Talladega College Athletics Joins Ballers Against Bullets to Promote I WANT TO LIVE Campaign

Student athletes are using their platform to support gun violence prevention and encourage safer communities.

TALLADEGA, Ala. Before the final score could tell the story, Talladega College’s junior varsity men’s basketball team delivered a message about something bigger than the game.

The team opened its season against Snead State Community College on October 26 wearing shirts that read I WANT TO LIVE, introducing a partnership between Talladega College Athletics and the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention through its Ballers Against Bullets initiative.

The effort will extend beyond the basketball season opener. Talladega’s athletic teams plan to wear the campaign’s apparel at games throughout the academic year, bringing a message of safety and violence prevention to students, fans, and surrounding communities.

According to the announcement, the partnership follows recent fatal shootings in the local community. Through their participation, Talladega student athletes are calling attention to the impact of gun violence and encouraging young people to protect their lives and futures.

Ballers Against Bullets brings together athletes, barbers, entertainers, educators, and community leaders to promote responsible decisions and prevent gun misuse. The I WANT TO LIVE campaign carries that message through sports, fashion, music, and youth culture.

For Talladega, the partnership creates an opportunity to connect athletic competition with community involvement. Players can reach other young people who recognize them as teammates, classmates, friends, and role models.

Talladega College Athletics also recognized the basketball team’s participation on social media, reinforcing the campaign’s focus on the value of student athletes’ lives and the need for safer communities.

The effort reflects the longstanding connection between HBCUs and community leadership. By bringing prevention messages into its athletic programs, Talladega is giving students a visible role in addressing concerns that reach beyond campus.

As Ballers Against Bullets works to connect with more colleges and universities, Talladega’s participation offers an example of how athletic departments can help carry the message throughout the school year.

The Alabama based Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention leads the initiative as part of its work in community education and prevention. Through this partnership, a shirt worn before a basketball game becomes an invitation to keep the conversation going about safety, responsibility, and the futures young people deserve.

Tags: Talladega College, Talladega College Athletics, Ballers Against Bullets, I WANT TO LIVE, Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention, HBCU News, HBCU Sports, HBCU Original, Gun Violence Prevention, Student Athletes, Community Safety, Youth Advocacy, College Basketball, Talladega Alabama

Albany State WellFest Draws More Than 1,100 Students for a Day of Health and Wellness

The fifth annual event connected students with free health screenings, fitness activities, groceries, and mental health support.

ALBANY, Ga. Albany State University put student health at the center of campus life during its fifth annual WellFest, drawing 1,159 students, faculty, staff, and community members to the Jones Brothers HPER Complex on East Campus.

Students accounted for 1,107 attendees, more than 95 percent of the total, according to an October 29 university news release.

Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, the event used the theme The Wellness Playbook to encourage students to build healthier habits and learn where to turn for support.

Dedra Williams, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Holistic Development, said the turnout reflected students’ interest in taking care of themselves beyond their academic responsibilities. She emphasized physical activity, nutrition, preventive screenings, and asking for help as part of student success.

Throughout the afternoon, students joined yoga sessions led by Honey Flow Yoga, tried water aerobics, and participated in fitness challenges. Hydration stations and smoothies offered refreshments, while Better Way Grocers provided free healthy groceries.

Attendees also had access to biometric health screenings, first aid education and supplies, and an American Red Cross blood drive. The ASU Cheer Squad brought energy to the event, with interactive activities and door prizes adding to the atmosphere.

The gathering also gave students preparing for health professions an opportunity to put their training into practice.

Nursing students from ASU’s Darton College of Health Professions conducted biometric screenings and helped classmates understand their results. The experience connected classroom learning with direct service to the campus community.

Orlandria Bennett-Reed, director of Student Health Services, said student nurses explained screening results and connected participants with additional care when needed, helping students take an informed approach to their health.

The ASU Dental Hygiene Program shared oral health information and scheduled appointments at the university’s Student Dental Hygiene Clinic.

Mental health support was another focus. Members of ASU’s Active Minds student organization encouraged conversations about emotional wellness and seeking help. Students also met with mental health professionals and community organizations to learn about available services.

In all, WellFest brought together 11 campus and community partners. Participants included the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Phoebe Behavioral Health, Aspire Behavioral Health, The Change Center, Better Way Grocers, the American Red Cross, and Honey Flow Yoga.

Campus partners included Student Health Services, Counseling and Student Accessibility Services, Active Minds, and the Darton College of Health Professions.

Now in its fifth year, WellFest continues to connect Albany State students with practical support for their physical and mental health. From picking up groceries to scheduling a dental appointment, attendees had opportunities to address everyday needs while learning about resources available beyond the event.

Westlake Tops Latest Metro Atlanta Band of the Year Rankings

Jonesboro and Pebblebrook lead the pursuit as tight scores and standout category performances keep the field competitive.

ATLANTA, Ga. (October 26, 2026) — Westlake High School holds the No. 1 spot in the latest Red Lobster Metro Atlanta Band of the Year High School Division rankings, using strong performances across all five scoring categories to establish a 23.5-point lead.

Westlake tops the standings with 358.25 points, followed by Jonesboro with 334.75 and Pebblebrook with 332. Creekside ranks fourth with 326.50 points, while Southwest DeKalb completes the top five with 321.75.

Behind Westlake, the standings leave little separation among the leading contenders. Jonesboro holds a 2.75-point advantage over Pebblebrook, and just 13 points separate second place from fifth.

Westlake’s position reflects its strength throughout the competition. The band leads Picture Drill and Design with 112 points and Auxiliary with 49.25. It also shares first place with Pebblebrook in Musicality at 80 points and Percussion at 59.

In Drum Major scoring, Westlake’s 58 points place it just behind category leader Southwest DeKalb, which earned 59.

Jonesboro remains Westlake’s closest challenger. The Cardinals rank second in Picture Drill and Design with 110 points, third in Musicality with 78 and third in Auxiliary with 44.75. Those results have helped Jonesboro maintain a narrow edge over Pebblebrook, whose shared leads in Musicality and Percussion anchor its third-place position.

The complete standings are:

Several programs outside the overall top five are making a strong impression in individual categories.

Carver, ranked 12th overall, holds second place in Auxiliary with 46 points. McNair ranks fourth in Musicality and shares third place in Percussion, despite sitting 10th in the overall standings. Langston Hughes, which is outside the top 15, ranks fifth in Picture Drill and Design with 106 points.

Percussion features one of the closest category races. Westlake and Pebblebrook share the lead with 59 points, while Arabia Mountain, McNair and New Manchester are tied just one point behind.

The Drum Major standings are similarly tight. Southwest DeKalb leads with 59 points, followed by Westlake with 58. Arabia Mountain and New Manchester share the next position with 57.

Those results underscore the depth of the competition, with programs throughout the standings earning recognition for specific strengths.

The race for a place in the overall top five also remains close. Sixth-place New Manchester has 317.50 points, putting it 4.25 behind Southwest DeKalb. Stephenson follows with 313.75, while South Cobb, Arabia Mountain and McNair are separated by just 1.25 points.

Farther down the standings, only four points separate Tri-Cities, Carver and Morrow.

For Westlake, the challenge is to maintain the consistency that has produced the lead. Jonesboro and Pebblebrook remain its nearest competitors, while Creekside, Southwest DeKalb and New Manchester continue to press for stronger positions.

The latest rankings offer a snapshot of a competitive field in which musical execution, field design, percussion, auxiliary performance and student leadership all contribute to the overall result. Westlake has set the pace, but close margins throughout the standings give bands across Metro Atlanta plenty to pursue.

For rankings and event information, visit BandOfTheYear.com.

Rising ticket prices, touring costs and changing spending habits are forcing the music industry to rethink how it reaches college students and younger fans

HBCU Original | Entertainment & Culture

The concert business in 2026 is sending two very different messages.

Some of the biggest artists in the world are selling out arenas and stadiums, while other major performers are canceling shows, reducing tours or looking at seating charts filled with unsold tickets.

Post Malone, Meghan Trainor, Zayn Malik, the Pussycat Dolls and other recognizable artists have canceled or changed portions of their 2026 touring schedules. Their publicly stated reasons have varied, including health, family responsibilities, creative timing, logistics and increased touring expenses. Industry discussion around slower ticket sales has also produced a new phrase called Blue Dot Fever, referring to the blue dots representing available seats on online ticket maps.

But this does not mean people have stopped going to concerts.

Pollstar reported that the top 100 touring artists worldwide generated approximately $3.16 billion during its 2026 midyear reporting period, up 12.3 percent from the previous year. More than 26.3 million tickets were sold.

At the same time, the average number of tickets sold per show declined 4.6 percent worldwide. In North America, average attendance per show fell 5.6 percent and average gross per concert dropped 7.8 percent.

That tells a bigger story.

Fans still want live music. They are becoming more selective about which artists are worth the money.

The Price of One Concert Is No Longer Just the Ticket

Pollstar reported an average North American ticket price of about $122 for the top 100 tours during the first half of 2026.

For a college student, however, the ticket is only part of the expense.

Add transportation, parking, food, merchandise, service fees, an outfit and possibly a hotel, and a concert can quickly become a major purchase.

That creates a different decision for a 19 or 20 year old student than it does for an established professional with significantly more disposable income.

A student might love five artists but only have enough money to see one.

That does not mean the student stopped liking music.

It means the artist now has to win the student’s money.

Gen Z Has Not Abandoned Concerts

There is an important distinction.

Current research does not support the idea that Gen Z has simply stopped attending concerts.

Luminate reported in July 2026 that Gen Z attendees were spending an average of $101 per month on live music events, actually exceeding the $94 reported by Millennials.

But price still matters.

Luminate found that 57 percent of Gen Z respondents identified ticket cost as a factor affecting whether they attended an in person music event during the first quarter of 2026.

So young people still want the experience.

They are just asking a harder question before buying.

Is this artist worth $100, $150 or $200 to me?

That question becomes even more important for college students.

The HBCU Student Factor

There currently is not enough national research to say HBCU students specifically are abandoning concerts at a higher rate than other college students.

There is, however, strong evidence that finances are a serious issue for many students attending HBCUs.

UNCF reported that 51 percent of HBCU students said their financial situation was always or often stressful. UNCF also reports that more than 70 percent of HBCU students are eligible for federal Pell Grants.

That matters when entertainment companies are trying to reach the HBCU market.

A student deciding between groceries, transportation, books, rent, tuition expenses and a $150 concert ticket has a very different purchasing calculation from someone with significant disposable income.

The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs found that 59 percent of students in its 2023 to 2024 survey experienced at least one form of food or housing insecurity. Black students were among the groups experiencing particularly high levels of basic needs insecurity.

For promoters targeting college audiences, affordability cannot be separated from entertainment.

Students Have More Entertainment Choices

Another challenge is competition.

Previous generations depended heavily on concerts, television and radio to experience their favorite performers.

Today’s students have nearly unlimited entertainment sitting in their pockets.

TikTok.

Instagram.

YouTube.

Twitch.

Streaming music.

Podcasts.

Gaming.

Campus events.

Sports.

Festivals.

Day parties.

Homecoming.

Greek events.

Students can watch hours of an artist’s performances online without spending anything.

That does not replace the experience of attending a concert, but it means concerts are competing against far more options for a student’s time and money.

Social Media Followers Do Not Automatically Fill Arenas

The music industry is also learning that millions of followers do not necessarily equal thousands of ticket buyers.

Someone can watch an artist’s video, follow the artist on Instagram, use a song on TikTok and stream a single hundreds of times without being willing to spend $150 to see that artist live.

That difference becomes critical when promoters book arenas containing 15,000 to 20,000 seats or stadiums holding tens of thousands of people.

Going viral and developing a touring fan base are not necessarily the same thing.

The strongest touring artists tend to have something more powerful than online attention.

They have fans who consider seeing them live an event they cannot miss.

The Superstar Economy Is Getting Stronger

There is another unusual development.

While some tours struggle, superstar tours continue generating enormous demand.

Pollstar’s 2026 midyear numbers show record total ticket sales among the top 100 touring artists even while average attendance per performance declined.

SeatGeek also found intense demand for reunion and nostalgia acts, with returning artists receiving a roughly 50 percent resale price premium in its marketplace data.

This suggests the concert market may increasingly be separating into two groups.

There are artists fans feel they must see.

Then there is everybody else competing for whatever entertainment money remains.

College Students May Be Choosing Experiences Over Artists

For the HBCU market, promoters should also understand that the overall experience matters.

A student may hesitate to spend $150 for one artist performing at an arena but spend money during Homecoming because Homecoming provides several experiences at once.

There are concerts, football games, parties, Greek activities, alumni events, vendors, food, fashion and campus culture.

The value proposition is different.

This could explain why college focused entertainment may need to move beyond simply putting a popular artist on a stage and expecting students to purchase expensive tickets.

Students increasingly want an experience surrounding the performance.

Touring Costs Are Also Increasing

Fans are not the only ones dealing with higher expenses.

Touring requires transportation, hotels, production crews, lighting, sound equipment, staging, security, insurance and venue personnel.

Artists and promoters have cited rising logistics and production expenses when changing touring plans.

Roxette, for example, cited logistics and substantially higher touring costs when dates were canceled in 2026.

This creates a difficult situation.

Promoters need higher revenue to cover expenses.

Fans want affordable tickets.

Artists want profitable tours.

Something eventually has to give.

Are Concerts Too Expensive for College Students?

For some students, yes.

For others, it depends entirely on the artist.

That distinction may define the future of live entertainment.

Gen Z has demonstrated that it will spend money on concerts. The same generation is simply becoming more strategic about where that money goes.

For HBCU students dealing with tuition, housing, transportation, food and other college expenses, buying a concert ticket may require sacrificing something else.

The entertainment industry should pay attention.

Lower student pricing, group ticket packages, campus transportation, smaller venues, HBCU partnerships, student ambassador programs and college focused concert experiences could become increasingly important.

Because the problem may not be that young people no longer love concerts.

The bigger issue is that every concert is fighting to prove that it deserves a place in their budget.

And in 2026, having a famous name may no longer be enough.