Lady Gaga has announced her first Mexico headline show in 13 years in support of her forthcoming album, Mayhem.

The superstar will return to Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City on the 26 April 2025, where she performed on The Born This Way Ball tour in 2012.

The stadium show – produced by Live Nation and OCESA – will take place a week prior to her free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 3 May show, which will mark Gaga’s first show in the country since 2012, will take place on a custom stage and be broadcast live on Brazilian TV.

Produced by promoter Bonus Track in partnership with Live Nation, the gig will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis for those arriving at Copacabana Beach near the Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel on the day of the event.

Alanis Morissette has announced that she will be headlining London’s The O2 on Sunday 27 July

Billie Eilish, meanwhile, has set a new attendance record at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, owned by TEG and operated by ASM Global.

The American singer celebrated the end of her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour by breaking the long-standing single event attendance record previously set by Justin Timberlake for the FutureSex/LoveShow Tour 18 years prior.

Approximately 21,000 fans attended Eilish’s 28 February 2025 show, eclipsing the previous mark of 20,839 held by Timberlake for the 13 November 2007 show. Three of her four nights at Qudos Bank Arena eclipsed the previous record.

In other news, Alanis Morissette has announced that she will be headlining London’s The O2 on Sunday 27 July – the final date on the European leg of her 2025 World Tour.

Morissette is set for a run of shows across the UK & Ireland this summer including Blackweir in Cardiff (2 July) where she is set to become the first artist to play Live Nation’s brand-new venue.

Slayer have announced their first UK performances in six years

Other dates include Dublins Malahide Castle (29 June), Belfast’s Ormeau Park (30 June), TK Maxx presents Lytham Festival (4 July), OVO Hydro Glasgow (5 July), London’s The O2 (27 July).

The iconic singer-songwriter will also deliver an eight-date residency at the Colosseum at Caesars in Las Vegas this October.

The Offspring have added a North America leg to their Supercharged Worldwide in ’25 Tour, which kicks off tomorrow (5 March) with a nine-date leg in South America.

Following that, the American rock band will perform four dates in Japan and six dates in Australia. The 34-date North America leg commences on 11 July and concludes on 7 September, and features special guests Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory.

Meanwhile, Slayer have announced their first UK performances in six years, performing at London’s Finsbury Park on 6 July and Blackweir Fields in Cardiff on 3 July.

Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed and Neckbreakker will join the band for their biggest-ever UK shows.

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Leading WME agent Kirk Sommer has given his verdict on the touring business in 2024 – and predicted his top trends for next year.

As senior partner and global co-head of music at the Beverly Hills-headquartered agency, Sommer – who is currently fundraising for music charity MusiCares – works with a host of superstar acts including Adele, The Killers, Billie Eilish, Arctic Monkeys and Hozier.

And with certain artists rising faster than ever on the live scene in the age of social media, he tells IQ how the sector is adapting its game.

“I have never felt more empowered as an agent,” Sommer tells IQ. “The largest metric for success is the box office. The rate at which some artists are making rapid ascensions at scale has required more focus on making the right strategic developmental decisions while being sure not to miss the moment.”

Sommer, who tips “the continued growth of globalisation, pricing and sustainability” to be the biggest issues for the industry next year, lists The Killers’ “incredible” six-night run at The O2 in London in July and their hometown Hot Fuss Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace among his highlights of the past 12 months. The band will play three more “encore” gigs in Vegas next month.

In addition, Sommer oversaw the two-year Weekends with Adele Vegas residency at the same venue on 23 November, as well as Hozier’s record-breaking four-night stint at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York, in June, which marked the first time in the venue’s 101-year history that a single artist had sold out a run of that length.

Elsewhere, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour launched in North America in September.

Sommer is donating a meeting with himself for two people in order to raise funds for music charity MusiCares

“Adele completing her 100-show residency that I had worked on for four years was very special,” reflects Sommer. “Hozier’s historic, record breaking, four-night run at Forest Hills Stadiums was excellent. And the Billie Eilish arena show in the round is the best I have seen.”

Sommer also has high hopes for a number of emerging headliners on the WME roster.

“I am looking forward to the continued growth of Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Lola Young,” he says. “I have some important and significant tours I’ll be announcing shortly. I’m tremendously proud of the hard work and teamwork my department demonstrated daily and could not be more excited for our collective future.”

Meanwhile, Sommer is donating a meeting with himself for two people in order to raise funds for MusiCares.

The auction, which is open until 3.02pm EST (9.02pm CET) on Wednesday 4 December, is running via the CharityBuzz platform, with the winning bidder to be given the opportunity to speak with Sommer for 45 minutes and explore the dynamics of the live music industry. The current highest bid stands at US$44,500 (€42,500).

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Welcome to the fourth and final part of IQ Magazine’s 2024 Green Guardians – our annual recognition of those eco-warriors and innovators at the forefront of the battle to make the live entertainment industry more sustainable.

The Green Guardians is spearheaded by IQ and an international panel of sustainability experts to highlight and congratulate companies and organisations who are improving the live music business when it comes to being more environmentally friendly.

This year’s list includes 22 entries across a wide range of event suppliers, campaigners, and solutions providers, all of whom are working tirelessly to reduce the carbon footprint of the live entertainment business.

IQ has published entries across all categories, and you can find the whole cohort in the latest edition of IQ here.

Maggie Baird

In 2020, Maggie Barid, mother of Grammy Award-winning artists Billie Eilish and Finneas, founded Support + Feed – an initiative committed to mitigating climate change and increasing food security by driving global demand, acceptance, and accessibility of plant-based food.

To date, Support + Feed has reached 41 cities globally, has a consistent presence in 11 anchor cities in the US, and is now expanding through partnerships in the UK, Europe, and Australia. The initiative has partnered with more than 80 community organisations and supported over 60 local restaurants to deliver nearly 600,000 plant-based meals and pantry items, alongside educational resources connecting the dots between what we put on our plates and the climate crisis.

The charity operates through three interconnected programmes: Support + Feed, Support + Learn, and Support + Grow. From culturally relevant meal delivery to educational programmes to hyperfocussed ecosystem revitalisation, the initiative covers many bases in the fight against food insecurity and climate change.

D&B Group

Guided in part by the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals, d&b group has crafted a sustainability strategy that recognises and acts on the significant environmental impact of the live entertainment industry.

Earlier this year, the audio solutions group launched SustainSymphony, a live events management platform. The software as a service solution that enables organisers, suppliers, and venue managers to improve their environmental responsibility. Features include a comprehensive performance indicator database, managing sustainability certifications, and generating detailed reports, making tracking, improving, and showcasing green initiatives easier.

Their goal is to lead the transformation of the global events industry towards a more sustainable and resilient future, ensuring that sustainability becomes a core consideration for all stakeholders.

DJs 4 Climate Action

Using the influence of electronic music and DJ culture, DJs 4 Climate Action is a group of artists generating action and powering climate solutions. They’ve been involved in various campaigns and initiatives to improve sustainability within the nightlife industry.

Built on grassroots initiatives, the organisation aspires to create climate action on a global level. Earth Night is the group’s signature event, a week-long celebration combining music, nightlife, and environmental activism.

Earth Night’s mission is to bring global communities together to raise awareness and generate funds for local and global climate initiatives.
The event features performances from top DJs, learning opportunities, interactive experiences, eco-friendly activities, and fundraising initiatives towards climate action projects and organisations.

The next Earth Night is set for 23-27 April 2025.

Music Sustainability Alliance

Amy Morrison’s lifelong commitment to both activism and the environment has shaped her decades-long career in the music industry. For over 30 years, she’s united these passions, working to halt nuclear tests, greening tours, introducing reusable cups, and fostering sustainability-focused teams. The MSA is the culmination of her journey.

After 23 years with Concerts West/AEG Presents, Amy left to lead the MSA full-time last year. Founded in 2021, the alliance is dedicated to making the music industry greener through industry-led initiatives. It’s a hub where professionals and artists can learn and collaborate to tackle the climate crisis by providing them with resources, practices, and tools for change.

“We are a nimble team, energised by cross-sector, pre-competitive participation in our programmes,” she says. “We host three working groups; spearhead Music Votes – a coalition of non-profits aimed at increasing voter participation; and produce The Green Room webinar series.”

MSA is currently gearing up for its NY Climate Week activation – The Music Biz Climate Hub – and its second annual summit in Los Angeles next February. Through these initiatives, MSA is a driving force in the global music industry toward a sustainable future for all.

The Changency

Berlin-based creative sustainability agency The Changency has a vision to combine the joy of music with a sustainable way of living. Founded by Katrin Wipper and Sarah Lüngen in 2021 through the climate activist network Music Declares Emergency, The Changency launched with a groundbreaking sustainability study alongside iconic German band SEEED, their 85,000 fans, and Berlin’s University of Technology — leading to an accolade from the federal government.

Driven to inspire fans to enact positive social change, The Changency launched its latest project, TICKET TO RIDE, with Crowd Impact, exploring sustainable fan travel for major events. This initiative encouraged over 200,000 fans of German rockers AnnenMayKantereit to adopt greener travel habits.

In addition, the agency offers workshops, keynotes, and consultancy, including work with the BDKV (Association of German Concert & Events Promoters). They initiated Germany’s first sustainability and circularity conference at Reeperbahn Festival, alongside Green Events Hamburg, and founded the Change of Club this year to provide sustainability-focused event training.

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Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell have joined WME for touring representation worldwide.

The US pair were already represented by WME for film and TV, having signed with the agency in January last year.

“Billie and Finneas are generational talents, and we are thrilled to build upon our work together as they continue to grow and expand in their multifaceted careers in film, TV and touring,” says WME in a statement to IQ.

Eilish was previously with Wasserman Music, where her live career was overseen by her longtime agents Sara Bollwinkel, Tom Windish and Mike Malak. Bollwinkel and Malak also repped O’Connell in his solo endeavours.

Eilish and O’Connell entered the Wasserman fold following the company’s acquisition of Paradigm’s North American and UK live music businesses in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell have opted to have film, TV and music handled by the same agency, WME, moving forward”

“While grateful to their former live booking agents at Wasserman, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell have opted to have film, TV and music handled by the same agency, WME, moving forward,” says a spokesperson for Eilish.

Wasserman has not commented.

Eilish performed at Sunday’s Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 and begins her Wasserman-booked Hit Me Hard and Soft arena tour of North America, Europe and Australia next month in Canada. The tour will see the 22-year-old continue her long-standing partnership with environmental nonprofit Reverb, which has previously resulted in more than $1 million donated to environmental, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate justice projects.

Eilish’s previous global outing, the 88-date Happier than Ever, The World Tour, ran from February 2022 to April 2023.

At WME, Eilish and O’Connell join a music roster which includes artists such as Adele, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Pearl Jam, The Killers, Bjork, Foo Fighters, Stormzy, St Vincent, Shakira and Snoop Dogg.

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Billie Eilish has announced a huge arena tour for 2024/25, stopping in North America, Europe and Australia.

Produced by Live Nation, Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour will support Eilish’s third studio album and will start in Canada at Québec’s Centre Videotron on 29 September.

The US and Canada leg will wrap up with three shows at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California from 15-17 December before heading Down Under for multiple nights in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne from February to March 2025.

The European dates will commence in Sweden at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena from 23-24 April, going on to visit Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Czechia, Poland, Austria, Italy, France and Spain, prior to landing in the UK in July, when Eilish will perform two concerts at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro (7-8 July), six dates at The O2 (10-17 July) and four shows in Manchester at Co-op Live (19-23 July).

Eilish, whose new LP Hit Me Hard and Soft is set for release on 17 May, will then conclude the run in Ireland at Dublin’s 3Arena on 26-27 July. She is represented by Sara Bollwinkel, Tom Windish and Mike Malak at Wasserman Music.

Eilish will continue her long-standing partnership with environmental nonprofit Reverb on the tour

Tickets go on general sale on 3 May. The 22-year-old singer will continue her long-standing partnership with environmental nonprofit Reverb on the tour, which has previously resulted in more than $1 million donated to environmental, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate justice projects.

Sustainability efforts on the tour will include reducing greenhouse gas pollution, decreasing single-use plastic waste, supporting climate action, and updating concession offerings to promote and encourage plant-based food options with Support+Feed.

A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales in North America will go to Reverb, while Reverb Eco-Villages will be set up at two locations in the main concourse of every show.

Where possible, fans are encouraged to take public transportation and carpool to and from the concerts to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution and encourage more public transportation options. Venues will also be offering plant-based food options at all shows.

Eilish’s previous global outing, the 88-date Happier than Ever, The World Tour, ran from February 2022 to April 2023.

The full list of dates for Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour is as follows:

North America:
Sun Sep 29 – Québec, QC – Centre Videotron
Tue Oct 01 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Wed Oct 02 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Fri Oct 04 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Sat Oct 05 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Mon Oct 07 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Wed Oct 09 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Fri Oct 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sun Oct 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
Wed Oct 16 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Thu Oct 17 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Fri Oct 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sat Nov 02 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Sun Nov 03 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Wed Nov 06 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Fri Nov 08 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center
Sun Nov 10 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Mon Nov 11 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Wed Nov 13 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Thu Nov 14 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sat Nov 16 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Sun Nov 17 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center Omaha
Tue Nov 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Wed Nov 20 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Tue Dec 03 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Thu Dec 05 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Fri Dec 06 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Sun Dec 08 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
Tue Dec 10 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
Wed Dec 11 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
Fri Dec 13 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena
Sun Dec 15 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
Mon Dec 16 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
Tue Dec 17 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum

Australia:
Tue Feb 18, 2025 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Wed Feb 19, 2025 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Fri Feb 21, 2025 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Sat Feb 22, 2025 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Mon Feb 24, 2025 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Tue Feb 25, 2025 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Thu Feb 27, 2025 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Fri Feb 28, 2025 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Tue Mar 4, 2025 –Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Wed Mar 5, 2025 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Fri Mar 7, 2025 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Sat Mar 8, 2025 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena

Europe:
Wed Apr 23, 2025 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
Thu Apr 24, 2025 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
Sat Apr 26, 2025 – Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena
Mon Apr 28, 2025 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
Tue Apr 29, 2025 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
Fri May 2, 2025 – Hannover, Germany – ZAG Arena
Sun May 4, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Mon May 5, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Wed May 7, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Fri May 9, 2025 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Thu May 29, 2025 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
Fri May 30, 2025 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
Sun June 1, 2025 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
Tue June 3, 2025 – Kraków, Poland – Tauron Arena
Wed June 4, 2025 – Kraków, Poland – Tauron Arena
Fri June 6, 2025 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle
Sun June 8, 2025 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena
Tue June 10, 2025 – Paris, France – Accor Arena
Wed June 11, 2025 – Paris, France – Accor Arena
Sat June 14, 2025 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
Sun June 15, 2025 –Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
Mon Jul 7, 2025 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Tue Jul 8, 2025 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Thu Jul 10, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Fri Jul 11, 2025 –London, UK – The O2
Sun Jul 13, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Mon Jul 14, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Wed Jul 16, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Thu Jul 17, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Sat Jul 19, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sun Jul 20, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Tue Jul 22, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Wed Jul 23, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sat Jul 26, 2025 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Sun Jul 27, 2025 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

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Billie Eilish, Green Day and Lorde are among 250+ artists to back a bill that aims to reform the live event ticketing system in the US.

The Fans First Act, introduced by senators in December, is designed to help increase transparency in ticket sales, protect customers “from fake or dramatically overpriced tickets,” and hold “bad actors who engage in illegal ticket sale practices” to account.

In the latest push for the reform, the Fix the Tix coalition has written a letter urging the Senate Commerce Committee to support the bill.

In addition to the aforementioned artists, the letter has been signed by the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Jason Mraz, Lorde, Sia, Train, Fall Out Boy, Graham Nash, Becky G and Chappell Roan.

The legislation has also been endorsed by Live Nation, National Independent Venue Association, Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America, Eventbrite, North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents, International Association of Venue Managers, Music Managers Forum and the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), among others.

“We are joining together to say that the current system is broken”

“We are joining together to say that the current system is broken: predatory resellers and secondary platforms engage in deceptive ticketing practices to inflate ticket prices and deprive fans of the chance to see their favourite artists at a fair price,” reads the letter, addressed to Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

It continues: “We, as artists, as music lovers, and as concert attendees ourselves, urge you to support the Fans First Act to combat predatory resellers’ deceptive ticketing practices and the secondary platforms, which also profit from these practices. Predatory resellers should not be more profitable than the people dedicating their lives to their art.”

The Fans First Act would require all ticket sellers and resellers to disclose and break down the total cost of a ticket, including fees. It would also bolster the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, which was introduced in 2016 to prohibit scalpers from using software to buy high volumes of tickets, by further prohibiting the use of bots to purchase tickets.

The senators co-sponsoring the bill are Republican senators John Cornyn, Marsha Blackburn and Roger Wicker, and Democrats Amy Klobuchar, Ben Ray Luján, Peter Welch and Mark Kelly.

Fans First is one of several bills introduced in recent years aimed at combating unfair ticketing practices, including the BOSS and SWIFT Act and the TICKET Act.

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A number of artists including Billie Eilish, Peter Gabriel and Sheryl Crow have joined a coalition of musicians called Artist for Action to Prevent Gun Violence.

The alliance, which also includes Nile Rodgers, Bootsy Collins, Sofi Tukker, Rufus Wainwright and Bush, is designed to inspire people to volunteer, donate and vote to end the epidemic of gun violence in the US.

Led by musician Mark Barden, whose son was one of the 26 people murdered in the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, Artist for Action also includes the Pixies, LP, Old Crow Medicine Show, Halestorm, Rozzi, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town and more.

The organisation is launching with a series of live events, including a performance by Bush and special guests, at New York’s Irving Plaza on 22 September.

“As a community of artists, we need to band together to make common sense change”

Presented by AFA (Artist For Artist), the first concert is designed to raise awareness for the coalition and Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

“After my son Daniel was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I put my career as a professional guitarist on hold to devote myself to preventing gun violence,” Barden said. “Please join me and hundreds of other artists, musicians, actors, athletes, and people like you to finally end this senseless violence.”

“This needs to stop,” said Peter Gabriel. “So many needless deaths. So much suffering. It just needs a little common sense.”

Billie Eilish adds: “As a community of artists, we need to band together to make common sense change.”

Further concerts are planned for December to celebrate the release of the film that led to the creation of Artist for Action to Prevent Gun Violence: A Father’s Promise, as well as one next summer at Central Park SummerStage around Gun Violence Awareness Month.

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Billie Eilish’s headline set at Lollapalooza in Chicago will be partially solar powered by zero-emission battery systems.

The climate-friendly performance on Thursday 3 August is part of the Music Decarbonisation Project co-founded by Eilish herself in partnership with the environmental non-profit Reverb.

The 21-year-old’s set at the flagship Lollapalooza will be powered by zero-emissions battery systems, supplied and managed by Overdrive Energy Solutions and charged via a temporary “solar farm” at the Grant Park festival site.

The battery systems will serve as a demonstration of clean energy technologies that can drastically reduce live music’s greenhouse gas pollution and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels, reads a release.

“By showcasing this technology with one of the biggest artists in the world, we’re accelerating toward a decarbonized future”

“We hope and believe this will be a watershed moment for the music industry,” says Adam Gardner of Reverb in a statement. “There are real climate solutions available right here, right now. By showcasing this technology with one of the biggest artists in the world, on one of the most revered festival stages, we’re accelerating the necessary transition toward a decarbonized future, for music and beyond.”

The sustainability project is one of Elish’s many efforts to combat climate change. The US singer previously partnered with Reverb for her 2022 Happier Than Ever world tour, where they set up Eco-Villages at her concert venues.

The star has also performed at numerous climate change-awareness events such as Global Citizen, the Earthshot Prize and Overheated.

Lollapalooza takes place between 3–6 August with acts including Kendrick Lamar, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Odesza, Karol G, The 1975 and Tomorrow X Together.

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Billie Eilish, Lenny Kravitz, H.E.R. and Jon Batiste are among the artists set to perform at Global Citizen’s upcoming event in Paris.

The event, dubbed Power Our Planet: Live in Paris, will stream live from Paris’ Champ de Mars on 22 June in a bid to raise awareness about world poverty and climate change.

The free Live Nation-produced event will be held before a ticketed audience and streamed from in front of the Eiffel Tower on the Global Citizen channel on Amazon’s Twitch, with further broadcast or streaming partners to be announced in the coming weeks. Ben Harper, Finneas and Mosimann will provide additional special performances.

The location of the event was chosen to coincide with The Summit for a New Financial Pact, which is being held in Paris between 22-23 June.

Global Citizen hopes that the concert will help compel World Bank President Ajay Banga, the US government’s Janet Yellen and all the G20 Nations to take action on loosening up funds for less developed nations to deal with climate change.

“The only way we’re gonna make this summit count is to bring the whole world to focus its attention on it”

“How will we do that through a concert?” Global Citizen CEO and co-founder Hugh Evans told Variety. “Well, when President Macron and Mia Mottley asked Global Citizen to be part of this, they were really candid. They said there are conferences every day of the week. There are summits every day of the week. People don’t know about 90% of them. They might see a photo of the G8 meeting, and it looks nice, but these summits come and go all the time.

“The only way we’re gonna make this summit count in this critical year that counts for climate change is to bring the whole world to focus its attention on it. That’s why we’re thrilled that Billie Eilish, Lenny Kravitz, H.E.R., Jon Batiste, Ben Harper and so many incredible artists are volunteering their time to be part of this, because we need the US public to engage with this — so that the US Treasury engages with this, so that they actually reform the World Bank.”

Power Our Planet is a year-long campaign aiming to give vulnerable countries a better financial foundation and access to financing solutions to invest in the transition to clean energy and withstanding natural disasters.

“Together with Global Citizens and global artists, we are calling on world leaders, multilateral development banks, philanthropists, and private sector leaders to deliver critical funding and reimagine our financial systems to meet the moment, defend the planet, and make sure that no matter where you live, everyone is protected from the worst impacts of climate change and inequality,” reads a mission statement from Global Citizen.

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Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has responded to calls for the band to cancel their forthcoming and first-ever concert in Malaysia.

Leader of the Malaysian Islamic Party (also known as PAS), Nasrudin Hassan, recently called for the band’s show in Kuala Lumpur’s National Stadium Bukit Jalil on 22 November to be cancelled.

“What does the government want to nurture a culture of hedonism and perversion in this country? I advise you to just cancel this group’s performance in Malaysia. It brings nothing good to religion, race and country,” he wrote on Facebook a fortnight ago. The protest was rebuked by several government ministers.

PAS previously called for a ban on international concerts with a threat to protest in response to Billie Eilish’s Kuala Lumpur concert in August last year. More recently, an independent Malaysian Muslim preacher called for BLACKPINK’s concert in March to be cancelled.

In a recent interview with Malaysian national radio station HITZ, Coldplay’s frontman responded to PAS’s calls: “Every time I meet Malaysian people, I feel such a sense of love and warmth. Everybody is welcome to our show. We love all people, all kinds of people, all religions.

“All leaders, all followers – nobody is excluded. We really want you to come to our show and feel free to be yourself and feel free to let everybody be themselves. Anyone who is not happy we are coming, we’re sorry, but we love you too.”

“Everybody is welcome to our show. We love all people, all kinds of people, all religions”

Coldplay’s upcoming concert in Malaysia has also made headlines after tickets appeared on resale for exorbitant prices, causing promoter Live Nation Malaysia to wade in.

According to LN, tickets purchased from scalpers will be cancelled if the sale was found to have breached terms and conditions.

MD Para Rajagopal said that no tickets have been cancelled so far, adding that cancellations will only happen when organisers have valid proof.

He also noted that the issue is an opportunity for authorities to regulate the sale of music tickets to protect the industry, fans, and promoters: “It took a show like Coldplay to open everybody’s eyes to what’s going on in our industry.”

Meanwhile, there have been petitions online for a second concert in Kuala Lumpur to be added after the Grammy Award-winning British band announced another night in Koahsiung, Taiwan, due to overwhelming demand.

Rajagopal said “Anything is a possibility. Discussions are going on for a lot of things. We cannot officially communicate anything,” and asked fans to stay tuned to the organiser’s channels for any news.

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