Touring
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CAA’s global touring division has made its first major hire since announcing new leadership earlier this month, bringing veteran music agent Cheryl Paglierani and her A-list clients Post Malone, rapper 21 Savage, Flo Milli, Jessie Murp and Dominic Fike to the agency. Paglierani joins CAA from UTA, where she served as a partner. She previously […]
Wave your hands in the air, because ready or not, here they come again: Ms. Lauryn Hill and The Fugees are going back on a joint tour! The 21-date trek, announced on Monday (June 24), will mostly play in the United States before wrapping up with four dates overseas.
The tour — which reunites the eight-time Grammy winner with The Fugees to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Billboard 200 No. 1 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, kicks off Aug. 9 in Tampa, Fla., at the Midflorida Credit Union Ampitheatre before making its way around the states. It ends Oct. 22 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. The co-headlining tour will also feature music from The Fugees’ No. 1 album The Score, with Hill’s son YG Marley — whom she shares with Rohan Marley — as the support act.
Tickets for U.S. shows begin Tuesday (June 25) with a Citi presale, with sales beginning at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com cardmembers. General onsale for stateside shows begin 10 a.m. local time on June 28. For European fans, presales begin June 26 also via Live Nation, with general onsale also beginning June 28 at 10 a.m. local.
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According to the press release, $2 from each ticket sold will go to the MLH fund, which benefits organizations that provide resources for mental health issues, women’s wellness, small business development, education and more.
The Miseducation Anniversary Tour was previously postponed in November due to Hill experiencing vocal issues. “As many of you may know, I’ve been battling serious vocal strain for the past month. I made it through each show by taking prescribed prednisone, but this can be detrimental to the body when taken in large amounts over long periods of time,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “In order to prevent any long term negative affect on my voice and my body, I need to take time off to allow for real vocal recovery so that I can discontinue the medication completely.”
“The shows that were cancelled this year will be rescheduled for early 2024 AND because of the overwhelming response, we’ll be adding new cities to the tour, including overseas,” she added at the time.
See the new batch of tour dates below:
AEG Presents and Tim Hinshaw’s Free Lunch have entered into a strategic partnership, Billboard can exclusively report. Under the terms of the partnership, Hinshaw will be responsible for securing and marketing hip-hop, R&B and gospel tours for AEG’s global touring division.
The alliance follows in the wake of Kendrick Lamar’s “The Pop Out — Ken & Friends.” The Juneteenth concert at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. was presented by pgLang and Free Lunch. Streamed to fans around the world on Amazon Music — Hinshaw’s current client — the event broke the record for the most minutes watched of any Amazon Music production.
In announcing the partnership, AEG Presents president of global touring Rich Schaefer said, “Tim’s connection to hip-hop and R&B — whether it’s the music, the artists or the culture — is unmatched. I’m excited to bring someone of Tim’ stature on to help our team expand in an area we’ve already had so much success in. His spirit and energy will be a great addition to the touring team, and we look forward to learning from him as we help build our business together.”
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Free Lunch founder and CEO Hinshaw added, “I am honored that this chapter started with Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Pop Out — Ken & Friends,’ an iconic moment for L.A. and hip-hop. Partnering with AEG is a natural next step for Free Lunch. I have been very fortunate in my career to play a role in delivering some of the most unforgettable live music experiences for the culture and look forward to continuing that success with Rich and the whole AEG team moving forward.”
Formerly Amazon Music’s head of hip-hop and R&B, Hinshaw launched Free Lunch in 2023. As noted in a release announcement, the multifaceted creative shop is principally focused on “authentically bridging the gap between culture and corporate America.” During Hinshaw’s five-year tenure at Amazon, he oversaw the streaming service’s industry strategy and partnerships across both genres, inclusive of the global flagship brand Rotation. Among the various projects he brokered was 2022’s exclusive livestream of The Big Steppers Tour: Live from Paris via Amazon Music and Prime Video. The event not only spotlighted Kendrick Lamar’s second performance in Paris, it also celebrated the 10th anniversary of his second studio album, good kid, m.A.A.d city.
Hinshaw also helmed artist negotiations for Amazon Music Live, a livestreamed concert series on Twitch and Prime Video that aired following Thursday Night Football. Among artists featured on the series were Lil Baby, A$AP Rocky and 21 Savage. Additional livestream projects under Hinshaw while at Amazon Music included: Tyler, The Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost Live concert in his hometown of Los Angeles; Kanye “Ye” West’s #FreeLarryHoover benefit concert in L.A.; J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival from Raleigh and Summer Walker’s homecoming show in Atlanta for Black History Month.
Prior to joining Amazon Music, Hinshaw established the urban music division at Fender Guitars. He also worked in music marketing for Vans. Honored as executive of the year in 2022 for Billboard’s annual R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players issue, Hinshaw began his music industry career as co-manager of his songwriter brother, Charles “Prince Charlez” Hinshaw. That endeavor led to a joint venture label deal with Island Def Jam and a global co-publishing agreement with Rondor/Universal Music.
James Dolan, executive chairman/CEO of MSG Entertainment, will lead the New York-based live events company for another three years. Dolan received a new contract that will keep him at MSG Entertainment through June 2027, the company revealed on Friday (June 21) in a regulatory filing. Dolan, who is also the CEO of both MSG Sports […]
Global investment firm KKR has agreed to acquire the European festivals organizer Superstruct Entertainment from Providence Equity Partners, it was announced on Friday (June 21). Superstruct — which organizes Sziget, the Budapest music festival that’s one of Europe’s largest, and Wacken Open Air, the world’s largest heavy metal festival held in Germany — was founded […]
MILLENNIUM PARADE is set to launch its first-ever global tour called the WHO AND HOW TOUR 2024 in November, traveling to nine cities around the world for 10 shows. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The band, led by Daiki Tsuneta of King Gnu, will kick off […]
For the first time ever, the musical fantasy film Labyrinth, Jim Henson’s original masterpiece starring the late David Bowie, will transport fans to Goblin City in an exciting fusion of film and live music onstage with “Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert.” The 30-city North American tour launches Sept. 24 — Henson’s birthday — with stops in Atlanta, Orlando and New Orleans.
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Labyrinth’s loyal and steadfast cult following has grown for nearly 40 years since the film’s theatrical release on June 27, 1986. Audiences are invited to experience an epic evening as the movie is presented on a large HD cinema screen. Onstage, a live band will perform in sync with Bowie’s original vocals, playing the songs and the score from the soundtrack, composed by Bowie and Trevor Jones.
“Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert” producer Black Ink Presents, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, is known for breathing new life into iconic films with symphonies, orchestras or bands live onstage, including Batman, Ghostbusters, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Rocketman, La La Land and more.
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“I have always been a huge fan of the groundbreaking collaboration of Jim Henson, George Lucas, David Bowie, and Trevor Jones on this film, and bringing it to fans in a live concert screening experience is a dream come true,” says John Kinsner, CEO of Black Ink Presents. “Getting to hear Bowie’s vocals with a live band while watching the film is sure to give every Labyrinth fan goosebumps.”
“It’s always incredible when the amazing fans of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth come together to watch (and rewatch!) this beloved fantasy adventure,” says Nicole Goldman, executive v.p. of Branding for The Jim Henson Company. “With ‘Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert,’ we are welcoming loyal and new fans to the world of the Goblin King, and celebrating the incredible music of David Bowie and Trevor Jones in a whole new way. It is certain to be a ‘Magic Dance!’”
Starring Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, as well as scores of goblins and creatures from the renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the film features a soundtrack of unique and memorable melodies, with Bowie’s original songs like “Magic Dance,” “Underground” and “As the World Falls Down,” along with Jones’ orchestral score.
“Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert” tour schedule:September 24 – Morgantown, WV @ Metropolitan TheatreSeptember 25 – Reading, PA @ Santander PACSeptember 26 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick TheatreSeptember 27 – York, PA @ Pullo CenterSeptember 28 – Concord, NH @ Capitol Center for the ArtsSeptember 29 – Mississauga, ON, Canada @ Living Arts CentreOctober 1 – Rutland, VT @ Paramount TheatreOctober 2 – Medford, MA @ Chevalier TheatreOctober 3 – Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue Theatre for the Performing ArtsOctober 5 – Munhall, PA @ Carnegie Music Hall of HomesteadOctober 7 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora TheatreOctober 8 – Louisville, KY @ Louisville PalaceOctober 9 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA LiveOctober 10 – Lexington, KY @ Lexington Opera HouseOctober 11 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat TheatreOctober 12 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral TheatreOctober 13 – Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst TheaterOctober 14 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft TheatreOctober 16 – Saint Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald TheaterOctober 17 – Waukegan, IL @ Genesee TheatreOctober 18 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown TheaterOctober 19 – Omaha, NE @ Holland CenterOctober 21 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic TheaterOctober 22 – New Orleans, LA @ Orpheum TheaterOctober 23 – Atlanta, GA @ The EasternOctober 24 – Jacksonville, FL @ Florida TheatreOctober 25 – Orlando, FL @ Plaza LiveOctober 26 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd HallOctober 27 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ The ParkerFor more information, including tickets and tour dates, visit LabyrinthInConcert.com.
Four major independent concert promoters are joining forces under the Peachtree Entertainment banner, the concert promotion firm first launched by founder Bradley Jordan. Peachtree Entertainment has announced its partnering with Chuck Steedman from LiveCo and hired promoters Nathan Baugh of 46 Entertainment and Shane Quick of Premier Productions to serve in executive roles.
Baugh said the new firm will focus on maintaining an “artist-first” mentality, acknowledging “that artists are the driving force behind everything we do,” with a promise to “treat artists like partners and inventory.”
“That means being fully transparent and putting everything on the table,” Baugh tells Billboard.
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Peachtree Entertainment has helped launch the touring careers of many artists including Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Luke Bryan, and promotes Alan Jackson, Gavin Adcock, and festival brands Rock The Country, Rock The South and Bulls, Bands and Barrels.
Baugh will serve as CEO, leading all day-to-day operations while Quick will focus on relationship management with artists and their teams. Jordan will focus on cultivating new relationships and discovering new talent for Peachtree Entertainment.
“Collaborating with Nathan, Shane, Bradley and the entire Peachtree team furthers LiveCo’s commitment to providing the best possible experiences for fans, artists, and entertainers,” said Steedman. “They are among the most innovative, visionary, and talented leaders in the live entertainment space.”
Baugh noted that “Peachtree has built an incredible reputation for being an artist-first company. We are excited to continue to align with incredible artists and agencies to help provide creative touring and soft-ticket solutions to grow their careers.”
Quick noted that he’s now “working full-time alongside my best friends.”
Peachtree Entertainment is based in Nashville and includes full-service in-house marketing, talent buying and more, including veterans Billy Cowell (creator of Tailgates & Tallboys), Joe Lee and more.
“I founded Peachtree Entertainment out of a passion for collaborating with artists from the grassroots level, aiding in the growth of their live touring endeavors,” said Jordan. “It’s truly gratifying to elevate this venture to the next stage with people who value artists the same way I do.”
Barclays has suspended its sponsorship of Live Nation’s U.K. festivals following protests from artists over the bank’s links to defense companies supplying arms to Israel as well as fossil fuel firms.
Country singer CMAT, folk group Lankum and rock bands Pest Control, Zulu, Scowl, Speed and Ithaca are among the acts who have either pulled out of or threatened to boycott Live Nation-promoted summer events, including July’s Latitude festival and the three-day Download festival, which starts Friday (June 14) in Donington Park, Leicestershire.
In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson for Live Nation U.K. said, “Following discussion with artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will step back from sponsorship of our festivals.”
Confirming the news, a spokesperson for Barclays told Billboard that the London-headquartered bank “was asked and has agreed to suspend participation in the remaining Live Nation festivals in 2024.”
“Barclays customers who hold tickets to these festivals are not affected and their tickets remain valid,” the spokesperson continued. “The protestors’ agenda is to have Barclays debank defence companies which is a sector we remain committed to as an essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe.”
Referencing recent outbreaks of vandalism at a number of U.K. Barclays bank branches, where protestors threw paint and smashed windows, the spokesperson said the “only thing that this small group of activists will achieve is to weaken essential support for cultural events enjoyed by millions. It is time that leaders across politics, business, academia and the arts stand united against this.”
Barclays is one of the biggest sponsors of music festivals in the United Kingdom and signed a five-year sponsorship deal with Live Nation last year. Over the past two decades, the company says it has invested £112 million ($142 million) in supporting British music and the country’s arts sector.
Pressure from pro-Palestinian groups on music festivals and arts organizations to cut ties with sponsors with perceived links to Israel has been building since the start of the conflict in Gaza. Last month, more than 150 artists withdrew from Brighton’s Great Escape Festival over the independent event’s ties to Barclays.
Defending its position, Barclays has previously stated that it provides “vital financial services to U.S., U.K. and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies” but does not directly invest in these companies.
The news that the international bank, which has also drawn heavy criticism from environmental campaigners for bankrolling fossil fuel firms, was pulling out of sponsoring Live Nation’s U.K. festivals was welcomed by campaign group Bands Boycott Barclays.
“As musicians, we were horrified that our music festivals were partnered with Barclays, who are complicit in the genocide in Gaza through investment, loans and underwriting of arms companies supplying the Israeli military,” posted the campaign group on Instagram.
“Hundreds of artists have taken action this summer to make it clear that this is morally reprehensible, and we are glad we have been heard,” the group added.
Posting on X, Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, who is due to play Download this weekend, said that “the fact that the festival has listened to its musicians and cut ties with Barclays Bank is a testament to the power of artists taking collective action for human rights.”
“I’ve been pushing hard for this behind the scenes,” added Morello, “and I salute all the artists like Zulu, Scowl and Speed who have taken a stand to help make this historic withdrawal happen.”
Jennifer Koester is expanding her role at Sphere Entertainment. The live entertainment executive has been named president/COO of Sphere, effective immediately.
Prior to her promotion, Koester served as the company’s president of Sphere Business Operations, which saw her lead the strategy and execution of all business aspects of Sphere, the next-generation entertainment venue in Las Vegas.
In her new role, Koester will continue to work with executive leadership and provide strategic oversight for Sphere Studios, the immersive content studio in Burbank dedicated to developing multi-sensory experiences exclusively for Sphere, including further developing Sphere Studios’ capabilities as a full-service production studio. Koester will also continue to focus on maximizing venue utilization across a range of categories such as original programming, attractions, concerts, residencies, and corporate and marquee events, as well as driving strategic partnerships, delivering the best customer experience and growing Sphere as a premium global brand.
“Since joining our team earlier this year, Jennifer’s contributions have had a significant impact,” said Sphere Entertainment executive chairman/CEO James Dolan in a statement. “We believe we are just scratching the surface of what is possible with Sphere, and her expertise will be essential as we continue to advance on our long-term vision for this next-generation entertainment medium.”
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“I welcome the opportunity to take on this expanded role,” added Koester. “Across the Sphere organization we are focused on both bringing unique experiences to life in Las Vegas, and developing new experiences that will keep Sphere at the forefront of immersive entertainment. I look forward to continuing to work with our world-class team to grow our business and deliver on Sphere’s vision for the future of entertainment.”
Koester has 30 years of experience in technology, media and entertainment. She joined Sphere Entertainment in February from Google, where she served as MD, Americas strategic alliances, global partnerships at Google Commercial Operations. Her experience prior to Google includes serving as senior vp of advanced advertising product development, data analytics and ad operations at Cablevision, along with various legal roles.
Koester received a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and a B.S. in management information systems from Binghamton University.