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The year may be winding down, but AEG isn’t in coast-mode yet; inking some strategic partnerships before the year is up. Plus, we’ve got more tour and festival announcements as well as a look at the Coachella of the Middle East.

Credit: Eduardo Verdugo/APBad Bunny, Bad Good TicketsHundreds of fans were denied entry to Bad Bunny’s sold-out concert in Mexico City on Friday night due to legitimate tickets being deemed fake. Ticketmaster later issued an apology saying that an “‘unprecedented number’ of fake tickets overwhelmed its systems, legitimate ticketholders were denied entry, and that refunds would be provided to ticketholders if their electronic records showed they were unable to enter the stadium.”

AEG bets on TipicoTipico, a global sportsbook operator, signs on with AEG Presents to become its exclusive sportsbook partner across Ohio and the surrounding area. As part of the partnership, Tipico is sponsoring the “Best Bet Concert Series” and launching a ticket giveaway with $10,000 worth of tickets to participating venues in the Ohio market.

Bad Bunny, Lots of MoneyIn other Bad Bunny news, the rapper has officially been crowned as the highest-grossing touring artist in a calendar year, exceeding Ed Sherran’s 94 ÷ (Divide) tour in 2018. He sold over 3 million tickets to his 81 shows this year, generating $435,388,660, besting Sheeran’s $432.4 million. However, Sheeran’s 255-show ÷ (Divide) run from 2017-19 still has him beat as the highest-grossing tour ever, coming in at $776.2 million.  

AEG Boosts Sustainability Efforts in GermanyAEG venues in Hamburg and Berlin, Germany, will begin using reusable cups from Ökocup (eco-cup) along with its in-house cup rinsing line. This replaces the biodegradable PLA disposable cups the venues had been using. The move is similar to one adopted by Live Nation in September when it invested in Turn Systems’s reusable cups and washing systems.

Artist Stipends AvailableSide Door, a DIY booking platform, is offering $200 stipends to artists showcasing at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City, SXSW, and playing ticketed Side Door shows between January and March to help with rising costs on the road. At first glance, the stipends may seem small, but for up-and-coming artists, it could be huge. 

UK Grassroots Venue GrantsThe Pipeline Investment Fund has given grants totaling nearly £40,000 to 11 grassroots music venues across the UK. The initiative by Music Venue Trust is primarily funded by donations from ticket sales of its recent “Revive Live” program and partnership with The National Lottery. Grants of up to £5,000 are given to venues in support of small upgrades/projects, staff and training, and strengthening their relationship with the local community.

Something in the Water $ponsorshipVirginia Beach City Council has approved a $2 million sponsorship of Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water Music Festival. The sponsorship allows the festival to keep the taxes from ticket sales (10%), food and beverage (5.5%), and the local portion of state sales tax (1%) for all transactions that occur on festival grounds.

SXSW + 301South by Southwest adds another 301 artists to the 191 previously announced in October for its March festival in Austin, TX. The lineup includes a diverse group from around the world and a mix of emerging artists, legacy artists, and underground artists. You can build your own schedule here. 

Powerhouse Gets More PowerPowerhouse, a K-Pop touring and marketing, uh, powerhouse, has formed a strategic partnership with AEG Presents to continue to build on opportunities across North America, Europe, and Asia. The pair have worked together since 2010 and have collaborated on several tours, including BTS, MONSTA X, BLACKPINK, Tomorrow X Together, and more.

Apple does KaraokeApple Music Sing will be available to Apple Music subscribers this month, enabling them to sing along with multiple real-time lyric views and adjustable audio for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV 4K. Just in time for your NYE party.

AEG Worldwide is looking for a Vice President of Booking for the Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, and other LA Live properties.

C3 Presents is looking for a Festival Events Travel Intern to commit a minimum of 15 hours/week to assist with travel for upcoming events. 

Eventbrite is hiring a Director, Operations & Analytics, to join its Business Operations team in support of the Sales and Customer Success teams.

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Touring News

Goose announced a Spring 2023 tour starting in Boston, MA, on March 23.

Shania Twain added 19 new fall dates to leg two of her global Queen of Me tour that kicks off October 12 in San Antonio, TX.

Celine Dion has postponed her Spring 2023 tour due to a recent diagnosis of Stiff-Person Syndrome. February - April dates have been shifted to March - April, and May - July shows have been canceled. Her August - October shows remain as scheduled for now.

Morgan Wallen added 14 shows to his One Night at a Time World Tour, kicking off March 15 in New Zealand. 

Aerosmith canceled their last 2 Las Vegas Shows (Saturday, Dec 10 & Sunday, Dec 11) due to advice from Steven Tyler’s doctors. 

Janet Jackson is celebrating her 50th anniversary in Entertainment with a 33-city tour, “Together Again.” Her first stop is Hollywood, FL, on April 14. 

Festival News

Made in Korea festival will make its debut in Paris February 18-19. The London edition last July was the largest outdoor K-Pop festival in Europe. 

Echoland Music Festival is coming to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, FL (home of Suwannee Hulaween and Suwannee River Jam) May 11-13.

Summer Camp Music Festival announced that Willie Nelson, Vulfpeck, Goose, and Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade will join traditional headliners Umphrey’s McGee and moe. May 26-28 in Chillicothe, IL.

Billie Eilish, The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Foals, Lewis Capaldi, and Sam Fender will headline the Reading and Leeds Festivals on August 25-27.

Railbird Festival returns to Lexington, KY, June 3-4. Tickets went on sale last Thursday and have already sold out.

Credit: mdlbeast.comThe 3rd MDLBeast Soundstorm festival took Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by storm December 1-3. The massive festival saw over 600,000 guests during its 3 days. With over 200 artists performing on 7 stages - including the main stage, Big Beast, the largest temporary stage structure in the world at 135.5 feet tall - for over 260 hours of music. If that sounds big, it’s because it was. In fact, the fest was 61% bigger than last year and featured Bruno Mars, Post Malone, David Guetta, Tiesto, DJ Khaled & Friends, Marshmello, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, and more. 

It may come as a surprise that festival fashion is important at Soundstorm, the festival is often referred to as the Coachella of the Middle East. The Bani Beast clothing line (by MDLBeast) features a mix of traditional wear and streetwear and is made with environmentally-conscious textiles. 

Need some help recapping 2022 and getting ready for 2023?

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 Twitter is auctioning off a lot of its office furniture, including some fancy espresso machines, an @ sculpture, Eames chairs, and more. Cassette tapes are making a comeback (?!?). Here’s how to start (or rebuild) your collection.

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