BET, AEG and Baldwin Hills Announce Partnership

FREE, WEEKLY SATURDAY CONCERTS 
FEATURE ERIC BENET, MARSHA AMBROSIUS, 
CANDICE GLOVER, DAY 26 AND MORE

LOS ANGELES, CA – May 23, 2014 – BET Networks and AEG today announced a partnership with Baldwin Hills Crenshaw in Los Angeles, CA to present an exciting, free weekly Saturday concert series beginning May 31 leading up to the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE presented by Coca-ColaÒ June 27 – 29, 2014.  The concerts, free of charge and open to the public, conclude with a final performance on Saturday, June 21.
 

Just a few of the artists scheduled to perform include Eric Benet, Marsha Ambrosuis, “American Idol” winner Candice Glover, Day 26, RaVaughn, Eric Bellinger, Adrian Marcel, Dondria, Mila J. and more.  Be sure to visit www.baldwinhillscrenshawplaza.com for the latest updates.

The road to BET Experience at L.A. Live presented by Coca-ColaÒ is guaranteed to be an exciting journey as the Los Angeles community gears up for the upcoming BET weekend that includes 3 nights of concerts at STAPLES Center and Club Nokia, a 2-day FREE fan fest, the Sprite Celebrity Basketball game, Genius Talks, live tapings of “106 & Park,” a Gospel showcase and more – all leading up to the “BET Awards” on Sunday, June 29, 2014.  

“We’re thrilled to expand the impact of the BET Experience at L.A. Live to include a weekly concert series at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw,” said Paxton Baker, EVP and GM of Centric and BET executive in charge of BET Experience.  “We will showcase an exciting musical line-up featuring some of our Music Matters artists and a few surprises along the way on the Road to the BET Experience.”

“We are excited about our partnership with BET,” said Kenneth T. Lombard, Vice Chairman - Investments & Partner at Capri Capital Partners, the owner of Baldwin Hills Crenshaw. “For the past five years, we‘ve strived to support our community through the BHCP Live! music series.  This year’s partnership with BET through The Road to the BET Experience and its highly-acclaimed Music Matters program is another example of our commitment to bring top-notch, free entertainment to our shoppers and our surrounding communities.”

BET Networks’ music initiative, Music Matters, has a history of showcasing rising stars across multiple platforms.  From hip hop’s Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, R&B’s Marsha Ambrosius and Elle Varner, and the elevating gospel of Mali Music and LeCrae, Music Matters is dedicated to connecting artists to their fans. 

All concerts begin at 3 p.m. Outdoor seating on the promenade is limited, so guests are encouraged to arrive early.

Single day tickets and 3-day package for STAPLES Center and Club Nokia concerts are all on-sale now. Single day STAPLES Center tickets are priced starting at $59.50, $99.50 and $149.50. The 3-day STAPLES Center Concert ticket packages are $199, $299 and $399. Tickets for the Club Nokia shows are on-sale now with prices ranging from $25 to $79.50. Tickets can be purchased at www.betexperience.com or at www.AXS.com

To have exclusive access to the best seats and roll like a true VIP throughout the weekend, a limited number of VIP Packages are available. Both the Gold and Diamond VIP Packages include the only public access to purchasing “BET Awards” tickets.  Get the best of everything with the Diamond Package that includes hospitality throughout the weekend, a special “BET Awards” red carpet experience and much more!  Visit betexperience.com/VIP for more information.

All information about the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE presented by Coca-ColaÒ can be found at BETExperience.com.  Guests can purchase tickets, book exclusive hotel rates and sign up for the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE presented by Coca-ColaÒ newsletter to receive updates and announcements before they are available to the general public.  Follow the Experience on Twitter @betexperience.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE

BET Networks, an entertainment powerhouse, and AEG, one of the leading entertainment companies in the world and developer/ operator of L.A. LIVE, have teamed up once again to create the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE (BETX), June 27 - 29, 2014 presented by Coca-ColaÒ.   This three-day festival will be filled with music and comedy concerts taking place at Club Nokia and STAPLES Center; “106 & PARK” tapings in Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE; BET Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center including seminars, celebrity basketball games, celebrity meet & greets; GRAMMY® Museum exhibits and other special appearances.  The weekend will be capped off with the “BET Awards” on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE.

ABOUT “BET AWARDS”

The BET AWARDS is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company.  The BET AWARDS franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET's #1 telecast every year.  It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.

ABOUT MUSIC MATTERS

Launched in 2010, the BET Music Matters initiative highlights emerging new artists by showcasing their talents through live performances including monthly showcases and the Music Matters Tour.  Music Matters has helped propel the careers of artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius, Miguel, J. Cole, Melanie Fiona, Estelle, Elle Varner, K. Michelle, Eric Roberson, Big K.R.I.T., Emeli Sande’, Luke James, Stalley, Mali Music, Astro Kid and more.

ABOUT BALDWIN HILLS CRENSHAW

Baldwin Hills Crenshaw (BHC) is an 870,000-square-foot retail destination located at the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Los Angeles, California.  Anchored by Macys, Sears and WalMart, with over 100 specialty stores, state-of-the-art cinemas and dining options, BHC has long been recognized as the hub of the surrounding communities. From a signature concert series known as BHCP Live!, monthly Kid’s Club and a weekly Farmers’ Market to the many public services offered at the mall, it is clear that BHC is more than just a place to shop, it’s a central gathering place for the local community.  BHC is entrenched in the local lifestyle, and is committed to making this neighborhood an even better place to live, work, shop and just BE! BHC has teamed up with several leading community partners to support a variety of worthwhile events throughout the year, and continue to support programming that reflects the history and interests of our local residents.