EDM Drives Easter Activity in Lagos’ Expanding Live Calendar
Lagos’ Easter weekend has evolved into a focused EDM surge, highlighted by the Homecoming festival’s April 2‑6 edition that leaned heavily on local talent. The festival’s HI‑FI rave platform emerged as a key draw, while Grammy‑winner Black Coffee headlined the Royal Box with tickets averaging €80 (about $86) selling out quickly. This activity signals a shift from the traditional year‑end "Detty December" peak to a more diversified live‑music calendar. Though infrastructure remains ad‑hoc, the growing ecosystem suggests a repeatable, multi‑cycle market.
Justin Bieber Rakes in $5m in Coachella Merch Sales
Justin Bieber’s Skylrk brand broke Coachella merchandise records, pulling in more than $5 million (≈ €4.25 million) across the two‑day festival—over twice the previous high of $1.7 million. The sales were driven by a dedicated pop‑up shop and the standard artist merch tent, offering...
Poland’s Atlas Arena Completes Renovation
Poland’s Atlas Arena in Łódź has finished a major renovation, boosting its live‑music capacity from 13,800 to 14,728 seats. The upgrade introduces a modular curtain system and mobile stands, giving promoters greater staging flexibility and improving attendee safety. Management says...
KISS Confirm 2028 for Avatar Show Launch
Classic rock icons KISS have announced that their avatar concert, featuring 3D holographic versions of the band, will debut in Las Vegas in 2028. The project is backed by Pophouse Entertainment, the firm that produced the ABBA Voyage show, which...
Córdoba: The Rising Star of Argentina’s Touring Route
Córdoba is emerging as a key secondary market in Argentina’s live‑music touring circuit. A new 12,000‑seat Arena Córdoba, backed by a $50 million investment from international developer Corporación América Inmobiliaria and local promoters, aims to fill the gap left by the...
Movers & Shakers: PRG, Live Nation, Icon Concerts
Production Resource Group (PRG) named Darren Pfeffer its first chief commercial officer, tasking him with global revenue growth and client expansion. Live Nation hired Chris Marking as EVP of international venue sponsorship to steer naming‑rights deals across a pipeline of...
Tech Tie-Ups Power Resale ‘Reprioritisation’
Menta tech, a white‑label resale infrastructure provider, is expanding its AI‑driven ticket‑discovery platform across North America and Europe through new partnerships, notably with Accesso. The deal lets venues manage fan‑to‑fan resale on their own sites, using built‑in verification and pricing...
Maroon 5 to Lead New Ecuadorian Festival
Maroon 5 will headline the inaugural FTC Live al Parque, a one‑day festival in Quito’s Parque Bicentenario this August, a venue that holds over 30,000 fans. The event is organized by Feel The Club, the promoter that has recently brought Shakira, Bad Bunny and...
Eventbrite Makes Layoffs Following Bending Spoons Acquisition
Eventbrite announced significant layoffs after its $500 million acquisition by Milan‑based Bending Spoons. The cuts primarily target the pre‑acquisition workforce, with many employees in India affected, as the new owners integrate their product development team. Bending Spoons plans to accelerate innovation...
O2 Pens SSE Arena Belfast Naming Rights Partnership
Telecom giant O2 has signed a 10‑year naming‑rights deal for Belfast’s SSE Arena, rebranding the 11,200‑seat venue and its surrounding 23‑acre complex as The O2 Belfast from July. The partnership adds an exclusive O2 Blueroom VIP bar, 48‑hour pre‑sale ticket...
Coachella Performers Sombr & The Strokes Roll Out Tours
Following Coachella’s 25th‑anniversary weekend, rising pop star Sombr and veteran rock band The Strokes unveiled extensive arena tours. Sombr’s 37‑date North American "You Are The Reason" trek kicks off July 22 in Mexico City and will hit marquee venues such...
How Ghana Party in the Park Became a Launchpad for Ghanaian Artists Abroad
Ghana Party in the Park, a London‑based festival founded by Akwaaba UK in 2005, now attracts 8,000‑10,000 Ghanaian diaspora fans each August. Over two decades it has become the premier overseas stage for Ghana’s top acts—from Stonebwoy and Sarkodie to...
Lev3ls Launches London Showcase Series for International Acts
London grassroots promoter Lev3ls is launching the ‘Further’ showcase series, a six‑show program that brings emerging international artists to intimate London venues while pairing them with elite backing musicians. The inaugural event on July 21 features Rae Khalil, signed to Anderson .Paak’s Apeshit...
Tour News: Jack White Announces Headline Tour, Gorillaz Takes ‘The Mountain’ to India
Jack White announced an extensive 2026 headline tour spanning North America and Europe, kicking off on July 10 in Washington, D.C., and featuring two‑night runs in major cities such as Atlanta, Brooklyn, Chicago and Los Angeles. The European leg, promoted...
Ticketmaster Unveils App Within ChatGPT
Ticketmaster has launched a native app inside OpenAI's ChatGPT, enabling fans to search for and purchase concert, sports and other live‑event tickets through conversational prompts. The integration taps into ChatGPT’s 900 million weekly users and includes both primary inventory and secondary...
UK Venues to Get Share of Resale Revenue in Tickets9 Programme
Tickets9 has launched a Venue Partner Programme that pays UK venues a 12% share of every resold ticket’s value, delivered instantly via PayPal and without platform fees or contracts. The scheme also grants venues full buyer contact data for each...
Jury to Begin Deliberations in Live Nation Trial
The civil antitrust trial against Live Nation and its ticketing arm Ticketmaster concluded in New York, and a jury began deliberations on April 10. The case, pursued by 34 states after the Department of Justice withdrew, alleges the companies abused...
Oak View Group Bolsters Programming and Content Leadership
Oak View Group (OVG) has named Becky Colwell president of programming and content and promoted Mark Shulman to executive vice president of programming and content for OVG East. Colwell will steer the global strategy for venue bookings, sports, concerts, festivals...
IFF Launches in LA and Moves Into New Home in London
International Festival Forum (IFF) is launching its first U.S. edition in Los Angeles, gathering up to 500 top festival agents and bookers from September 14‑16, 2026. In parallel, IFF’s London event is relocating to Outernet London, a high‑tech immersive district...
German Industry Welcomes Growing Regional Venue Federations
German industry groups are rallying behind a growing network of regional solidarity models for small venues, highlighted by Cologne's upcoming city‑wide ticket levy, Club Euro. The initiative builds on a national grassroots fund launched last September, backed by more than...
How Ocesa Set the Stage for The Xx’s Comeback
The English indie trio The xx ended an eight‑year touring hiatus with three sold‑out shows at Mexico City’s 8,000‑seat Pepsi Center, a move orchestrated by promoter OCESA. The concerts, which sold all 24,000 tickets within a month, served as a...
Polish Promoter Awake Events Launches with Circoloco Warsaw
Awake Events, a new Polish live‑entertainment promoter, is launching with the Circoloco festival at Warsaw’s historic Wilanów Palace on May 9. The company’s mission blends heritage sites with contemporary music to attract younger audiences and support national cultural institutions. Backed by...
Toronto’s Rogers Stadium Generates $500m in First Year
Toronto’s temporary Rogers Stadium delivered more than $500 million (≈ €427.5 million) in economic activity during its inaugural season, according to Live Nation Canada. The 50,000‑seat venue hosted 14 concerts for roughly 700,000 fans, generating $388 million in GDP and $115 million in tax revenue,...
Spain’s Last Tour on Scaling without Compromising Values
Last Tour, the Bilbao‑based live‑music promoter, has renewed its B Corp certification, placing it in the top 10% of over 10,000 certified companies worldwide and near the top 30 in Spain after a 40% score boost. The firm, which runs...
Parisian Theatre Alhambra Acquired by Trio of Independents
Paris’s historic Alhambra theatre, an 800‑seat venue that has hosted global acts such as Lady Gaga and Maroon 5, has been purchased by a consortium of independents—Opus Live, Junzi Arts and the Astérios Group. The new owners plan to revitalize the space...
Harry Styles Reveals Meltdown Festival Artists and Solo Show
Harry Styles will curate the 31st Meltdown Festival at London’s Southbank Centre, unveiling a first wave of artists that includes Yussef Dayes, Jon Hopkins, Devonte Hynes, Kamasi Washington, Nilüfer Yanya, Fousheé, Getdown Services and Warpaint. The festival runs June 11‑21,...
Walter Kolm’s Blueprint for Latin’s Global Domination
Walter Kolm, CEO of WK Entertainment, is redefining Latin music management by blending data analytics with global touring and brand partnerships. He recently launched a joint‑management deal with Massivo Entertainment to expand Puerto‑Rican star Farruko’s international presence using a 360°...
AXS Welcomes ‘Super Smooth’ Céline Dion Paris Artist Presale
AXS reported a "super smooth" artist presale for Céline Dion’s Paris residency, marking the first use of its Fair AXS bot‑mitigation system in Europe. The presale opened on April 7 and attracted up to 9 million registration attempts, though AXS says that...
Global Citizen to Debut Live Show in Japan
Global Citizen announced its inaugural Japan music‑driven fundraiser, Global Citizen Live: Tokyo, set for 18 June at the 5,000‑seat Tokyo International Forum. The concert will showcase the multinational pop group &TEAM, Japanese‑American singer Ai, rap star Yuki Chiba and be...
The Team Elevates Kevin Shivers to Music Group Co-President
THE TEAM has elevated Kevin Shivers to co‑president of its global music group, joining president Lee Anderson in overseeing strategy, operations, and growth across the live‑music business. Shivers, who joined the agency in early 2025, brings a roster that includes...
‘Music Tourism’ Map App Charts US Live Sector
Music Roadtrip, a fan‑focused map app launched by Amy and Ronnie Wright, now charts more than 100,000 live music events and festivals across the United States. The platform displays venues, record stores, and music‑heritage sites while offering one‑click booking for...
Movers & Shakers: Venu, Tixr, CLMA
Venu Holding appointed Sarah Rothschild as SVP of strategic finance and investor relations, bringing 15 years of entertainment finance experience from Madison Square Garden. The company recently closed an $86 million oversubscribed public equity offering after reversing a $75 million deal, with...
From J. Cole to Dave: A Look Inside South Africa’s Live Calendar
South Africa’s live‑music market is booming in 2026, drawing a diverse slate of international acts—from Doja Cat and Bryan Adams to J. Cole and Dave—across hip‑hop, R&B, reggae, country and electronic genres. Major venues in Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban and Johannesburg host arena shows...
Live Nation Sued for Washington DC Concert Water Supply Issues
Live Nation and the District of Columbia face a lawsuit filed by nearly 30 attendees of the Stray Kids concert at Washington’s Nationals Park on June 23, 2025. Fans allege they suffered heat‑related injuries after the venue ran out of...
FKPE’s Oberhausen Venue ‘OBEX’ Hails Successful First Year
FKPE’s OBEX exhibition venue in Oberhausen celebrated its first anniversary, having welcomed over 250,000 visitors in just twelve months. The venue’s 4,500 sqm space and 14‑metre clearance accommodated blockbuster shows like *The Last Days of Pompei* and the upcoming *Formula 1* exhibition,...
WME Adds Will Marshall & Andre Belcourt to Music Team
WME has added two London‑based agents, Will Marshall and Andre Belcourt, to its contemporary music division. Marshall joins from Primary Talent, bringing indie acts such as beabadoobee, Baby Queen and Momma, and will report to partner Josh Javor. Belcourt arrives...
Inside Why Ultra Partnered with Viagogo and StubHub
Ultra Europe has named Viagogo and StubHub as official "open distribution" partners, allowing fans to buy face‑value tickets directly on these platforms. The partnership aims to curb inflated resale prices after Viagogo’s history of legal penalties, including a AU$7 million (≈$4.6 million)...
‘AI and Data Must Be the Core’: Gotobeat on 2026 Expansion
Gotobeat, a London‑based live‑music promoter founded in 2022, says its proprietary AI‑driven data modelling will lift its event count from 600 last year to 1,000 shows by 2026. The firm reports a four‑fold rise in ticket sales for 2025 and...
Montreux Jazz Festival Unveils Mammoth 60th Edition Lineup
Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival has unveiled its 60th‑edition program, running July 3‑18 and drawing roughly 250,000 fans. The roster mixes legends such as Sting, Deep Purple and Van Morrison with breakout acts like Raye, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, and features unique pairings...
The Columbo Group Plots £15m Facelift on Acquired Venue
London’s Columbo Group has acquired the historic Rex venue in East London and announced a £15 million refurbishment, targeting a 2027 reopening. The 2,300‑capacity space will be rebranded as Jazz Cafe East, joining the group’s existing Jazz Cafe Camden and Phonox...
Movers & Shakers: Erin Benjamin Steps Down From CLMA
Erin Benjamin is stepping down after 12 years as president and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, initiating a structured leadership transition this spring. During her tenure she built Canada’s first unified national platform for live‑music stakeholders and launched...
The Traitors Live Experience Set for Global Expansion
The Traitors Live Experience opened in London’s Covent Garden, selling roughly £2 million in tickets within its first week and beating revenue forecasts. The production was built as a four‑floor, modular set that can be scaled up or down, allowing the...
How the Music Industry Changed at the Speed of Light
Rob Light, managing director of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), reflected on the firm’s four‑decade evolution from a modest music department to a global, full‑service powerhouse. By pioneering in‑house artist development, tour marketing and private‑event divisions, CAA secured breakout successes such...
ILMC 38 Open Forum: ‘Live Is the Last Frontier of Tangible, Real Experiences’
The ILMC 38 Open Forum brought together newly appointed leaders from Superstruct, Ticketmaster, Pophouse and AEG to debate the future of live entertainment. Speakers highlighted a surge in global touring, especially among Gen‑Z audiences, and the paradox of a digitally...
The Great Escape Lines up Mel C, Ian Murray MP for Keynotes
The Great Escape returns to Brighton from 13‑16 May for its 20th anniversary, featuring live‑music industry sessions, debates and a showcase of over 400 emerging acts. Global pop icon Melanie C and DCMS Minister Ian Murray MP have been confirmed...
Agent David Bradley Moves to CAA
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has hired London‑based agent David Bradley, formerly a partner and co‑head of WME’s pop division. Bradley arrives with a decade‑plus track record representing artists such as Dua Lipa, LCD Soundsystem, and Greta Van Fleet. His expertise...
John Langford to Become AEG International’s APAC President
AEG International named John Langford president of its Asia‑Pacific division, effective 1 April, with a Singapore base from September. He will steer AEG’s regional expansion across existing and upcoming venues, including the newly opened 17,500‑seat IG Arena in Nagoya and the 6,000‑seat UOB Live...
Issue 142
Industry experts highlight how technology is fundamentally reshaping the live‑music ecosystem, from data‑driven marketing to streamlined tour logistics. First‑party fan data is now seen as essential for personalized campaigns, yet many artists lack full appreciation of its value. Human connection...
LatAm Live 2026
LatAm Live 2026, a new IQ report, maps the rapid expansion of Latin America’s live‑music ecosystem. Executives from festivals, venues, and touring agencies highlight how the region is becoming the opening act for the global festival calendar, driven by massive venues...
Paléo Festival Scores Green Energy First for Switzerland
Switzerland’s Paléo Festival Nyon has become the first outdoor music event in the country to operate its own solar farm. The 470‑square‑metre installation, featuring 261 photovoltaic panels, will generate roughly 100,000 kWh per year—covering at least half of the festival’s electricity...