Live Nation to stop putting on shows in Russia following invasion of Ukraine

Sasha Urban editorIn a conversation on CNBC’s “TechCheck” on Monday, Live Nation Entertainment CEO and president Michael Rapino said he expects a record year for the company’s ticket sales, despite the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.“We don’t have a lot of shows in that area so that hasn’t really affected our business,” Rapino told CNBC’s Julia Boorstin. “Europe seems to be business as usual right now for the summer, so we haven’t seen any disruption in our core business around the world in terms of touring.”He continued, “We’re still tracking 30% plus up year over year, we’re seeing consumers buying tickets on sale this weekend.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been declared a war criminal by US politicians as his country’s invasion of Ukraine continues.

Some of the biggest tastemakers in fashion are making bold statements from their words to changes in their business operations to condemn Russia's war on Ukraine. Just days after Russia first invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Milan and Paris — two fashion capitals of the world — held their annual fashion weeks with attention-grabbing shows that offered a first look at their fall/winter 2022-2023 collections.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine continues and more music companies have ceased doing business with the country, many in the songwriting, music-publishing and especially the performing-rights communities have looked to CISAC, the global confederation of authors societies such as ASCAP and PRS, to make a unilateral decision.However, on Monday, the organization announced that although it “deplores and condemns the war waged by the Russian government against the Ukrainian population,” it will leave such decisions to individual societies, although it continues to develop a relief fund for Ukraine, first announced on Wednesday.“While abhorring the actions of the Russian armed forces, CISAC is not empowered to impose sanctions on member societies based only on the actions of their government,” the statement says in part. “Russian authors, just as their counterparts elsewhere, cannot be blamed for the grotesque actions of their government.” “CISAC’s global network of authors societies deplores and condemns the war waged by the Russian government against the Ukrainian population,” the statement reads.

Petrol prices in the UK could reach as high as £2.40 a litre this year due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Joe Biden announced on Friday that the U.S. and its allies are moving to revoke Russia’s “most favored nation” trade status following its invasion of Ukraine.

Christopher Vourlias Before the Russian army launched an invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, French war correspondent Loup Bureau was embedded in Donbass, the restive borderland in Eastern Ukraine, which since 2014 has been the site of an ongoing conflict between Russian-backed separatist groups and Ukrainian government forces.Reports were circulating of an impending Russian attack. Bureau, who had already spent time in the region while shooting his feature-length documentary “Trenches” – screening next week at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival – expected it to be a localized skirmish.

The New York Times said that it was moving its staffers out of Russia “for now” after the passage of a censorship law that threatens prison sentences for those whose reporting on the invasion of Ukraine is deemed “fake news.”

Stevie Wonder is taking a stance against Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Live Nation will no longer operate in Russia in protest at the eastern European country's invasion of Ukraine, it was announced on Wednesday “Live Nation joins the world in strongly condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We will not promote shows in Russia, and we will not do business with Russia,” Live Nation said in a statement to Rolling Stone.

Concert promoter Live Nation and streaming service Spotify are the two latest entertainment companies pulling out of further business with Russia.

Iggy Pop and Bring Me The Horizon have both cancelled a number of their respective scheduled live shows following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week.Iggy was due to perform a headline show at the Park Live festival in Moscow on July 10 alongside Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes.Sharing an update on Twitter today (March 1), promotors Solo Music Agency confirmed that Iggy’s appearance at the event will no longer go ahead.“In light of current events, this is necessary,” an official statement reads. “Our thoughts are with the Ukrainians and all the brave people who oppose this violence and seek peace.”You can see that announcement below.The festival appearance of @IggyPop in Moscow on the 10th of July 2022 is cancelled.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefMeta, the tech giant that controls the Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram social media platforms, said that it has restricted access to Russian state media within the European Union. The moves are intended to limit the spread of Russian propaganda during the country’s invasion of Ukraine.“We have received requests from a number of governments and the European Union to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media.

Hollywood hasn’t been the most bullish about taking an action that would dent its bottom line, but Disney today has taken the bold move of pulling its theatrical releases from Russia temporarily in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.