The Cincinnati Music Festival Presented by P&G Returns July 20.21.22, 2023


July 20,21,22-2023 Cincinnati Ohio Music Festival at Paycor Stadium,
Thursday Night: Hip-Hop 50 Tribute w/Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim & Big Daddy Kane
Friday Night:
Al Green, Jill Scott, Jodeci, Midnight Star and Gerald Albright
Saturday Night:
Snoop Dogg, Baby Face,
P’Funk Connection , Avery Sunshine, Norman Brown.
CINCINNATI (February 15, 2023) – The Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G (CMF) returns to Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati from July 20-22, 2023, with an exciting lineup of R&B music featuring Al Green, Snoop Dogg, Jill Scott, Babyface and more headlining the event over the three days. The Thursday night concert, which will celebrate 50 Years of Hip Hop, will be held at The Andrew J. Brady Center at The Banks.
The 2023 lineup includes:
- Thursday, July 20 (Andrew J. Brady Center): A Tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop w/ Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, and Big Daddy Kane
- Friday, July 21 (Paycor Stadium): Al Green, Jill Scott, Jodeci, Midnight Star, Gerald Albright
- Saturday, July 22 (Paycor Stadium): Snoop Dogg, Babyface, P-Funk Connection, Avery Sunshine, Norman Brown
Tickets are on sale now through the Festival office at (513) 924-0900 or through Ticketmaster beginning on February 18, 10 a.m.
Additionally, the Opening Festival Press Conference will be held on Thursday, July 20 at the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati. The Official Ceremony and musical performances to unveil the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame at The Banks will be held on Saturday, July 22.
Official sponsors of the Cincinnati Music Festival are P&G, Visit Cincy/Meet NKY, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, Fifth Third Bank, Central State University, Johnson & Johnson and Metro.
“We are thrilled with this year’s lineup for the Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G,” said Joe Santangelo, producer of the Festival. “It’s the first time for Snoop Dogg to perform at the Festival and Al Green last performed in 1974. We know they will both be huge draws for our fans. It’s also an honor for us to plan a Thursday performance to pay tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop.”
Cincinnati Music Festival: $107 million annual economic impact
The most recent study conducted by the UC Economics Center and commissioned by the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau shows the Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G provides a $107.4 million economic impact to the region.
“P&G is a long-time sponsor of Cincinnati Music Festival as a keystone cultural moment for our city and for music fans nationwide,” said Monica Turner, P&G President – North America. “We look forward to coming together to celebrate R&B and Hip Hop Music, and to fuel small businesses in our community.”
FESTIVAL HISTORY
Originally called the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival when it was first held in 1962, the Cincinnati Music Festival has grown and evolved into a spectacular three-day event on Cincinnati’s riverfront. Starting out as an all-jazz concert, over the years it has grown into a three-day festival featuring great music from the hottest stars in R&B, jazz, soul, and hip-hop, as well as up and coming artists. Past performers include Aretha Franklin, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Gerald Levert, Patti Labelle, New Edition, Earth Wind and Fire, Lakeside, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson and many others.
By the year 2000, the festival was the largest of its kind in the United States, drawing more than 50,000 people annually from all across the country. The festival has been held at various sites through its nearly 60 year history, including French Lick Indiana, the Carthage Fairgrounds, and the Hamilton County Fairgrounds before landing at its current home in Paycor Stadium on Cincinnati’s river front. Accompanied by a street festival dubbed Festival 513, the Cincinnati Music Festival Presented by P&G has an estimated annual economic output of $107 million, according to the Greater Cincinnati Center for Economic Education at the University of Cincinnati. 2015 marked the first of many years in partnership with Cincinnati based global company P&G.
The Cincinnati Music Festival Presented by P&G is co-promoted by The Santangelo Group and Ohio Valley Entertainment. 2023 represents The Festival’s 59th year of bringing top R&B talent to Cincinnati.
About The Santangelo Group:
The Santangelo Group, led by Owner Joe Santangelo, has promoted or co-promoted the Cincinnati Music Festival at Paul Brown Stadium since 2005. Prior to that, they promoted the Festival as the Coors Light Music Festival, the Kool Jazz Festival and the Ohio Valley Music Festival stretching back to 1962. In addition to the Cincinnati Festival in Cincinnati, The Santangelo Group promotes the Hampton Jazz Festival in Hampton, VA.
About Ohio Valley Entertainment (OVE):
OVE is an entertainment company created to co-promote the Macy’s Festival in 2006. In addition to its involvement in the Cincinnati Festival, OVE has promoted other events at Paul Brown Stadium including the 2012 Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw “Brothers of the Sun” tour.

