#196

Issue #196 | March 26, 2024

Vibee is upping the festival cruise game with its new Yacht Club and Ultra fans could have used a boat to survive last weekend’s rain-soaked venue. In more somber news, our hearts go out to those impacted by the terrorist attack on a concert hall in Russia and new reports from Astroworld reveal pre-event warnings on capacity.

Credit: Another Planet EntertainmentTerror erupts at concert hall in MoscowGunmen stormed a concert hall in Moscow late Friday night, killing more than 130 people and injuring many more. The assailants entered the sold-out, 6,200-cap Crocus City Hall venue spraying gunfire and proceeded to set the building on fire. The Islamic State group is claiming responsibility for the attack and Russian media is blaming Ukraine. Four suspects have been charged so far. 

Ultra powers through the rain with mulch, Bon JoviIntense storms pounded the east coast over the weekend, canceling multiple events. In Miami, FL, Ultra fans were at first undeterred by the rain, but as the storm’s intensity built on Friday night, the fest was evacuated and later canceled for the night. Saturday’s opening was delayed as crews scrambled to lay truckloads of mulch and pump water out of the venue. On Sunday, Jon Bon Jovi made a surprise appearance with Armin Van Buuren debuting a remix of his 1992 song, “Keep the Faith.”

ELVIS Act signed into lawTennessee signed the ELVIS Act into law last week, protecting artists against AI deep fakes and giving artists copyright protection over their voices for the first time. Tennessee is the first state to adopt such a law, officially named the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act of 2024, which adds voice protection to existing image and likeness protections and is a major step for artists.    

Golf, but louderLIV Golf is beefing up its “golf, but louder” mantra with its newest partnership. The disruptor golf league has partnered with AEG Presents and its Concerts West division to book and produce live concerts at LIV Golf events throughout the world. LIV’s next event is in Miami, FL, April 5 - 7 and will include a performance by Akon.      

New Astroworld findings: no way to fit 50kNew reports from the Astroworld investigation reveal pre-event concerns about the crowd size. The event’s safety director, Seyth Boardman of B3 Risk Solutions, expressed his concerns 10 days prior to the event’s start, “I feel like there is no way we are going to fit 50k in front of that stage.” Allegedly organizers used “an incorrect calculation to try to accommodate 50,000 fans at the 2021 Astroworld festival” and instead only had room for 34,500 guests.    

Vibee Yacht ClubLive Nation’s destination experience company, Vibee, is taking music festivals at sea to a whole new level with its new Vibee Yacht Club. This summer fans can board the 141-foot-long Lupus Mare or the 161-foot-long Prestige, two Vibee-chartered superyachts. The first yacht-cation starts July 13, day 2 of Ultra Europe and cruises around to several islands in Croatia. 

Glastonbury's economic impactGlastonbury Festival released an economic impact report from the 2023 festival stating that it generated “around £168 million ($212 million USD) of income for UK businesses including £32 million ($40 million USD) for businesses based in Somerset.” 140,000 guests attended the July 21 - 25, 2023 event at Worthy Farm, which cost £62 million ($78 million USD) to produce.     

KAABOO's return in jeopardyThe city of Solana Beach, CA has filed a lawsuit against the Del Mar Fairgrounds that could impact KAABOO music festival’s return this summer. As part of the suit, the city wants to go back on its prior approval of the fest until it complies with the California Environmental Quality Act. “The City of Solana Beach has asked the District Agricultural Association (DAA) [the group that runs the fairgrounds] since September of 2023 to put in place enforceable measures to reduce the impacts of the thousands of KABOO (sic) visitors to residents and businesses in Solana Beach," says Lesa Heebner, Solana Beach Mayor.

New venue for APEAnother Planet Entertainment is expanding with its first venue build, Channel 24, under construction in downtown Sacramento, CA. The 2,150-cap venue is set to open in early 2025. Channel 24 will join Another Planet’s other venues, including Fox Theater in Oakland, CA; Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, The Independent and Castro Theatre in San Francisco, CA; and Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena in Stateline, NV.

#PeopleNews

• Well Dunn Foundation has named Jacqueline Barsotti as its newest President of the non-profit organization, taking over David ‘5-1’ Norman.

• Neste Live promoted Andrew Fortin to VP of Fairs & Festivals, Jill Kopecky to VP of Corporate & Private Events, and Annette St. Onge to Director of Operations.

• Tixr has expanded into Canada and appointed Stéphane McGarry to lead the charge as Vice President, Partnerships and Country Manager. 

Have people news to share with us? Send it to [email protected].

 Las Vegas Grand Prix is looking for a full time Credential and Access Manager in the Las Vegas, NV office. Blue Note Entertainment Group is hiring a Senior Talent Buyer to book Sony Hall, in New York, NY. Salary: $85,000 - $150,000. The Capitol Theatre is looking for a Marketing Manager in Port Chester, NY. Looking for a festival gig? Check out open roles on The Event Sector, including tour laborer, photographer/videographer, and runner.  

How's your March Madness bracket doing?

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements

• Coachella announced the addition of the Quasar stage, the festival’s first dedicated EDM stage in more than 10 years, featuring three-hour sets by Diplo, Rufus Du Sol, Honey Dijon, Green Velvet, and more.

• Milwaukee’s Summerfest released headliners for its three-weekend-long festival along the shores of Lake Michigan. Kane Brown, Motley Crue, and TBD artist will perform weekend 1, June 20 - 22; Illenium, Tyler Childers, and Keith Urban lead weekend 2, June 27 - 29; and weekend three is topped by AJR, Maroon 5, and Lil Uzi Vert, July 4 - 6. 

• Post Malone, J Balvin, Nas, Jonas Brothers, Zac Brown Band, 50 Cent and Nickelback will play Festival D’été de Québec (FEQ), July 4 - 14 in Canada’s Quebec City. 

• Deep Cut announced Rose On The River, a new festival featuring My Morning Jacket, Tash Sultana, Vulfpeck, and Thundercat, July 4 - 7 at the The Salt Shed Fairgrounds in Chicago, IL. The new festival is brought to you by the organizers of Sacred Rose, which last took place in 2022 at SeatGeek Stadium. 

• SZA, Tyler the Creator, Blink-182, and The Killers will perform at Lollapalooza, August 1 - 4 in Chicago’s Grant Park. 

• Yungblud has launched his own music festival, Bludfest, August 11 at the Milton Keynes Bowl in the UK with the goal of making it as affordable as possible for fans. 

• Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival celebrates 10 years with Dave Matthews Band, Hozier, Noah Kahan and NEEDTOBREATHE, September 28 - 29 at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, TN.

• The inaugural Country Calling Festival, a country spin-off of C3’s Oceans Calling, will be headlined by Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Tyler Childers, and Lainey Wilson, October 4 - 5 in Ocean City, MD.

• Eric Church announced that he’ll be headlining the first Field & Stream Music Festival along with Lainey Wilson, October 4 - 6 in Winnsboro, SC. Church, along with Morgan Wallen, is part of the group that acquired Field & Stream magazine earlier this year.

• Sixthman and Vibee announced the Boots On The Water Cruise from Miami, FL to Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas with Big & Rich Featuring Gretchen Wilson, Craig Morgan, and Jo Dee Messina, February 8 - 13, 2025.

Wednesday, April 10 (The Hollywood Palladium): All Access Fest, an in-person convention that invites youth ages 16-24 to follow their dream of a career in the music & live entertainment industry at a fair that will spark discovery and map pathways to success.

 Sean Combs’ properties in LA, Miami raided by federal agents (developing).

  Another “Simpsons” prediction comes true: Cypress Hill announces a show with the London Symphony Orchestra.

 Jasmin Paris became the first woman - and only 20th person since 1989 - to complete the grueling Barkley Marathons race in the woods of TN on Sunday.

  SXSW experiential recap and key takeaways.

 Women-led music organizations you should join right now.

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