#183

Swifties and Spheres

Issue #183 | December 19, 2023 

🗓️ Update: This will be the last regularly-scheduled issue of BOH in 2023, but do not despair, we’ve our usual end-of-year recap coming your way next week. Look for it in your inbox next Thursday!

Wishing you all an easy journey to the end of the year, a magical holiday season, and some well-deserved (we assume) rest. Cheers! 🥂

Credit: BerkleeYou CAN learn this in school 🏫It’s been said many times that there’s no college course on how to produce a music festival, but not any more. Northeastern University now has two: “Making a Festival” and “The Festival Experience”. The courses are taught by professors Rebekah Moore and Andrew Mall, both with relevant industry experience that they pass along to their music industry students.

Master Tour goes to college 🎒But what about touring, can you learn that in school? Yep. Master Tour is partnering with the Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) at Berklee College of Music to bring its platform to the next generation of tour professionals. Students in the BPMI Live program will learn about Master Tour through course curriculum and will be granted access to use the platform to manage events and concerts on campus. Makes you want to go back now, right? 

High-highs and medium-lows2023 seemed to be the year of the mega tour (and mega gross), with Taylor, Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Coldplay, Metallica, and others setting and shattering records, but what about everyone else? The top 100 grossing tours were up 46%, generating a record high of $9.17 billion, but small and mid-level artists as well as independent venues aren’t feeling the love. Increased competition and rising costs are taking their toll and for some, 2024 looms ominously. 

More Spheres plannedJames Dolan is looking east for the next iteration(s) of The Sphere. The MSG chieftain is in “deep talks” with the United Arab Emirates to build a Sphere in Abu Dhabi and has signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of Hanam in South Korea to build “a Sphere-style music venue for K-pop performances”. The Hanam Sphere would be part of the planned 900,000-square-meter K-Star World entertainment destination and have an estimated cost of 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion).  

Swiftie drops suitMichelle Sterioff, the Swiftie who sued Live Nation in a California federal court last December, has filed for a voluntary dismissal of the case. At the time of original filing, Sterioff claimed that Live Nation was a monopoly that had “knowingly misled millions of fans.” Both sides reported settlement discussions in August, but no further details on the dismissal have been reported. 

DEAG launches in Spain via Get Rock LiveDEAG launched Get Rock Live, a new Barcelona-based rock and pop concert venture in Spain in collaboration with promoter Pierre Sabbag. DEAG plans to start hosting events in 2024, ramping up to 100 shows over the first two years. 

CTS Eventim grows in the USCTS Eventim has formed The Touring Co with promoter Walter McDonald (formerly of Outback Presents) to strengthen its position in the US market and increase its network of global promoters to 39. “Increasing the presence and reach of the Eventim Live network in the US market is a crucial component of our ongoing global expansion strategy.” said CTS Eventim CEO Klaus-Peter Schulenberg. 

Reusable cup pilot in LACrypto.com Arena ran a pilot program with r.World during two Depeche Mode concerts last weekend to test their reusable cup program. The test is part of AEG’s (owner of the LA arena) commitment to sustainability, and favorable results could see a rollout to other tenants in the venue. The reusable cups cost 4.5x the single-use cups the concessionaire typically uses, but costs were not passed onto the guests and the parties are working to decrease them as part of the test.

Live Nation 🤝 Face to Face TouringLive Nation Australia has acquired Face to Face Touring, continuing to expand its presence down under. The partnership will give Face to Face the resources it needs to focus on growing local talent and providing “a more diverse portfolio of shows and music.” 

  Easol is hiring a Marketing Manager for Festivals to accelerate content production and project delivery in London.  A remote Volunteer Coordinator is needed for upcoming events at the music industry non-profit, So Am I-Worthy, Inc. TodayTix Group is looking for a Setup Manager to oversee North American setup and maintenance of products and pricing. Hybrid role in New York, NY; $60,000 - $70,000. 

Whamageddon 2023?

Last Week's Results:

59% of BOH readers try all the exotic flavors of potato chips while traveling.

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements

  • Wu-Tang Clan will be headlining a hip-hop residency at the Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, starting on February 9, during Super Bowl weekend. Additional performances are scheduled for March 22 and 23 during March Madness.

  • Coast City Country, a new festival in Vancouver, BC, will feature Luke Bryan, Nickelback, and Dierks Bentley, April 19 - 20 at BC Place Stadium.

  • Post Malone, Stevie Nicks, and Noah Kahan will headline Lovin’ Life Music Fest, a new festival from Southern Entertainment; May 3 - 5 in Charlotte, NC.

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers announced their “Unlimited Love” tour, starting May 28 in Ridgefield, WA, and finishing July 30 in St. Louis, MO.

  • Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival, June 28 - 30 in North Adams, MA will feature Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, as well as several performances by Wilco throughout the weekend.

  • The Roots Picnic expands west for the first time with “Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop is the Love of My Life” at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA on June 29. Queen Latifah and Common will perform along with The Roots (headliner) and others.

  • Rolling Loud Europe is heading to Vienna, Austria, July 5 - 7, for its only stop on the continent in 2024. Previous European editions in Germany (2023) and Portugal (2022) will not take place.

  • New Edition, Maxwell, and Ne-Yo will headline the Cincinnati Music Festival, July 25 - 27 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.

  • Dancefestopia announced Ganja White Night, REZZ, Black Tiger Sex Machine, Adventure Club, and Sullivan at the King Wildwood Outdoors Education Center in La Cygne, KS, September 2 - 8.

  • Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan to headline GoldenSky at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA. The Danny Wimmer Presents festival expands to 3 days in 2024; October 18 - 20. 

 

Whamageddon, explained. Pretty sure we were out before it began.  Is there a magic equation for measuring the financial value of sponsorships? Forbes says this is it.  Southwest Airlines was fined $140 million over last winter's meltdown. 🙏 for smooth travel this holiday season.

 Got plans for February 14, 2027? If your calendar is empty, you may want to think about putting down a $2,500 deposit now for Priority Access to a Super Bowl LXI package via On Location.  If you’re more of a last-minute person, our BOH Gift Guide has you covered. Just don’t wait too much longer…

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