#242

Author

Back of House
February 25, 2025

Issue #242

Boomtown Festival will debut the UK’s first hydrogen-powered stage, cutting emissions with hydrogen fuel cell generators. CTS Eventim hit record €2.8B revenue in 2024, while Live Nation posted $23.16B but saw slower growth. LN is in talks with Spotify, Apple, and Amazon for ticketing perks, and the “Lawnie Pass” is discontinued. Chappell Roan’s Grammy speech led to a $25K donation to Backline, launching the "We Got You!" mental health campaign. Meanwhile, Fyre Fest 2 tickets are on sale, with a $1.1M package offering private airfare and luxury stays.

Boomtown Festival announces a stage powered by hydrogen

Boomtown Festival will be the first in the UK to have a stage powered by hydrogen. The aptly named Hydro Stage will run entirely on hydrogen fuel cell generators, producing clean, emission-free electricity that will significantly reduce its carbon emissions during the August event. This milestone comes three years after Boomtown first partnered with Hydrologiq on a hydrogen-powered public transport hub.

CTS Eventim touts record 2024 results

CTS Eventim announced preliminary 2024 results last week, achieving “new record levels of revenue and earnings.” The results were headlined by €2.809 billion ($2.943 USD) in consolidated revenue, up 19.1% YoY, largely driven by ticketing and live entertainment. Ticketing was up 22.7% to €879.9 million ($921.9 million USD) and live entertainment was up 17.6% to €1.971 billion ($2.065 billion). The full report will be available at the end of March.

Live Nation also announced another record revenue year with $23.16 billion of total revenue (up 3% over last year). $19 billion of that was from the concert segment, which is up 2% YoY, despite the 4th quarter being down 6% YoY to $4.58 billion. While CEO Michael Rapino said "2024 was live music's biggest year yet … 2025 is shaping up to be even bigger,” some are questioning if growth in the segment is slowing down. 2% growth in 2024 is positive, but it is certainly less impressive than the 36% growth in 2023.

In other Live Nation news - Michael Rapino confirmed that they are in talks with Spotify, Apple, and Amazon to offer ticketing presale access for super-premium tier subscribers.

The popular “Lawnie Pass” that offered access to lawn seating at LN venues throughout the summer and other perks has been discontinued.

Chappell Roan's Grammy acceptance speech advocating for artist healthcare followed Jeff Rabhan’s article calling out her inability to be “the agent of change she aspires to be” and called for her to “do something about it — rather than just talk at it.” Roan did just that and donated $25,000 to Backline. Several others also contributed, leading to the launch of Backline's "We Got You!" campaign. The initiative aims to provide mental health resources to musicians, touring professionals, and their families, emphasizing the industry's commitment to artist well-being. Rabhan has yet to contribute to the campaign.

Fyre Fest 2 tickets officially went on sale Monday. The reboot of Billy McFarland’s infamous failure will take place May 30 - June 2 at Playa FYRE on Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Ignite (GA) tickets start at $1,400. If you trust Billy enough and want to go all-out, the Prometheus ticket will set you back $1.1 million and includes private airfare, accommodations in a yacht or villa, festival access for 8, and other “curated Fyre experiences.”

The first phase of FireAid grants was distributed last week. $50 million in grants went out to community-based organizations ($100,000 or more each) that are able to “efficiently and equitably deliver assistance to fire-impacted individuals” as well as individuals affected by the fires. A full list of grantees is here. Phase 2 will focus on long-term recovery, remediation and rebuilding, as well as addressing environmental issues.

The Tennessee Titans are revolutionizing their ticket sales with a highly detailed, immersive 3D digital twin of their new home. The virtual model enables fans to visualize their future seats and premium spaces within the under-construction Nissan Stadium. This approach is setting new standards in the NFL for integrating advanced technology into fan interactions and venue management.

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Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

  • Phish is kicking off their summer tour with a 3-night stint at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA starting April 18. The tour winds down with 3 nights at SPAC in Saratoga Springs, NY, July 25 - 27 and ends at Bourbon & Beyond on September 11 in Louisville, KY. 

  • Lady Gaga will perform a free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on May 3 on a custom stage as part of the launch of Todo Mundo no Rio, a new initiative to highlight the impact of entertainment in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Goldenvoice’s Cali Vibes will feature Kid Cudi, Ludacris, Cypress Hill, Steel Pulse, and Stick Figure, June 7 - 8 in Long Beach, CA.

  • Wu-Tang Clan announced the start of their final tour, “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber”, with 27 dates across North America. First stop is in Baltimore, MD June 6 and final stop (for now) is July 18 in Philadelphia, PA.

  • Justin Timberlake, j-hope, Gracie Abrams, Raye, and Benson Boone top the Lollapalooza Berlin lineup, July 12 - 13 at Oympiastadion and Olympiapark Berlin in Germany.

  • Creed & Nickelback are headlining the Summer of ’99 and Beyond Festival at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI, July 18 - 19.

  • Punk In The Park will feature Bad Religion and Descendents, July 18 - 20 at National Western Stockyards in Denver, CO.

  • Osheaga announced The Killers, Tyler, The Creator and Olivia Rodrigo as headliners for the August 1 - 3 fest at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau.

  • Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Bailey Zimmerman top the Watershed lineup, August 1 - 3 at The Gorge Amphitheater in Quincy, WA.

  • Rock en Seine revealed Doechii, A$AP ROCKY and Queen of the Stone Age as headliners alongside previously announced Chappell Roan, August 10 - 24 at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, close to Paris, France.

  • This year’s Harvest Music Festival will take place September 9 - 14 at venues throughout downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick, CAN and will feature Goose, The Revivalists, Melissa Etheridge, and Portugal. The Man.

  • Paul Simon is un-retiring with an intimate “Quiet Celebration Tour” beginning April 4 in New Orleans and ending in Seattle on August 3.

Cancelations, Changes

  • “Unforeseen circumstances” led to the cancellation of one of the world’s largest electronic dance music festivals, Creamfields, in Hong Kong just weeks before the March 8 - 9 fest was set to take place. 

  • Danny Wimmer Presents’ GoldenSky Music Festival “taking a short break” in 2025, but says it will return to Sacramento, CA in 2026.

  • Alabama’s June Jam is also sitting out 2025, citing “the economy in the Fort Payne region, availability of guest talent and the moving of Rock the South to June” as reasons for this year’s cancellation.

When Is It OK to Perform in the U.S. on ESTA or a B-1 Visa? NEVER! 

A Warning to Artists, Support Staff, Agents & U.S. Venues. Guest feature by Pablo G. Velez, Esq.

A common misconception in the international EDM community is that artists can legally perform in the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) or a B-1 Business Visitor Visa. However, U.S. immigration law strictly prohibits any form of employment or paid performance under these statuses. Violations can result in visa denials, removal, and multi-year bans requiring inadmissibility waivers.

Business vs. Work

ESTA or B-1 allows DJs to attend meetings, negotiate contracts, or explore venue partnerships—but not to perform at clubs, festivals, or private events, even unpaid, if it benefits a U.S. business. Even remote streaming while in the U.S. can be deemed unauthorized work.

Consequences of Violating Visa Terms

  • Immediate visa cancellation and removal

  • Multi-year entry bans

  • Difficulty obtaining O-1, P-1, or other work visas

The Right Visa for Performing

To perform legally in the U.S., DJs need:

  • P-1B Visa – For internationally recognized groups

  • O-1B Visa – For individuals with extraordinary ability

  • P-3 Visa – For culturally unique performances

Plan ahead, secure the correct visa, and protect your ability to tour the U.S. legally.

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