#255

Author

Back of House
May 27, 2025

Issue #255

Touring is down, arts funding is on the chopping block, and luxury festival perks aren’t always guaranteed—just ask Glastonbury’s stranded glampers. Meanwhile, a $1B logistics deal reshapes the global touring landscape, and artists are pushing back against private equity ties at major European festivals.

Credit: BBC

CA Governor plans to cut $11.5 million in arts funding

California Governor Newsom has proposed cutting the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF), a program that was created with leftover pandemic relief money to help non-profit arts organizations comply with California’s AB5 gig worker law. The $11.5 million cut will affect small to medium organizations that use these funds to pay musicians, technicians, and admin staff and are part of CA’s response to a projected $12 billion budget deficit for 2025 - 2026.

Leading live event logistics company sells for $1 billion

Global Critical Logistics (GCL), parent company of Rock-It Cargo, DIETL and Cars, has been acquired by private equity firm Providence Equity Partners, LLC. In the deal, worth $1 billion, Providence Equity Partners becomes the majority shareholder and current majority owner, ATL Partners, will retain a minority share. The logistics company notably handled The Eras Tour as well as Beyoncé and Paul McCartney’s tours and recently signed on as the Official Logistics Provider of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

NITO conducted a study of 20 shows in Maryland and found that of the over 35,000 tickets resold for those shows, $6.2 million in profit was generated. Only 1.7% (627 tickets) of those tickets were sold for less than face value with the average ticket generating nearly $130 in profit for the reseller. The study was conducted at the request of the Maryland State Attorney General’s Office.

Glastonbury glamping partner, Yurtel, ceased trading and went into liquidation, leaving would-be glampers without accommodations, tickets, and their money. The luxury yurt company that offered Glastonbury packages ranging from £10,000 up to £16,500 - paid via bank transfer only - and is not offering refunds. The festival said it has "no involvement with the operation of Yurtel" and can’t help those affected.

A recent Chartmetric study reveals a significant decline in touring activity among artists of all levels between 2022 and 2024. The percentage of superstar-level artists touring dropped from 44% to 36%, while mid-level artists saw a decrease from 19% to 12%. Factors contributing to this downturn include rising operational costs, lower ticket sales, and stricter visa requirements, with US artist visa fees increasing from $460 to $1,615.

Several major music festivals owned by Superstruct Entertainment, including Field Day in London and Sónar in Barcelona, are facing backlash from artists and activists over their parent company and private equity firm KKR’s alleged investments in Israeli settlements and other controversial sectors. Over 70 artists have withdrawn from events or signed open letters urging festivals to sever ties with KKR. Field Day issued a statement of its own, stating that it is “passionately opposed to KKR’s unethical investments in Israel. We cannot control who owns our parent company but we promise to make our — and your — voices, and the ethical values we regard as non-negotiable, heard and understood at all levels.”

  • Outback Presents: Andrew Farwell was promoted to President. He previously served as VP. 

  • Live Nation: Richard Grenell, acting president of the Kennedy Center and Trump ally has been named to the board, amidst DOJ probe.

  • AEG Presents: Joe Jaeger was promoted to Vice President of Integrated Marketing and Strategy within the Global Partnerships division. 

  • Avant Gardner: CEO Josh Wyatt is no longer with the company. Gary Richards will step in in the interim.  

  • RIP: Sound Talent Group Co-Founder Dave Shapiro, along with booking coordinators Emma Huke, and Kendall Fortner and Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams all died in a tragic plane crash last week. His impact on our industry was profound, and our thoughts are with his friends and family.

Thanks to Maureen Anderson from INTIX for reminding us that while the TICKET Act is still pending in the US Senate, it was the FTC’s Junk Fee Rule that went live on May 12. While the two have similar components, they are separate.

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Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

  • The All-American Rejects are doing a series of random, surprise pop-up shows in backyards as part of their “House Party Tour” across the midwest.

  • The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its 100th year with an historic live broadcast on Friday, September 26 from London’s Royal Albert Hall with Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker and Marty Stuart. 

  • The Foo Fighters are touring again after nearly a year hiatus with stops in Jakarta, Indonesia (October 2), at the Singapore Grand Prix (October 4), Tokyo, Japan (October 7) and Osaka, Japan (October 10).

  • Disco Donnie and his team Disco Presents are hosting a new fall festival, Wicked Oaks, with Eric Prydz, Bob Moses, Cloonee, Kaskade, Martin Garrix, and Kai Wachi, October 25 - 26 at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, TX. 

  • Metallica is expanding the “M72 World Tour” with new dates in the UK and Europe in 2026.

  • EDC Las Vegas announced that it had sold out nearly a year before the May 15 - 17, 2026 festival.

Cancelation

  • Billy Joel has cancelled all of his upcoming concerts after announcing his diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a brain disorder. This follows a surgery and tour postponement that the artist announced in March.

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