Switzerland’s legendary Montreux Jazz Festival has unveiled a star-studded programme for its 59th edition, taking place between 4 and 19 July 2025 on the Lake Geneva shoreline.

The festival is set to open with a world-exclusive event: Chaka Khan & Friends to Quincy with Love – a celebration of the late Quincy Jones, a longtime ambassador and architect of Montreux’s rich legacy.

Other acts confirmed to perform are Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, Pulp, Sam Fender, RAYE, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Brandi Carlile, J Balvin, Ezra Collective, FKA Twigs, Alanis Morissette, Santana, Benson Boone, Bloc Party and The Black Keys.

Jorja Smith, Leon Bridges, James Blake, Beth Gibbons, Finneas, Ezra Collective, Shaboozey, Max Richter and Nubya Garcia are also on the bill.

Chappell Roan, meanwhile, has been announced as the latest musical act for this year’s Edinburgh Summer Sessions, promoted by DF Concerts. The US singer is set to appear at the Royal Highland Showgrounds on 26 August.

The Edinburgh series also features Sam Fender, while Glasgow’s Summer Sessions at Bellahouston Park include Sting, Simple Minds, Sex Pistols and the Stereophonics.

The lineup for the 50th-anniversary edition of Stadtpark Live in Hamburg, Germany, has also been revealed.

Chappell Roan has been announced as the latest musical act for this year’s Edinburgh Summer Sessions

Patti Smith, Camila Cabello, Iggy Pop, Melissa Etheridge, Gregory Porter, Will Smith, Air, Norah Jones, Gianna Nannini, Jorja Smith, Franz Ferdinand, The Corrs, Cypress Hill, Ronan Keating, Nelly Furtado and more are slated to perform at the iconic series during May and September.

This year also marks 100 years since the open-air stage was built. Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion has operated the venue since 1975.

As the organisers of EXIT Festival mull its future in Serbia, the 25th edition in Novi Sad continues to take shape.

More than 30 major acts have joined the lineup for the 10–13 July event, including The Prodigy, DJ Snake and Solomun. They join an already robust roster featuring punk icons Sex Pistols and Frank Carter, Tiësto, Eric Prydz, Amelie Lens, Nina Kraviz, Indira Paganotto, Sara Landry, Boris Brejcha and more.

Romania’s Electric Castle has announced the full lineup for its 2025 edition, featuring headline performances by Justin Timberlake, Queens of the Stone Age, Yungblud, Justice and Bicep. The 24-hour Transylvanian festival will present 200 artists across 10 stages at Bánffy Castle in Transylvania, from 16-20 July.

Rudimental, Shaggy, Netsky, Sofi Tukker, Artemas, Róisín Murphy, Jayda G, The Amazons and Shanti Celeste are also on the bill.

Elsewhere, Katy Perry is the first act announced to headline the renowned Yasalam After-Race Concerts at the 2025 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The superstar will take the stage on Sunday 7 December, the final day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025, at Etihad Park.

Held since 2009, the Yasalam After-Race Concerts have starred acts such as Beyoncé, Prince, Paul McCartney, Britney Spears, Jay-Z, Eminem, Muse, Kanye West, Blur, Rihanna, Pink and Depeche Mode.

The bill for the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 is also shaping up, with Jennifer Lopez, Usher, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Major Lazor Soundsystem and more confirmed.

Powered by MDLBEAST, the concerts will take place during the 18–20 April Grand Prix in Jeddah.

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Coldplay completed their record-breaking four-night run in Abu Dhabi last week, achieving the largest and longest series of ticketed shows in the UAE.

Promoted by Live Nation Middle East and supported by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, the sold-out Music Of The Spheres shows drew 200,000 fans across the four nights, surpassing the nearly 69,000 people who attended Ed Sheeran’s two sold-out concerts at Dubai’s Sevens Stadium last year.

The shows took place at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium which is now operated by Oak View Group and its Middle East partner Ethara.

Demand for the British band’s Abu Dhabi concerts was deemed unprecedented, with millions of fans attempting to secure a ticket.

Initially planned as a single show, the overwhelming interest led the band to add three additional dates, all of which sold out within hours.

The Middle East, one of the fastest-growing live music markets in the world, will be a key focus of this year’s International Live Music Conference (ILMC), with two expert-led panels: The Venue Boom and States of Growth.

“It has been an honour to bring Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour to the UAE”

“At Live Nation Middle East, we take immense pride in creating unforgettable events for the region, and it has been an honour to bring Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour to the UAE,” says James Craven, president of Live Nation Middle East.

“Organising the region’s largest concert series showcased the skill and hard work of our team, and we are deeply grateful for the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Miral, and the dedicated team at Zayed Sports City Stadium.

“We also want to thank the local media for their invaluable role in sharing information with fans and ensuring the event ran seamlessly. We look forward to future collaborations with Coldplay and more exciting artists while continuing to deliver some of the most iconic events in the region.”

Coldplay will deliver another record-breaking show later this week when they perform at the largest stadium in the world, the 100,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in India.

The second of the two Narendra Modi Stadium concerts, on 26 January (Republic Day), will be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar, it was announced last week.

The band’s Music Of The Spheres tour has already set records as the best-selling and highest-grossing rock tour ever thanks to 10 million tickets sold and grosses over $1 billion to date during its three-year run.

Coldplay are represented by Wasserman Music’s Marty Diamond and Larry Webman in North America and WME’s Josh Javor for the rest of the world.

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With the end of 2024 in sight, IQ presents a look back the biggest live music industry stories from the past year. Revisit the most notable moments from the last 12 months below – and there is only one place to start…

A $2bn juggernaut: Taylor Swift wraps up Eras Tour

After 149 shows, five continents and an unprecedented box office gross, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour came to an end in Vancouver, Canada, in December.

The epoch-defining 21-month trek garnered an all-time record US$2,077,618,725 (€1.96 billion) at the box office after selling more than 10.1 million tickets, with the economic benefits of staging an Eras residency for host cities even earning its own term – “Swiftonomics”.

The run’s 80 shows this year raked in $1,043,421,552 (€993.4m) from 5.2m ticket sales at an average ticket price of $200.27 (€190.68). IQ explored how Swift captured the zeitgeist like no other artist in decades upon the conclusion of the tour’s European leg at London’s Wembley Stadium in August.

Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour was a distant second in the tour rankings – grossing $421.7m, having moved 3.3m tickets for 54 concerts (average ticket price: $128.05). The ongoing run has also made history after claiming the overall record for tickets sold on a single tour, shifting 10.3m tickets since commencing in March 2022, and is already the second highest-grossing ever.

The top 10 list was completed by P!nk (367.3m), Luis Miguel ($261.5m), Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band ($251.3m), the Rolling Stones ($235m), Bad Bunny ($210.9m), Zach Bryan ($199.2m), Metallica ($179.4m), and Madonna ($178.8m).

Global investment firm buys Superstruct for €1.3bn

American global investment firm KKR acquired festival giant Superstruct Entertainment from Providence in a €1.3 billion deal.

Fellow private equity firm CVC also went on to secure a stake in the firm, which owns and operates over 80 music festivals across 10 countries in Europe and Australia, including Wacken Open Air, Parookaville, Tinderbox, Sónar, Øya, Benicàssim, Kendal Calling and Boardmasters.

Superstruct was launched in 2017 by Creamfields founder and former Live Nation president of electronic music James Barton and Roderik Schlosser while at Providence.

IQ charted the increasingly close links between the international touring industry and PE here.

Meanwhile, Superstruct’s Barton will give his first interview in the company’s history at next year’s International Live Music Conference (ILMC).

Oasis confirm 2025 reunion tour

Legendary British rock band Oasis confirmed they are reuniting for a 2025 world tour.

The Gallagher brothers last performed together in August 2009, when they split following a backstage bust-up at France’s Rock en Seine.

The Oasis Live ‘25 Tour was the biggest concert launch ever seen in UK and Ireland, with more than 10 million fans from 158 countries attempting to buy tickets for the group’s first shows since 2009.

However, the unprecedented demand soon gave way to a dynamic ticketing controversy that has prompted multiple inquiries. There was widespread media coverage of fan anger after customers were offered “in demand” tickets for more than twice the advertised face value under surge pricing after queuing online for several hours.

Dynamic pricing was subsequently not employed for the group’s other tour dates in North America, South America, Asia and Australia, which have all sold out.

Adele’s Munich run ‘a milestone in music history’

The team behind Adele’s historic German run hailed acclaimed show as “a milestone in music history”.

More than 730,000 tickets were sold for the singer’s 10-night stint at a giant pop-up stadium in Munich, held between 2-31 August. The “bespoke” outdoor venue boasted a 220m x 30m LED screen, supplied by Solotech, which has been certified by Guinness World Records as the Largest Continuous Outdoor LED Screen (temporary) ever built.

Alongside the venue, the 75,000-square-metre Adele World – which included an authentic English pub, a fairground wheel, karaoke, Farmers Markets, merchandise and a typical Bavarian beer garden with live entertainment – attracted 500,000 visitors.

“We could not simply use a blueprint of another project – we had to start from scratch,” said Live Nation GSA CEO Marek Lieberberg, who co-promoted the residency with Klaus Leutgeb, CEO of Austria’s Leutgeb Entertainment Group.

“Before this started, I said: ‘Never before and never again.’ Now, I would say, ‘Never before but maybe again.

“It’s a milestone in music history, for sure. And it seems too good to waste. But if we ever did something like this again, it has to cater to the specific vision of the artist, like this one has.”

Co-op Live Manchester bounces back

A whirlwind first six months for Manchester’s Co-op Live (cap. 23,500) saw the UK’s largest live entertainment rebound from its delayed opening.

The £365 million facility hosted prestigious events including the UFC and the MTV EMAs, as well as indoor shows by Paul McCartney, the Eagles and Pearl Jam.

NEC Group veteran Guy Dunstan joined in October as its new general manager and SVP, with Rebecca Kane Burton, formerly of The O2, LW Theatres and Sodexo Live, becoming EVP of venue management for OVG International.

Originally slated to join the OVG fold over the summer, Kane Burton was parachuted in as interim boss of Manchester’s Co-op Live in April, as the venue’s launch was pushed back two weeks following a series of hitches. It ultimately launched on 14 May with a triumphant hometown concert by Elbow.

“I think any of us now, if we hear any Elbow music, will cry tears of joy, because that’s the moment we finally got the doors open and ready and away,” Kane Burton told IQ. “And then June just was amazing, because it was just literally back-to-back gigs and you start becoming a very well-oiled machine.”

CTS Eventim wins race to acquire See Tickets

CTS Eventim acquired Vivendi’s festival and international ticketing businesses in a €300 million deal.

The agreement included See Tickets and a portfolio of 11 festivals including the UK’s Love Supreme and Kite, as well as Garorock in France. Vivendi concert halls including L’Olympia concert hall in Paris, plus See Tickets France and Brive Festival, are not part of the deal.

The French firm’s ticketing and festival activities acquired by CTS collectively produced €137 million in revenues in 2023.

“With See Tickets and its festival operations, Vivendi has established two notable players in the ticketing and live entertainment sector,” said CTS CEO Klaus-Peter Schulenberg.

“The acquisition supports our internationalisation strategy and will also benefit artists and their managers, as we will be able to offer even more seamless services on a global scale. We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues on shaping the future of live entertainment.”

DOJ sues Live Nation over alleged ‘monopoly’

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an explosive lawsuit which could seek to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster after alleging the company has violated antitrust laws.

LN and Ticketmaster, who merged in 2010, are accused of using their “power and influence” to “insert themselves at the centre and the edges of virtually every aspect of the live music ecosystem”.

The suit, which was filed in May in the United States District Court Southern District of New York, claims: “Through a self-reinforcing ‘flywheel’ that Live Nation-Ticketmaster created to connect their multiple interconnected businesses and interests, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have engaged in numerous forms of anticompetitive conduct.”

The defendants vigorously contest the claims, with the case set to go to trial in 2026.

Live Nation’s share price rocketed to an all-time high in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory in November, and the company has said it is “hopeful” the imminent administration change will have a positive impact on its antitrust battle.

Second Sphere venue location revealed

The world’s second Sphere venue is to be built in Abu Dhabi, it was revealed.

Sphere Entertainment and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi confirmed the longstanding rumours, announcing they will work together to bring the next-generation project to life in the UAE capital.

Since opening the $2.3 billion Sphere in Las Vegas, US, in September 2023, Sphere Entertainment has pursued plans to develop a global network of Sphere venues, with the expansion expected to provide “significant growth potential and drive new revenue streams”.

“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” said Sphere Entertainment executive chair and CEO James Dolan. “Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.”

The partners say the venue will be located in a “prime spot” in Abu Dhabi and echo the scale of the 20,000-cap Las Vegas original, which has so far hosted residencies by U2, Phish, Dead & Company and the Eagles’ ongoing run, as well as the Darren Aronofsky-directed immersive production Postcard from Earth.

CAA trio appointed co-heads of global touring

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) announced senior agents Emma Banks, Darryl Eaton and Rick Roskin as co-heads of global touring.

The trio, all long-time senior members of the firm’s leadership team, will oversee the department’s continued international growth and build upon the work of predecessor Rob Light, who was named CAA MD earlier in the year after a quarter of a century as head of global touring.

“With the most talented team of agents ever at one agency, and serving the most influential artists in the world, we see unlimited opportunities ahead,” said Roskin, Eaton and Banks. “The live business has never been stronger nor had more momentum, and artists have never had more ways to express themselves and grow their careers, making this an absolutely incredible time to help chart CAA’s path for the future.

“We’re fortunate to have shared in the success, stability and uniquely strong culture that the department has enjoyed under Rob’s outstanding leadership. Our vision, and commitment moving forward, is to foster cutting-edge ideas that drive the market and ensure that CAA remains the most exciting and empowering agency for the industry’s best agents and artists to thrive.”

Live legends remembered

SJM Concerts director Chris York, one of the UK’s leading and most respected promoters, died in July aged 55 following a long illness.

Over the course of 30 years, York worked with artists including Oasis, Foo Fighters, Green Day, The Chemical Brothers, Lily Allen, Massive Attack, Robert Plant, Underworld, Lorde, Morrissey, Placebo, Suede and Stereophonics.

In a statement, SJM said it was “deeply saddened” at news of his passing. York joined the Manchester-based company in 1993, forming a “solid and unshakeable partnership and friendship” with founder Simon Moran.

“We have lost a leader, a mentor a force of nature and a friend,” said the firm. “His loss will be felt keenly by all the staff at the company and by many industry professionals and artists around the world. His influence and personality will live forever within SJM Concerts.”

The music world also lost Mean Fiddler founder and festival pioneer Vince Power in March, aged 76. The Irish promoter helped change the face of the music industry, working across festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Phoenix, The Fleadh, Madstock and Spain’s Benicassim,

Power opened the Mean Fiddler venue in Harlesden, London, in 1982, which formed the springboard for his Mean Fiddler Group empire.

“Vince’s passing is a massive loss to the music industry and to me personally,” said Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn. “A visionary with a willingness to take risks to enable his vision but always with a humbleness that belied his importance. We had an amazing 20 years together that helped shape the music industry as we know it now.”

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Ed Sheeran is to headline a new one-day gathering in Abu Dhabi, promoted by Theory Eleven Entertainment.

The multi-genre Off-Limits Festival, which will debut at Etihad Park (cap. 40,000), Yas Island, on 26 April, is being organised in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and immersive destination specialist Miral.

It will feature more than 20 acts across two stages devised by renowned stage designer Florian Wieder, creator of the bespoke outdoor venue utilised for Adele’s Munich residency this August.

“He handled the entire design for Adele’s shows, from the stage to the food and beverage areas,” Theory Eleven founder Sia Farr tells The National. “For Off Limits, he will create something unique to the festival that is ultra-modern, futuristic, and cohesive.”

The UAE capital will be the site of the world’s second Sphere venue and hosted Wireless Middle East at Yas Island last month, which featured acts such as 21 Savage, Yeat and A Boogie wit da Hoodie. Live Nation also launched the Amplified Music Festival in the city in 2022, topped by OneRepublic, Ministry of Sound Disco and Cigarettes After Sex.

“I think destinations now don’t look at festivals or concerts through an entertainment lens, but an economic one as well”

This weekend sees the return of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix and Yasalam After-Race Concerts, which will see performances from Teddy Swims and Peggy Gou (5 December), Maroon 5 (6 December), Eminem (7 December) and Muse (8 December).

Coldplay also bring their Music of the Spheres trek to Zayed Sports City for four sold out nights in January, and Farr speaks warmly of the tourism benefits of such productions.

“The economic footprint these shows leave is undeniable, and this is why we are seeing more festivals becoming greater tourism-driving factors than before,” he says. “In a lot of ways, I think post-pandemic, many dynamics have changed. Well-established countries are leaning heavily into destination tourism, and Abu Dhabi has been leading in that. I think destinations now don’t look at festivals or concerts through an entertainment lens, but an economic one as well.”

One Fiinix Live-represented Sheeran added a raft of new 2025 shows to his – +–=÷× (Mathematics) Tour last week for Bhutan, Qatar and his biggest-ever run in India.

The Middle East will be a key focus at next year’s International Live Music Conference (ILMC), with two dedicated sessions on the rapidly expanding region.

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The world’s second Sphere venue is to be built in Abu Dhabi, it has been revealed.

Sphere Entertainment and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi confirmed the longstanding rumours today (15 October), announcing they will work together to bring the next-generation project to life in the UAE capital.

Since opening the $2.3 billion Sphere in Las Vegas, US, in September 2023, Sphere Entertainment has pursued plans to develop a global network of Sphere venues, with the expansion expected to provide “significant growth potential and drive new revenue streams”.

“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” says Sphere Entertainment executive chair and CEO James L. Dolan. “Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.”

The partners say the venue will be located in a “prime spot” in Abu Dhabi and echo the scale of the 20,000-cap Las Vegas original, which has so far hosted residencies by U2, Phish, Dead & Company and the Eagles’ ongoing run, as well as the Darren Aronofsky-directed immersive production Postcard from Earth.

“We are excited to bring Sphere to Abu Dhabi in partnership with Sphere Entertainment, providing our residents and visitors with an extraordinary new form of entertainment,” adds H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chair of DCT Abu Dhabi. “Sphere Abu Dhabi will seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits.

“This partnership aligns with our Tourism Strategy 2030, further establishing Abu Dhabi as a vibrant hub for culture and innovation. By embracing cutting-edge entertainment like Sphere, we’re not only elevating our global profile but also setting new standards in immersive experiences and cultural offerings.”

“By the time we open up another Sphere, we’ll really have got that operation down”

Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s second most populous city after Dubai, and gained the 18,000-cap Etihad Arena in 2021.

Under the terms of the new partnership, DCT Abu Dhabi will pay Sphere Entertainment a franchise initiation fee for the right to build the venue, “utilising Sphere Entertainment’s proprietary designs, technology, and intellectual property”. Construction will be funded by DCT Abu Dhabi, with Sphere Entertainment’s team providing services related to development, construction and pre-opening of the venue. An estimated timescale for the development is yet to be released.

Following its opening, Sphere Entertainment plans to maintain ongoing arrangements with DCT Abu Dhabi, which are expected to include annual fees for creative and artistic content licensed by Sphere Entertainment, operational services related to venue operations and technology, as well as commercial and strategic advisory support.

Dolan discussed the logistics of constructing additional Spheres during the company’s most recent earnings call in August.

“When you take a look at this last year, we’ve really got much better at operating a Sphere. And by the time we open up another Sphere, we’ll really have got that operation down,” he said. “I keep thinking to myself, well, the next guy is going to really benefit from the fact that we learned this and we learned that, and we changed this policy and this procedure, we became efficient at this.”

The US company, which was formerly known as Madison Square Garden (MSG) Entertainment, announced in 2018 that it was planning to build a 21,500-cap Sphere in Stratford, east London. However, the scheme proved controversial and was met with opposition from various parties including local residents, councillors and rival companies.

London mayor Sadiq Khan ultimately rejected the plans in November 2023, ruling it “would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents”. MSG officially withdrew its planning application in January this year, saying it could not continue to participate in a process that was “merely a political football between rival parties”.

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Oak View Group (OVG) has added the first two Middle East venues to its portfolio after announcing its expansion into the region last year.

In partnership with UAE event management and venue operator Ethara, OVG will take over operations at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and House of Sustainability (formerly UAE Pavilion) in Expo City Dubai.

Zayed Sports City has been touted as a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi’s sporting and entertainment landscape, having hosted major tennis and football tournaments such as the Mubadala World Tennis Championships and the FIFA Club World Cup.

The city features a range of facilities, including the Zayed Sports City Stadium, International Tennis Centre, Khalifa International Bowling Centre, Zayed Sports City Ice Rink, and Mubadala Pavilion.

The 45,000-capacity stadium – the largest in the UAE – is set to host four shows on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour on 9, 11, 12, and 14 January 2025.

“We are thrilled to be expanding OVG’s venue portfolio with the first two venues in the region under OVG Middle East”

The House of Sustainability, formerly the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, offers 8,000 square meters of exhibition space in Expo City Dubai. The venue’s new guise was unveiled at Cop28 (United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC) in 2023.

Last year, OVG announced its expansion in the Middle East through a joint venture Ethara, which promotes events such as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Yasalam After-Race Concerts, and operates venues in the United Arab Emirates, such as Etihad Arena, Etihad Park, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Conference Centre.

“We are thrilled to be expanding OVG’s venue portfolio with the first two venues in the region under OVG Middle East,” says Jessica Koravos, president of OVG International.

“They each embody excellence in their respective domains with Zayed Sports City’s rich heritage of world-class sporting and entertainment events, and the House of Sustainability with its groundbreaking design and significance in Expo City Dubai. This expansion aligns perfectly with our vision of delivering bespoke venue and hospitality solutions and commitment to delivering exceptional experiences at world-class facilities throughout the region.”

David Powell, chief strategy and business development officer of Ethara, added: “Ethara has a legacy of operating four of the region’s most iconic and groundbreaking venues which have each helped shape the event and venue industry in the region over the last 16 years. Through our partnership with OVG, we look forward to integrating Zayed Sports City and the House of Sustainability into our portfolio as we look to evolve to meet the ever-evolving demands of the industry under OVG Middle East.”

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Eminem is set to make his live debut in Saudi Arabia as one of the headliners for this year’s Soundstorm by MDLBeast festival.

The Detroit rapper will top the bill for the fifth edition of Soundstorm, which returns to the capital Riyadh from 12-14 December.

Thirty Seconds to Mars, Muse, Richie Hawtin and Marco Carola have also been announced for the 2024 lineup. Ticket prices range from SAR209-899 (€51-220).

After building its reputation as an electronic music-oriented event, Soundstorm has evolved into a multi-genre festival. Metallica became the first major heavy metal band to perform in Saudi Arabia at last year’s gathering, which also starred the likes of Travis Scott, Timbaland and Wizkid.

The country’s ongoing efforts to attract and host A-list live entertainment are documented in IQ‘s Global Promoters Report 2023 and Global Arena Guide 2024. There is great interest in the opening up of the once-closed country, with a flurry of new builds and upgrades on the way, despite controversy around the kingdom’s human rights record.

Eminem and Muse will also join Maroon 5 as headliners for this year’s Yasalam After-Race Concert Series, tied to the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix

The New Murabba Development Company, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), this week unveiled designs for a new 45,000-cap stadium. The venue will be located in Riyadh and is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2032.

Other new builds in Saudi include the 45,000-cap Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium located in Qiddiya, an entertainment and tourism megaproject in Riyadh unveiled as part of the Vision 2030 masterplan. Saudi already has four large stadiums under construction or being upgraded ahead of its hosting of the 2027 Asian Cup.

“The Saudi government has plans to build venues all across the country,” Iain Campbell, Oak View Group’s EVP Middle East and Africa, told the Global Arena Guide. “Not just in Riyadh but Jeddah and across the nation. The number of new venues in the pipeline is very exciting.”

In addition, ASM Global has planned a 20,000-cap Jeddah Arena Airport City at King Abdulaziz International Airport, and other developments are planned for Dammam.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Eminem and Muse will join Maroon 5 as headliners for this year’s Yasalam After-Race Concert Series as part of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend from 5-8 December.

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Dutch violinist and conductor André Rieu’s debut performance in Abu Dhabi has broken the record for the biggest-selling classical concert in the UAE.

Presented by pan-regional concert promoter MAC Global in association with Abu Dhabi Culture, the 9 March show pulled 12,000 people to the Etihad Arena, Yas Island.

Originally planned for 10,000 guests, organisers released an additional 2,000 tickets in response to public demand.

“We are thrilled to have witnessed history being made with the largest classical concert ever held in the UAE”

“Bringing André Rieu to Abu Dhabi has been a tremendous honour and the overwhelming response reaffirms our commitment to delivering unforgettable entertainment experiences,” says Rob McIntosh, CEO of MAC Global. “We are thrilled to have witnessed history being made with the largest classical concert ever held in the UAE.”

Part of Sony Music Entertainment, MAC Global was set up in 2014 by McIntosh and Daniel Goldberg and has staged a wide range of gigs in the Middle East from Michael Bublé to Tiësto.

The company’s upcoming presentations include Tom Grennan at The Agenda, Dubai on 24 May and Take That at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi on 25 October.

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Madison Square Garden (MSG) boss James Dolan is reported to be in “serious talks” to build a second Sphere venue – this time in the United Arab Emirates.

According to the New York Post, Dolan is in discussions with Abu Dhabi investors about building a replica of the $2.3 billion, 20,000-cap Las Vegas Sphere, which would become MSG’s first property outside of the US.

“These are serious talks with Abu Dhabi. They keep going back and forth,” a source told The Post.

A Sphere spokesperson declined to comment on the report, which noted that the UAE capital has emerged as a frontrunner after negotiations apparently stalled with Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

The UAE’s second most populous city after Dubai, Abu Dhabi gained the 18,000-cap Etihad Arena in 2021, which has upcoming shows with the likes of Andre Rieu and Scorpions.

Wireless Festival, meanwhile, attracted 25,000 fans to Etihad Park on Yas Island for its Abu Dhabi debut in March, while November’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s Yasalam After-Race Concerts starred Foo Fighters, Shania Twain, Tiësto, Chris Brown and Ava Max.

The brainchild of Dolan, the futuristic Sphere features a 160,000 sq. foot LED display inside the main venue, which wraps up, over and around the audience for a fully immersive experience in cutting-edge 16K x 16K resolution. The concept launched in Las Vegas at the end of September with the 40-night U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency, which runs until March 2024.

American rock band Phish are the next major act to be confirmed and will deliver a four-show run from 18-21 April, while the Post reported last month that Beyoncé was in talks over a potential residency, with Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga also rumoured to be in consideration.

Sphere Entertainment said it was focusing on the “many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities”

Speaking to Variety earlier this year, MSG executive chair and CEO Dolan said it was “definitely a big part of the business plan, to build more Spheres all over the world”. “And by the way, different-size ones too – probably not much bigger than the one in Vegas, but we’ve actually gone through already architectural drawings and designs for smaller Spheres for smaller markets,” he added.

However, Sphere Entertainment said last month that it was focusing on the “many forward-thinking cities… eager to bring this technology to their communities” after its long-held plans for a 21,500-cap London spin-off were refused.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan rejected the proposals on the basis they “would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents”, but levelling-up secretary Michael Gove has since ordered a six-week pause as he considers whether to call in the application for the development.

In a broadside at Khan, a Sphere spokesperson alleged “the entire five-year planning process was hijacked by the Mayor and his bogus last-minute report”.

“Londoners should be dismayed that they are not going to benefit from this groundbreaking project, and others looking to invest in London should certainly be wary,” continued the statement. “Moreso, everyone should be alarmed by how easily the government’s established process was tossed aside by one politically motivated official.

“Mr Gove’s action, although commendable, still appears to us to be more of the same, and we cannot continue to participate in a process that can be so easily undermined by political winds. As we said previously, we will focus on the many forward-thinking cities.”

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Oak View Group (OVG) is expanding into the Middle East through a joint venture with newly established event management and venue operator, Ethara.

Ethara launched earlier this year following the merger of state-owned promoter Flash Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM).

The new company promotes events such as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Yasalam After-Race Concerts, and operates venues in the United Arab Emirates, such as Etihad Arena, Etihad Park, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Conference Centre.

With offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh, Ethara will “provide detailed knowledge of the local markets, enabling OVG and Ethara to explore significant growth opportunities together across the Middle East”.

The launch of the partnership follows OVG’s recent acquisition of leading British venue caterer Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (RHC).

The new JV will see both the RHC and Ethara working closely together to improve the fan experience by delivering exceptional food, beverage, and hospitality services at live entertainment venues across the Middle East, including in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

“The pace of change in the region makes [the Middle East] one of the most exciting places in the world to operate in right now”

“The Middle East is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and live entertainment markets, so our new offering in the region is a natural step for OVG to take,” says Tim Leiweke, CEO, OVG.

“The pace of change in the region, with major global events like the Dubai Expo and Qatar World Cup, makes it one of the most exciting places in the world to operate in right now. We are confident that working with our partner Ethara, OVG will emulate our success across North America and Europe in the Middle East.”

Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO, Ethara, adds: “It is a proud moment to announce this joint venture with our new partner, OVG as we continue to expand our capabilities and impact across the region as the leading event management and venue operator in the Middle East. The significant growth in our region now includes regularly hosting the world’s biggest events. There is increasing demand for world-class venues with first-class hospitality to serve these events and provide unforgettable experiences for fans. This partnership with OVG will allow us to continue to innovate in this space and continue to bring exciting new events and opportunities to the market.”

Last week, OVG announced a partnership with Madison Square Garden Entertainment and its sister company Sphere Entertainment on a new entity, called Crown Properties Collection, which will manage their sports and entertainment brand partnerships.

OVG owns 11 major new arenas either open or under development including Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center, UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York, and Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California, as well as the Co-op Live development in Manchester, UK.

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