#228

Author

Back of House
November 05, 2024

Issue #228

The U.S. music industry drives a massive $212 billion impact on GDP each year, with contributions concentrated in California, Texas, and New York. In other news, Live Nation and SJM are canceling 50,000 Oasis tickets sold through unauthorized channels, while Burning Man asks longtime attendees to help cover rising production costs to stay sponsor-free. Meanwhile, the Ninth Circuit ruled against Live Nation's restrictive arbitration policy, and Phish and Luke Combs, alongside Eric Church, each made headlines with substantial fundraising efforts for addiction recovery and hurricane relief.

Credit: Burning Man

Music industry contributes $212 billion to US GDP

A new RIAA report highlights the US music industry’s impact on local economies, contributing $212 billion annually to the GDP (5.7%) and supporting 2.5 million jobs across sectors like streaming, live events, and recorded music. The report includes a state-by-state breakdown, showing the highest economic contributions from California ($51.4 billion), Texas ($26.6 billion), and New York ($24.9 billion).

50,000 Oasis tickets canceled

Roughly 50,000 Oasis tickets for the band’s UK dates will be canceled by promoters Live Nation and SJM Concerts. The tickets - approximately 4% of the 1.4 million available tickets for the reunion shows in the UK - were found on sites other than the official Ticketmaster site or Twicket, the official resale partner, violating the terms and conditions. Once canceled, the invalidated tickets will be made available again on Ticketmaster.

Marian Goodell, CEO of Burning Man Project, released a blog post last week asking Burners from the past 20 years to “pay to keep corporate sponsorship out of Burning Man.” In her post, Goodell revealed that in 2023, it cost $749 per participant to produce Burning Man, but main tickets cost $575. This is typically OK due to other, higher-priced tickets and vehicle passes filling the void, however, those tickets didn’t sell well in 2024, widening the gap that the non-profit is looking to fill before 2025 tickets go on sale to $20 million. And so, to “ensure that Burning Man can persist into the future” and not take on sponsors, Goodell is asking for contributions.

The 9th Circuit ruled that Live Nation’s arbitration agreement for Ticketmaster was unfair and unenforceable, citing that it imposed restrictive terms that prevented fair, individualized arbitration. Ticketmaster’s requirement for customers to use New Era ADR, an arbitration service with limited discovery and appeal options and a system grouping similar claims together, was deemed “unconscionable” under California law. This decision allows consumers to proceed with their class action lawsuit against Ticketmaster.

Dave Matthews Band and Live Nation have released some results of their “first zero waste tour.” At 18 Live Nation venues 90% of the tour’s waste was reused, composted, recycled, or donated - with some venues even hitting the 99% mark - achieving the goal set at the tour’s announcement. The full results are due out this fall, however it’s worth noting that there are significant costs and man-power involved in such efforts. 

Rolling Loud has partnered with Eastside Golf again to host The 2nd Rolling Loud Invitational Presented by Eastside Golf, a celebrity pro-am golf tournament during Rolling Loud Miami. The tournament will take place on December 12 at Turnberry Resort & Golf Course. The partnership includes co-branded merch and aims to promote “the game’s growing influence in the hip-hop community”.

OVO Arena Wembley parent company AEG Facilities UK announced that the London venue doubled pre-tax profits from £1 million ($1,295,800 USD) to £2 million ($2,591,600 USD during their latest fiscal year. They also created 250 new jobs.

Another report, this one by MIDiA, projects the music merchandise market could grow from $14 billion in 2024 to $16.3 billion by 2030, driven by fandom-focused products like exclusive pop-up shops - such as the Billie Eilish x American Express pop-up in NYC  - and interactive items, including digital and physical merchandise. MIDiA suggests that unofficial merch sales, including fan-made items, and more practical, personalized products present untapped opportunities for artists to deepen fan connections.

Toronto’s North by Northeast (NXNE) festival has partnered with Billboard Canada and its parent company, ArtsHouse Media Group (AMG), with AMG becoming a major shareholder of the festival in advance of its 30th anniversary this summer. The partnership aims to elevate NXNE's platform for emerging artists while increasing industry involvement and exposure to AMG’s media properties.

Phish raised over $4 million to support the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program during the bands’ 3 shows at MVP Arena in Albany, NY at the end of October. 100% of the proceeds from tickets and merch went to the organization, dedicated to addiction recovery and founded by Phish frontman, Trey Anastasio.

The Concert for Carolina, organized by Luke Combs, Eric Church, and David Tepper (owner of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC) raised $24.5 million for those affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina with a record crowd of 82,193 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.

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Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

  • Soulshine, a benefit for hurricane relief and recovery with Dave Matthews Band, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Warren Haynes Band, and Goose will take place at Madison Square Garden on November 24. 

  • Tahoe Live has announced Lil Wayne, Diplo, Loud Luxury, and RL Grime for the December 14 - 15 event at Palisades Tahoe, in Lake Tahoe, CA.

  • Fall Out Boy and the Killers will headline Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park in Tempe, AZ, February 21- 22.

  • Its sister festival, Extra Innings Festival, will feature The Lumineers and Kacey Musgraves, the following weekend, February 28 - March 1, also at Tempe Beach Park.

  • Jon Batiste and Janelle Monáe will headline the Montreux Jazz Festival Miami, February 28 - March 2  at The Hangar in Coconut Grove, Miami, FL.

  • SXSW has announced its first wave of artists for the annual Austin, TX event, March 10 - 15. 

  • Rock the Country Music Festival is expanding its “Small Town America Tour” to 10 small towns in 2025 (up from 7 in 2024). The first fest is scheduled for April 5 - 6 in Livingston, LA and the tour will end July 25 - 26 in Anderson, SC. 

  • Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood, NJ announced Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, and Lainey Wilson as headliners for the June 19 - 22 fest on the beach.

  • Bailey Zimmerman, Sam Hunt, and HARDY top Canada’s Boots and Hearts lineup, August 7 - 10 at Burl’s Creek in Oro Medonte, ON. 

  • Slayer has been announced as a headliner for Louder Than Life, following this year’s cancellation due to Hurricane Helene. Louder Than Life will take place at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY, September 18 - 21.

  • When We Were Young announced Panic! At The Disco, blink-182, and Avril Lavigne for next year’s fest, October 18 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Las Vegas, NV.

  • King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard will host Field of Vision, a 3-day camping festival in Buena Vista, CO, August 15 - 17 to conclude their summer US orchestral tour, “Phantom Island”, which kicks off July 28 in Philadelphia, PA.

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