#240

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Back of House
February 11, 2025

Issue #240

From Oasis fans facing ticket cancellations due to suspected bot activity to the TICKET Act advancing in the Senate with critics calling for changes, the live event industry is buzzing with controversy and transformation. Meanwhile, the UK is stepping up to save struggling festivals, the FCC is probing whether "free" artist shows are actually payola, and Live Nation is set to take over the Super Bowl’s post-game spectacle. Dive into the biggest stories shaking up the industry this week.

Credit: PA Media

Oasis tickets canceled due to suspected bot activity

Several ticket purchasers for the highly anticipated Oasis reunion shows received cancellation emails over the weekend. The emails claimed it was “identified that bots were used to make this purchase”. During the on sale, Oasis warned that tickets purchased outside of the official ticketing provider would be invalidated and re-released at face value. The emails - sent by TIcketmaster - encourage anyone who feels their tickets were unjustly canceled to fill out a form “for the tour’s promoters to review.”

TICKET Act moves to US Senate

The Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act (S.281), or TICKET Act, is headed to the Senate after passing the Senate Commerce Committee. As a reminder, the act mandates all-in pricing, establishes refund policies, and cracks down on non-official ticket sellers, including speculative ticketing. Fix the Tix isn’t happy and wants the bill to be amended before it is passed. The coalition feels that the current bill "contains gaps that, if unaddressed, will undermine both consumer protections and a fair marketplace."

The UK’s Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and Citizen Ticket announced the launch of a Fallow Festival Fund in an effort to minimize the number of festivals lost each year. In 2024, 78 UK festivals were cancelled, more than double the 36 canceled the previous year. The Fallow Festival Fund offers festivals access to AIF resources for a year and the free use of Citizen Ticket’s ticketing and booking platform for events selling less than 2,000 tickets per year. Larger events can sell their first 2,000 tickets for free. The fund is fueled by donations.

US Senator Marsha Blackburn has requested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) look into the practice of radio stations exchanging airplay for free artist concerts to determine if it is payola, which is prohibited by federal law. Payola is the illegal practice of paying a commercial radio station to play a song without the station disclosing the payment. According to the Senator’s letter, “Instead of demanding cash or lavish perks from record labels in exchange for airplay, they now pressure artists to perform ‘free radio shows’ – also referred to as ‘listener appreciation shows’ or ‘charitable concert events.’”

Live Nation has announced its three-year deal with the NFL to produce the Super Bowl’s post-game ceremony, starting in February 2026. Through the partnership, the pair aim to redefine the post-game experience by “deliver[ing] a “spectacular” trophy ceremony that captures the NFL and its global presence.” Roc Nation, a subsidiary of Live Nation, currently consults with the NFL on its halftime show.

The UK's Business and Trade Committee held a session to examine dynamic pricing and its effects on consumers last week. The session featured testimonies from industry representatives who addressed concerns about the practice's fairness and transparency. The inquiry aims to assess the impact of dynamic pricing on consumers and explore potential regulatory measures to ensure fair pricing in the ticketing industry. A similar investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into whether dynamic pricing was used during the Oasis on-sale.

Egypt’s Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) has partnered with Live Nation Middle East and TicketsMarche to help attract world-class entertainment and international acts to Egypt’s New Administrative Capital (NAC, a placeholder name). As Egypt continues to build its new capital city, located roughly 60 kilometres east of Cairo, it wants to turn venues such as People’s Square, Nation’s Park, and the Green River, into major international attractions by hosting high-profile events. “These events will draw large crowds, contribute to tourism, and position the city as a world-class entertainment hub,” according to the ACUD chair.

A Justfly.com survey found that concerts and festivals are major drivers of music tourism, with 84% of respondents willing to travel for a live music experience. Nearly 60% of the 2,000 surveyed by the travel agency indicated they have planned vacations around concerts or festivals, and 74% prefer attending events in new destinations. Affordability and artist lineups are top considerations, while 67% believe live music enhances their travel experiences.

  • The idea for FireAid began on January 9, just two days after the initial Palisades fire began and it quickly gained steam, bringing in 28 artists, 40 sponsors, 2 venues, and a star-studded team relentlessly focused on giving back to their community. 

  • As the donations from FireAid continue to roll in - and the Ballmers continue to match them - focus is shifting to how to distribute the $100 million+ collected. Fund distribution is being handled by the Annenberg Foundation-led FireAid Grants Advisory Committee and is expected to begin mid-February.

  • ICYMI, everything that happened at the benefit. Or, if you want to watch it yourself, the stream has been extended for a year.

  • Also in LA, Grammy Weekend raised an additional $24 million for fire relief.

Kendrick's Halftime Show

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Last Week's Results:
BOH readers were evenly split on Eagles/Chiefs at 21% each, but 38% were just here for the snacks and commercials. Go sports! Plus, one very special Day 1 BOH supporter worked on Kendrick’s team for the halftime performance - go Allison!

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

  • Nashville, TN is hosting a benefit concert for LA Fire Relief. LA Revival: A Nashville Benefit for MusiCares LA Fire Relief will take place February 19 at Bridgestone Arena with Dwight Yoakam, Turnpike Troubadours and Cam topping the bill. 

  • My Morning Jacket is going on tour with the aptly named, “My Morning Jacket ‘is’ On Tour,” tour. It kicks off April 1 in Chattanooga, TN and wraps May 4 in New Orleans, LA.

  • Gwen Stefani, Dave Matthews Band, Benson Boone, Ludacris, Weezer and Teddy Swims are all headlining Lovin' Life, May 2 - 4 in Charlotte, NC.

  • Mill Valley Music Festival will feature Gary Clark Jr., Nile Rodgers & Chic, and The Crosby Collective, May 10 - 11, at Friends Field in Mill Valley, CA.

  • Pure Imagination Festival returns to Prescott, AZ with Cheap Trick, Matisyahu, and Arrested Development, May 17.

  • Hardy’s “Jim Bob World Tour” starts May 22 in Chula Vista, CA and wraps September 24 at MSG in New York, NY.

  • Shakira, Peso Pluma, Don Omar, and Grupo Frontera will headline Chicago’s Sueños Festival, May 24 - 25 in Grant Park.

  • Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals announced a 15-date tour starting May 30 at the Lincoln Theater in Washington, DC and ending at The Orpheum in Los Angeles, CA on August 24.

  • Head In The Clouds Music & Arts Festival will feature G-Dragon, 2NE1, and Dean, May 31 - June 1 at Brookside at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.

  • Phish, Noah Kahan, Sturgill Simpson, The Lumineers and Jack White top the massive Bourbon & Beyond lineup. The fest is set to take place September 11 - 14 at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY.

  • A Perfect Circle and Lamb of God have been added to the Louder than Life lineup, joining previously announced Slayer; September 18 - 21, also at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. 

  • Nate Bargatze and Sixthman have announced “Nateland At Sea,” a five-day cruise sailing from Tampa, FL on February 5, 2026. The cruise will include comics  from the Nateland universe, podcast recordings, live music and more.

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