IN BRIEF INDEX The concert business digest
The Danish government drops all remaining Covid-19 restrictions. Iceland Airwaves cancels for a second year due to “new and ongoing Covid-19 measures imposed by the government.” Vaccine passports may be legally required to enter certain events in Scotland in a bid to “help stem the recent surge in the number of Covid cases.”
Live Nation Denmark announces the first full-capacity stadium show in Europe since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. British band Massive Attack calls on the government to introduce a plan to cut carbon emissions in the live music business.
Live Nation GSA reveals more details about the inaugural edition of Download Germany. Belgium’s live industry may take up to two years to get to pre-pandemic levels of operation, according to key venues.
More details emerge about ABBA’s upcoming Voyage concerts, as tickets go on general sale.
Roblox and Warner Music Group announce a virtual concert experience with Grammy-awardwinning duo Twenty One Pilots.
OVG appoints Chris Granger as CEO of the group’s facilities, following the company’s merge with US venue giant Spectra.
The Swedish government announces that it will drop almost all restrictions on live events by 29 September.
Coldplay will be the first act to play OVG’s Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle – the world’s first carbonneutral-certified arena.
Belgium’s Sportpaleis Antwerp opens its doors for the first time in a year and a half.
Portugal is set to gain an 18,000-capacity, multiday festival this winter.
The fourth annual Nordic Music Biz Top 20 under 30 list is revealed.
Electric Picnic 2021 cancels following the local council’s refusal to grant the organisers a licence.
Viagogo sells its StubHub business outside of North America – including the UK – to investment firm Digital Fuel Capital LLC.
Dutch campaign group Unmute Us enlists the support of 4,000 organisers for its second protest against government restrictions.
Live Nation resumes its acquisition of Ocesa, the third-largest promoter in the world and the parent company of Ticketmaster Mexico.
Australia’s live industry comes together to launch a provaccination campaign under the banner #Vaxthenation.
Amazon brings its palmrecognition technology to music venues, starting with the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in the US.
6
iq-mag.net
Twitter starts to roll out Ticketed Spaces, a functionality that will enable some creators to generate revenue from hosting live audio events on the platform. American rock band Kings of Leon becomes the first act to send an NFT into space. SJM Concerts’ Chris York is presented with the NAA’s 2021 award for Outstanding Contribution to the Live Entertainment Industry.
The Scottish parliament approves plans for vaccine passports. Copenhagen is set to gain a new 2,500-capacity music venue this winter. An estimated 150,000 people across ten cities take part in the second Unmute Us protest in the Netherlands. Leading dance music promoters Insomniac and Alda host Saga, Romania’s first large-scale music festival since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The Netherlands’ live sector say the new 75%-capacity limit for indoor standing events is “unsubstantiated, arbitrary, and extremely harmful.” Australia is set to gain two new rock festivals in 2021 and 2022, Knight & Day and Uncaged. Wasserman Music announces five newly promoted agents. Dutch promoter ID&T signs a partnership agreement with leading live organisation Superstruct Entertainment (see page 12).
