For the international contemporary live music industry
NORTH AMERICA Competition authorities have ruled that Ticketmaster (TM) has not broken federal competition law by promoting its TradeDesk platform. The investigation followed an exposé of TradeDesk activities by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Toronto Star newspaper at the Ticket Summit trade…
Read moreWORLD The merger between venue management companies AEG Facilities and SMG to form ASM Global is subject to the deal undergoing “regulatory reviews” and awaiting approval from consumer protection agency the US Federal Trade Commission. The companies anticipate the process will…
Read moreITALY Leading Italian promoters accused of colluding with Viagogo to remove tickets from the official market and sell them on at inflated prices, have been cleared in a Milan court. A two-year investigation concluded with the acquittal of Live Nation Italy’s MD Roberto De Luca and…
Read moreUNITED STATES Billy McFarland, jailed promoter of the disastrous Fyre Festival venture in 2017, has been ordered by New York County Judge Joel H Cohen to pay back $3 million to defrauded festival investor EHL Funding, a figure that includes 30 per cent…
Read moreFINLAND The largest hip-hop festival in the Nordic region, Blockfest, has been acquired by Live Nation Entertainment and will become part of Live Nation Finland (LNF). Terms of the deal have not been revealed. Started in 2008, the event is held in the…
Read moreGREECE One of the country’s top promoters is now “inactive” after its co-founders decided to focus attentions on their own separate companies. Di Di Music’s Nana Trandou has formed High Priority Promotions and insists Di Di is merely “taking a break”. High Priority…
Read moreIRELAND Aiken Promotions head Peter Aiken has welcomed a new bill to outlaw the resale of concert and sports tickets at above face value. Under the Prohibition of Above-Cost Ticket Touting Bill, it will become illegal to sell or advertise for sale any…
Read moreICELAND An estimated 15 per cent of the population will be in attendance at Ed Sheeran’s first live appearances in Iceland. He will perform two shows on 10 and 11 August at 30,000-capacity national football stadium Laugardalsvöllur in Reykjavik. The country population is…
Read moreCOLOMBIA Uncertainty over the Columbian economy caused a downturn in ticket sales in last year, according to one of the country’s leading promoters. However, it is hoped that a new government move in support of the creative industries is an important step towards recovery….
Read moreTURKEY Despite shows with Joe Satriani, The Vaccines and Liam Gallagher last year, promoter Zeynep Boyner of BKM International Events is concerned at the negative impact the country’s worsening economy is having on the live entertauinment industry. “As ticket prices are in…
Read moreUNITED STATES Venue residencies used to have negative connotations for credible artistes, but Billy Joel has taken the concept to new heights. On 24 May he will return to the 43,035-capacity Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for…
Read moreUNITED KINGDOM Two UK major arenas have undergone a rebrand, with Liverpool’s Echo Arena (cap. 11,000) becoming the M&S Bank Arena and Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena (11,250) being rebranded the Ultilita Arena. Upcoming concerts at the M&S Arena include Boyzone, Tears For…
Read moreESTONIA More than 200 artistes will perform at showcase and conference Tallinn Music Week (TMW) next month, with combined audiences expected to exceed 30,000. The focus is on Eastern European acts, but the event also welcome artistes from around the world. “We are careful…
Read moreUNITED KINGDOM The annual International Live Music Conference (ILMC) is breaking new ground by featuring two established artistes taking the stage at the biggest gathering of promoters, agents and venue operators on the planet. Dua Lipa will give a keynote speech at the…
Read moreCANADA Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) has acquired a majority stake in mid-size venue operator, concert and festivals promoter Embrace Presents, which operates in the Toronto area. Founded in 2001 by Adam Gill, Embrace started as an electronic music promoter, and now has a…
Read moreUNITED KINGDOM The inaugural International A Greener Festival (AGF) Awards will take place at the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), held at London’s Royal Garden Hotel next month. Taking place during the Green Events and Innovations Conference…
Read moreNEW ZEALAND Regional venue management company AEG Ogden has won the contract to operate the new Te Pae events centre in Christchurch. The multi-function complex, set on the banks of the Avon River, will include a 1,400-seat…
Read moreCOLOMBIA Uncertainty over the Columbian economy caused a downturn in ticket sales in last year, according to one of the country’s leading promoters. However, it is hoped that a new government move in support of the creative industries is an important step towards recovery….
Read moreCANADA Agency pioneer Sam Feldman has sold his company, The Feldman Agency (TFA), to president Jeff Craib and vice-president Tom Kemp. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 1971 and with 19 agents in its Toronto office – where Craib and Kemp are based…
Read moreUNITED KINGDOM After crowd-funding platform PledgeMusic admitted falling behind in in payments to projects undertaken by artistes, the Musicians’ Union has advised members to use other platforms “until such time as this situation has been resolved”. A number of artistes raised concerns over not receiving payment for their campaigns…
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