Live Nation Posts Best-Ever First Quarter in 2022, Thanks to Demand for Tickets

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSubsidiaries of Live Nation, the world’s largest live-entertainment company, received some $19 million in “Save Our Stages” funding from the Small Business Administration, even though the act was intended to benefit small venues and not multinational corporations, according to an extensive report published by the Washington Post.While Live Nation does not wholly own those businesses, sources told the Post that the company urged Democrats and Republicans in Congress to let it be directly eligible for the $15 billion emergency relief program, even though it is a publicly traded company that hardly qualifies as an independent venue. Ultimately, the law was written to exclude public companies, as well as firms they own or control, however, subsidiaries “in which Live Nation has a substantial, though not majority, ownership stake” received nearly $19 million, according to the Post’s review of Securities and Exchange Commission filings, state corporate documents and SBA data, as well as interviews with executives at companies that received grants.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorKanye West’s long-promised “Donda 2” album has apparently taken a step closer to reality, as Columbia Records announced a collaboration with the late XXXTentacion called “True Love” — which appears in the new “Look at Me: XXXTentacion” documentary, which airs on Hulu beginning Thursday, May 26, and on the accompanying album, “Look at Me: The Album,” due on Friday.“True Love,” officially billed to Ye & XXXTentacion, will see its official release via Columbia Records at the standard drop time of 12 a.m. ET Friday / 9 p.m.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLive Nation has announced ”Live Nation Next Gen”, a new career development program focused on helping young people, primarily from Black and Latinx communities, prepare for careers in the live music business. Live Nation Next Gen has partnered with SoLa Impact’s I Can Foundation at SoLa’s new, state-of-the art Technology and Entrepreneurship Center in the heart of South Los Angeles, where the organization is providing free education to train and inspire future leaders.According to the announcement, The inaugural program features an intensive 10-week program of courses for local students ages 16 to 21.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has announced the full slate of programming for the fifth annual New York Music Month, to run throughout the month of June 2022 in New York City.This year’s NYMM will feature a combination of in-person and virtual programming, with more than 20 events, including an all-day industry conference on the future of NYC’s music industry, skill-building workshops, free rehearsal space, songwriting camp, and showcases of emerging NYC artists. This month-long series aims to support songwriters, established musicians, emerging artists, and NYC’s entire musical community, many of whom were severely impacted by the pandemic.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLil Nas X will be honored at the long-awaited 51 st annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala next month with the Hal David Starlight Award, which recognizes “gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.”Nas, a Sony Music Publishing writer, joins previous honorees Drake, Taylor Swift, Halsey, Sara Bareilles, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Benny Blanco, John Mayer and others. The award, created in 2004, was named in honor of SHOF chairman emeritus Hal David for his support of young songwriters.The ceremony, the first since 2019, is slated for Thursday, June 16 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Miami Dade Fire Rescue is reporting that Live Nation executive Theresa Velasquez was heard in the rubble of the 2021 Surfside Condo Collapse in Miami.

Travis Scott‘s Astroworld festival has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the rapper and Live Nation.According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Shanazia Williamson and her husband Jarawd Owens of Dayton were expecting a child when they attended the event last November.The couple allege in their lawsuit that Williamson was “trampled and crushed, resulting in horrific injuries and ultimately the death of her and Jarawd’s unborn child” while in attendance at the festival.In addition, Williamson also “sustained injuries to her shoulder, back, leg, chest, stomach and other parts of her body” according to the lawsuit, and the “defendants’ failure to plan, design, manage, operate, staff and supervise the event was a direct and proximate cause of Shanazia’s injuries and death of her and Jarawd’s unborn child”.The suit also alleges that the defendants, which also include security company Valle Services SMG, ASM Global and the Harris County Sports and Convention corporation, were negligent for various reasons, including inadequate security and medical personnel for the festival along with failing to recognise safety hazards.NME has contacted a spokesperson for Travis Scott for comment.10 people died at Scott’s Houston-based festival last November after a crowd surge.Earlier this week, a new court filing revealed that nearly 5,000 people were injured in the tragedy.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBMG is ramping up its development of new stage musicals in both the U.S., with its first production “Punk Rock Girl!,” and in Germany, following the successful run of its first musical, “Ku’damm 56.”“Punk Rock Girl!” is the debut developmental theatrical production from BMG in the U.S., in partnership with New York-based theatrical company Lively McCabe Entertainment. It features a score of songs written and made famous by female artists and female-fronted bands from the BMG catalog, including Blondie, P!nk, Avril Lavigne, Pat Benatar and Sleater-Kinney, along with the title song, the Dead Milkmen’s 1988’s “Punk Rock Girl”; the full tracklist appears below.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRed Hot Chili Peppers, P!nk, the Chicks, Kacey Musgraves, SZA, Flume, Paramore, and Lil Nas X are the headliners for the 2022 Austin City Limits Music Festival, along with performances from Phoenix (weekend two only), PinkPanthress, Wet Leg (weekend two only), Diplo, Zhu, Lil Durk (weekend one only), Billy Strings, James Blake (weekend one only), Jazmine Sullivan, the War on Drugs, Spoon, Sabrina Claudio and many more. The nine-stage, two-weekend event will take place October 7-9 and October 14-16, 2022, at Zilker Park in Austin.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSean “Diddy” Combs has announced the launch of a new R&B label called Love Records via a deal with Motown Records. According to the announcement, the new label “will be dedicated to R&B music and will release singles and collaborative projects from a collective of world-class artists, producers and songwriters.” Also according to the announcement, today’s news marks Combs’ official return to music.An album by Diddy himself will be Love Records’ first project, set to be released this summer.“Music has always been my first love, Love Records is the next chapter is about getting back to the love and making the best music of my life,” said Combs (pictured above, left). “For the label I’m focused on creating timeless R&B music with the next generation of artists and producers.

Concert promotion giant Live Nation should be broken up, according to New Jersey Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell, who claims its safety record is disturbing.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorCamila Cabello will host a benefit concert on Sunday, May 8, to announce the launch of her “Protect All Kids” Fund.This emergency fund, established in partnership with Equality Florida and Lambda Legal to protect students and families from Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law, will also provide resources to impacted students, teachers, and families. The launch event will be held at private venue in West Hollywood and will also include special performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Valentina, transgender singer Shea Diamond and a local youth choir.“As someone who grew up and still lives in Florida, I am appalled that my home state is putting the health and lives of young Floridians at risk by passing this law and inviting discrimination into our schools.

Taylor Swift released her new recording of one of her old hits.On Thursday night, Swift dropped «This Love (Taylor's Version),» which marks her first re-recorded track off her album.The song was first heard in the trailer for the new Amazon Prime Video series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, which dropped Thursday morning.Swift took to Instagram to tease the song's release, and to share the trailer as well, with a special thanks to Jenny Han — the creator and executive producer of the series, as well as the author of the books the show is based on — for featuring the tune in the trailer.A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)«Thank you @jennyhan for debuting my version of This Love in the trailer for @thesummeriturnedpretty!!! I’ve always been so proud of this song and I’m very

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJust two weeks before the release of his “Harry’s House” third solo album, Harry Styles has announced the dates for “Love on Tour 2022.”Coming off of a sold out 42-date arena tour in 2021 and two special “One Night Only” shows in New York and London, the 2022 tour works the “Harry’s House” theme by turning arenas in New York, Los Angeles (10 nights each), Chicago, Austin (5 nights each) and Toronto (2 nights) into Harry’s de facto house.Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Monday, August 15th and Tuesday, August 16th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. Styles will continue his residencies in New York City for ten nights at Madison Square Garden, Austin for five nights at Moody Center, and Chicago for five nights at United Center, before wrapping up at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum for 10 night run concluding on Tuesday, November 15th.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorA$AP Rocky has dropped his new single, “D.M.B.” via A$AP Worldwide/Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records — but the headlines will no doubt go to Rihanna, who stars in the video and is making her first appearance in a music-related video in years.The video is described as “an ode to the classic love story,” with Rocky and Rihanna depicting true ride-or-die characters in a devoted relationship despite their circumstances.The video was shot in New York last summer and was written, directed & executive produced by A$AP Rocky for AWGE.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorNot a moment too soon, the #iVoted Festival, which drew a massive audience for its 2020 digital concert, is back for the 2022 midterms and has revealed its initial lineup, which includes Run the Jewels, Lake Street Dive, CNCO, Carl Craig, Rise Against, Umphrey’s McGee and loads more.The festival will take place virtually on Election Day: November 8th.Fans RSVP to access the Mandolin hosted stream with a selfie from outside their polling place or at home with their blank and unmarked ballot. Underage fans RSVP by letting #iVoted Festival know what year’s election they will be 18 for and why they’re excited to vote.

Live Nation is offering $25 concert tickets to celebrate National Concert Week. The entertainment company is sharing this promotion with fans from May 4-10. This year’s rate is up $5 from the last time the deal was held. According to Live Nation, the $25 ticket includes all fees.The promotion gives fans the opportunity to attend over 3,700 concerts in North America, the company shared. The concerts will cover a wide variety of genres, including country, hip-hop, Latin, metal, rock, pop, and even comedy shows.There are several artists that are participating in this deal.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMadonna recently became the first artist to top Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart for the 50th time, making her the first and only recording artist to have 50 No. 1 hits on any single Billboard chart.She is commemorating the event in characteristically outsized fashion with two new compilations: “Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones,” a new 50-track collection that includes her favorite remixes of her dance hits, and an abridged 16-track version, simply titled “Finally Enough Love.” The full tracklists appear below.The collections mark the first album releases to be part of the newly announced partnership between Madonna and Warner Music Group, which will feature an extensive series of catalog releases across her career.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSwedish pop innovator Tove Lo returns with a new song and video called “No One Dies From Love,” released on her own, newly launched Pretty Swede label through mtheory. The song was co-written with longtime collaborator Ludvig Söderberg.“When you’re with someone for a long time and it ends all of all sudden, it’s like a part of you has died,” Lo says of the song.