ODESZA 🔥 at The Gorge

A brush fire broke out during the last song of ODESZA’s set at The Gorge in George, WA on Saturday. The fire was started by pyrotechnics from the stage and was quickly extinguished. There was no encore and guests were asked to leave the venue out of an abundance of caution.

Noah Kahan raises $$ for mental health

Noah Kahan has raised over $2.4 million for mental health initiatives through his Busyhead Project, which supports over 55 organizations, including Bring Change to Mind and the Rural Behavioral Health Institute. Kahan's efforts focus on providing resources and reducing stigma, especially in rural areas. His fundraising includes portions of ticket sales from his tours and other initiatives, aiming to make a significant impact on mental health awareness and support.

Ticketmaster data hack woes continue (Taylor’s version)

ShinyHunters, the group that is responsible for the May Ticketmaster hack, now claims it stole 193 million barcodes, including 440,000 Taylor Swift tickets, valued at $22 billion in addition to the data from 560 million TM users (that were finally informed about the breach this week). The hackers are now requesting $8 million for the safe return of data after having “accepted a rushed $1 million offer from LiveNation to keep the breach under wraps.” Live Nation denies the initial offer and says it is confident that its SafeTix technology will render the stolen barcodes useless.

Meghan Trainor: Godmother of the Seas 🌊

Meghan Trainor has been named “Godmother” of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas party cruise. The three-night party cruise starts on July 19 and includes a performance by Trainor at Perfect Day, Royal Caribbean’s private island. “As godmother, Trainor will join a longstanding maritime tradition, bestowing safekeeping onto the cruise ship, its crew, and the millions who will vacation on Utopia of the Seas for years to come.”

Former TM exec pleads guilty to hacking

In another, much older Ticketmaster hacking case, former Ticketmaster exec Stephen Mead has pleaded guilty to hacking into his former employer CrowdSurge's systems to share confidential information with Ticketmaster in 2012. The original suit was settled in 2018 and in 2021 Ticketmaster paid a $10 million fine and introduced a new compliance and ethics program. But Mead was personally still accountable for his actions with the US Attorney’s Office in NY and now faces sentencing of up to 5 years in prison.

Morgan Wallen’s record-setting UK performance

Morgan Wallen set a new record for the largest country music concert in the UK with his sold-out performance at BST London's Hyde Park on July 4, drawing 50,000 fans. This event was part of his "One Night At A Time" stadium tour and marked his first UK appearance since a sold-out show at The O2 in December.

California’s SB 785 moves forward

The California Assembly's Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee advanced a revised version of SB 785, a Live Nation-backed bill, removing several of the “most egregious measures”. The bill, which focuses on regulating ticket resale platforms, still includes measures like banning speculative tickets and increasing penalties for violations. NIVA urges the passing of the bill and hopes it will inspire similar reforms in other states. Next, the bill will move to the Assembly’s Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

UK festivals focused on sustainability

AEG Europe touts that this has been their most sustainable festival season to date, led by their efforts at BST Hyde Park. According to AEG Europe’s director of sustainability, Sam Booth, “We are acutely aware of our position and believe we have a responsibility to influence fan behavior and drive sustainable change and in doing so, we’re helping to not only preserve the planet but also the future of live entertainment.”

Glastonbury has also raised the bar on sustainability in the UK, with the event boasting 100% renewable energy sources and banning single-use plastics.

Seoul Arena construction resumes

Seoul Arena, a new venue dedicated to K-pop performances, broke ground last week after cost-related delays. Construction originally began in November of 2023, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for December and an anticipated open date of October 2025. The 28,000-cap venue is now scheduled to open in March 2027 and is expected to attract more than 2.7 million visitors to the Gangbuk area.

BBC’s New Music Portal

The BBC has invested £500,000 ($640,395 USD) in Condense, a Bristol-based immersive live events company. Condense's technology enables the streaming of live performances into a virtual venue called the New Music Portal which creates interactive and game-like experiences, and allows fans to attend the performances virtually. “Traditionally, broadcasting was passive, but now users can actually be part of the experience.”

Correction: Last week we referred to Portland, Maine as the last Live Nation-less city, however it is actually Portland, Oregon. Thanks for keeping us on our toes, Adam!

• JLL is seeking a Senior Project Manager to join their Sports & Entertainment Project Management team. Salary $120,000 - $170,000.

• Insomniac is hiring a Seasonal Lighting Project Manager, Elevated Experience. Hourly rate: $20.80 - $26.00.

• CAA is looking for a remote Domestic Travel Manager. Salary: $100,000 - $110,000.

Last Week's Results:
67% of BOH readers prefer drone shows over fireworks.

Headliners, Lineups, and Festival Announcements 

• Celine Dion is “secretly practicing” for a run of 70-minute shows in Las Vegas. The show dates are TBD.

• Bulgaria announced its first trap music festival, Menace to Society Festival, October 16 with American rappers Tekashi 6ix9ine and NLE Choppa at Sofia Arena in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

• Dua Lipa will play Wembley Stadium - her largest headlining gig to date - next June.

• Anderson .Paak will play the entire album, “Malibu” on his upcoming “The Malibu Tour”. The tour kicks off September 18 in Bend, OR and wraps October 13 in Atlanta, GA.

• Ms. Lauryn Hill and The Fugees are going out on a 21-date “The Celebration Continues” tour starting August 9 in Tampa, FL and ending October 22 in Amsterdam, NL. 

Cancellations

• Minnesota’s Moondance Jam has canceled all headliners less than 3 weeks before the July 18 - 20 event, rebranding as Camp Moondance. Guests were initially offered to exchange their tickets for “more tickets,” but later were offered refunds.

• Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival has been canceled due to a date conflict with the Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. The festival was also canceled last year following Matty Healy’s controversial on-stage kiss. 

• Heart has postponed the remaining dates of their “Royal Flush Tour” following lead singer Ann Wilson’s cancer diagnosis.

October 20 - 25 (Vancouver, British Columbia): Event Safety Alliance Canada Conference.

• A record 3 million passengers passed through TSA checkpoints Sunday after July 4th.

• Every needle drop in The Bear season 3 soundtrack.

• The Tour may be ruined, but T-Squared Social, Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods’ Scotland, AZ sports bar  is still moving forward.

• Portals to creativity: How Meow Wolf brings alternative entertainment into reality.

• 8 lessons from Fred Again on building crazy fandom.

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