``We are a small college,'' Wells said. ``To get the college the exposure the band brings to the institution is priceless.''

      The 10 bands at Saturday's show were chosen from a field of 41 in a vote from fans, Black college presidents, conference commissioners and band directors.

      Also performing Saturday were Jackson State (Miss.) and Prairie View (Texas) A&M of the Southwestern Athletic Conference; North Carolina Central and Virginia State of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association; Florida A&M of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; Clark Atlanta and Tuskegee (Ala.) of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; and independent Langston (Okla.).

      Jackson State's ``Sonic Boom of the South'' with its dance team called ``The Prancing J-Settes,'' and Central State's ``Invincible Marching Marauders'' made their first appearances.

      Local favorite Clark Atlanta, which appeared in the 2002 movie “Drumlineâ€� which helped inspire the idea for the Battle of the Bands, has previously performed at the Georgia Dome at halftime of Atlanta Falcons games.

      Honda's Barbara Ponce, who oversees the company's multicultural initiatives, said the Battle of the Bands has helped the carmaker ``connect with African American customers.''

      ``The first year we only had half of the Georgia Dome and we expected about 20,000, but we got 40,000 and had 15,000 outside we had to turn away,'' Ponce said.

Ponce said ``there is every reason'' to keep the event at the Georgia Dome.

— Associated Press