Nightclub tragedy in the Dominican Republic kills 226 🇩🇴

A tragic roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on April 8, 2025, resulted in at least 226 fatalities and over 200 injuries, marking one of the deadliest non-natural disasters in the nation's history. The incident occurred during a performance by merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was among the deceased. Notable victims also included former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, and Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi Province. The collapse has prompted investigations into potential structural failures, multiple lawsuits against the owner, and has led to calls for stricter building regulations.

New hurdles for international artists in the US lead to cancellations

International artists are facing growing hurdles touring the US due to increased visa fees, delays, and heightened scrutiny under the Trump administration. Visa costs have more than tripled, while political vetting and social media checks have led to tour cancellations and entry denials. These barriers are discouraging international acts from performing in the US, threatening cultural exchange and diversity in the live music scene.

Is the Ticketmaster + Fanatics deal in jeopardy?

Two US Senators have asked the Department of Justice to look into the Fanatics-Ticketmaster partnership, claiming the merchandise-ticketing combination adds to Ticketmaster’s already dominant marketing position, “depriving consumers of the benefits of competition”. In their request, the Senators plead, “We urge you to look into this deal to determine if any antitrust laws were broken and whether consumers were illegally denied the benefits of new competition in this market.”

More Fyre, less people

As the Fyre Festival 2 saga rolls on, the permits that Billy McFarland shared indicating that he can in fact host the event in Playa del Carmen may be legit. However, they seem to be for up to 250 people and up to 12 total hours between midnight - 4 AM each day of  “música grabada,” or recorded music. That’s a far cry from the 1,800 guests and 40 artists McFarland has been touting. Though, with the lineup yet to be released, maybe that’s what he’s been planning all along? Stay tuned. 🍿

Washington, DC bill focused on ticket resellers introduced

Washington, DC’s Council has introduced the Restricting Egregious Scalping Against Live Entertainment (RESALE) Amendment Act of 2025 to address ticket scalping issues. The proposed legislation in the US Capital seeks to cap resale ticket prices at 10% above face value, ban speculative ticket sales, and mandate registration for secondary resellers handling over 50 tickets annually. It also aims to enforce all-in pricing, allow ticket issuers to set purchase limits, and require both primary and secondary sellers to implement measures against bot purchases.

And the TICKET Act moves forward

On a National level, the TICKET Act is moving closer to becoming law after gaining approval from a US House committee. While the legislation, which would require “all-in” pricing for live events to prevent hidden fees, has bipartisan support and backing from major players like Live Nation, many independent venues and promoters oppose it, arguing it could increase their compliance burdens and favor dominant ticketing platforms. The full House vote will determine the Act’s future as the debate over fee transparency and market fairness continues.

Live Nation enters Malta 🇲🇹

Live Nation has acquired a stake in Malta’s 356 Entertainment Group, entering the Malta market for the first time. 356 Entertainment is a key player in the country’s festival space and operates Uno, the largest club in the country, which operates 100 events per year. Live Nation plans to build on the “booming” music scene in Malta, which generated an economic impact of €51.8 million ($58.8 million USD) in 2023.

Generation Beasts 🇸🇦

MDLBEAST has launched "Generation Beasts," a talent development initiative aimed at providing young Saudi professionals with hands-on experience in the entertainment industry. The program features two key components: the Co-Op Internship, offering university students a three-month immersive experience in music, events, and media; and the Tamheer Graduate Program, supported by Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources Development Fund, providing intensive training for recent graduates. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by nurturing homegrown talent and fostering a dynamic creative economy.

Weekend One ✅

Weekend One of Coachella is officially in the books and we’re catching you up on a few of the headlines you might have missed from the unofficial kick off to festival season: 

• More than half of the GA tickets were purchased via payment plans. 

• There were complaints that the 12 hour wait to get into the fest was “worse than Fyre Festival.” 

• The wife of Weezer’s bassist was shot by cops after a car crash on Tuesday, but the band played anyway.

• The fireworks during Green Day’s set didn’t quite go as planned and Megan Thee Stallion’s mic was cut.

• Of course there was a bevy of surprise guests, including Bernie Sanders and Billie Eilish.

• A man was arrested for threatening to bomb the festival.

• Coachella x Fortnite collab with a new Fortnite Creative game called Coachella Pillar.

• And, how the Do LaB has kept Coachella dancing nonstop for 20 years.

If you missed out on streaming Couchella last weekend, you can tune into YouTube this weekend.

• Live Nation Concerts is looking for a Special Events Logistics Manager in the  New York, NY market  Salary: $65,000.00 - $82,000. 

• The Stern Grove Festival Association is hiring a seasonal Assistant Bar Manager from May - August in San Francisco, CA. Rate: $27/hour. 

• Best Crowd Management is looking for a General Manager - Stadium Venues in Austin, TX. Salary: $90,000 - $110,000.

Last Week's Results:
62% of BOH readers believe US tariffs will impact the live event industry.

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

• Kesha and Scissor Sisters are setting out on their “Tits Out” tour May 29 in Glasgow, UK and wrapping it up on August 10 in Tampa, FL.

• Blink-182’s “Missionary Impossible” Tour will launch August 28 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL and end October 4 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA. 

• Mac DeMarco is going out on tour with stops in the US, UK, and Europe. The tour starts August 29 in Los Angeles, CA and ends December 19 in Victoria, BC.

• Cole Swindell announced his fall tour, “Happy Hour Sad Tour,” kicking off September 4 in Toledo, OH and wrapping on October 26 in St. Augustine, FL. 

• Evolutions Festival announced Alison Wonderland, Of The Trees, and Flowdan at Sugar Mountain in Caneadea, NY, September 5 - 7.

• Not to be confused with Evolution Music Festival, which will feature Lenny Kravitz and Sublime September 27 - 28 at Forest Park in St. Louis, MO.

• Riverfront Revival is returning to Charleston, SC’s Riverfront Park with Darius Rucker, Riley Green, Whiskey Myers, and special guest Bill Murray, October 10 - 11.

Cancelations, Changes

• The Tequila Blues Festival at Red Rocks was canceled on April 5, just 5 days before it was set to take place, officially due to “unforeseen circumstances.” However, organizer Christine Alonzo admits it was due to “poor ticket sales.” 

• The Kentucky Derby Festival was forced to cancel its Thunder Over Louisville Festival due to severe flooding of its venue, Waterfront Park. While it was the right move, it led to a “loss worth $126 million.”

April 15: Music Sustainability Summit 2025 takes place today in Los Angeles, with a focus on real-world solutions that benefit your business and protect our planet. We’re here - say hello!

April 17: (Pollstar Live! At The Beverly Hilton): Promoter 101 Returns! Dan Steinberg and Luke Pierce will moderate a panel.

• A celebration of cheese. The Event Safety Association (ESA) shares stories of safety successes in celebration of 100 podcast episodes.

• The latest vision test coming to an optometrist near you.

• 20% of festivals have gone meat-free, according to A Greener Future.

• Transforming car tires into art.

• An argument to stop reading the news (as long as you keep reading BOH 😉).

• How to write a successful cold email for job searching.

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