NEW YORK, NY – July 15, 2021 – (LATINX NEWSWIRE) – Organizers of the 116th Street Virtual Festival today announced the final music talent line-up and viewing guide for the Saturday, July 17th event that will broadcast and live stream from 7 to 9 p.m. ET on multiple national and regional broadcast TV channels, live stream platforms, and OTT. To see where to view the broadcast and live stream of the 116th Street Virtual Festival visit https://116thstfestival.com.
Sponsored by AARP New York, and Ponce Bank, the two-hour, bilingual festival will be hosted by Danny Trejo, Victor Cruz, and Agatha, and features 20 Latinx music stars, a fashion show, Latino culinary recipes, and a special feature of the “History of Salsa in New York” plus other creative surprises. This year’s festival will help raise awareness for the major COVID-19 Vaccination initiative, “De TiDepende” that was created by The Ad Council.
Music Roster, Fashion, and Fun
Talent performing in the virtual festival include: Richie Ray; Agatha, Magdeline Benitez; Beatboi; Angie Rose; Elysaynij; Chrissy I Eece; The Latin Legends; Solo Fernand; Kano Keys; Danny Rivera (son); Julito Alvarez; Eli Jas; Juancky La Diferencia; Soleil; Jacob Velazquez; Elysanu, and more.
The virtual festival’s talent roster represents a cross-section of music genres and nationalities..
Even though this year’s festival is purely on broadcast TV and live stream due to COVID, the event is laying the groundwork for what organizers hope can be a return to the in-person and live stream spectacle in 2022 on the streets of New York City.
Sponsors and Production Partners
In addition to AARP New York and Ponce Bank, sponsors include Cerveza Presidente, Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” and The Ad Council’s “De TiDepende” Campaign.
Viewing / Distribution
The 116th Street Virtual Festival will enjoy major national and regional media, digital and OTT views thanks to distribution partnerships with Spectrum Noticias 1 Channel 95 and Channel 194 in the Bronx; Bronx Net; VME TV Network; VivaLive TV; Tarima TV Network; MegaTVO Orlando; Mega TV Puerto Rico; and Spanish Broadcasting System Interactive. Other live stream platforms include the Facebook fan pages of SBS’ Mega 97.9 (NYC); 97.9 La Raza (Los Angeles); El Zol 106.7 (Miami); Mega 96.3 (Los Angeles); 93.1 Amor (NYC); Zeta 92 (Miami); Ritmo 95.7 (Miami); Maria Marin Live; and Cinco de Mayo L.A..
Production Partners
Brilla Media and Atlantino have produced several of the pandemic’s most prominent virtual festivals, including the recent Cinco de Mayo LA Virtual Festival (see the 1-min. recap video here) and Altísimo Live, which was a PRWeek 2021 finalist for the Best Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year.
The 116th Street Virtual Festival is being produced in partnership between Nick Lugo and Peter Spinella of Hispanic market and Advertisng Group, Manny Ruiz of Brilla Media and Atlantino. Additional media and production partners of the festival include Jerry Vargas and Kalvin Stevens; Futura Enterprises; Latin Heat Media; Latinx Newswire; Dustelli Music; Eddie Lopez; Heather Lopez and Rachel Matos. Community partners include the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino.
Award-winning broadcaster and producers Richy Miranda-Cortese, Ralph Paniagua, and Manny Ruiz will direct the broadcast with Efrain Gonzalez as the Master Editor.
About Hispanic Marketing and Advertising, Inc.
The 116th Street Festival has become a major part of East Harlem’s cultural experience thanks in part to Abrazo Fraternal del Barrio Fdn President David Acosta and V.P. Bob Acosta. They created the event and produced it along with Nick Lugo, President and Executive VP Peter Spinella from Hispanic Marketing and Advertising Group. Both companies are based out of East Harlem for over 35 years and an important part of the community.
About Atlantino LLC
Over the past 35 years, Ralph and Joseph Paniagua have built Atlantino into a powerhouse sponsorship and activations platform for Latino sports, entertainment, experiential, and digital. Through Atlantino and the company’s Latino Baseball and Latino Boxing media properties, Ralph has spearheaded Fortune 100 brand activations with more than 18 Major League Baseball teams, the Roberto Clemente Foundation, and more recently Golden Boy.
In 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic canceling many major Latino events, Ralph pivoted to co-produce the 116 Street Festival and Calle Ocho Festival and the Dominican Days at the Ballpark at 18 MLB stadiums and RSNs as major virtual events reaching millions of viewers. And in 2021 Atlantino will produce several Virtual programs promoting the Baseball Icon Roberto Clemente.
About Brilla Media
Latinx-owned and operated, Brilla Media provides brand marketers with premium Latinx branded entertainment, media, and experiential storytelling. Created by Manny and Angela Ruiz, the innovative entertainment company features five service pillars: Brilla Media (distribution), Brilla Live (festivals and livestreams), Brilla Creative (original storytelling), Brilla Social (influencer marketing with social media amplification), and Brilla Purpose (social good).