The Hong Kong edition of electronic music festival Creamfields has been abruptly cancelled less than three weeks before it was due to take place.

Creamfields Hong Kong, which debuted in 2017, was slated to return to Central Harbourfront from 8-9 March this year, organised by Live Nation Electronic Asia.

DJs lined up included Zedd, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, AC Slater, R3hab and Claptone, while the festival was advertised as a “mega event” by Hong Kong Tourism Board. Tickets had been priced from HK$1,188 to HK$1,788. (€146-220).

“It is with regret that Creamfields Hong Kong 2025 scheduled to take place on 8th and 9th March 2025 has been cancelled”

“It is with regret that Creamfields Hong Kong 2025 scheduled to take place on 8th and 9th March 2025 has been cancelled,” says a statement issued on the event’s social media channels. “All customers will be issued with a full refund on tickets purchased. You don’t need to do anything. We apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment caused.”

While no reason was given for the cancellation, the South China Morning Post reports that a separate post on a mainland Chinese social media platform cited “unforeseen circumstances”.

Originating in the UK in 1998, Creamfields has held a number of spin-offs around the world over the years. Most recently, an edition was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last November, headlined by Swedish House Mafia.

Anyma is the first headliner for the 2025 UK flagship edition, which is set for 21-24 August in Daresbury, Cheshire.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Portugal’s NOS Alive has reinforced its link-up with Primary Talent, which has curated the lineup for the WTF Clubbing stage for this year’s festival.

In the third year of the partnership, the booking agency has confirmed The Bloody Beetroots (DJ Set), A-Trak, NTO (Live), Erol Alkan, Chloé Robinson, Riordan and Papa Nugs for 12 July.

The full bill for the 17th edition of NOS Alive, which runs from 10-12 July at Passeio Marítimo de Algés, includes Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, Kings Of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Noah Kahan, Benson Boone, Glass Animals, Justice, Girl in Red, The Teskey Brothers, St. Vincent, FINNEAS, CMAT and Foster The People.

In a UK festival exclusive, dance music institution Creamfields has unveiled Anyma, aka Matteo Milleri, as its first headliner. Organisers of the gathering, which takes place from 21-24 August in Daresbury, Cheshire, describe the US DJ, who delivered the first electronic music residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, as “undoubtedly the biggest name in electronic music today”.  Additional names set to play the festival are expected to be revealed at the end of the month.

Nottingham’s Splendour returns for the first time in two years from 19-20 July, headlined by Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Travis and Jake Bugg. Other names include Clean Bandit, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Natasha Bedingfield, Echo & The Bunnymen, Seasick Steve, The Levellers and The Fratellis.

“We’re very pleased to finally be back with another brilliant line-up”

It will also debut daytime disco stage Day Fever, featuring party tunes curated by Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers and actor Vicky McClure.

“Splendour has become a standout weekend for families and seasoned gig-goers alike and an important event for the cultural and economic value it brings to the region,” says George Akins of promoter DHP Family. “We’re very pleased to finally be back with another brilliant lineup, now spread across two days and six distinct stages, offering great value to everyone coming to enjoy the weekend with us.”

Meanwhile, the lineup for Finland’s Provinssi, held in Törnävä, Seinäjoki, from 26-28 June, has been extended with the addition of The Hives, Ella Marie, Sailor Honeymoon, Ahti x Hugo and supercollective Eevil Stöö x Dj Kridlokk x Ex Tuuttiz. They will join the previously announced likes of Avenged Sevenfold, Electric Callboy, In Flames and Knocked Loose.

Scotland’s TRNSMT, which will be topped by 50 Cent, Biffy Clyro and Snow Patrol on Glasgow Green from 11-13 July, had added Good Neighbours, Arthur Hill, NOFUN!, Lucia & The Best Boys, Brògeal, Tom Walker, Nathans Evans & The Saint Phnx Band, Brooke Combe and The View’s Kyle Falconer.

Belgium’s Rock Werchter (3-6 July) has added De La Soul, GLINTSAL, Nia Archives, Ezra Collective, Alessi Rose, Mother Mother, Weezer, Caribou, Warhaus, Arsenal, The Backseat Lovers, Dikke and Sylvie Kreusch, Pommelien Thijs, David Kushner, Shaboozey, Dasha, Wunderhorse, Bolis Pupul and Jokke. Linkin Park, Green Day, Sam Fender and Olivia Rodrigo will headline.

“We’ve always dreamed of bringing a rock lineup of this calibre to the prairies”

The Netherlands’ Spoorpark Live, which is expanding from a festival weekend into a week-long event, has unveiled Bryan Adams (24 June), The Prodigy (27 June) and Nile Rodgers + Chic (28 June) as its first 2025 headliners at Spoorpark, Tilburg.

Elsewhere, in the US, The Lumineers, Hozier, The Killers, Megan Thee Stallion, Lainey Wilson, Benson Boone, Def Leppard and James Taylor are set for Milwaukee’s three-weekend independent festival Summerfest (19-21 & 26-28 June/3-5 July).

And Edmonton, Canada, is getting a new two-day rock festival in the form of Rockin’ Thunder, which launches at Exhibition Lands Racetrack on 11-12 July. Performers will include Def Leppard, Weezer, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Brett Michaels, Stone Temple Pilots, Queensrÿche, Toque, the Trews, and Default.

“We’ve always dreamed of bringing a rock lineup of this calibre to the prairies, and with the incredible energy and love for music that defines Canada’s festival city, it felt like the perfect time,” says festival CEO Troy Vollhoffer.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Three stages have been closed on the opening day of the UK’s Leeds Festival as Storm Lilian brought strong winds of up to 60mph to the region.

Organisers delivered an urgent weather report on X at 9am this morning, advising campers to stay in their tents or to delay their arrival if they had not yet reached the Bramham Park site.

All of Friday’s performances on the Festival Republic-promoted event’s new stages, The Chevron and Aux, have been cancelled, while the BBC Radio 1 stage will also remain shut. Cancelled sets include Skrillex, Beabadoobee, Ashnikko, Nia Archives, Dom Dolla and Alfie Templeman.

The 75,000-cap Yorkshire festival’s main stage belatedly opened at 3.10pm with its first live act, Bru-C, with acts set to perform later include Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen, 21 Savage and Pendulum. Slots by the likes of Reneé Rapp, Crawlers and Corella were pulled.

“The weather has been too dangerous for our crew of myself to set up/access the stage all morning”

US singer-songwriter Rapp told her 3m followers on Instagram: “Leeds, the weather has been too dangerous for our crew of myself to set up/access the stage all morning. I’m so sad to miss you but your safety and my team’s safety is of the utmost importance and I can’t risk that.”

LEEDS ARENA UPDATE pic.twitter.com/sS1cVIB9Ik

— Reading & Leeds Fest (@OfficialRandL) August 23, 2024

Leeds and twin festival Reading run across 10-plus stages from 23-25 August. Other acts on the lineup include Blink-182, Fred Again.., Lana Del Rey, Gerry Cinnamon, Raye, Two Door Cinema Club, Fontaines D.C., The Prodigy and The Last Dinner Party.

Elsewhere, this weekend’s Creamfields was also hit by high gusts of winds on site, causing a delay to public arenas and gates opening. The likes of Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Martin Garrix, Alesso, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Fatboy Slim, Tiesto, Peggy Gou are starring at the dance institution in Daresbury, Cheshire.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

A number of big-hitters feature in IQ‘s latest round-up of festivals taking place across Europe over the next few days.

In the UK, the Bank Holiday weekend sees a packed schedule including the return of Reading & Leeds (23-25 August), headlined by Blink-182, Fred Again.., Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey, Gerry Cinnamon and Catfish and the Bottlemen.

This year’s lineup also includes acts such as 21 Savage, Raye, Two Door Cinema Club, Fontaines D.C., The Prodigy, Skrillex, Sonny Fodera, Pendulum, Bleachers, Spiritbox, Jorja Smith and The Last Dinner Party.

Catfish and the Bottlemen, who announced their first UK stadium headline shows earlier this week, with performances at Cardiff Principality Stadium (1 August) and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (3 August) booked for 2025, will also headline Edinburgh Summer Sessions at the Royal Highland Showgrounds in Scotland on 24 August.

All Points East (APE), which kicked off last week with Kaytranada, Loyle Carner and Mitski, wraps up from 23-25 August with  LCD Soundsystem and The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie. The Saturday event is held under the Field Day banner, topped by Justice and Charlotte de Witte.

Also on the APE bill at London’s Victoria Park are the likes of Jai Paul, Pixies, Floating Points, The Decemberists, Phoenix, Gossip, Lany, Jockstrap, Joy, The Kills, Say She She and Sleater-Kinney.

Held in Daresbury, Cheshire, dance institution Creamfields (22-25 August) will star Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Martin Garrix, Alesso, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Fatboy Slim, Tiesto, Peggy Gou, Sub Focus, Eric Prydz, Hardwell, Charlotte de Witte, Armin van Buuren, Pete Tong, Fisher, Michael Bibi, Steve Angello and Gorgon City, among others.

Meanwhile, in France, Rock en Seine (21-25 August) in Saint Cloud starts tonight with a standalone show by Lana Del Rey. The festival will also welcome stars such as Fred Again.., LCD Soundsystem, Måneskin, PJ Harvey, Massive Attack, Pixies, The Offspring, Loyle Carner, Jungle, 2ManyDJs, Baxter Dury, Kasabian, Inhaler, Gossip and Loyle Carner.

Montpellier’s Palmarosa Festival (23-25 August) has a bill featuring Phoenix, Gossip and Tom Odell, plus acts including The Kills, The Hives, Soulwax and The Vaccines, and Nice Jazz Fest (20-23 August) showcases Nas, Jungle, Phoenix, Sampha and more.

The first weekend of Switzerland’s Zurich Openair (23-24 August) boasts names including Sam Smith, Martin Garrix, Raye, Macklemore, Louis Tomlinson, Armin van Buuren, Loyle Carner, Zoe Wees and Milky Chance.

Elsewhere, The Cult, Die Antwoord, The Darkness, The Libertines, Crystal Fighters and Soulfly are among acts slated for Portugal’s Vilar de Mouros (21-24 August), and Tiesto, Zara Larsson and Alan Walker top the bill at Feelings (23-24 August) in Bergen, Norway.

Back in the UK, Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival (23-25 August) is headed by Fatboy Slim, Jamie T and Biffy Clyro. Other artists on the bill include Snow Patrol, Idles, Louis Tomlinson, Jess Glynne, Courteeners, Pixies, Sugababes, The Lathums, Holly Humberstone, Becky Hill, Wet Leg, James Bay, Arlo Parks, Soft Play and Yard Act.

CarFest (23-25 August), which takes place at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire, is topped by Richard Ashcroft, Olly Murs and UB40 ft. Ali Campbell, with support from Deacon Blue, Johnny Marr, Sam Ryder, Beverley Knight, Jake Shears, Kula Shaker, Reef and Damian Lewis.

Performers at Northamptonshire’s Shambala (22-25 August) will include Bob Vylan, The Congos, The Beatbox Collective, Sampa the Great and Brushy One String, while Camper Calling (23-25 August) will bring artists including Travis, Jessie J, Groove Armada, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Zutons, Professor Green, The Bluetones, Norman Jay and The Sherlocks to Ragley Hall, Warwickshire.

Americana and roots music and culture festival The Long Road (23-25 August) in Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, will feature a UK exclusive headline show from the legendary Don McLean. Russell Dickerson will also headline the event, with the supporting cast including Chapel Hart, Ron Pope, Paula Cole, American Aquarium, Gangstagrass, Campbell Jensen, Gina Larner, Brittney Spencer, The Red Clay Strays, Colbie Caillat, Randall King, Flatland Cavalry and Pokey LaFarge.

And Blur’s Alex James’ farm in the Cotswolds’ will host Big Feastival (23-25 August), headlined by Becky Hill, Ministry of Sound Classical, Snow Patrol. The bill also features the likes of Joel Corry, Ella Henderson, Johnny Marr, CMAT, Hak Baker, Natasha Bedingfield, Jax Jones, Cat Burns and Cian Ducrot.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Electronic dance music festival Creamfields has unveiled a new 30,000-cap main stage, billed as the “largest indoor festival superstructure in the world”.

APEX will debut at next year’s edition of the 70,000-cap UK festival, which returns to Daresbury, Cheshire, from 22-25 August.

“Known for consistently pushing the boundaries of electronic music events, Creamfields has once again raised the benchmark for an unforgettable festival experience,” says an announcement by the festival. “The unveiling of APEX, a colossal 30,000 capacity indoor main stage, positions them as host of the largest indoor festival superstructure in the world.

“Combined with jaw dropping production and the electric atmosphere Creamfields is known for, this brand-new addition to the festivals landscape, shielded from the elements, will offer an epic immersive experience, extending the main stage opening until 4am on Saturday for the first time and due to demand offers an additional main stage destination on Friday.”

The Live Nation-organised festival, which began as a one-day dance music event in 1998, is already sold out for 2024, although a limited ticket resale commences from 9am GMT tomorrow (24 November).

“Creamfields’ plans for next year have changed with a single mega Creamfields festival in Cheshire rather than two separate UK events”

Acts to perform at this year’s Creamfields included Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Camelphat, Becky Hill and Diplo.

Creamfields has become one of the world’s largest electronic music events, with spin-off festivals in Chile, UAE, Spain, Malta, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

However, it was revealed in September, however, that its Creamfields South UK spin-off will not take place in 2024, with organisers instead opting to merge the north and south events into one. The southern leg had been held in Hylands Park, Chelmsford – the former home of V Festival – for the past two years.

“We are aware that Creamfields’ plans for next year have changed with a single mega Creamfields festival in Cheshire rather than two separate UK events,” a spokesman for Chelmsford City Council told Essex Live. “We’ve loved having Creamfields South at Hylands Estate over the last couple of years and we wish them well for their big festival in Daresbury next August.

“Our contract for a festival at Hylands over the May bank holiday weekend is with music promoter Festival Republic, who have many of the country’s leading festivals on their books. We’re waiting to hear what their plans are for Hylands in 2024 and beyond and we’ll share news about this when we know more.”

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

More than half a million people are expected at open-air music events across the UK over the next four days for the biggest festival weekend since summer 2019.

Among the major festivals making their long-awaited, non-socially distanced returns after a year off this long weekend – Monday is a public holiday in England – are Live Nation UK’s Creamfields (Thursday 26–Sunday 29 August), AEG Presents’ All Points East (Friday 27–Monday 30 August), Festival Republic’s Reading and Leeds Festivals (27–29 August) and Superstruct Entertainment’s Victorious Festival (27–29 August), as well as a handful of smaller events.

Citing the success of the national Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, the UK government did away with the last social distancing regulations in England on 19 July (so-called ‘freedom day’) and a number of music festivals, notably Tramlines, Latitude, Standon Calling and Boardmasters, have taken place since, most with a system of Covid-status certification in place based on the NHS (National Health Service) app.

After its cancellation in 2020, Creamfields, the UK’s biggest dance music event, returns to its long-time home in Daresbury, Cheshire, with performances by Basement Jaxx, Jaxx, Tiësto, Peggy Gou, Eric Prydz, Chemical Brothers, Carl Cox, Andy C, Scooter, Paul Van Dyck, Pete Tong, Martin Garrix and more.

Though Creamfields has not announced a capacity reduction for 2021 – a full complement of ten stages of music will be in operation from Friday to Sunday – the event will be fully cashless for the first time, with only electronic payments available at all bars and concessions.

The return of twin festivals Reading and Leeds, Stormzy, Liam Gallagher, Post Malone, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Disclosure and Biffy Clyro, will be “a real[ly] emotional time” for the mainly young people attending, who have had “the worst 18 months for that generation almost since the invention of the teenager in the late 50s, when teenagers became a thing,” Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn tells the BBC.

The festivals will also be home to pop-up vaccination clinics which the NHS says will make it as easy to get a jab as a burger or beer.

“The live music industry is holding itself to a higher standard than any other sector in terms of Covid measures”

London’s All Points East, which this year incorporates Field Day, is AEG Presents’ first festival in the UK since British Summer Time in Hyde Park in July 2019. Moved from its traditional spring dates, the festival opens with London Grammar headlining tonight, with other headliners across the weekend including Jorja Smith, Jamie XX, Kano and Foals, as well as Bicep at Field Day on Sunday.

The festival, held in Victoria Park, will be attended by in excess of 40,000 people a day, having boosted its capacity since 2019.

“We are already experiencing such a great feeling from everyone on site: happy faces of fans, artists and staff coming back together for a brilliant music festival,” AEG’s head of European festivals, Jim King, tells IQ. “There is excitement and anticipation, everyone getting to know each other again and discovering their new favourite artist or looking forward to the big headliners. For us at All Points East, it is our first opportunity to put into practice what we do best and that in itself is a brilliant feeling.

“We have sold 160,000 tickets for four days. It’s clear that everyone is eager to get back to live music and after All Points East being away for 817 days, it is really satisfying to know that. The live music industry is holding itself to a higher standard than any other sector in terms of Covid measures. We can be proud that our industry is leading the way in staff and customer safety.”

In Portsmouth, Madness, the Streets, Royal Blood, Manic Street Preachers, Supergrass and Nile Rogers and Chic are leading Victorious Festival’s return.

Like all the festivals mentioned, Victorious festivalgoers will need to demonstrate their negative Covid-19 status – proof of full vaccination or immunity, or a negative test – to gain entry.

While concerns have been raised about the impact of large events like festivals on Covid-19 transmission, scientists say the trigger points for spreading the virus are public transport and shared cars to get to events, Reuters reports, as outdoor gatherings can be relatively risk free, as demonstrated by pilot events in the UK and elsewhere.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Three of the UK’s most popular music festivals, Reading Festival, Creamfields and Boomtown, have sold out their 2021 editions in the past 24 hours, underlining the huge demand for festival tickets among locked-down British live music fans.

Festival Republic’s Reading Festival, which normally has a capacity of 105,000, was one of several festivals to confirm this week they intend to go ahead in 2021, taking place alongside its sister Leeds Festival in the last weekend in August.

All weekend tickets for Leeds Festival (75,000-cap.) are also gone, according to the festivals’ Twitter account, with only limited Friday and Sunday day tickets remaining.

Dance music festival Creamfields, promoted by Live Nation UK’s Cream Holdings, says it sold out in record time ahead of its return this summer. The festival, which has run since 1998 (since 2006 in its current location on the 70,000-capacity Daresbury estate in Cheshire), also takes place across the August bank holiday weekend (26–29 August).

That many fans held onto their 2020 tickets, says Cream, is “positive news for the live music industry, which has largely remained closed over the last 12 months. The news follows the prime minister’s ‘roadmap’ address on Monday that allows the safe return of large-scale outdoor events this summer.”

“This is positive news for the live music industry, which has largely remained closed over the last 12 months”

British prime minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday (22 February) that all lockdown measures should be lifted in England from 21 June, theoretically allowing large outdoor events such as festivals to take place with no restrictions. Industry response to the announcement was largely positive, though live music businesses and associations are seeking more clarity as to what will be possible.

Among the 300 artists and DJs performing at Creamfields 2021 are Bicep, Afrojack, Alesso, Carl Cox, Pete Tong, pendulum, Gorgon City, Sub Focus, Claptone, Sigma, Andy C, Martin Garrix, Sigma and Nina Kraviz.

Independent festival Boomtown, which typically has a capacity of more than 70,000, has scaled down its event for this year’s ‘Chapter One: The Gathering’-themed festival, which celebrates a “post-pandemic world” of “connection, community and celebration”. The line-up will also be kept secret until around a week before the festival.

Explaining the decision last year, organisers said: “[T]here are many aspects to the way the music industry runs that don’t work for independent festivals. The complex process of releasing a music line-up, with the exclusivity, billing and escalating costs ,has led us to decide this is the time to rethink the way we approach it and explore new ways of doing things.

“We have always been a creatively led festival and people attend Boomtown because of the overall experience.  We will continue to book incredible headline artists, and all the festival favourites, but by approaching our programming announcements in this radical way, we can create line-ups that are even more phenomenal and diverse than we have ever been able to before.”

“The anticipation to get back to showcasing the best in new music has never been greater”

Fans responded to the change, with over 90% of 2020 ticket holders declining a refund, and tickets for the 2021 edition, held as usual near Winchester in Hampshire, selling out last night.

Also riding the wave of fan demand is London’s Field Day, which announced just before 9pm yesterday (25 February) that it, too, had sold out its 2021 edition and second outing at the post-industrial Drumsheds venue in Enfield, north London.

Like its cancelled 2020 festival, Field Day 2021 will be a one-day, electronic music-focused event headlined by DJs Bicep. Other performers playing the Drumsheds, which has a capacity of 25,000, include Maribou State, Ross from Friends, Floating Points and Adelphi Music Factory.

https://twitter.com/fielddaylondon/status/1365040858198921216

The sellouts come as more festivals confirm they will be going ahead later this summer, with Liverpool Sound City, Gala Festival, Wilderness and Mighty Hoopla all announcing or re-confirming their 2021 dates in the wake of Johnson’s announcement.

“I can’t believe that it’s been nearly two years since the last time we came together at Sound City, and the anticipation to get back to showcasing the best in new music has never been greater,” says Sound City MD Becky Ayres. “Enjoying amazing new artists in incredible venues is what makes Sound City great, and we’re excited to bring together genre-pushing favourites, thrilling live bands and must-see moments this October.”

Sound City 2021 takes place from 1 to 3 October with artists including the Lathums, Rejjie Snow, the Mysterines, Red Rum Club and the Murder Capital.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

The start of a new year and, perhaps more significantly, a new decade is fast approaching – and while many may be thinking ahead to New Year’s Eve plans and well-meaning 2020 resolutions, IQ is casting its mind back to the most pivotal industry moments of the last ten years.

As in the previous 12 months, 2012 saw the live music industry still grappling with the effects of the global economic crisis, with many countries just beginning to clamber out of recession and others heading for dreaded ‘double dips’.

This continuing economic uncertainty naturally bit into the leisure spend of discriminating ticket buyers with a variety of entertainment options – though the world did not, as predicted by some long-dead Mexicans, come to an end.

Elsewhere, the weather gods interfered with yet more festivals, while Hurricane Sandy had a devastating effect on the industry in the New York area. In the UK, meanwhile, the Olympics scored on many levels, but provided far too much competition for many.

2012 in numbers

The top 50 worldwide tours grossed a combined US$3 billion in 2012, according to Pollstar, down around 2% from $3.07bn in 2011.

Madonna’s MDNA tour was the clear No1, grossing $296.1 million, ahead of second-placed Bruce Springsteen, whose E Street Band earned $210.2m. Both acts played to more than 2m fans worldwide 2012.

Roger Waters’ The Wall generated $186.4m to come in at No3, and was also the highest-ranking hold-over from the 2011 chart, where he placed No5 with a gross of $103.6 million.

Reflecting the lingering impact of the financial crisis, the total tickets sold by the top 50 tours was 34.9m, which continued the decline from 35.5m the previous year (and well off the pace from 2009, when the top 50 sold 45.3 million, says Pollstar).

2012 in brief

January
FKP Scorpio buys a stake in Utrecht-based booking agency and artist management company Friendly Fire.

Touring festival Big Day Out calls time on its New Zealand leg after promoter Ken West admits that falling audience numbers have made the Auckland show unviable.

February

Madonna sparks controversy when she tells Newsweek  magazine fans should “work all year, scrape the money together” for a $300 ticket to her MDNA tour.

March
Private-equity firm CVC Asia Pacific puts its Australian ticketing company, Ticketek, and Sydney’s Allphones Arena up for a sale in a bid to reduce a A$2.7bn (€2.1bn) debt run-up by Nine Entertainment, which owns the assets.

Stuart Galbraith buys out AEG’s 50% stake in Kilimanjaro Live for an undisclosed sum. Both parties say they will continue to work together on events in future. (Kili later cancels the 2012 edition of Sonisphere at Knebworth, which was to have featured Kiss, Faith No More and Marilyn Manson.)

Ebay-owned secondary ticketing service, StubHub, launches operations in the UK and admits it is looking at further expansion across Europe.

Roger Waters’s The Wall tour was the third most lucrative of 2012 (© Brennan Schnell/Eastscene.com/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0))

April
Serbian authorities arrest the venue owner and other individuals following a fire at the Contrast nightclub in Novi Sad that leaves six people dead.

Tupac Shakur, who died 15 years previous, is the main talking point at Coachella, as a multimillion-dollar hologram of the rapper appears on stage alongside Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg.

May
Viagogo raises eyebrows by shifting its operational base from the UK to Switzerland, amid speculation it wants to resell tickets for the Olympic Games without falling foul of British law.

Investment firm Silver Lake Partners completes a transaction to acquire a 31% stake in William Morris Endeavor.

June
Former AEG Germany CEO Detlef Kornett forms a venue consultancy, Verescon, with DEAG with Peter Schwenkow.

Swedish telecom operator Tele2 pays an undisclosed sum to secure naming rights for Stockholm’s new 40,000-capacity stadium, operated by AEG.

Paul McCartney, Mike Oldfield and Dizzee Rascal performed at the London 2012 opening ceremony (© Matt Deegan/Flickr (CC BY 2.0))

July
Live Nation appoints former CAA exec David Zedeck to the role of executive VP and president of global talent and artist development.

Artists including Paul McCartney, Mike Oldfield, Dizzee Rascal and Emeli Sandé are each paid £1 for their performances at the Olympics opening ceremony. The show attracts 26.9m viewers in the UK alone, and billions more worldwide.

August
Three members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot are jailed for two years each, after staging an anti-Vladimir Putin protest in a Moscow cathedral.

September
AEG drops its claim against Lloyd’s of London on a multimillion-dollar insurance policy, following the death of Michael Jackson.

C3 Presents’ Lollapalooza debuted in Brazil in April (© Henrique Oli/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0))

October
Glastonbury Festival takes just 100 minutes to sell out all 135,000 tickets for next summer’s event, despite not naming a single act on the 2013 bill.

C3 Presents extends an arrangement with Globo Organization’s GEO for more events in Brazil, following a successful Lollapalooza.

November
AEG is awarded the contract to take over shows at London’s prestigious Hyde Park, ending Live Nation’s decade-long relationship with the 80,000-capacity space.

Frank Barsalona, founder of Premier Talent, dies aged 74. Premier was the first agency to work exclusively with rock artists, with clients including the Yardbirds, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, U2 and Van Halen.

December
The Wall Street Journal reports that a number of bidders are in contention to acquire AEG, despite a reported $10bn asking price.

Irving Azoff unexpectedly resigns as chairman of Live Nation and CEO of its Front Line Management Group, to concentrate on his own artist management company.

Who we lost

Notable industry deaths in 2012 included South by Southwest creative director Brent Grulke, Lasse Ollsen of Swedish promoter Viva Art Music, Jon Lord of Deep Purple, Armin Rahn, founder of Munich-based Armin Rahn Agency and Management, Radiohead drum tech Scott Johnson, Perth Arena general manager David Humphreys, R&B legend Etta James, pop powerhouse Whitney Houston, the Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb, disco diva Donna Summer, the Monkees’ Davy Jones and legendary agents Armin Rahm and Frank Barsalona.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Live Nation has partnered with Hong Kong-based marketing agency EX-R Consulting to launch Live Nation Connects, a new creative and brand marketing company aiming to connect brands with music fans across Asia.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, the marketing agency will serve brands regionally, focusing on China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

“By combining EX-R’s vast experience in brand activations and our expertise in live entertainment, Live Nation Connects will bring a unique offering to brands across Asia,” says Paul Antonio, president of Asia and Middle East at Live Nation.

The agency aims to enable brands to reach fans through creative experiences, using original and branded content, experiential events and production, digital and social media, fan intelligence, artist relations and technology such as virtual reality and multicasting.

“The opportunity for meaningful connections between brands and fans is at an all-time high and Live Nation Connects will do just that by delivering authentic brand partnerships via creative and experiential marketing,” comments Colleen Yu, founder and principal of EX-R Consulting.

“Live Nation Connects can enable brands to be a meaningful part of culture and engage with fans through the power of live”

“Our proven track record working with Live Nation over the years provides a solid foundation for Live Nation Connects and we are very proud to be partnering with them to work with agencies and brands across Asia.”

“Live music fans are among the world’s most receptive audiences with 90% of fans believing that brands can enhance the live experience,” adds James Dick, SVP at marketing partnerships at Live Nation Asia.

“Live Nation Connects can enable brands to be a meaningful part of culture and engage with fans through the power of live.”

Live Nation Asia has promoted tours by the likes of Backstreet Boys, Green Day, Maroon 5, Troye Sivan and U2, along with festivals including Creamfields Hong Kong and Download Japan.

The marketing division has partnerships with Budweiser, Pernod Ricard, SingTel, Hilton, Monster Energy, Citi, Amex and Mercedes-Benz.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

The team behind electronic music event Creamfields has announced a £2 million overhaul of the brand’s flagship festival in Cheshire, north England.

Creamfields, which began as a one-day dance music event in 1998, is now a 70,000-capacity, four-day camping festival that takes place every August bank holiday weekend.

The overhaul comes as the festival prepares to celebrate its 15th year at its site in Cheshire, which has been its home since 2006.

The improvements will usher in a “new era for Creamfields”, say organisers, and will include increased camping space, additional security and staffing, the installation of a new water supply and more water points, better signage, improved shower and toilet facilities, more welfare staff, 24-hour manned information hubs and a minimisation of environmental impact on site.

The improvements will usher in a “new era for Creamfields”

Part of Live Nation’s Cream brand and promoted by Scott Barton-led Electronic Nation, Creamfields has become one of the world’s largest electronic music events, with spin-off festivals in Chile, UAE, Spain, Malta, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The Creamfields team is also responsible for Steel Yard, a 15,000-capacity dance arena structure, which hosts shows by the likes of Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Eric Prydz, Faithless and Carl Cox in London and Liverpool.

The sold-out 2019 event saw performances from Calvin Harris, the Chemical Brothers, Bicep, Deadmau5, Matin Garrix, Tiesto, Camelphat and Fatboy Slim.

Creamfields returns to Daresbury in Cheshire from 27 to 30 August 2020. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. (BST) on Friday 27 September. Fans can sign up for pre-sale here. A full line-up will be announced soon.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.