#177

Record-breaking issue 🤯

Issue #177 | November 7, 2023From heightened security measures at Swedish events to Live Nation's record-breaking revenues and an investigation into their agreements, keep reading for the latest updates to the changing dynamics of the events industry. Stand out stories from this week include a notable on-sale delay for Glastonbury Festival, and Eventbrite's revenue growth.

Richmond AmphitheaterMaking music festivals safer for a diverse group of musiciansEach September, the AmericanaFest in Nashville brings together diverse artists challenging mainstream music genres, promoting inclusivity. The festival's #AllAmericana initiative aims at diversity, yet recent incidents, including verbal harassment of a performer and misnaming during a panel, raise concerns about the festival's commitment to inclusion. Artists are calling for more concrete actions to create a safe and welcoming environment for all.

Swedish police to ban ALL bags at major concerts and sporting eventsSweden will gradually ban bags at major concerts and sporting events. This decision comes as a response to the heightened terror threat level in the country.

Live Nations' revenue hits $8.2B in record third quarterLive Nation reported a record-breaking revenue of $8.2 billion in the third quarter, with significant contributions from concert revenue and international markets. The success was further fueled by the immense popularity of summer tours by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, resulting in a surge in fan ticket sales. Ticketmaster also experienced remarkable growth, with a 57% increase in revenue. Live Nation anticipates these positive trends to persist into 2024. 

US Justice Department probes LN's agreements with venues, artistsThe U.S. Justice Department is looking into Live Nation to see if they use agreements that limit competition with venues and artists, specifically by restricting venues from working with other promoters or ticket services. This investigation may lead to an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, with recent concerns raised by U.S. Senators over Ticketmaster's handling of ticket sales for Taylor Swift's tour.    

Amendment approved for TICKET Act, change suggested for BOTS ActThe TICKET Act aims to enhance transparency in event ticket pricing by displaying all-inclusive costs during the purchase process to prevent hidden fees at checkout. In the meantime, the 2016 BOTS Act is set for an update to address the increasing issue of bots in ticket sales, with proposed additions of new reporting and security protocols for major sellers like Ticketmaster. 

Glastonbury pushes ticket sale back by two weeksGlastonbury Festival has delayed its 2024 ticket on-sale by two weeks to ensure fair registration for all potential buyers after some individuals discovered they were unregistered despite believing they were. The festival organizers have reopened the registration window to address this issue.

Eventbrite revenue grows 21%In Q3, Eventbrite's net revenue was $82 million, up from $67 million the previous year, with gross ticket sales of $892 million, an increase from $846 million. The company sold 23 million paid tickets.  

Coran Capshaw's new venueRichmond's newest amphitheater will be a 7,500-seat venue to boost the city's music scene. It will host 25-35 acts annually and offer space for other community events. The project begins this summer, and the venue is planned to open in 2025.

Dave Matthews Band's zero waste showDave Matthews Band and Enmarket Arena are teaming up for a zero-waste concert experience to kick off the band's fall tour in Savannah, Georgia. Partnering with GOAL, an OVG-led sustainability initiative, they aim to divert more than 90% of waste from landfills during the concert.

Italy's newest promoterArtist First is venturing into the music promotions sector by introducing Artist First Live, providing artists with a comprehensive service ranging from marketing to publishing and merchandising. This expansion broadens Artist First's offerings in the music industry, emphasizing an all-in-one approach for artists.

  iHeartMedia seeks a dynamic Marketing Manager to lead promotional efforts, drive audience engagement, and foster revenue growth through strategic marketing initiatives.       On Board Experiential is seeking a hands-on Production Manager to oversee the execution of diverse experiential marketing programs and events.     SoFi Stadium is currently looking for an Event Specialist for the YouTube Theater with a minimum of one year of experience in event coordination.

How many times has your event travel been delayed in 2023?

Last Week's Results:

70% of BOH readers dressed up for Halloween. Love the holiday spirit!

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements

A growing conflict within the music industry centers on live venues taking a share of musicians' merchandise profits. This issue came into the spotlight when artists like Jeff Rosenstock and Tomberlin openly criticized venues for taxing their merchandise sales. Venues claiming a percentage of merch sales date back to the 1970s and 1980s. Nowadays, it's common for venues to take cuts ranging from 10% to as much as 40%, significantly impacting artists' already slim profit margins. With rising merchandise cut percentages and the challenges posed by the post-pandemic landscape, artists are forced to advocate for fairer policies and more equitable profit distribution from venues.

 

January 14 - 19 (Wheeling, WV): IFEA / NRPA Event Management School is a two-year continuing education program (one week each January) at Oglebay National Training Center. Year 1 Students follow an intensive, interactive classroom pathway, while Year 2 Students take it up a notch in an applied workshop setting and a unique hands-on, event concept design, team project experience.

 

 

Learn how to minimize the impact of travel delays on your events to ensure a smoother experience for both you and your attendees.

 

Discover 30 exciting event concepts from brands like Birkenstock, FOX, and Hello Sunshine  – October 2023's latest event trends unveiled!

 

Join David Adler, the brains behind BizBash, as he journeys into the psychology of event trends from 1950 to 2023, uncovering why they're still cool today.

 Missy Elliott made history as the first female hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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