest single off her new reissue, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, promises to be the song of the season. At least, that’s what she says. It’s a tune she so took to that she “couldn’t wait,” to put it on the next album. So she opted to offer it to the masses, just in time to remain on her throne for the time being.

It does have some of those magical Rihanna summer-jam ingredients: simple dance beat, machine-enhanced vocals, random syllable repetition (move over “ella,” and make room for “bum-bum-bee-dum”). But what do you think? Can Rihanna claim the title for yet another year? Or should the queen prepare to abdicate? And if “Disturbia” isn’t the song that’ll permeate my brain from all directions on the beach, then what will it be? You tell us!

From MTV.com:
Some 20-year-olds prepare for summer by, among other things, sending out resumes for that dream internship, stocking up on sun protection or registering to retake a class they just couldn’t get right the first time. Rihanna, however, spends the warmer months far differently from her peers: protecting her title as reigning Queen of the [...]

Photos from the 106 & Park, June 18, 2008:

Screen captures from 106 & Park, June 18, 2008:

Photos from the 106 & Park, June 18, 2008:

Screen captures from 106 & Park, June 18, 2008: