Live Nation
How One of Live Nation’s Core Business Strategies Backfired at Astroworld
Travis Scott encourages his concert audiences to “rage,” so his Astroworld festival, which this year drew 50,000 fans on Nov. 5 to NRG Park in Houston, needs to be organized in a way that keeps attendees safe. But ScoreMore Shows, which produces and promotes the event, set it up in a way that several concert business sources say may have inadvertently contributed to the crowd surge that resulted in 10 deaths and hundreds of injuries, and that parent company Live Nation rarely exercises the kind of oversight over events organized by its subsidiaries that might have flagged these problems before it was too late. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The hands-off approach is by design. Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino runs the company with a decentralized management strategy that encourag...
Astroworld Lawsuit Seeks $750 Million from Travis Scott, Drake, Live Nation, Apple
A lawsuit filed on behalf of 125 Astroworld 2021 attendees, including some family members of the ten people killed in the crowd crush, is seeking $750 million in damages from Travis Scott, Drake, promoter Live Nation, and Apple Music, which livestreamed the festival. Houston attorney Tony Buzbee made the announcement on Instagram, pledging that “every individual who attended that concert and who suffered injury will be fairly compensated.” Buzbee is a colorful character — a onetime Democratic Party official who later became an ally of Republican Governor Rick Perry, Buzbee ran for mayor of Houston in 2019 as an Independent, losing in a runoff with 43% of the vote. His website, JustWin.com, boasts of “$10 billion recovered” for his clients. Buzbee said he is representing the family of...
Travis Scott and Live Nation Sued By Family of 9-Year-Old ‘Fighting For His Life’ From Astroworld Injuries
The family of nine-year-old Ezra Blount, an Astroworld attendee, is suing Travis Scott and Live Nation as their child is suffering from brain, lung, liver, and kidney damage, and is in a medically induced coma following what transpired last Friday. In paperwork obtained by SPIN, the suit was filed by attorney Ben Crump, following the tragedy that took place during the Friday night concert in Houston last weekend. Ezra was on his father Treston Blount’s shoulders when the deadly crowd surge started at the beginning of Scott’s set at 9 pm., and the two became trapped. According to the lawsuit, Blount was “kicked, stepped on, and trampled” and his severe injuries will alter his “ability to grow and thrive.” The suit blames Blount’s injuries on Scott, Live Nation, and other entities, saying th...
Travis Scott & Live Nation Sued Over ‘Predictable’ Astroworld Tragedy
The lawsuit claims the disaster was the direct result of “a motivation for profit at the expense of concertgoers’ health and safety” and the “encouragement of violence.” “Defendants failed to properly plan and conduct the concert in a safe manner,” wrote Souza’s attorney, Steve Kherkher of the firm Kherkher Garcia LLP. “Instead, they consciously ignored the extreme risks of harm to concertgoers, and, in some cases actively encouraged and fomented dangerous behaviors.” Representatives for Scott, Scoremore and Live Nation did not immediately return requests for comment on Sunday (Nov. 7). The case is one of the first of many lawsuits that are expected to be filed over the incident, which appears to be one of the deadliest crowd disasters at a music event in years. The crush occur...
Live Nation Stock Hits New Highs After Encouraging Earnings
Business has grown from a virtual standstill in early 2020, to revenue of $2.7 billion in the third quarter of 2021. (That’s compared to $575.9 million in the year’s second quarter and just $184 million in the third quarter of 2020.) Investors with enough foresight and fortitude to buy stock at the pandemic low and hold their shares could have earned a six-times gain on their investment — and could make more as pandemic fears fade and fans show up for a full slate of tours over the next three years. Former Grateful Dead members touring as Dead & Company, were one of Live Nation’s high points in 2020 after selling over 184,000 tickets to eight shows from June to August, according to Billboard Boxscore. “This isn’t just young kids going to shows because they’re not scared,” said CE...
Swedish House Mafia Concert-Goers Will Be the First to Experience Live Nation’s NFT Ticket Stubs
Live Nation‘s latest innovation will bring the timeless past time of collecting concert ticket stubs to the world of blockchain technology. The company’s Live Stubs initiative will see the minting of concert stubs into digital NFT collectibles consistent with the sections, rows, and seats purchased by concert-goers. The effort is turning the nostalgic hobby into a new industry which will undoubtedly be to the benefit of Live Nation’s partnering artists. The venture offers artists a low barrier to entry to participate in the red-hot NFT revolution. With Live Nation handling the digital assets, artists are left with the fun part: identifying unique rewards and experiences to offer token-holders. Swedish House Mafia are first to test the waters. The iconic dance ...
Live Nation Selling Collectible Ticket Stub NFTs for Swedish House Mafia Tour
Live Nation is launching the platform for Swedish House Mafia‘s “Paradise Again” tour, which opens in Miami on July 29, 2022, with tickets now on sale. Fans will be able to view, share, gift, trade, and even resell their NFT stubs on Livenation.com. Just don’t try to use the NFTs to try and get into the show, company officials explain in a press release — “these are collector items and will not replace the digital tickets needed to physically enter the show.” “Our Live Stubs product brings back the nostalgia of collecting ticket stubs while also giving artists a new tool to deepen that relationship with their fans and we can’t wait to see what the creativity of this community dreams up as it grows,” says Michael Rapino, Live Nation president a...
Live Nation, Oak View Group and GL Events Team Up for New São Paolo Arena
The 20,000-capacity venue begins construction next year and is slated to open in 2024. Live Nation, the world’s largest entertainment company, and global development company Oak View Group are teaming up for a 20,000-capacity arena in São Paulo, Brazil. The city’s mayor, Ricardo Nunes, announced the collaboration — which will be in partnership with Brazilian-based event company GL Events — on Friday (Oct. 15). The city of São Paulo, which has a population of 12 million, awarded the three entities a 30-year lease for the Anhembi campus, which spans 4 million square feet. Arena São Paulo, as it will be called, will anchor the Anhembi entertainment district and produce live even...
Live Nation Expands Artist Discovery Platform ‘Ones to Watch’ Into Australia
Ones to Watch Australia launches proper on Oct. 8 with a live showcase at Adelaide’s Lion Arts Factory, featuring performances from local acts Colourblind, East AV3 and Teenage Joans and three of South Australia’s 2021 Robert Stigwood Fellowship Recipients. The invite-only launch-night is a collaboration with the government of South Australia’s Music Development Office, and Music SA, and it takes place as part of the trade body’s annual industry showcase event, Scouted. According to a statement issued Thursday (March 30) from LN, Ones to Watch Australia will “showcase rising new talent” from across the country, including musicians, bands, and producers, who’ll be provided with “professional support to help kickstart their careers by leveraging Live Nation’s global network.” One...
Australia’s Top Promoters Launch Contest for Concert Tickets, But You Must be Vaccinated to Apply
To be eligible, you must be over 18; be a resident of Australia; enter within the competition window (Sept. 15-Nov. 30); answer a simple question; and “be fully vaccinated under the Australian national COVID-19 vaccination program,” a statement reads. Winners will get a plus-one to see the likes of Dua Lipa, Alanis Morissette, Kiss, Lorde, David Gray, Tyler, the Creator and many others, with the concerts calendar adding dates on a daily basis. The novel campaign is an extension of #VAXTHENATION, a nationwide call-out launched earlier this month, and led by hundreds of musicians, industry leaders and businesses. It’s an initiative of the so-called LIVE Alliance, a gathering of industry stakeholders and advocates, including the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), APRA AMCOS, ARIA, Australi...
Live Nation Will Require Ticket Holders To Be Vaccinated Or Show Negative Test Result
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: SOPA Images / Getty The world is just starting to see the after effects of the pandemic. Live Nation has announced they will require receipts showing you are Covid-19 free. The entertainment company is doubling down on ensuring that their events are thoughtfully hosted. According to Rolling Stone the Beverly Hills, California-based brand has pivoted away from letting performers decide their own coronavirus guidelines. Instead, they will set their own mandate that patrons will either have to provide proof of vaccination or negative testing. “Vaccines are going to be your ticket back to shows” said Live Nation president/CEO Michael Rapino. “We will be following the model we developed for Lollapalooza and requiring this for artists, fans, and employees ...
Live Nation Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement at Concerts
Live Nation is amending its COVID-19 safety protocols amidst the surging Delta variant. Going forward, the country’s largest concert promoter will require proof of a vaccine or a negative test result for all artists, crew, and attendees at US venues and festivals. “Vaccines are going to be your ticket back to shows, and as of October 4th we will be following the model we developed for Lollapalooza and requiring this for artists, fans, and employees at Live Nation venues and festivals everywhere possible in the US,” said Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino in a statement. Live Nation had previously said it would allow artists to choose whether they would enforce the proof of vaccine or negative test requirement. Now, the live music behemoth is taking the decision out of artist...
