Live music industry news

Superstruct festivals issue statements following backlash and boycotts over its owner KKR

public

Superstruct Entertainment • 3 min read

Superstruct festivals issue statements following backlash and boycotts over its owner KKR

London’s Field Day festival has faced a backlash in recent weeks because it is owned by Superstruct, in turn owned by KKR, which has investments in Israel. As other Superstruct events also come under fire, both Field Day and fellow London festival Mighty Hoopla have now issued statements…

Chris Cooke • 16 May 2025

The Leadmill has three months to pack up and leave but vows to continue the fight for Sheffield’s music scene

public

The Leadmill • 3 min read

The Leadmill has three months to pack up and leave but vows to continue the fight for Sheffield’s music scene

The Leadmill has failed in its bid to stop an eviction order from landlord The Electric Group, which wants to take over the running of the Sheffield venue. The current Leadmill team sought permission to appeal the eviction order, but that request has been declined by the court…

Chris Cooke • 15 May 2025

Get Brexit fixed to power cultural exchange says music industry to UK government

public

Live industry news including ticketing, venues, festivals and more • 2 min read

Get Brexit fixed to power cultural exchange says music industry to UK government

UK and EU political leaders are meeting for a summit in London next week. Although defence and security seem likely to top the agenda, the music industry has called for the post-Brexit barriers impacting on UK performers touring Europe to also be addressed…

Chris Cooke • 14 May 2025

Ed Sheeran fans warned about “huge number of ticket scams” around his homecoming shows

public

Ed Sheeran • 3 min read

Ed Sheeran fans warned about “huge number of ticket scams” around his homecoming shows

Tickets went on sale for three Ed Sheeran homecoming shows this week. Shortly afterwards scammers were promoting tickets for sale on social media. Suffolk Trading Standards says it expects a high number of ticket scams in relation to the Sheeran gigs and urges fans to only buy from official channels…

Chris Cooke • 09 May 2025

US launches investigation into “unfair and anticompetitive practices” in ticketing

public

US Department Of Justice • 3 min read

US launches investigation into “unfair and anticompetitive practices” in ticketing

The US government has launched a public inquiry into the ticketing business following an executive order from Donald Trump targeting “unfair practices in the live entertainment market”. Ticket scalping will definitely be scrutinised, but the wider ticketing industry could also be in the spotlight…

Chris Cooke • 08 May 2025

Artists sign open letter supporting Kneecap and opposing “political repression of artistic freedom”

public

Kneecap • 3 min read

Artists sign open letter supporting Kneecap and opposing “political repression of artistic freedom”

Politicians and pundits laying into Kneecap over controversial on-stage remarks is now resulting in shows being cancelled. Seeing that as an attack on free speech, a stack of artists have signed an open letter supporting the rap group and criticising a “concerted attempt to censor” the band…

Chris Cooke • 01 May 2025

US House passes TICKET Act, but industry groups raise concerns about loophole in speculative selling ban

public

TICKET Act • 4 min read

US House passes TICKET Act, but industry groups raise concerns about loophole in speculative selling ban

The US House Of Representatives has passed the TICKET Act, which will introduce new regulations for the American ticketing sector. The music community is mainly supportive of the new rules, though there are concerns that there’s a problematic loophole in the current version of the new legislation…

Chris Cooke • 30 Apr 2025

Kneecap distance themselves from past on-stage remarks, but remain forthright in response to critics

public

Kneecap • 3 min read

Kneecap distance themselves from past on-stage remarks, but remain forthright in response to critics

Kneecap have responded to the recent controversies about past on-stage remarks, which have become newsworthy following their Coachella sets. They insist they don’t support Hamas and would never incite violence, adding past comments are being misrepresented “to manufacture moral hysteria”…

Chris Cooke • 29 Apr 2025

Conservative leader calls for Kneecap to be prosecuted over “kill your local MP” statement, as potential US visa issues mount for the group

public

Kneecap • 4 min read

Conservative leader calls for Kneecap to be prosecuted over “kill your local MP” statement, as potential US visa issues mount for the group

Kneecap are facing mounting criticism over past comments in support of Hamas and declaring that “the only good Tory is a dead Tory”. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wants the rap group prosecuted, while speculation increases that Donald Trump’s government could block them from touring in the US…

Chris Cooke • 28 Apr 2025

Ticket scammers have made more than £2 million from Oasis fans according to Lloyds

public

Oasis • 2 min read

Ticket scammers have made more than £2 million from Oasis fans according to Lloyds

Oasis fans have been scammed out of more than £2 million by fraudsters on social media who claim to have tickets for the band’s reunion tour. That’s according to Lloyds Bank which urges music fans to be wary of ticket fraud and social media platforms to take stronger action against the scammers…

Chris Cooke • 25 Apr 2025

Viagogo’s “belligerent disregard” for audiences and “misleading and potentially unlawful practices” are a “blight” on live music that needs urgent legislation, say campaigners

public

Viagogo • 3 min read

Viagogo’s “belligerent disregard” for audiences and “misleading and potentially unlawful practices” are a “blight” on live music that needs urgent legislation, say campaigners

For twelve weeks earlier this year the UK government was accepting submissions about how it should regulate secondary ticketing. During that time ticket resale platform Viagogo continued to “engage in misleading and potentially unlawful practices”, according to FanFair’s submission to ministers…

Chris Cooke • 14 Apr 2025

Ad regulator criticises Viagogo over Ed Balls advertorial

public

Viagogo • 4 min read

Ad regulator criticises Viagogo over Ed Balls advertorial

Viagogo has been given yet another slap on this wrist - this time over a misleading promotional segment as part of the ‘Political Currency’ podcast from Westminster double act Ed Balls and George Osborne. Unsurprisingly it turns out that “over half the events” on Viagogo are not, in fact, a steal…

Chris Cooke • 10 Apr 2025