Las Vegas Sphere reports loss in Q1; CEO confident in future

Sphere Entertainment Co, reported $280 million in Q1 revenue, down $40.8 million from the same period last year, leading to an operating loss of $78.6 million for the quarter. The Sphere reported an operating loss of $96.4 million on its own, after bringing in a total of $157.5 million in revenue. On the bright side, event-related revenue grew by $25.6 million, due to 10 more concerts than last year and a corporate event. With Insomniac x Tomorrowland’s Unity, residencies by Kenny Chesney, The Backstreet Boys, and The Eagles on the horizon, CEO James Dolan is “confident in the opportunities ahead for Sphere and our ability to drive growth this calendar year."

Eventbrite revenue down, but “off to solid start”

Eventbrite also posted a net loss for the first quarter of 2025. The ticketing company’s net revenue was down 14% YoY to $73.8 million and overall, it reported a net loss of $6.6 million, compared to net loss of $4.5 million. CEO Julia Hartz attributes the elimination of organizer fees to the revenue loss, which was anticipated, and feels the company is “off to a solid start.”

Vivid Seats is down too, is the industry softening?

The Q1 losses keep rolling in with Vivid Seats similarly reporting a 14% dip in net revenue to $164 million and a net loss of $9.8 million, down a whopping 191% from a net income of $10.7 million in Q1 of 2024. “In the first quarter we continued to see robust competitive intensity and softening industry trends amidst consumer uncertainty,” said CEO Stan Chia. However industry vet Tony Knopp isn’t buying it. Instead, he believes “Vivid Seats is underperforming because their business model is flawed.”

LA Wildfire relief via Instrumental Giving

While the LA wildfires haven’t been in the spotlight much lately, those impacted by the disaster are still trying to figure out how to move forward. One organization, Altadena Musicians, created Instrumental Giving, a registry app that allows musicians who lost their instruments to the fire - no matter how rare - to create a registry for them, which donors can help through gifting extra instruments they own or through direct replacement.

DOJ and FTC launch public inquiry into concert, ticketing business

Following US President Trump’s March executive order aimed at combating issues like ticket scalping and monopolistic behaviors (signed alongside Kid Rock), the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have opened a public inquiry into the live music business. The agencies are soliciting public comments through July 6 about potentially unfair and anticompetitive practices within the live concert and ticketing industry and hope to use the information gathered to inform potential regulations or legislation.

A record year for the Miami Grand Prix 🏎️

The Miami Grand Prix achieved record-breaking sponsorship revenue this year, with 30 partners including Hard Rock, J.P. Morgan, and Fainbridge. This success coincides with a new 10-year contract extension, ensuring the race remains on the Formula 1 calendar through 2041, the longest commitment of any current F1 venue. The event also maintained its record attendance, drawing 275,000 spectators over the weekend, matching last year's draw.

NEA funding cuts significantly impacting events

Hundreds of organizations including NYC’s Central Park SummerStage, Chicago’s Open Studio Project, the Berkeley Repertory Theater, and many other festivals were sent mass emails from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that their grants were being withdrawn and terminated. The cuts are a result of President Trump’s cuts to NEA funding and the administration’s shifting priorities. These grants range from $10,000 to $100,000 and can have a major effect on the organizations’ sustainability, particularly smaller arts organizations.

Andrea Bocelli signs landmark deal with AEG Presents ✍️

Andrea Bocelli has entered into a landmark global exclusive agreement with AEG Presents to manage and produce all his live performances over the next five years, starting January 1, 2026. The deal, developed in collaboration with Bocelli’s management team and WME, will encompass ticketed events across five continents. According to AEG, it is the “most important live performance contract in the history of Italian music, and the most significant ever for a classical artist.”

Snapchat’s new “digital backstage pass” featuring Kid Cudi

Snapchat has launched "Under the Ghost," a new music performance series debuting with an intimate show by Kid Cudi at Snap's Santa Monica studio. The series offers fans an unfiltered look into artists' creative processes, aiming to deepen connections beyond traditional performances, or as Snap calls it, a “digital backstage pass.” The series also offers sponsorship and branding opportunities and unique ways for advertisers to engage with Snap’s Gen Z and millennial audiences.

Audience engagement study to take place in London 🇬🇧

A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Agnieszka Wlazel of Royal Holloway, University of London, is set to explore audience engagement in immersive theater through Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience. The research will collect real-time data on emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses using wearable sensors and surveys. This initiative marks the first study of its kind, aiming to provide insights that could transform the creation and evaluation of immersive storytelling. The study will take place in London from May 24 to June 1.

• Bauer Entertainment Marketing is hiring a remote or in office (East Nashville, TN) Business Development Intern for the summer to support its sales efforts. 

• FIFA World Cup is looking for a Deputy Manager, Venue Transport to oversee all transport at all locations for the upcoming World Cup. 

• Acrisure Arena is hiring a Manager of Partnership Activation & Fulfillment in Palm Desert, CA. Salary: $75,000 - $80,000. 

• Austin Film Festival is hiring a contract Registration Director from July 15 - December 1 in Austin, TX. Salary: $795/week.

Last Week's Results:
68% of BOH readers find our Happenings section the most valuable, with Side Stage being runner up!

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

• CMA Fest announced another round of artists for the June 5 - 8 festival in Nashville, TN including Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, and Rodney Atkins. 

• The Who may have had a farewell tour (or 2) before, but the legendary band says “The Song Is Over,” is a “truly grand finale” tour. The tour starts August 16 in Sunrise, FL and ends September 28 in Las Vegas, NV.

• Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival returns to Seattle Center August 30 - 21 with Weezer, Janelle Monáe, and Bright Eyes in Seattle, WA. 

• Parker McCollum and Cody Jinks will headline the inaugural Tanglefoot Music & BBQ Festival, September 12 - 13 in Temple, TX.

• Lorde’s “Ultrasound” Tour will kick off on September 17 at The Moody Center in Austin, TX and wrap December 9 in Stockholm, Sweden. 

• San Francisco, CA’s Portola Festival revealed LCD Soundsystem, Dom Dolla, The Prodigy, and The Chemical Brothers for the September 20 - 21 fest at Pier 80.

• Sabrina Carpenter, Hozier, Doja Cat, Luke Combs, The Strokes, John Summit, Doechii lead the Austin City Limits lineup, October 3 - 5 and 10 - 12 at Zilker Park in Austin, TX. 

• Australia’s Spilt Milk will feature Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, Dominic Fike, and Sara Landry, in Ballarat (December 6), Perth (December 7), Canberra (December 13), and the Gold Coast (December 14). 

• The Outlaw Country Cruise is turning 10 next year with Margo Price, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle as headliners aboard the Norwegian Pearl March 20 - 25, 2026.

Cancelations, Changes

• A dump truck crashed into West Hollywood’s legendary Whisky a Go Go last Friday, cancelling the evening’s Boy Hits Car show.

• 3 Doors Down canceled their summer tour, after announcing lead singer Brad Arnold’s stage 4 kidney cancer diagnosis. This includes stints at Welcome to Rockville and Boardwalk Rock.

• Alice in Chains has also canceled their summer tour and Welcome to Rockville and Boardwalk Rock appearances due to drummer Sean Kinney’s health. They did not perform at last weekend’s Sonic Temple Festival (where Incubus also canceled) as originally planned.

• Chicago’s Michelada Fest has been cancelled due to “uncertainty surrounding artist visas and the rapidly changing political climate.” The 7th edition of the fest was planned for July 19 - 20 at Oakwood Beach.

• The arms race to create the wildest ballpark concessions. 

• 7-Eleven rewrites the rules of brand sponsorship with its Live Nation sponsorship deal.

• Meta's Head of Experiential Marketing and Creative shares his favorite event venues.

• COVID ripped up the playbook: These Canadian Music festivals have called for support or closed since 2023.

• 12 books that changed people’s lives.

• Amazing photographs of the interiors of musical and scientific instruments.

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