I typically don't comment but I felt that as someone who loves Janet and likes a song or two by Beyonce AND saw the Essence Festival, I can say this: the Essence Festival audience will not ever fully appreciate either of these ladies in concert (generally speaking) because they don't like glitzy pop shows. The Essence audience wouldn't pay to see either artist on their own bill and gets more out of acts like Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige and Earth, Wind & Fire. Glitzy, well-produced pop shows go over most of their heads which is why they sit down. If I were a big star, I would do that Festival ONCE and never again - it's not their audience. Do your research and look at the lineup over the years: Aretha, Maze, Charlie Wilson....