#185

Issue #185 | January 9, 2024 

Happy 2024 (we know, the official HNY window has closed 🤷‍♀️) and welcome to the first BOH issue of the year. We hope you had a joyful holiday season and were able to take some time to rest up and relax because if this year is anything like last year, our industry is going to be busy.  

Credit: Johan PerssonBlue Ridge Rock Festival finally speaks upBlue Ridge Rock Festival finally issued a statement about their lack of communication on the fest’s “partial cancellation” in September. Their insurance company requires them to stay silent until the claim is settled in Q1 “or shortly thereafter,” but they promise “complete resolutions for everyone” and that “there is so much more to the story than what has come to light.”

AEG gives backAEG celebrated its annual Season of Giving by supporting over 30 southern California non-profits. Nearly 600 AEG employees collected thousands of toys, coats, blankets, and other essentials for families and hosted 500 guests at a community holiday party. “We are proud to partner with non-profits across the southland [to]support our local communities," said Anette Padilla, AEG's Director of Community Foundation & Social Impact. 

Virtual ABBA makes an impactABBA Voyage, the East London show featuring digital versions of ABBA, “has had a significant and positive economic and social impact” on London and the surrounding area, according to a report covering the show’s first year of operation (May 22 - 23). With seven performances a week in their own purpose-built 3,000-capacity ABBA Arena, they contributed £322.6 million (approx. $408 million) and over 5,000 jobs to the local economy.  

The King is headed to LondonLondon is getting another digital experience this fall - this one featuring the King himself. Layered Reality is debuting Elvis Evolution, an AI Elvis hologram show, in London in November. They plan to use a blend of “technology, augmented reality, theater, projection, and multi-sensory effects” to witness iconic Elvis performances as if you were really there.”     

Supernova survivors sue Israeli security42 survivors from Hamas’ October 7 attack on the Supernova music festival have reportedly filed a civil lawsuit against Israel’s security forces for alleged negligence, claiming the events could have been “very easily prevented”. This is the first civil suit of its kind. The claim has been filed for NIS200 million ($54 million) against the Shin Bet security service, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Israel Police, and the Defense Ministry.  

Live Nation subsidiary acquires DreamlandLive Nation subsidiary LN Gaiety has taken a controlling stake in Dreamland amusement park and music venue in Margate, UK. With the acquisition, they plan to increase the number of events held at the park this year and it “ensures the legendary venue can carry on providing world class entertainment for people of all ages," according to a venue spokesperson. 

Jack Harlow in the metaverseJack Harlow’s immersive, behind-the-scenes look at his recent tour, “Jack Harlow: No Place Like Home” is currently in Meta Horizon Worlds’ Music Valley. The immersive VR concert and documentary is available to Meta Quest VR headset owners.

Fan Fairness Coalition makes progressSince starting their “The Monopoly” campaign 6 weeks ago, the Fan Fairness Coalition (FFC) has revealed that more than 72,000 letters have been sent by live music fans to members of Congress across all 50 states of the US, to address “Live Nation/ Ticketmaster’s dominance”. FFC’s Amanda Lewis says they are “excited by the Fan Fairness Coalition’s early work to restore power to the fans.  

 Operations Specialist - Touring (Event & Festival Planning) at Sixthman in Atlanta, GA.   Country Jam USA is hiring a Staff Accountant / Controller in Eau Claire, WI. Salary $50,000 - $85,000. Strategic Partner Manager, Music Artists Partnerships at Meta In New York, NY or Los Angeles, CA. Salary: $129,000 - $187,000. The Smashing Pumpkins are looking for a new guitarist. 

Will 2024 be bigger than 2023 for the live event industry?

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements

• 👀Lots of rumors ahead of the upcoming Coachella lineup announcement…

• Ed Sheeran will perform for just 977 fans at the Capitol Theater in Singapore, February 17. This intimate gig follows his sold-out 55,000 cap show at Singapore’s National Stadium the night before.

• STS9 will headline two nights at Resonate Suwannee, April 4 - 6 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. 

• Insomniac announced The Chainsmokers, Madeon, Rezz, Subtronics, and SIDEPIECE, and others will perform at Beyond Wonderland, March 22 - 23 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA.

• Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Nicks, and Maná will headline BottleRock, May 24 - 26 at Napa Valley Expo in Napa Valley, CA. 

• Solshine: A Music and Arts Reverie, a new event from the creators of Summer Camp Music Festival will feature John Summit, STS9, Deadmau5, Slander, Big Gigantic, Goose, and The String Cheese Incident, May 24 - 26 at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL.

• 80’s music lovers this one's for you: Totally Tubular Festival featuring Thomas Dolby, Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, and Modern English is coming to 17 cities in North America between June 28 (Santa Barbara, CA) and July 27 (Cincinnati, OH).

 All the things Taylor Swift made us care about in 2023. Microsoft is adding an AI button to the Windows keyboard, the first change to its keyboard in 30 years.  Snoop Dogg signs on to be a “Special Correspondent” for the 2024 Summer Olympics following his Tokyo 2020 gig.

 Marc Cuban is giving out $35 million in bonuses to Dallas Mavericks employees following the sale of his majority interest in the NBA team. 2024 Global music festivals to have on your radar, according to Lifestyle Asia.

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