Venues: The Key to Unlocking More Touring in Africa
East Africa’s live‑music market is hampered by a shortage of purpose‑built, plug‑and‑play venues, forcing promoters to cobble together temporary stages. Rwanda’s Kigali stands out with a tiered venue ecosystem—from 1,500‑seat halls to a 45,000‑capacity stadium—providing flexible routing options. By contrast, Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam rely on outdoor sites or ad‑hoc builds, inflating production costs and limiting tour viability. Governments are announcing new arena projects, but most are sport‑centric and not yet tailored for concert touring.
Olivia Rodrigo Steps up Sold-Out Unraveled Tour
Olivia Rodrigo’s Unraveled Tour has added 25 new dates, bringing the total to 86 arena shows across North America, Europe and the UK. The expansion includes multi‑night runs in major markets such as Boston, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Amsterdam, London, Paris...
Concerts, Merch Help Bump SM Entertainment’s Q1 Revenue 21%
SM Entertainment posted Q1 2026 revenue of roughly $215 million, up 21% year‑over‑year, driven by a 56% surge in concert earnings and a 20% rise in merchandising. Operating profit rose 18.5% to about $30 million. Concert and merch growth offset a 15%...
Ticketing Firm Entrio Group Expands Foothold in Balkans
Entrio Group has acquired Serbia‑based Gigs Tix, extending its ticketing footprint into Serbia and Montenegro. The deal adds a platform that has powered events such as EXIT Festival, Madonna and Ed Sheeran, bringing the combined group’s history to over 12 million tickets...
The Team Makes Three Global Appointments Across Music Division
The TEAM announced three senior hires for its music division: Julia May in New York to lead artist development, Sarah Thia in Singapore to head tour marketing across Asia, and Sheila Mukasa in London to oversee pricing and ticketing strategy. May...
Travel Cost Fears Prompt Mighty Hoopla Malta Cancellation
The Mighty Hoopla festival in Malta has been cancelled for September 2024 as organizers cite soaring travel costs driven by higher jet fuel prices and airline disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. The event, which had secured acts such...
Festival News: EXIT Makes Montenegro Move
EXIT Festival announced two summer editions in Montenegro, branding the country as the central stop of its 2026 World Tour. The move follows EXIT’s departure from its longtime home in Novi Sad after political pressure, and it enjoys the backing...
Ticketmaster Confirms Around 350 Layoffs
Ticketmaster confirmed it is cutting roughly 350 positions as it moves more software development in‑house and narrows its focus to engineering, product and design. President Saumil Mehta said the re‑org will concentrate resources on fewer, AI‑driven initiatives and reduce reliance...
We Can Conquer It All: The Biffy Clyro Futique Tour Report
Biffy Clyro’s 2026 Futique world tour launched in January, delivering a critically acclaimed arena run across the UK, Ireland and 12 European countries. After bassist James Johnston withdrew three weeks before kickoff, session musician Naomi MacLeod was recruited and rehearsals were...
Kacey Musgraves, Shaboozey Lead Tour Announcements
Several major artists announced extensive North American tours for 2026, ranging from arena‑scale runs to theatre‑level engagements. Kacey Musgraves will embark on a 29‑date Middle of Nowhere arena tour, while Shaboozey’s Outlaws Never Die Tour adds 25 dates across the...
Harry Styles Announces Fundraising Meltdown Headline Show
Harry Styles will headline a one‑off full‑orchestra concert at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on 16 June as part of his curated Meltdown Festival. Fans can win one of 1,900 tickets through a £20 ($25) charity prize draw, with all...
Slava’s Snowshow Drives Chinese Market Growth for GAAP
Paris‑based touring entertainment firm GAAP reports that China and Southeast Asia now comprise about one‑third of its international touring business, propelled by the long‑running mime production Slava’s Snowshow and the immersive exhibit Sensory Odyssey. The shows are performing six to...
Are Amphitheatres Key to US Urban Development?
Several high‑profile amphitheatres are slated to open across the United States in 2026, each positioned as a centerpiece of larger entertainment districts. Grand Rapids’ Acrisure Amphitheatre, a $184 million, 12,000‑seat venue, expects 300,000 annual visitors and anchors a $1 billion downtown redevelopment....
Pussycat Dolls Among String of Tour Cancellations
The Pussycat Dolls have scrapped 32 of their 53‑date world tour, leaving only one North American show at Los Angeles’ Outloud festival while the European leg proceeds as planned. Zayn Malik’s Konnakol Tour lost nearly two dozen dates for health...
Over 2m Tickets Sold for Karol G’s Global Stadium Run
Colombian star Karol G’s upcoming Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour has sold over 2 million tickets in just four days, prompting an expansion from the originally announced 39 dates to 63 shows across North America, Europe and Latin America. The tour,...
Paladin in Discussions to Acquire Entourage Talent Associates
Paladin Artists announced it is in advanced discussions to acquire Entourage Talent Associates, formalising a partnership that began in 2021. The acquisition would create a scaled, independent booking firm positioned for growth, adding Entourage’s client base to Paladin’s roster that...
Ticketmaster Rolls Out End-to-End Venue App Platform in UK
Ticketmaster has launched its Ignite end‑to‑end venue app platform in the UK, debuting at Utilita Arena Sheffield and Vaillant Live Derby, both operated by Legends Global. The solution lets venues adopt a fully branded Ticketmaster app or embed white‑label components...
Movers and Shakers: 30e Adds Live Nation Alum as Strategy Lead
Brazilian promoter 30e has appointed former Live Nation South America COO Eric Kert as chief strategy officer, positioning him in Los Angeles to steer the company’s rapid expansion across Latin America. 30e recently secured exclusive rights to program megashows at...
Making Plans with Nigel
Veteran CAA agent Nigel Hassler celebrates 40 years in the live‑music business as Garth Brooks heads to BST Hyde Park. Hassler’s unconventional rise—from a polytechnic dropout and HMV sales assistant to junior agent at World Service, then senior roles at...
Bulgarian Stadium Poised for €120m Redevelopment
Levski Sofia announced a €120 million (≈$130 million) renovation of Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, slated to begin in spring 2027. The redesign will convert the 17,600‑seat football ground into a state‑of‑the‑art, multipurpose arena with a fully covered bowl and advanced lighting, sound and...
Vollou to Trial Digital Setlist Tracking at UK Festivals
London‑based tech firm Vollou is launching a trial of AI‑driven music recognition to automatically capture DJ setlists at three UK festivals this summer. The system works like a Shazam‑style app, identifying tracks in real time on mobile devices and outputting...
ALSO Festival Launches ‘Women in Sound’ Initiative
UK’s ALSO Festival announced the Women in Sound initiative to tackle gender imbalance among live‑sound technicians. The program will train four early‑career female technicians through a weekend workshop on June 13‑14, followed by mentorship and paid shadowing at the 2026...
Festival News: Music Bank to Debut in Barcelona
Music Bank, the flagship K‑pop showcase produced by KBS and Korean Power, will make its European debut in Barcelona’s Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on 12 September 2026. The event, headlined by ATEEZ and ENHYPEN, will accommodate 56,000 fans, making it...
Boomtown Levels up Hydrogen-Powered Stage Offering
Boomtown is debuting HYDRO XL, a 20,000‑capacity main stage powered entirely by green hydrogen, marking a 150% increase over last year’s 8,000‑person HYDRO stage. The upgrade is enabled by a partnership with renewable‑energy firm GeoPura, which supplies self‑charging battery systems...
These Boots Are Made for Tourin’: Country’s International Growth
Country music, once a niche genre, is now among the fastest‑growing musical styles worldwide. In Australia ticket sales for country concerts have surged 746% since 2019, making it the largest market outside North America and prompting multi‑city stadium runs by...
‘In Italy, Litfiba Are Part of the Cultural Fabric’
Italian rock icons Litfiba are reuniting their original 1980s lineup for a 40th‑anniversary tour celebrating the seminal 1986 album *17 Re*. The 20‑date domestic trek, spanning major cities and festivals such as Rock in Roma, has already moved 150,000 tickets...
Hilary Duff’s Marketing Masterplay: Small Stages, Big Results
Hilary Duff’s team staged a four‑city intimate "Small Rooms, Big Nerves" run that sold out instantly, then added sold‑out Vegas shows, creating buzz that fed into the announcement of her global Lucky Me tour. The coordinated rollout—leveraging CAA, Live Nation,...
Ghanaian Rap’s London Breakthrough Makes ‘Anything Possible’
Ghanaian rap star Sarkodie sold out London’s 5,000‑seat Royal Albert Hall on March 6, marking the first international edition of his "Rapperholic" show. Tickets vanished within a week, with a roughly even split between UK residents and fans from North...
EAA Rebrands to Arenas Europe
The European Arenas Association has rebranded as Arenas Europe, unveiling a new logo and a broader strategic focus. Three prominent venues—Inapli Arena in Turin, MVM Dome in Budapest, and Velomax in Berlin—have joined, bringing the network to 46 arenas across...
A.R. Rahman’s Albert Hall Production ‘Built to Travel’
A.R. Rahman's orchestral concert debuted at London’s Royal Albert Hall and is now slated for a two‑night run at Toronto’s Meridian Hall, with further dates in Melbourne and other markets under discussion. Co‑composer Rushil Ranjan highlighted the production’s modular staging,...
OCESA Unveils Coliseo GNP Seguros in Guadalajara
OCESA has teamed with insurer GNP Seguros to transform Guadalajara’s 55‑year‑old Estadio 3 de Marzo into the Coliseo GNP Seguros, slated to open in August. The renovation lifts capacity by roughly 60% to 30,000 seats and adds a weather‑proof roof,...
Tour News: BINI Goes Global
Filipino girl group BINI announced a Live Nation‑backed Signals world tour, becoming the first act from the Philippines to headline a global circuit after their historic Coachella appearance. The itinerary kicks off with three Philippine shows in June‑July, moves to...
Does Las Vegas Need Another Arena?
Las Vegas is courting an NBA franchise, prompting a wave of arena proposals. Starr Vegas Development unveiled a $10 bn (≈$9.3 bn) 63‑acre Strip complex featuring a 25,000‑seat arena expandable to 30,000 and a 50,000‑seat stadium for NBA and MLS. The rival...
HYBE Chairman’s Arrest Warrant Rejected for Insufficient Evidence
South Korean prosecutors dismissed a police request to detain HYBE chairman Bang Si‑Hyuk, citing insufficient evidence of alleged investor fraud tied to the company’s 2019 pre‑IPO activities. Authorities claim Bang profited roughly 260 billion won (about $195 million) by misleading shareholders before HYBE’s...
Live Nation and Bruno Mars Dispute Concert Kit Partnership Claims
Live Nation and Bruno Mars’ management publicly denied a partnership that Concert Kit, a biometric ticket‑verification service created by Tools for Humanity, claimed to be trialling on the artist’s The Romantic Tour. Tools for Humanity blamed a miscommunication for the...
FAC Announces Its First Beneficiaries of UKAT Fund
The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) has released the first tranche of the UK Artist Touring (UKAT) fund, allocating £125,000 (≈ $159,000) to support 211 tour dates for 26 emerging UK artists. Each recipient can receive up to £7,000 (≈ $9,000) to plug...
Festival News: Rock en Seine Locks in Lineup
Rock en Seine has unveiled its full 2026 roster, featuring headliners Tyler, The Creator, Lorde, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Deftones and The Cure for the August 26‑30 run at Domaine National de Saint‑Cloud. Supporting acts include The Black...
FACTOR Launches CA$2m Investment for Canadian Live Sector
Canadian music funding body FACTOR, together with its French‑language partner Musicaction, announced a CA$2 million (≈US$1.5 million) investment in two new programmes for Canadian‑owned promoters and festivals. The Promoter and Festival programmes, aimed at sharing risk and amplifying diverse Canadian voices, will...
Movers & Shakers: Sphere, Kai Tak, Legends Global
The live‑music sector announced a wave of senior hires, including David Dibble as vice chairman of Sphere, Paul Doorn as managing director of Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park, and Pawel Brzezinski as EVP of premium hospitality at Legends Global. Co‑op...
Ticketmaster to Reallocate Scalped Tickets for Harry Styles’ NYC Shows
Ticketmaster will reallocate thousands of tickets deemed scalped for Harry Styles' 30‑date Madison Square Garden run via a fan lottery. The company cancelled tickets bought with multiple accounts or fake IDs and will offer them at the original price, all...
BandPitch Platform Aims to Streamline Artist Discovery
VIP Booking, a Danish live‑music services firm, launched BandPitch, a new artist‑discovery platform that taps its global network of over 22,000 verified agents, managers and bookers. The site lets musicians create detailed pitch profiles and matches them with relevant industry...
The Weeknd Run Showcases Mexico’s Stadium Momentum
The Weeknd's three‑night run at Estadio GNP Seguros highlighted Mexico's booming stadium concert market. The shows attracted fans from 74 countries, with 43% traveling from outside Mexico City, and Gen Z made up 42% of attendees. Promoters say demand has...
DWP Launches New Concerts Business Unit
Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) has launched DWP Concerts, a new division focused on venue development, concert promotion, and entertainment services. The unit, led by general manager Chamie McCurry and talent‑buyer Billy Hardison, will work alongside DWP’s existing festival and talent...
Ultra’s Battery-Powered Triumph: ‘This Is the Future of Live’
Ultra Music Festival’s sustainability team powered the RESISTANCE Cove stage with Showpower’s SmartGrid battery system, marking the first U.S. festival to run a main stage on a zero‑emission battery. The grid‑charged unit replaced a diesel generator, delivering uninterrupted audio, lighting...
Barclays Arena: ‘We as an Arena Should Help Develop Artists’
Barclays Arena in Hamburg posted a record year in 2025, drawing over 1.2 million fans across 156 events. Leveraging its 15,000‑seat capacity, the venue is now actively nurturing German talent by scaling down to 6‑8k seats for emerging acts. The strategy...
Karol G Announces Global Stadium Tour
Karol G unveiled the Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour, a stadium‑scale world tour running from July 2026 through July 2027. The itinerary covers North America, Latin America and Europe, opening at Chicago’s Soldier Field and culminating with a European leg that makes...
EU Firms Eye Noise Prediction Standard to Aid Festival Planning Headaches
European audio firms L‑Acoustics, d&b audiotechnik and SoundPLAN are developing the SDE (Sound Data Exchange) standard, a neutral file format that lets concert‑sound designs be exported directly into environmental noise‑prediction software. The format preserves phase data, enabling accurate modelling of...
Live Nation Settles Deceptive Ticketing Claims in DC for $9.9m
Live Nation agreed to pay $9.9 million to settle a District of Columbia investigation alleging deceptive ticket pricing by its Ticketmaster unit. The deal includes an $8.9 million refund to consumers for purchases made between 2015 and 2025, and mandates that future...
UK’s Shambala Moves to Employee Ownership
Kambe Events announced that the Shambala festival will transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), making it the first UK festival to adopt this model. The co‑founders, who have led the event for over 25 years, will step back as...
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball Reports €356.6m Gross
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball tour earned $419.5 million (≈€356.6 million), placing it among the ten highest‑grossing tours ever by a female artist. The tour’s total pushes Gaga’s career earnings past $1 billion, making her the sixth woman to reach that milestone. The 86‑date...