102 JAMZ SuperJam Informations

102 JAMZ' SuperJam was an annual summer concertstarring some of the hottest artists in hip hop, hosted by Urban Contemporary radio station WJMH (102 JAMZ)/Greensboro, North Carolina. The show was held at the 20,000+ seat Greensboro Coliseum each year. Since launching the event in 1997, SuperJam has attracted thousands of listeners from North Carolina and southern Virginia, with numerous annual attendees traveling from locations throughout the United States. There were eighteen consecutive SuperJam concert events.

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, J. Cole, Diddy, T.I., Future, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Wale, T-Pain, Jeezy, LL Cool J, Gucci Mane, Soulja Boy, Ludacris, Ja Rule, 2 Chainz, Nas, Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz, Plies, Ying Yang Twins, Cam'ron, Lloyd, Three 6 Mafia, Yo Gotti, Big Pun, Chingy, Fat Joe, Young Thug, Slick Rick, Tank, N.O.R.E., Travis Porter, Trina, Jermaine Dupri, Petey Pablo, K Camp, Doug E. Fresh, DJ Kool, The-Dream, Trick Daddy, Flo Rida, Dru Hill, Sheek Louch, Shawty Lo, Redman, Roscoe Dash, Ray-J, Da Brat, Fabolous and many, many more.

All SuperJam concerts took place on Friday nights in late June and have been held at the Greensboro Coliseum. Showtime has remained 7:30 PM, throughout. The entire 102 JAMZ airstaff, the 102 JAMZ Mix Squad and the JAMZ Street Team actively participated in each event, hosting during the time between acts and emceeing during Mix Squad intervals. Beginning with SuperJam VII, the 102 JAMZ Dancers, led by Lady C of Sunday night's 11:00 Reggae Jamz show, performed a choreographed routine between acts during each SuperJam, through the 2011 show. The first ten 102 JAMZ SuperJam concerts were numbered consecutively, with the exception of the 1st (simply called SuperJam) and 4th (SuperJam 2000).

SuperJam ticket prices consistently remained significantly lower than other music concerts, from the outset. Ticket prices begin at $10 each, with mid-level tickets offered at $19.50 and $25, floor seats at $35, and some higher priced Platinum Seats available. As Program Director, Brian Douglas, explains, "From the beginning, we've seen SuperJam as the biggest opportunity we have each year to give back to our listeners. Concert ticket prices keep getting higher and higher... often $100 and more for the good shows. With SuperJam, it's all about more acts for less money. The goal is always to be sure every listener can afford a ticket and every show is one they'll remember."

From 1999 to 2011, each SuperJam concert was preceded by a 102 JAMZ Block Party, hosted by the station's afternoon personality (originally Boogie D, later Big Tap Money). These "party before the party" events, first held outside the coliseum, later in the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion and in 2010 and 2011 in the Coliseum West Wing B, feature hundreds of ticket upgrades, impromptu performances by the night's talent lineup and live, interactive artist interviews. SuperJam Block Parties were carried live on 102 JAMZ, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, to set the stage for the show and prepare the listeners for the concert.

According to the programming staff, planning for each year's SuperJam began 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.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Lil' Kim, SWV, OutKast, Freak Nasty, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Lost Boyz

LL Cool J, Big Pun, Dru Hill, Goodie Mob, Cam'ron, Total, Charlie Baltimore and Sylk-E. Fyne

Busta Rhymes, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Trina, 112, Trick Daddy, JT Money, Rare Essence, Sporty Thievz and Jermaine Dupri

Jay-Z, Jagged Edge, Da Brat, Donell Jones, Bow Wow, and Jermaine Dupri

Ludacris, Ja Rule, Bow Wow, Petey Pablo, DJ Kool, Redman, Philly's Most Wanted, Sunshine Anderson and Tank

P Diddy and the Family, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Mr. Cheeks, N.O.R.E., Nappy Roots, Charlie Baltimore and Vida

Lil’ Jon and the Eastside Boyz, Nas, Lil' Kim, Bone Crusher and Wayne Wonder

Ying Yang Twins, Chingy, Petey Pablo, J-Kwon, Trillville, Elephant Man and Crime Family

T. I., Ying Yang Twins, Trillville, Boyz n da Hood and Young Jeezy

SuperJam X took place Friday night, June 30, 2006, featuring T. I., Three 6 Mafia, Dem Franchize Boyz, Remy Ma, T-Pain, Yung Joc and Paul Wall. Celebrating 102 JAMZ' tenth anniversary, $10,000 was given away to a single winner. On stage activity included air personality/audience interaction, Mix Squad sets and the 102 JAMZ Dancers.

The 11th annual show took place Friday night, June 29, 2007, with Young Jeezy, Yung Joc, Crime Mob, Ricky Ruckus, Lloyd, DJ Unk, M.I.M.S., Rich Boy, and Omarion. A set of rims, cash and SuperJam shirts were given away, with talent/audience interplay, the 102 JAMZ Mix Squad and the JAMZ Dancers bridging short gaps between the acts.

Tickets went on sale Friday, May 16, 2008, for the June 27th show. May 31, Plies visited 102 JAMZ, announcing that he would be headlining and that The-Dream would also star at the show. He promised more to come. On subsequent Mondays, 102 JAMZ teased the announcement of additional acts to be named on the following Fridays, with advance announcements sent by email to 102 JAMZ Hard Hittaz (102JAMZ.com club members). The announced lineup featured Plies, The-Dream, Shawty Lo, Sheek Louch, Ray J, Flo Rida and 2 Pistols. Live at SuperJam, 102 JAMZ' Waleed Coyote introduced a surprise guest, Three 6 Mafia.

Ticket on sale took place Friday, May 15, 2009 with a Friday, June 19 show date. 102 JAMZ sent emails to 102 JAMZ Hard Hittaz listing scheduled acts, with on-air announcements on the following days. The complete 2009 lineup featured Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Rick Ross, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Fast Life Yungstaz (F. L. Y.), Yung L.A. and Lil' Ru. In addition, special surprise guests Fabolous and Ricco Barrino joined the show. SuperJam 2009 sold out the weekend before the show, with audience speculation over possible issues between Jeezy and Gucci a topic of discussion.

On-sale date for SuperJam (#14) was Friday, May 21. Show date was Friday, June 25. On Memorial Day (Monday, May 31), a "Breaking News" email announced "legendary emcee, movie star and Hip Hop entrepreneur with a million hit records from the year 2000 to now", Ludacris, plus Waka Flocka Flame and B.o.B. On-air confirmation followed on Tuesday morning, June 1 at 7:25 AM. Six days later, a second email announced Plies, Roscoe Dash and Party Boyz. This information was broadcast on-air, Monday morning, June 7. The 2010 lineup included Ludacris, Plies, Waka Flocka Flame, Roscoe Dash, B.o.B., Party Boyz, Sean Garrett, Cali Swag District, plus a previously unannounced "last minute surprise", Travis Porter.

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