The 11th annual National Battle of the Bands was hosted Aug. 22–23 at NRG Stadium in Houston, bringing together eight powerhouse HBCU marching bands under the leadership of founder Derek L. Webber.
The showcase, created to celebrate the artistry and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, has grown into one of the nation’s premier cultural events.
Webber, a Hampton University graduate and longtime sports and entertainment marketing executive, founded the National Battle of the Bands in 2012 to showcase the excellence of HBCU marching bands while supporting music, arts and education.
Through his firm, Webber Marketing & Consulting, he has managed thousands of events, produced documentaries on HBCU culture and helped direct more than $5 million in scholarships and funding to historically Black colleges and universities.
His work also extends to entertainment — Webber served as a consulting producer on the hit 2002 film Drumline, which introduced HBCU marching band culture to mainstream audiences.
That same passion for showcasing the artistry and impact of HBCU bands ultimately led him to create the National Battle of the Bands, which has become the nation’s largest showcase of its kind.
“This event helps our youth dream big, knowing what they can be and what they aspire to be,” Webber told our Kelsey Nicole Nelson, host of Listen With KNN here on Fox Sports Radio, during an interview after this year’s event.
The two-day weekend featured a college and career fair, a stroll-off competition, and community service projects before the bands took center stage on Saturday night.
More than 2,300 student musicians performed before close to 10,000 fans, while 45 HBCUs participated in recruiting and outreach.
“The reward is that every band is a winner,” Webber said. “Each band goes home with $50,000 in scholarship funding provided back into their institutions to support music, arts and education and it’s just a great moment for us to share with the community.”
In total, the National Battle of the Bands has generated more than $2.1 million in scholarships since its founding, while also fueling an estimated $20 million economic impact in Houston.
Students have also received opportunities ranging from waived application fees to on-site scholarship offers.
“It’s really rewarding to see HBCU students or any student get an opportunity to experience their first time on a plane, their first time performing in front of a big crowd, or the first time to be in a major NFL stadium,” Webber said.
For Webber, the goal goes beyond competition. “We’re here to continue to amplify the voice,” Webber said. “We’re here to continue to create community opportunities that we serve and we’re going to continue to expand.”
That expansion is already in motion. Webber announced a new National Battle of the Bands event will debut in Palm Beach, Fla., on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in 2026, giving even more students and fans a chance to celebrate HBCU culture on a national stage.
Listen to the complete interview here.
