102 JAMZ SuperJam

102 JAMZ' SuperJam is an annual summer concert starring some of the hottest artists in hip hop that is hosted by Urban Contemporary radio station WJMH (102 JAMZ)/Greensboro, North Carolina. The show has been held at the 20,000+ seat Greensboro Coliseum every year.

Ever since it launched the event in 1997, 102 JAMZ has presented SuperJam, which attracts thousands of listeners from North Carolina and southern Virginia, with numerous annual attendees traveling from locations throughout the United States. As of 2008, all 12 SuperJam concerts have been sellout events.

uperJam performing artists

The station's debut summer show, SuperJam, took place Friday night, June 20 1997, at Greensboro Coliseum in front of 20,000 fans and featured Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lil' Kim, OutKast, Lost Boyz, SWV, Freak Nasty and others. Successive annual SuperJams have included artists such as Jay-Z, Ludacris, Diddy, T.I., Bow Wow, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Three 6 Mafia, N.O.R.E., Young Jeezy, LL Cool J, Ying Yang Twins, Nas, Busta Rhymes, T-Pain, Big Pun, Cam'Ron, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, Yung Joc, Dru Hill, Dem Franchize Boyz, Jermaine Dupree, Trina, Redman, Petey Pablo, 112, Trillville, Elephant Man, Trick Daddy, DJ Kool, Chingy, Jagged Edge, Da Brat, Plies, The Dream, Ray-J, Shawty Lo, Crime Mob, Young Joc, Lil Wayne, Sheek Louch, Lloyd, Dolla and many, many more.

uperJam logistics

All SuperJam concerts have taken place on Friday nights in late June and have been held at Greensboro Coliseum. Showtime has remained 7:30 PM, throughout. The entire 102 JAMZ airstaff, the 102 JAMZ Mix Squad and the JAMZ Street Team have actively participated in each event, hosting during the time between acts and emceeing during Mix Squad intervals. Since SuperJam VII, the 102 JAMZ Dancers, led by Lady C of Sunday night's 11:00 Reggae Jamz show, have performed a choreographed routine between acts during each SuperJam.

Most 102 JAMZ SuperJam concerts have been numbered consecutively, with the exception of the 1st (simply called SuperJam), the 4th (SuperJam 2000) and the 11th (again referred to officially as SuperJam, but sometimes identified internally as SuperJam 2007 or SuperJam XI).

SuperJam ticket prices have consistently remained significantly lower than other music concerts, from the beginning. The 2007 performance featured tickets at $10, $15, and $25, with a few VIP floor seats at $28.50. As Program Director, Brian Douglas, explains, "SuperJam is one of the best ways we're able to give back and say thanks to our listeners every year. With concert tickets at $50 or more for good shows, SuperJam has always been about offering more acts for less money. We want every listener to be able to afford a ticket... then, we want every show to be one they'll remember."

102 JAMZ' SuperJam Block Party

Since 1999, each SuperJam concert has been preceded by a 102 JAMZ Block Party, hosted by the station's afternoon personality (originally Boogie D, now Big Tap Money). These "party before the party" events, originally held outside the coliseum and more recently in the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion, feature hundreds of ticket upgrades, impromptu performances by the night's talent lineup and live, interactive artist interviews. SuperJam Block Parties are carried live on 102 JAMZ, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, to set the stage for the show and get the listeners ready for the concert.

uperJam background

According to the programming staff, planning for each year's SuperJam begins in "Jam-Uary" (January). Brian Douglas states that inspiration for the creation of the SuperJam concept arose from two sources... exposure to annual summer concerts put together by a radio station in his native Florida during his youth (WAPE, Jacksonville's Big Ape Conventions and Big Ape Shower of Stars) and 102 JAMZ' experiment with a modified summer concert in 1996. This outdoor event, billed as Busta Brown Bingo, was presented as part of a contest in which featured afternoon personality Busta Brown skydived onto a random block in a squared-off area to award a station contestant $10,000. As incentive for others to attend, the station assembled acts to perform, including Junior M.A.F.I.A. with Lil' Kim, 112, Bahamadia and Nonchalant. Attendance was strong and listeners responded positively to the concept, setting the stage for the original SuperJam, one year later.

uperJam (2007)

The 11th annual SuperJam concert took place Friday night, June 29 2007 and featured Young Jeezy, Yung Joc, Crime Mob, Lloyd, DJ Unk, M.I.M.S., Rich Boy, and Omarion. On stage activity was non-stop, with air personality/audience interaction, Mix Squad sets, the 102 JAMZ Dancers, plus giveaways of a set of rims, cash and SuperJam shirts bridging the short gaps between the acts.

uperJam XII (2008)

Tickets for the 12th annual SuperJam went on sale Friday, May 16th. The concert is Friday, June 27th at 7:30pm. On Friday, May 31st, Plies came to 102 JAMZ to announce that he would be performing at SuperJam. He also announced The Dream and Dolla as confirmed acts and promised more to come. On Monday, June 2nd, 102 JAMZ started saying that they would announce more acts that Friday (June 6th) and would send an email out to its Hard Hittaz (102JAMZ.com members) before then. On Thursday, June 5th at around 4:30, Hard Hittaz received the email announcing Shawty Lo, Ray J and 2 Pistols as three more confirmed acts. Once again, 102 JAMZ announced they would be making an announcement for more confirmed acts on Friday (June 13th) and would send the email out early. Around 5:15pm on Thursday (June 12th), Hard Hittaz received the email announcing Flo Rida and Sheek Louch as confirmed acts. The email stated, "Plies, The-Dream, Shawty Lo, Ray J, 2 Pistols, Dolla and now Sheek Louch and Flo Rida... SuperJam 2008, y'all!".

It was announced prior to the show that Dolla would not be making it.

Live at SuperJam, 102 JAMZ DJ, Waleed Coyote, announced there was a surprise guest, Three Six Mafia.

The final SuperJam 2008 lineup consisted of 2 Pistols, Flo-Rida, Sheek Louch, Ray J, Shawty Lo, Three Six Mafia, Plies and The-Dream.

References

*Personal Interviews: Brian Douglas, WJMH Program Director, September 1 1990 to present (last interviewed 2007)
*Personal Interviews: Tap Money, WJMH Assistant Program Director (interviewed 2007)

External links

* [http://www.102jamz.com 102 JAMZ' website]
* [http://102jamz.com/pages/638938.php? 102 JAMZ' SuperJam (2007) visuals video]
* [http://102jamz.com/pages/637552.php? 102 JAMZ' SuperJam (2007) pics]