#248

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Back of House
April 08, 2025

Issue #248

Fyre Festival 2’s location is in question once again as a second Mexican city distances itself from the event. StubHub faces a lawsuit over “junk fees” and delays its IPO, Fort Lauderdale proposes steep new event fees, and the UK cracks down on fake reviews and hidden ticket costs. Also in the mix: Martyn’s Law officially passes, tariffs stir uncertainty in live entertainment, Morgan Wallen flips SNL fallout into merch gold, and Co-op Live partners with OVO to level up its sustainability game.

Credit: @zeus_lopez

Crane collapse kills 2 at AXE Ceremonia festival 🇲🇽

A crane collapsed during the AXE Ceremonia festival in Mexico City. At 5 PM on Saturday, a gust of wind caused the crane, which was holding a decorative metal object, to collapse, killing two photographers from the music site Mr. Indie. Following the incident, the festival continued on for the rest of the evening. However, Sunday morning, the organizers decided to cancel the second day.

Ongoing: Mexi-NO GO for Fyre 2? 🔥

It’s unclear where Fyre Festival 2 will actually take place in 2 months now that the Playa del Carmen government says it won’t be there. A social post on Thursday by Playa del Carmen’s city hall said, "The municipal government of Playa del Carmen informs that no event of that name will be held in our city." Billy McFarland came back with a detailed timeline and screenshots of his conversations and the government’s social posts to prove they agreed to host the event. This is the second Mexico location publicly denying that it will host the festival.

There are mixed opinions on the potential effects of the new tariffs imposed by the US on the live industry. Concerns around increased costs and potential declines in discretionary spending have caused live event and music stocks to tumble, but some analysis suggest that companies like Live Nation could be “recession resilient” as consumers may continue to prioritize live entertainment experiences even during economic downturns.

Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against StubHub, alleging violations of the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law by adding on “junk fees”. The suit accuses StubHub of deceptive practices, including "drip pricing," fee misrepresentation, and inaccurate fee filters. 

On top of that, due to the “market turmoil,” StubHub has decided to push pause (again) on its plans to go public, just a few weeks after filing paperwork with the SEC.

Fort Lauderdale, FL is proposing a new "impact fees" structure for non-city-organized outdoor events to mitigate their impact on public resources. Under the proposed changes, fees for large events like the Tortuga Music Festival could increase significantly, from $13,700 to $70,000 and the Fort Lauderdale Air Show's fee could go from $2,700 up to $13,000. The new structure takes a variety of factors into account and aims to take effect next year.

The UK government is requiring that all mandatory “sneaky fees” are included in the “headline price” under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act. This includes ticketing. The new policy also bans the use or commissioning of fake reviews. “From today consumers can confidently make purchases knowing they are protected against fake reviews and dripped pricing,” said Minister for Competition and Markets, Justin Madders.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, aka Martyn’s Law is now official in the UK. The law requires public locations with 200 or more people to have plans for a terror attack in place. Venues and events with over 800 people are also required to have CCTV, bag searches, and vehicle checks. The law is in tribute to Martyn Hett, who was killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, along with 21 others.

Morgan Wallen has merchandised his “abrupt” March 29th SNL exit and subsequent instagram post featuring an airplane and the caption “get me to God’s country” by selling t-shirts and hats with the now infamous line. Never one to shy away from a good line, SNL used it again in a sketch about President Trump’s tariffs last Saturday - an overt jab at Wallen. Though with hats and shirts selling for $45, Wallen is likely OK with the added promotion.

​Co-op Live Manchester has partnered with OVO, a leading UK energy provider, to enhance sustainability and enrich fan experiences. This collaboration aligns with Co-op Live's commitment to setting a new, greener standard for live entertainment venues. OVO customers will benefit from exclusive access to tickets, dedicated entrances, and lounges. The partnership supports OVO's "For the Atmosphere" campaign, which aims to celebrate live music while promoting greener actions and consumer decarbonization.

  1. Danny Wimmer Presents: CEO Danny Hayes is departing after 10 years at the helm. SVP of Operations Molly Zidow is also leaving DWP to serve as Venue Group Director of LA28 Olympic Games.

  2. Venue Coalition: Joanna Scott joins as Vice President of National Booking.

  • Newly formed production powerhouse RockForce is hiring a remote Sales and Marketing Coordinator (Nashville area preferred).

  • Happily is looking for a remote Head of Experiential Studio to lead the production of their once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Salary: $120,000.

  • Nova Sky Stories is hiring a Production Manager in Boulder, CO to lead production and project management Nova Sky Stories' shows.

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Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

  • Ed Sheeran and Weezer have been added to the Coachella lineup following cancellations by FKA Twigs, Gel, and Anitta. (Tickets are still available for both weekends.)

  • Live Music Society, Salt Lick Incubator, and D-TOUR have come together on the “One Night Live” tour featuring Ellie Williams, Sofia Lafuente, and Farayi Malek. The three-week tour aims to build “a platform for emerging artists while providing fresh, low-risk content for clubs.”  

  • Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe, Branford Marsalis & Charles Lloyd, Emily King, and the Joshua Redman Quartet lead the Blue Note Jazz Festival, May 27 - July 2 at venues across New York City.

  • Mumford & Sons announced a tour in support of their new “Rushmere” album. The tour starts June 5 in Bend, OR and ends October 26 in Omaha, NE.

  • Fitz And The Tantrums have announced their “Man On The Moon” tour, hitting 31 US cities this summer. The tour kicks off July 24 in San Diego, CA and wraps August 31 in Austin, TX. 

  • Little Big Town announced their “Summer Tour ‘25” starting July 24 in Rogers, AR and ending September 13 in Charlotte, NC.

  • All Things Go is going longer this year, expanding from 2 to 3 days, September 26 - 28 at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY and Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD. 

  • Goose, Zeds Dead, Parcels, and The String Cheese Incident lead the 12th annual Hulaween lineup, October 30 - November 2 at Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. 

  • Unity at the Sphere, the Insomniac and Tomorrowland collab in Las Vegas added six more dates between September 19 - October 18.

Cancelations, Changes

  • Motley Crue cancelled their upcoming appearance at the Boardwalk Rock Festival on May 17 as Vince Neil continues to recover from a medical procedure. Alice in Chains will replace them in the lineup.

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