AIF expands its Safer Spaces programme with new charity partnerships

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has bolstered its Safer Spaces Charter through new partnerships with UK charities targeting LGBT+ abuse and spiking. AIF’s Safer Spaces campaign, which was originally launched in May 2017, sees festivals commit to a charter of best practice developed with input and guidance from a range of expert charities including …

Saudi Arabia targets esports growth through new tech partnership

Saudi Arabia is aiming to expand its presence in esports through a new strategic partnership designed to provide technical support ahead of the country this summer hosting the world’s most lucrative esports competition. The Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) and Stc Group will work together to strengthen the gaming ecosystem and support the country’s target of …

Events leaders call for judicial review over drug-testing ‘U-turn’

Parklife founder Sacha Lord and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) have demanded a judicial review in the UK following the Home Office’s decision to ban on-site ‘pop-up’ labs to test drugs at festivals. In a letter to the Home Office, the body that represents more than 1400 venues, clubs and bars, along with entrepreneur …

Counter Terrorism Policing works with live music industry to promote safety

Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK is working with the live music industry this summer and beyond to keep fans safe, and are also asking for attendees to play their part. UK Music, which acts as a collective voice for the music industry, promoters Festival Republic and venue The O2 are among those supporting Counter …

Travis Scott will not face criminal charges over Astroworld tragedy

Rapper Travis Scott and some organisers of the Astroworld festival will not face criminal charges in relation to the deaths of 10 people that were killed as the result of a crowd crush in October 2021. According to the Houston Chronicle, a grand Jury made the ruling yesterday (Thursday). Some 50,000 fans attended the show …

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour European stint grosses $154.4m and sells one million tickets

Beyoncé’s European leg of her Renaissance World Tour grossed $154.4m (£122m/€142m) and sold one million tickets across 21 performances. According to the figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, this is the biggest gross and attendance figures of any of the singer’s previous European legs. During 2016’s The Formation World Tour and 2018’s On the Run II …

Live Nation Canada acquires The KEE to Bala

Live Nation Canada has acquired The KEE to Bala in partnership with the entertainment venue’s current operators, Mike Strong and Mike Homewood. The venue is located on Lake Muskoka, in Bala, Ontario and was originally constructed as a dance hall in 1942. It has hosted performances from both Canadian and international acts including Blue Rodeo, …

DAZN Italia reveals Vivaticket partnership

DAZN Italia has announced that it has signed a strategic partnership with Vivaticket, to enable fans to purchase tickets directly from the app for football matches. Fans will be able to purchase tickets for Serie A teams such as SS Lazio, Inter Milan, ACF Fiorentina, Bologna FC and Torino FC. The integration of Vivaticket and …

Long-running Danish festival Langelandsfestival goes bankrupt

Langelandsfestival, one of Denmark’s longest-running festivals, has filed for bankruptcy. The annual event was first launched in 1991 and typically took place over four days in late July on Langeland island, in southern Denmark. Some 35,000 people traditionally attended the festival. In December last year, the festival announced that it would not be happening this …

Scotiabank Centre reveals Ticketmaster partnership

Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Canada, is set to adopt Ticketmaster as its ticketing platform, which will be phased in over the summer. The venue is home to Canadian Hockey League (CHL) team, the Halifax Mooseheads, and professional lacrosse side, the Halifax Thunderbirds. It also hosts events across the year. In a letter to its guests, …