Three-quarters of people feel “more hopeful” after a live music experience, with 85% saying live events “build bridges between cultures”, according to a new piece of consumer research by venue operator Legends Global.

Despite a continued increase in revenue and tickets sold versus Q1 2025, legal fees saw Live Nation dip to a Q1 operating loss, as the ongoing federal antitrust case continues to rear its head for the industry giant.

K-pop powerhouse #HYBE has posted its highest-ever Q1 revenue of KRW 698.3 billion (€403.6m), powered largely by BTS’s return to the scene.

Byron Bay Bluesfest director Peter Noble has refused to answer questions relating to allegations of bullying behaviour and the status of ticketholder refunds for the cancelled event, as seen in footage first published by The Australian.

Deutsche Entertainment AG (DEAG) reported year-on-year revenue growth of 33%, bringing its takings to €490m for the 2025 financial year, driven by an all-time high in ticket sales of over 12m.

Korean prosecutors have rejected local authorities’ request for an arrest warrant for HYBE chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, citing insufficient evidence over claims of investor fraud.

Ticketmaster has announced a lottery to reallocate “thousands” of scalped tickets for Harry Styles’ 30-date run at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Mexico’s stadium concert market continues to expand at pace, with The Weeknd’s three-night run at Estadio GNP Seguros showcasing the sustained demand for, as well as the broader evolution of, the country’s live sector.

Live Nation and Oak View Group have confirmed the approval of plans for the development of Madrid’s former Aquatic Centre into a new multipurpose arena in the vicinity of the 70,000-cap Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. www.iqmagazine.com/2026/04/live...

South Korea’s four major entertainment companies – HYBE, JYP Entertainment, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment – are preparing to establish a joint venture to launch a global touring music festival.

Live Nation shares fell more than 6% yesterday (15 April) afternoon, following the news that the entertainment giant had been found to have been acting monopolistically by a New York jury.

In a verdict that has the potential to reshape the live entertainment market in the US, the New York jury has found that the world’s biggest live entertainment company illegally maintained monopoly power in the US ticketing and concert market.

Venu Holding Corporation, a US-based live entertainment venue developer and operator, has rescinded an offering of $75 million (€62.7m) in common stock shares one day after announcing the intention.

IQ‘s newly released European Festival Survey 2025 paints a sector in flux, but events in their early years appear to be lasting the course.

“Welcome to the Robnaissance!” blared headlines earlier this summer. Except, can you call it a comeback if Robbie Williams has never really been away? Read the tour report now at www.iqmagazine.com/2025/09/love....

Music festivals are emerging as a viable alternative to traditional family holidays – while solo festivalgoers are on the rise – according to a new Ticketmaster UK study.

The team behind Denmark’s Syd For Solen festival have discussed the “privilege” of giving artists a platform to discuss humanitarian issues, following a successful fourth edition.

Major festivals have reported huge increases in global livestream and broadcast viewership this summer, with year-on-year increases of up to 324%.

#Sziget Festival organisers say that “cancel culture and cultural boycotts are not the solution” after the Hungarian government took the “unprecedented” step of banning #Kneecap from the country.

James Hanley | London 'Undisputed Capital Of Music' w/ 3.6M Concert Attendees Expected This Summer | @iqmagazine.com‬ www.iqmagazine.com/2025/07/lond...

AEG Presents has promoted Jim King to the role of CEO of AEG Presents UK and European festivals.

Neil Young and Stevie Wonder brought AEG’s BST Hyde Park 2025 to a close after around half a million people flocked to the London concert series over three weekends.

The 2025 European festival season was barely underway when the first announcements for next summer started filtering through. With some gatherings now announcing headliners a year in advance, IQ gathers a mix of top events to explain their inner workings...

The prospects for queer acts touring internationally have never been more complex, so how are those affected hoping to break down barriers? Our latest feautre is now live:

🌎 NEW ANNUAL: GLOBAL ARENA GUIDE 2025 🌎 Even more expansive than 2024, this year's Guide features 70 country reports and a directory of key contact information for 600+ #arenas worldwide. 🌎 Read now: lnkd.in/eGciNa6g 📖 Or buy a copy: iqmag.square.site

IQ Magazine's 2025 Pride List has landed! 🍬 Our fifth roundup of LGBTQ+ executives making an impact on the international live music business, as nominated by our readers, have gone above and beyond to wave the flag for a more diverse and inclusive industry 🏳️‍🌈 🔗 www.iqmagazine.com/2025/06/lgbt...

IT'S QUEER & IT'S HERE: IQ 136 HAS LANDED 🏳️‍🌈 We're coming out... with the fifth-annual #Pride issue of IQ! Supported by #Ticketmaster, IQ 136 is hitting desks this week ahead as #PrideMonth gets into full swing. 🏳️‍🌈 Read now: iqmagazine.com/publications/iq-magazine 📖 Or buy a copy: iqmag.square.site

UTA's Neil Warnock and a host of other music figures have paid tribute to The Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson, following his death aged 82

Lisa Henderson | Goldman Sachs Claims There Is An ‘Insatiable Demand’ For Live Music | @iqmagazine.com‬ www.iqmagazine.com/2025/06/gold...

With sold-out stadium tours & festivals fast-approaching this summer, @iqmagazine.com spoke to FEAT Director @sammy-s.bsky.social to dive into the effectiveness of ticket resale regulation across Europe 🎵 www.iqmagazine.com/2025/06/glob...

Live entertainment discovery platform Fever has announced the acquisition of ticketing firm Dice to build the “world’s leading independent live entertainment tech platform”.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh from Irish band #Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London gig.

Are major tours too focused on A-list markets? The trend of major international tours becoming ever more concentrated in A-list markets has sparked divergent views among live music executives.

Organisers of Hungary’s #Sziget have unveiled a shake-up of the festival site as part of a multi-year strategy focused on “innovation”. www.iqmagazine.com/2025/05/cons...

Festivals worldwide are reaping the rewards of diversifying their lineups as audience tastes evolve, organisers tell IQ.

Chicago’s Michelada Fest, a Latin music festival in the US, has cancelled its 2025 edition due to a “rapidly changing political climate” across the nation. Organisers cited uncertainty with artist visas, adding to a recent trend for international touring musicians.

Ticket sales for non-English-speaking artists have nearly tripled pre-pandemic levels as the global artist pipeline continues to grow, #LiveNation has revealed in its Q1 2025 earnings report.

Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon is to become the new CEO of festival giant Superstruct Entertainment.

The first lawsuit has been filed against the owners of the Jet Set nightclub over the disaster that killed at least 231 people in the Dominican Republic.

Live Nation has strengthened its foothold in Japan with the acquisition of Hayashi International Promotions (HIP), one of the country’s leading promoters for domestic and international artists.

#Sphere Entertainment and #Google have announced a new #AI partnership, billed as marking a “pivotal moment” in entertainment technology.

Fanfair Alliance has ramped up calls for a price cap on resale tickets after accusing secondary ticketing site #Viagogo of “misleading and potentially unlawful practices”.

Donald Trump’s tariffs have dominated the global discourse for weeks, wreaking havoc on the stock market and creating a “climate of uncertainty” for the international touring business.

Investigators say it is still too early to determine the cause of the deadly roof collapse at Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic after the death toll from the tragedy reached 226.

Emporium Presents co-founder Dan “Steiny” Steinberg has previewed the return of Promoter 101, telling IQ nothing is off-limits for the popular live music industry podcast.

Shares in live music companies rebounded on a historic day for Wall Street after American president Donald Trump paused higher tariffs for 90 days.

The confirmed death toll from the Jet Set club roof collapse in the Dominican Republic has reached 124.

#LiveNation has expanded into Malta with the acquisition of a stake in leading concert and festival promoter 356 Entertainment Group.

Live music stocks are riding the waves of the worldwide market as the fallout from Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs continues. And in comparison to many other industries, the business is holding its own. www.iq-mag.net/2025/04/live...

The live music world is coming to terms with US president Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, amid fears of an impending global trade war. www.iq-mag.net/2025/04/trum...