Live music industry news

Arrests made in StubHub supplier fraud case that netted “extraordinary profit”

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StubHub • 3 min read

Arrests made in StubHub supplier fraud case that netted “extraordinary profit”

Earlier this week prosecutors in New York announced the arrest of two people involved in a $600,000 ticketing scam, one of whom exploited their position working for a supplier to StubHub. The ticket resale platform has since been keen to stress that it spotted and shut down the fraud…

Chris Cooke • 07 Mar 2025

Leadmill landlord will offer staff new jobs when it takes over running the venue, but timeline for the change in management remains uncertain

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The Leadmill • 3 min read

Leadmill landlord will offer staff new jobs when it takes over running the venue, but timeline for the change in management remains uncertain

The current operator of The Leadmill in Sheffield has until 12 Mar to appeal a court ruling in his eviction battle with landlord The Electric Group. It plans to offer jobs to current Leadmill employees when it takes over operating the venue, though it’s still not clear how quickly that will happen…

Chris Cooke • 04 Mar 2025

Payola back in the spotlight as FCC boss asks about artist deals at upcoming iHeart festival

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iHeart • 3 min read

Payola back in the spotlight as FCC boss asks about artist deals at upcoming iHeart festival

US media regulator the FCC recently warned broadcasters that pressuring artists to play their events for free in return for airplay likely constitutes illegal payola. Now the FCC wants to know what radio giant iHeart is paying artists playing one of its festivals in Austin this May…

Chris Cooke • 26 Feb 2025

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

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Live Nation • 5 min read

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

Live Nation’s CEO has told analysts that streaming platforms need ticket pre-sale inventory to make super premium work - but whether or not they get it is another question. The company spent more than $450 million settling Astroworld lawsuits in 2024 - and there’s still no news on the DOJ lawsuit…

Sam Taylor • 21 Feb 2025

Malaysian festival can’t sue individual members of The 1975, says band’s lawyer

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The 1975 • 2 min read

Malaysian festival can’t sue individual members of The 1975, says band’s lawyer

The lawsuit filed by a Malaysian festival against The 1975 following their controversial performance at the event in 2023 was in court this week. The band’s lawyers began by arguing that, while the festival can sue The 1975’s company, individual band members should be removed from the litigation…

Chris Cooke • 20 Feb 2025

Leadmill operator vows to “exhaust every possible legal avenue” after losing eviction battle in court

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The Leadmill • 3 min read

Leadmill operator vows to “exhaust every possible legal avenue” after losing eviction battle in court

The current operator of Sheffield’s The Leadmill has acknowledged that a judge has ruled against him in an eviction dispute with landlord The Electric Group. However, he says the Save The Leadmill campaign continues and all legal routes will be pursued before he vacates the premises…

Chris Cooke • 20 Feb 2025

Leadmill operator reportedly loses battle against eviction - and can’t even demolish the toilets on his way out

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The Leadmill • 2 min read

Leadmill operator reportedly loses battle against eviction - and can’t even demolish the toilets on his way out

The operator of Sheffield venue The Leadmill, Phil Mills, has reportedly lost a court battle in which he was fighting an eviction order. Mills planned to demolish a toilet block before vacating the building, but the local council has declined to give planning permission for any demolition work…

Chris Cooke • 18 Feb 2025

AIF calls for Parliamentary inquiry into a festivals sector that has lost 215 events since the pandemic

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Association Of Independent Festivals • 2 min read

AIF calls for Parliamentary inquiry into a festivals sector that has lost 215 events since the pandemic

The music festival community gathered for the Festival Congress in Bristol today. AIF used its annual event to launch a Fallow Festival Fund and to call on Parliament’s culture committee to launch an inquiry into the economic challenges that music festivals are currently facing…

Chris Cooke • 05 Feb 2025

Ticketmaster to offer Canadian customers a $45 voucher after settling ‘drip pricing’ class action

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Ticketmaster • 2 min read

Ticketmaster to offer Canadian customers a $45 voucher after settling ‘drip pricing’ class action

Canadian concert-goers who bought tickets from Ticketmaster in 2018 may get a $45 voucher as part of the settlement of a class action lawsuit against drip pricing. Although Canadian rules on drip pricing are now clearer, the class action argued the practice breached consumer rights law even in 2018…

Chris Cooke • 31 Jan 2025

LIVE calls on government to address Brexit issues, regulate ticket touting and provide more economic support as it sets out six key priorities

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LIVE • 2 min read

LIVE calls on government to address Brexit issues, regulate ticket touting and provide more economic support as it sets out six key priorities

UK live sector trade group LIVE has published an agenda setting out its priorities for 2025, including the issues it will lobby government on. There are the customary calls for more economic support for the live industry, as well as requests relating to Brexit and Martyn’s Law…

Chris Cooke • 23 Jan 2025

Scientists monitor heart rates at Yetii concert to understand the effect of live music on the human body

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Live industry news including ticketing, venues, festivals and more • 1 min read

Scientists monitor heart rates at Yetii concert to understand the effect of live music on the human body

Bristol boffins want to understand the effect live music has on the human body: earlier today they were counting the heart beats of audience members of a Yetii show in Bristol - and simultaneously monitoring the pulse rates of a group of people watching a livestream of the performance…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jan 2025

Leadmill venue operator threatens to demolish toilets and gut venue if evicted, claiming Electric Group can’t afford refurbishment costs

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The Leadmill • 2 min read

Leadmill venue operator threatens to demolish toilets and gut venue if evicted, claiming Electric Group can’t afford refurbishment costs

The current operator of The Leadmill in Sheffield says he will gut the venue, including demolishing its toilets, if forced to leave by landlord Electric Group, which wants to run the venue itself. Electric Group’s legal bid to evict current operator Phil Mills is back in court in Leeds this week…

Chris Cooke • 17 Dec 2024