New DOJ probe into COVID refund strategies

The US Department of Justice is conducting a criminal antitrust investigation into Live Nation and AEG over their refund policies during the initial wave of COVID cancellations in 2020. The probe focuses on whether the two live-event giants colluded on refund terms, potentially violating antitrust laws. Live Nation has denied any wrongdoing, stating, “It is not illegal for artist agents, promoters and ticketing companies to work together to solve the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic," and that it independently set its own refund policies.

Live Nation’s summer ticket promo is back

Live Nation discontinued the popular “Lawnie Pass” in February, promising that they were “working on new and exciting programs for summer concert season.” This week, they are rolling out a “$30 Ticket to Summer” promotion, offering $30 all-in-pricing for 1,000+ concerts this summer. The $30 ticket is $5 more from last year’s $25 all-in “Concert Week” promotion, but still a good deal for those looking to hit multiple LN shows this summer. 

AEG Rocky Mountain jumped on the trend, offering $30 and $40 all-in tickets for a “Concert Week” of their own.

The TICKET Act is LIVE

The TICKET Act is officially active as of May 12th, mandating upfront disclosure of total ticket prices to eliminate hidden "junk fees." Ticketing companies are adapting their policies to fit the requirement with Ticketmaster leading the charge. SeatGeek and StubHub have also rolled out all-in pricing after some initial hiccups. SeatGeek received some criticism for only revealing buyer fees at checkout and StubHub got a formal warning from the FTC on its failure to meet the deadline, which happened to coincide with the release of the NFL schedule. The FTC has indicated that non-compliance could result in penalties of up to $53,088 per violation.

Riot Games brings dynamic music experiences to gaming 🎮

Riot Games is redefining the role of music in gaming by focusing on community-building and immersive storytelling rather than traditional music industry models. Through collaborations with artists such as Lil Nas X, Imagine Dragons, and NewJeans, and the creation of virtual bands like K/DA and HEARTSTEEL, Riot integrates music to enhance the gaming experience. Despite these initiatives, Riot does not aim to become a traditional music company but instead plans to leverage music to enrich its gaming narratives and foster deeper connections within its player communities.

UK agency suggests economic loss due to resale price caps 🇬🇧

Independent consultant agency Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) in the UK released findings that the economy could lose out on £183 million ($243 million USD) if the government puts price caps on resale pricing. The estimation is based on an assumption that 25% of those who currently resell their tickets choose not to do so due to lack of financial incentives and the fans who do purchase resale tickets tend to spend £629 ($840 USD) per seat on related, non-ticket items per show. The report also suggests that price caps would send ticket resellers and buyers to “underground and unregulated channels” instead, which have no protections for purchasers.

Venue updates

Marathon Live has acquired FIVE, a 1,250-capacity music venue in Jacksonville, FL. The venue opened on May 13 with BoyWithUke. 

Live Nation will lease a 5,300-capacity live music venue at Centennial Yards in Atlanta, GA. It is expected to open in 2027.

Internationally, Live Nation is part of the team developing a new 20,000-cap arena in Munich, Germany that is planned to be completed in 2029. Live Nation has also entered Columbia and will take over the operation of Arena Cañaveralejo in Cali. The approximately 14,000-cap venue will be operated through LN’s Latin affiliates OCESA and Grupo Páramo.

Breakaway x CAA => international expansion

Breakaway wants to go global and has tapped CAA to help fuel its international expansion. Known for its multi-city presence and diverse lineups, Breakaway plans to enter new markets in 2026, leveraging CAA's expertise to reach broader audiences. The festival's founders emphasize maintaining its community-driven ethos while scaling operations, with CAA facilitating partnerships and talent bookings to support this growth.

AEG Presents x ELAM + LIDO Fest 🇬🇧

AEG Presents has partnered with East London Arts and Music (ELAM) to provide young creatives with direct access to the live music industry through a multi-year program centered around the new LIDO Festival in London’s Victoria Park. The initiative offers ELAM students mentorships, internships, work placements, and masterclasses across  booking, event production, marketing, and music technology. AEG will host two month-long internships at LIDO and run term-time masterclasses led by industry professionals.

Queen Bey is back 🐝

Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter Tour" launched with a record-breaking five-night run at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, grossing $55.7 million and drawing over 217,000 attendees. This was the highest-grossing single-venue engagement by a female artist in Billboard Boxscore history, surpassing her previous records from the 2023 Renaissance World Tour and comes despite claims of ticket prices dipping as low as $57.50 on resale markets just hours before doors.

• 100x Presents is hiring local staff for Andrea Bocelli: A Weekend In Napa, taking place June 20–22, 2025 in St. Helena, CA. 100x is looking to fill roles across multiple departments, including Box Office, Merch, Production, Hospitality, Guest Experience, Admin and VIP. If you're interested, please email your resume to [email protected] and note which departments you'd like to be considered for. Department Heads will follow up directly with selected candidates via email.

• Monumental Sports & Entertainment is looking for a Director of Fan Development for the Washington Wizards in Washington, DC. Salary: $95,000 - $110,000. 

• Kambe Events Ltd (organizers of Shambala Festival) is hiring a part-time Non-Executive Director based in the UK. 

Last Week's Results:
74% of BOH readers would be willing to pay between $100 - $499 to watch their favorite Artist’s creative process first-hand in their studio.

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

• Dead & Company will celebrate 60 years of The Grateful Dead with three nights at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA, August 1 - 3. 

• Turnpike Troubadours’ headlining “Wild America Tour” will kick off August 28 in Chicago, IL and wrap December 13 in Mesa, AZ. 

• Farm Aid is celebrating its 40th Anniversary by heading to Minneapolis, MN for the first time on September 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Willie Nelson, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, Billy Strings and more are set to perform. 

• Iggy Pop and Jack White will headline the inaugural CBGB Festival, September 27 at Under The K Bridge Park in Brooklyn, NY. 

• The RISE Festival, “the world’s largest sky lantern festival,” will include performances by  John Mayer, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Goose, and Calvin Harris, October 3 - 5 in the Mojave Desert 20 miles south of Las Vegas, NV. 

• Billy Strings has added fall dates to his US tour, starting in Huntsville, AL on October 23 - 25 and ending December 13 - 14 in Austin, TX.

• Nine Inch Nails announced Future Ruins Festival, a “first-of-its-kind music festival: a day-long event where the world’s most influential film and television composers step out from behind the screen and onto the stage.” The new music and arts fest will take place November 8 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, CA. 

• Phish is heading back to Mexico for the 9th all-inclusive destination fest Phish: Riviera Maya, January 28 - 31, 2026 at Moon Palace Cancún.

• Insomniac is bringing EDC to Medellin, Columbia with partner Páramo Presenta in October of 2026.

Cancelations

• Medium Rare’s Kelce Jam canceled just 4 days before the fest was scheduled to take place, with organizers saying they are “taking this time to gear up for an even bigger, better, and more unforgettable experience next summer.” No lineup or location had been announced prior to the cancellation.

• Why you love music festivals, according to science.

• Can OnlyFans save the music industry? 

• Ex-Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese lists 10 hilarious reasons why he got fired.

• TikTok is rewriting the rules of the music industry. 

• Twenty One Pilots fans turned into detectives when someone walked away with one of Josh Dun’s drums during a set in Manchester.

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