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We’re Watching 👀

Today's read ... 7 

minutes

TikTok pregame’s the Super Bowl, Lollapalooza India sets records, and AEG announces a new summer concert series concept - three artists, three cities, and three concerts. As we approach the spring, new lineup announcements are steadily rolling in. For those on the road, we’ve got you covered with a recap of the Grammys.

Credit: @JudiciaryDemsWe’re Watching, TicketmasterTicketmaster is facing its first big on sale since - well, you know - and everyone is watching. The ticketing co has made modifications to its procedures ahead of sales for Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, including requiring all purchasers to register as verified fans and staggering on sale dates in 3 groups, each with its own scheduled pre-sales, and increased security measures. At the end of the registration period, TM announced demand was over 800% of capacity, in hopes of setting fan expectations and has been providing live updates via @ticketmaster. As sales unfold, we’re watching too 👀.

The TikTok TailgateTikTok and the NFL are once again hosting the Ultimate Super Bowl Tailgate Pregame Party, exclusively on @NFL on TikTok, this Sunday, February 12. The party will feature virtual performances by Jason Derulo, The Black Keys, and comedian Liza Koshy, plus other TikTok creators and NFL guests. 

Big Game Metaverse ConcertAnd to cover its Metaverse audience, NFL is also hosting a Saweetie Super Bowl Concert on Friday, February 10th in Warner Music Group’s Rhythm City area in Roblox. The hip-hop artist will perform a family-friendly set as an avatar. The NFL aims to “celebrate the upcoming Super Bowl LVII and promote a message of female empowerment to all tuning in” with the free virtual concert.

End Junk FeesUS President Joe Biden is pushing his Junk Fee Prevention Act harder following the US Senate Hearing on Ticketmaster. The act aims to cut down and limit excessive fees, including those charged on tickets, mandates all-in pricing, outlaws speculative tickets, and requires the disclosure of ticket holdbacks. Ticketmaster supports this act and says, “We stand ready to work with the president and Congress on many common-sense ticketing reforms, while also speaking out against proposed legislation that would benefit scalpers over artists and fans.”

Indie No MoreFive independent promoters - BASE Entertainment, Premier Productions, Icon Concerts, Rush Concerts and Peachtree Entertainment - have joined forces to form LiveCo to build new events, artists, attractions, expand existing relationships, and create new projects. The new company is led by CEO Brian Becker and is backed by Waterland Private Equity. The company currently represents more than 2,000 shows and events. 

Sober-Supportive Spaces in the Music IndustryDry January may be over, but for the music industry, its community-based approach to sobriety and recovery could be a blueprint for mental health and sobriety support throughout the year. Kevin Lyman and Collette Weintraub discuss the need for sober-supportive spaces within the industry, as seen at The Warped Tour, several Danny Wimmer Presents festivals, and a recent Chainsmokers show.

A New Live Event Bar Set in IndiaLollapalooza’s India debut was so successful, organizers BookMyShow, Perry Farrell, and C3 Presents believe they have set a new standard for live entertainment in the region. The event was the first-ever large-scale international music festival in India with over 60,000 fans and 40 artists, including The Strokes, Divine, Jackson Wang, and Imagine Dragons, performing during the 2-day festival.

AEG Hits ResetRe:Set, a new AEG Presents concert series will be headlined by Boygenius, LCD Soundsystem, and Steve Lacy. Three artists, three cities, three concerts will take place each weekend in June, kicking off June 2 in Sanford, CA (LCD Soundsystem); Pasadena, CA (Steve Lacy); and San Diego, CA (Boygenius).

We Bridge takes on Sin CityInfinite Prospects Entertainment and MGM Resorts International will host We Bridge, a new, “multi-sensory, live event” celebrating Asian culture April 21-23 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The three-day cultural expo and two-day music festival will be headlined by K-pop group Enhypen and include Kang Daniel and Viviz.  

Lovers & LawsuitsLil Jon is threatening to sue Live Nation over the use of his song title, “Lovers & Friends” for the eponymous Las Vegas festival. Jon was one of the headliners last year along with Usher and Ludacris, and was seemingly OK with the fest using his title then, however things changed when he wasn’t in the lineup for 2023. 

Meet April Bredael! April is a rising music business professional looking to get back on the road in Summer 2023. She is specifically seeking tour manager, merch manager, PA, and photographer opportunities, beginning in June. Recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison, April has managed 2 tours, completed 2 major label internships, and 3 semesters as a college marketing rep for WMG all prior to college graduation. April currently resides in NYC working as a temp coordinator at Warner Music U. With experience in tour management, merch management, and VIP work, April brings a diverse, innovative, and fresh approach to the live event scene. You can reach April by email or through her website.

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Last Week's Results:

watched the Ticketmaster Hearings.

Lineup Announcements 

  • All-Latin music festival, Sueños, announced headliners Wisin y Yandel, Grupo Firme, Feid, and Nicky Jam for the May 27-28 festival in Chicago’s Grant Park.

  • The 1975, Aitch, and The Prodigy will headline Parklife Festival, UK’s “biggest metropolitan festival” June 10-11 at Heaton Park, Manchester.

  • Limp Bizkit, Pantera, and Slipknot are set to headline Danny Wimmer Presents’ Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival, July 14-16 at Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, OH. 

  • Belgium’s Tomorrowland announced over 600 artists that will appear on its 14 stages across two weekends: July 21-23 and July 28-30.

  • Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival will feature The Foo Fighters, Lizzo, and The Strokes, July 28-30. 

  • Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Nickelback, and Tim Hicks top the Boots and Hearts lineup, August 11-13 at Burl’s Creek in Ontario. 

  • Elements Music & Arts Festival revealed its phase 1 lineup including Skrillex, John Summit, Chris Lake, Subtronics, Porter Robinson and its new venue in Long Pond, PA. The festival takes place August 11-14. 

This week's spotlight is on ... What’s It Like to Work the Super Bowl?

 🔦

In honor of Sunday’s Big Game, we revisit Alex Guessard’s guest post from 2021, talking about his experience producing The Weeknd’s half-time show during a global pandemic.

 

Missed The Grammy’s on Sunday night? We did too, but we caught up with this

and

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 Here’s a recap of last year’s best and worst Super Bowl Commercials. Who will make the list this year?

 Hopefully not hip-hop producer Metro Boomin and Kevin Bacon’s “This Bud’s For You” spot.

 And of course, where to buy Rihanna’s Super Bowl makeup collection.

 

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