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New Agent To MPA/Paradigm
April 05, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Monterey Peninsula Artists/Paradigm has hired Beth Hamilton as an agent in the company's fairs and festivals division, where she will be working the Eastern region of the U.S. She will be based in Nashville, reporting to Steve Dahl, MPA/Parad ...
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Lolla Organizer Eliminates Ticket Service Fees
April 02, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Lollapalooza producer C3 Presents will offer tickets at a service charge free price for this year's annual summer event, to be held Aug. 3-5 at Chicago's Grant Park, Billboard.biz has learned. The official Lollapalooza lineup won't ...
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Live Nation Expands Fillmore Franchise
March 29, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Live Nation will greatly expand its Fillmore franchise with new Fillmore venues in New York, Philadelphia and Detroit, with others to follow. They join Fillmore venues in San Francisco and Denver. In New York that concept will debut on April 11 wi ...
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B.B. King Blues Club Owner To Open New Venue
March 28, 2007 12:00 AM EDT The HighLine Ballroom, a new performance space in New York's meat packing district on 16th Street (between 9th & 10th Aves), will open April 30 with a concert by Lou Reed. The first month at the HighLine Ballroom will feature performances ...
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Snoop Seeks To Overturn UK Visa Denial
March 25, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Snoop Dogg, who has been denied a visa to enter Britain on a European tour, is seeking to have the decision overturned, a spokeswoman said on Saturday. The 35-year old, arrested during a disturbance at London's Heathrow airport last year, had ...
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Clapton Flanked By Guitar Heroes For Summer Fest
March 22, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Eric Clapton will be surrounded by esteemed guests at his second Crossroads Guitar Festival, to be held July 28 at Toyota Park in Chicago. B.B. King, Jeff Beck, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson and Vince Gill lead the lineup for the event, w ...
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The Garden To Celebrate Elton Milestone
March 21, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Madison Square Garden in New York City will commemorate Sir Elton John's 60th performance at the famed venue Sunday as he celebrates his 60th birthday. To celebrate this record-setting achievement, a banner marking "Most Performances by ...
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Ozzfest Bill Shapes Up
March 21, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Lamb Of God, Hatebreed and Lordi are among the first acts to be revealed for the 2007 Ozzfest, which turned heads this summer when founders Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne announced the festival would be a free event. LOG and Lordi will perform on the ma ...
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Ticketmaster Buys Echomusic Stake
March 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT Ticketmaster has clinched a deal to acquire a majority stake in echomusic, the Nashville-based entertainment marketing company specializing in branding, Web development, online advertising and sponsorship campaigns, and the digital distribution of ...
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B.B. King Blues Fest To Feature Green, James
March 14, 2007 12:00 AM EDT B.B. King, Al Green and Etta James will embark on a 14-city trek beginning July 24 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Miami, and wrapping Sept. 9 at the Kautz Ironstone Vineyards Theatre in Murphys, Calif., Billboard.biz has learned. ...
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Hollywood Bowl Reveals Summer Line-Up
March 07, 2007 12:00 AM EST The Decemberists, Queen Latifah, Diana Krall, B.B. King, Macy Gray and Rufus Wainwright are among the artists set for Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl 2007 summer concert schedule, revealed today (March 7). The Bowl's summer session spans 14 ...
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Genesis Bringing Reunion Tour To North America
March 07, 2007 12:00 AM EST As expected , the reunited Genesis will visit North America on a fall tour that begins Sept. 7 in Toronto, the group announced this morning (March 7) at a media event in New York. So far, 13 dates have been announced through Oct. 12 in Los Angeles ...
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Live Nation Revs Top 1 Billion In Q4
March 01, 2007 12:00 AM EST Live Nation, the world's largest promoter and venue operator, revealed today (March 1) 2006 fourth-quarter revenues of $1.05 billion, an increase of $299.7 million, or 39.8%, compared to the fourth-quarter of 2005. Adjusted earnings before in ...
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Bonnaroo Ticket Sales Run Hot
February 27, 2007 12:00 AM EST Bonnaroo tickets are selling very strong out of the gate, up about 20% over last year's pace, according to Jonathan Mayers, president of Superfly Presents, co-producers of Bonnaroo with A.C. Entertainment. Tickets went on sale last Friday aft ...
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AEG Live, Hard Rock Enter Exclusive Deal
February 21, 2007 12:00 AM EST Los Angeles-based AEG Live has inked a deal, revealed today (Feb. 21), to be the exclusive booker and promoter for live entertainment at the Joint, located inside Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The pact is with the Morgans Hotel Gro ...
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One Reel Links With AEG For Bumbershoot Fest
February 20, 2007 12:00 AM EST Bumbershoot festival producers One Reel have linked with AEG Live in a move that will boost talent buying and sponsorship resources for the long-running Seattle event, Billboard.biz has learned. The five-year deal is similar to those AEG has reach ...
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Veteran Tour Producer Bonafede Dies
February 16, 2007 12:00 AM EST Music industry veteran Sal Bonafede passed away late Wednesday (Feb. 14) night at his home in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, sons Jeff and Chris, and his four grandchildren. With a career spanning more than 30 years, Bonafede wo ...
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'Live Earth' Global Concert Plans Revealed
February 15, 2007 12:00 AM EST Former United States vice president Al Gore and a host of celebrities gathered today (Feb. 15) in Los Angeles to reveal plans for "Live Earth -- The Concert For A Climate In Crisis," a series of seven concerts set to take place across th ...
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AEG Hires Four Key Execs
February 14, 2007 12:00 AM EST In a continuing effort to acquire venues in key markets, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has hired four executives to further assist in developing and promoting live entertainment in its national and international facilities. AEG Facilities, a ...
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Live Nation To Sell Starwood Amphitheatre
February 13, 2007 12:00 AM EST Live Nation confirms that they have found a buyer for the 65-acre Starwood Amphitheatre site in Antioch, Tenn., and the plug has been pulled on the 2007 season. "We have made the decision to close the amphitheater pending the completion of th ...
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AEG Inks Deal For Prudential Center
February 08, 2007 12:00 AM EST Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has nailed down the contract with the NHL's New Jersey Devils to manage the new Prudential Center in Newark. Additionally, AEG's national concert touring division, AEG Live, will book concerts and other ...
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Police Set Press Conference Day After Grammys
February 07, 2007 12:00 AM EST A press conference and "special announcement" featuring rehearsals by the Police is set for Monday (Feb. 12) at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, Calif., the day after the band will reunite for a performance at the Grammys. The 11 a. ...
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Goldenvoice Launches Alternative Unit
February 05, 2007 12:00 AM EST Los Angeles-based Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Live, revealed today (Feb. 5) the launch of Art Show, a national alternative touring division to be headed by industry vet Elyse Rogers. Art Show will make its debut this spring with a three-month ...
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Metropolitan Talent Secures Major Capital Investment
February 01, 2007 12:00 AM EST Metropolitan Talent received a major capital injection through its new strategic partnership with Plainfield Asset Management LLC of Greenwich, Conn. "We are now in a position with Plainfield to financially compete for any deal that's ou ...
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Alex Hodges To Exit House Of Blues
January 31, 2007 12:00 AM EST Alex Hodges confirms to Billboard.biz that he is leaving House Of Blues Concerts, where he was executive VP, effective Friday (Feb. 2). The company, which includes several amphitheaters, HOB Clubs and a thriving concert promotion business, was acq ...
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AEG Live To Operate Royal Oak Music Theatre
January 26, 2007 12:00 AM EST AEG Live announced today (Jan. 26) that it has finalized a deal to assume booking and operation responsibilities of the 1,700-capacity Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, Mich. (a suburb of Detriot). The long-term deal is a partnership between L ...
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Making The Leap In 2007
January 25, 2007 12:00 AM EST Having jumped from support slots in sweaty clubs to headlining for thousands in theaters and arenas, bands like the Killers, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco know a thing or two about paying their dues before becoming box-office sellouts. Whil ...
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Staind's Lewis Plans Solo Acoustic Tour
January 25, 2007 12:00 AM EST Staind lead vocalist Aaron Lewis will begin a small venue solo acoustic tour on March 1 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Detroit. The first leg of the tour will include close to 30 dates, tentatively wrapping April 6 at the Hampton Beach (N.H.) C ...
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Jacobsen Rises At Live Nation
January 25, 2007 12:00 AM EST Neil Jacobsen of Live Nation's Philadelphia office has been promoted to the newly-created position of president of Live Nation Miami. In Miami, Jacobsen will oversee all of the company's concert booking, marketing and promotion in the st ...
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William Morris Expands International Music Operations
January 22, 2007 12:00 AM EST The William Morris Agency has unveiled the structure of its expanded international operations with the launch of a new London office. Ed Bicknell, former manager of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Bryan Ferry, Gerry Rafferty and the Blue Nile, will s ...
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Walker Exits Live Nation, Teams With Attal, Jones
January 22, 2007 12:00 AM EST Former Live Nation president of music Charlie Walker has left the company and joined forces with Charlie Jones and Charles Attal, co-producers of Lollapalooza and the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Attal, Jones and Walker will be partners in a ...
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AEG Live Links With In The City
January 19, 2007 12:00 AM EST AEG Live has partnered with In The City for the two-day U.S. edition of the annual Manchester, England-based music convention. The inaugural In the City of New York will take place June 13-14. It will host approximately 500 music industry professi ...
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Live Nation To Operate Dodge Theatre
January 11, 2007 12:00 AM EST Live Nation, the world's leading live entertainment company, announced today (Jan. 11) that it has entered into a long-term lease agreement to operate, manage and book the Dodge Theatre in downtown Phoenix. Bruce Eskowitz, Live Nation's ...
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Live Nation Venues Up For Sale
January 04, 2007 12:00 AM EST Live Nation is looking to shed some sheds. As part of an ongoing evaluation of its real estate holdings, the world's largest promoter and venue operator confirms it did list Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (formerly Deer Creek Amphitheatre) in ...
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Bonnaroo Gets A Boost
January 04, 2007 12:00 AM EST Superfly Productions and A.C. Entertainment, producers of the annual Bonnaroo Music Festival, are finalizing the purchase of the bulk of the festival site land near Manchester in Coffee County, Tenn. The festival will end up owning about 530 acres ...
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Live Nation And Hewitt To Book Pearl
December 15, 2006 12:00 AM EST Live Nation and promoter Andrew Hewitt have entered into a multi-year deal to become the official booker of the Pearl, located at Las Vegas' Palms Casino Resort. Hewitt has already worked in the Las Vegas market for more than 11 years, bookin ...
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Weinstein, Enloe Join Live Nation
December 14, 2006 12:00 AM EST Live Nation, the world's leading live entertainment company, has added some major players to its board of directors. Harvey Weinstein and Robert Ted Enloe, III, are two new additions to the board of Live Nation, which has notched its first ye ...
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Touring Biz Soars In 2006
December 13, 2006 12:00 AM EST The North American concert business was up dramatically in 2006, according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore. More than $2.8 billion in box office was reported, up 35% from last year's total of slightly more than $2 billion. With big- ...
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79 House Of Blues Employees Axed
December 11, 2006 12:00 AM EST Sources say a total of 79 people were cut loose from House Of Blues on Friday (Dec. 8) in the wake of the promoter's acquisition by Live Nation. Overall the total employee reduction is probably closer to 100. Since the time the acquisition wa ...
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SMG, Churchill Downs Forge Live Event Agreement
December 05, 2006 12:00 AM EST In the wake of the Rolling Stones' successful Sept. 29 concert at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., the home of the Kentucky Derby has forged an agreement with Philadelphia-based venue management firm SMG to pursue other concerts and specia ...
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Gwen Stefani Unveils Solo Tour Dates
December 01, 2006 12:00 AM EST As expected, Gwen Stefani will embark on a two-month North American tour next spring, beginning April 21 in Phoenix. The vocalist will play arenas and outdoor amphitheatres through a June 22 finale in Irvine, Calif. Dates in Australia, Asia, Europ ...
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Cohl: Bigger Bang Could Roll On In 2007
November 27, 2006 12:00 AM EST The Rolling Stones re-captured the "top-grossing tour ever" mantle from U2 with the Stones' $437 million A Bigger Bang trek, and tour producer Michael Cohl indicates they may pad that record. Since the fall of 2005, the band has gro ...
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Streisand Puts Up Impressive Ticket Sales
November 27, 2006 12:00 AM EST Despite initial talk of slow ticket sales, Barbra Streisand's first live performances in six years put up record-setting box office numbers. The 20 concerts grossed $92,457,062 and set house gross records in 14 of the 16 arenas played on the ...
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MSG Acquires Beacon Theatre
November 16, 2006 12:00 AM EST MSG Entertainment has acquired New York's Beacon Theatre, making it the fourth venue in the MSGE portfolio, which includes Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Theater at Madison Square Garden. The Beacon Theatre, a 2,800-seat ...
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Genesis Turn It On Again With Euro Tour
November 10, 2006 12:00 AM EST The classic '80s line-up of Genesis will play 20 European dates next summer, with a U.S. tour due to be announced shortly. The reformed line-up of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks will kick-off the European tour at the Olympic Sta ...