IN BRIEF INDEX The concert business digest
Tomorrowland is granted a permit for a third festival weekend in 2022, which will help to recoup lost revenue from two fallow years. Police investigate the fatal stabbing of Drakeo the Ruler at the Once Upon a Time in LA music festival. Coachella is granted a temporary restraining order against Live Nation in its trademark infringement lawsuit over a rival music event called Coachella Day One 22. Germany’s Event Management Forum presents a series of demands to government amid concerns no major tours will be able to take place in the first half of next year. UK government announces new financial support for businesses in response to the spread of the Omicron variant, which has been criticised as inadequate by live music trade bodies. Saudi Arabia’s Soundstorm festival pulls in huge crowds from around the world, according to promoter MDLBeast.
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An exclusive live-stream performance by Westlife, broadcast by Tencent’s Weixin across China, pulls in almost 28 million viewers. US Congress writes to Live Nation to demand answers over the Astroworld tragedy. Olivier Darbois is re-elected as president of French live music industry association Prodiss. Coachella Music Festival and producer Goldenvoice sue Live Nation for trademark infringement over Coachella Day One 22, which is advertised on Ticketmaster. Harry Styles is named as 2021’s top worldwide ticket seller, while the Rolling Stones had the highest-grossing tour, according to Pollstar’s year-end rankings. Veteran agent Adam Brill joins Wasserman Music as VP, fairs & festivals. Live audio tech service Mixhalo raises $24million (€21m) in a series-B funding round.
The Music Venue Trust warns that the UK’s grassroots circuit is on the brink of collapse in the wake of fresh government restrictions. The Dutch government announces €84.5m in emergency funding after extending Covid restrictions until mid-January. The number of concerts held in Saudi Arabia each year is set to rise by up to 600% on pre-pandemic levels, according to the kingdom’s assistant minister for tourism. Ticketmaster expands its presence in Latin America with new operations in Mexico and Chile. AEG-owned ticketer AXS announces the appointment of Jay Sietsema as general manager for its Swedish operation. UK-based music company ATC plans to float on London’s Aquis Stock Exchange after raising £4.2m (€5m) in its initial public offer. Ticketmaster Australia unveils a new integration enabling fans to check-in and verify vaccination status upon entry to a venue.
The UK live industry is contending with up to 50% audience no shows and widespread cancellations due to Omicron, a snap industry survey shows. Angus Baskerville, the longstanding 13 Artists director and booking agent, moves to new independent agency Pure from 1 January 2022. Korea’s first-ever metaverse gig, the K-Vibe Concert, is staged by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. Travis Scott is reportedly involved in an initiative to put new festival safety protocols in place following the Astroworld disaster. Primavera Sound announces its first Chilean edition, a coproduction with Rock Stgo, from 7-13 November 2022. Vaccine passports and facemasks are required in order to attend concerts in England as part of tougher restrictions unveiled by the government in response to the Omicron variant.
