VERIZON LADIES FIRST TOUR 2004 Starring BEYONCE, ALICIA KEYS and MISSY ELLIOTT With Special Guest TAMIA.

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2004

Three of the biggest superstars in contemporary pop and R&B are joining forces in one of the most exciting and historic tours in years - Verizon Ladies First Tour 2004 starring Beyonce, Alicia Keys, and Missy Elliott, with special guest Tamia. The Verizon Ladies First Tour 2004 is being produced and promoted by Alan Haymon Productions and Clear Channel Entertainment, the world's leading promoter and marketer of live entertainment and is being sponsored by Verizon.

One of the most highly-anticipated tours ever, the cross-country extravaganza is scheduled to begin March 12th in Fort Lauderdale and winds up April 18th at the Oakland Coliseum. "I expect this to be one of the most anticipated and successful tours in recent years," stated Al Haymon, President and CEO of Alan Haymon Productions. "We are very excited to present this very special and unique event."

Beyonce, is touring the United States for the first time as a solo artist in support of her #1 multi-platinum debut album, Dangerously In Love. Dangerously In Love earned Beyonce' five Grammy awards including Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best R&B Song for "Crazy In Love," her smash single featuring Jay-Z. Beyonce is one of the most widely-recognized and highly-respected women in pop music today. As a founding member of Destiny's Child, Beyonce' co-wrote and co-produced many of the bands hits. Destiny's Child sold more than 40 million albums and singles worldwide and earned an astounding 22 gold, platinum and multi-platinum RIAA certifications since the group's debut in November 1997. Beyonce has earned numerous accolades including Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, World Music Awards, and the prestigious NAACP Image Award. When Beyonce won the 2001 ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award, she became the first African-American woman and the second woman ever to receive that honor.

Alicia Keys had one of the most auspicious debut albums in music history with the phenomenal Songs In A Minor. Released in 2001, the album earned Keys an incredible five Grammy awards, including the coveted Best New Artist. Alicia's much-anticipated follow-up album, The Diary Of Alicia Keys, debuted at # 1 with more than 618,000 albums scanned, giving Keys the largest first week's sales of any female artist in 2003. Within a month of its release, the album was certified double platinum by the RIAA. Alicia has been hailed a critic's choice from the very beginning of her career. As stated by USA Today, "With The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys takes a creative leap forward. The gorgeous 'You Don't Know My Name' is the album's centerpiece. "Alicia Keys has made a superb album." Roger Friedman of "Fox News" had this to say, "Alicia Keys' 'Diary' is a knockout with exquisite production, vocals and instrumentals. Keys is the future of real R&B. Bravo!" According to People, who chose Alicia as one of the magazine's "Picks," "Keys lives up to the staggeringly high expectations set by Songs In A Minor. Like 'The Godfather Part II,' this is the rare sequel that doesn't disappoint. It's that good. (**** out of four)." A rare artist among her own generation, Keys is a singer, songwriter and extraordinary pianist. She combines classical training with an old school sensibility and has a direct relationship with today's mix of hip-hop and R&B. The Ladies First Tour 2004 marks Keys' first major tour in the United States since the release of Songs In A Minor.

Missy Elliott is widely regarded as hip-hop's premiere female artist. Within the male-dominated field of hip-hop, her sales and debuts have rivaled the biggest boys. She has created an empire on her own terms, earning the rep of a daring innovator who won't take "no" for an answer. Missy Elliott is not merely a visionary recording artist and performer. She is one of the few women, if not the only, who enjoys an equal amount of success behind the scenes, as a prolific songwriter and producer, and as the head of her own record label. Missy initially scored hits for other artists, including Aaliyah, before breaking into the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart with 1997's Supa Dupa Fly. Last year Missy signed on as the national spokesperson for "Break The Cycle," an organization that speaks out against domestic violence. Missy won the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2001 for her irresistible anthem, "Get Ur Freak On," and another the following year for Best Female Rap Solo Performance. "Work It," from her best-selling 2002 album, Under Construction, earned the 2004 Grammy for Best Female Rap Solo Performance. Missy recently won her first American Music Award, and took home the biggest honor of the night, Video of the Year, at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. Missy joins the tour in support of her latest release, the critically-acclaimed This Is Not A Test.

Special guest Tamia joins the tour on the heels of her #1 Urban A/C hit, "Officially Missing You," and the smash R&B hit single, "Into You" (with Fabolous). The Grammy-nominated sultry singer joins the tour in the midst of promoting her new single, "Questions," produced by R. Kelly. Her album, More, will be released on April 6th.

                    VERIZON LADIES FIRST TOUR 2004

3/12    Ft. Lauderdale, FL    Office Depot Center
3/14    New Orleans, LA       tbd
3/17    San Antonio, TX       SBC Center
3/18    Houston, TX           Reliant Stadium (Beyonce Only)
3/21    Greensboro, NC        Greensboro Coliseum
3/23    Philadelphia, PA      Wachovia Center
3/24    Boston, MA            Fleet Center
3/27    Charlotte, NC         Charlotte Coliseum
3/28    Atlanta, GA           Phillips Arena
4/1     Minneapolis, MN       Target Center
4/2     Chicago, IL           Allstate Arena
4/3     Detroit, MI           Palace at Auburn Hills
4/9     Hartford, CT          Civic Center
4/10    Uniondale, NY         Nassau Coliseum
4/11    Washington, DC        MCI Center
4/12    New York, NY          Madison Square Garden
4/15    Phoenix, AZ           America West Arena
4/16    Las Vegas, NV         Mandalay Bay
4/17    Anaheim, CA           The Pond
4/18    Oakland, CA           Oakland Arena

All dates are subject to change.

About Clear Channel Entertainment

Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer of live entertainment events is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Worldwide (NYSE: CCU), a global leader in the away-from-home advertising industry. Clear Channel Entertainment currently owns, operates and/or exclusively books approximately 130 live entertainment venues, including more than 100 in North America and 30 in Europe. In 2002, more than 65 million people attended approximately 29,000 events promoted and/or produced by the company, including: Live music events; Broadway, West End and touring theatrical shows; family entertainment shows; and specialized sports and motor sports events. The company, which operates throughout North America, Europe, South America and Australia, also owns independently operated athlete representation businesses, which provide management, marketing and financial consulting services to many of the world's top professional athletes. More information may be found by visiting www.cc.com and www.clearchannel.com.