x

The latest industry news to your inbox.


I'd like to hear about marketing opportunities

    

I accept IQ Magazine's Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

MSG Sphere Las Vegas reveals next residency

American rock band Dead & Company have announced a residency at MSG Sphere Las Vegas, following in the footsteps of U2 and their enormously successful run.

The ‘Dead Forever’ run will comprise 18 concerts across six consecutive weeks between 16 May and 22 June, with a different setlist performed each weekend.

Tickets start at $145 and will reflect all-in pricing. Advance presale registration is available now.

“As we put the finishing touches on booking venues, and understanding that word travels fast, we wanted to be the first to let you know that Dead & Company will be hitting the road next summer for what will be our final tour,” said John Mayer said in a statement posted yesterday.

“Stay tuned for a full list of dates for what will surely be an exciting, celebratory, and heartfelt last run of shows.”

“Stay tuned for a full list of dates for what will surely be an exciting, celebratory, and heartfelt last run of shows”

Dead & Company, completed by Mayer, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti, perform Grateful Dead covers and have completed 10 tours, playing to more than four million fans across 235 shows and breaking multiple records.

The band’s most recent outing – ‘The Final Tour’, which wrapped on 16 July 2023 – grossed more than US$100 million. It was the highest annual gross ever recorded on the road during the band’s eight-year run.

Ahead of Dead & Company’s residency, Phish will deliver a four-show run at the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue from 18-21 April.

The venue’s first resident artist, U2, wrapped their fourth leg of the U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency on 4 November, with Billboard Boxscore reporting that the 17 shows grossed $109.8 million and sold 281,000 tickets, marking the fastest-grossing residency in Boxscore history. The residency concludes on 2 March.

Dead & Company – Dead Forever – Live at Sphere dates:

Thursday, May 16; Friday, May 17; Saturday, May 18

Friday, May 24; Saturday, May 25; Sunday, May 26

Thursday, May 30; Friday, May 31; Saturday, June 1

Thursday, June 6; Friday, June 7; Saturday, June 8

Thursday, June 13; Friday, June 14; Saturday, June 15

Thursday, June 20; Friday, June 21; Saturday, June 22

 


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.

Ed Lunger upped to GM, SVP of Sphere Las Vegas

Sphere Entertainment Co. has promoted Ed Lunger to senior vice president/general manager of Sphere, the groundbreaking new venue that opened in Las Vegas last September.

Lunger previously served as vice president and assistant general manager, back-of-house operations, for the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue.

In his new role, Lunger will oversee a wide range of functions as part of the overall management of the venue, including building operations, event production, technical operations, guest services, food and beverage, merchandise operations, and ticket operations.

He will also work cross-functionally across the Sphere organisation to develop, execute, and support strategic plans aligned with Sphere’s overall business objectives, according to a release. Lunger is based in Las Vegas.

“I am pleased that Ed has taken on a new leadership role with Sphere,” says Rich Claffey, executive vice president and chief operations officer, Sphere.

“Ed will ensure that Sphere is well positioned to continue building on our world-class experience”

“Since its opening, Sphere has been delivering a first-of-its-kind experience to guests. With his deep expertise in venue management and operations, including at other venues in the MSG Family of Companies, Ed will ensure that Sphere is well positioned to continue building on our world-class experience.”

Lunger says: “Being part of the Sphere team opening this next-generation venue has been an honour, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to now lead our venue operations team in this new role.

“Sphere is setting a new standard for the in-venue guest experience, and I look forward to working with my colleagues across the organisation as we continue to deliver unforgettable moments for our guests right here in Las Vegas.”

Lunger has been a key member of the Sphere venue leadership team since 2020. Prior to that, he spent seven years on the venue operations team at the Forum arena in Inglewood, California, which was part of the MSG Family of Companies until its sale in May 2020.

Lunger’s prior experience also includes various venue operations and engineering roles at Madison Square Garden in New York, which he first joined in 1989 as an HVAC and mechanical equipment engineer.

 


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.

Another chance for MSG’s London Sphere?

The UK government has stepped in to prevent plans for an MSG Sphere in east London from being scrapped.

Levelling-up secretary Michael Gove has ordered a six-week pause as he considers whether to call in the application for the development on the edge of the Olympic park in Stratford.

The Mayor of London last week rejected proposals for the 21,500-capacity replica of the Las Vegas Sphere, stating concerns about the amount of light pollution that it would cause for residents.

But Gove’s department, which has the power to overrule the Mayor, has now written to the London Legacy Development Corporation to instruct it not to deny planning permission at this stage.

The letter states: “The Secretary of State hereby prohibits Your Local Planning Authority from implementing the Mayor’s direction of November 20 to refuse permission.

“The direction is issued to enable him to consider whether he should direct under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act that the application should be referred to him for determination.”

His letter stressed that the temporary step to prohibit a denial of planning permission did not indicate any possible future outcome to the application

His letter stressed that the temporary step to prohibit a denial of planning permission did not indicate any possible future outcome to the application.

Madison Square Garden (MSG) Entertainment first announced the project more than five years ago and it was approved in principal by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) in March last year, despite objections from various parties.

AEG Europe has been a vocal opponent of the venue, which would be located four miles from The O2 (20,000-cap) in North Greenwich, and has previously called on Gove to block the proposal.

Local residents and councillors have also protested the London spin-off, which would be covered in LED panels and stand almost 100m (300ft) high and 120m (360ft) wide.

The Las Vegas Sphere launched in September to rave reviews with U2’s U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency.

Yesterday (30 November), it was announced that Phish would follow in U2’s footsteps with a four-show run at the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue next April.

 


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.

Next act to play MSG Sphere Las Vegas revealed

Phish is the next major act booked to play at the MSG Sphere Las Vegas, following in the footsteps of U2.

The American rock band will deliver a four-show run at the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue from 18-21 April, 2024, with each night set to feature a unique setlist and visuals.

“From the moment we first heard about Sphere and its potential, we’ve been dreaming up ways to bring our show to this breathtaking canvas,” says Trey Anastasio, Phish guitarist and vocalist, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to present this completely unique experience to Phish fans.”

The band, who are known for making each show unique, have promised a “once-in-a-lifetime audio-visual experience” during the shows.

“From the moment we first heard about Sphere, we’ve been dreaming up ways to bring our show to this breathtaking canvas”

The 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.

Ticket requests for the Phish run are now open until 12:00 pm ET on 11 December. All remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning 15 December at 1 pm ET.

The venue’s first resident artist, U2, wrapped their fourth leg of the U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency on 4 November, with Billboard Boxscore reporting that the 17 shows grossed $109.8 million and sold 281,000 tickets, marking the fastest-grossing residency in Boxscore history.

Last week, MSG’s plans for a Sphere venue in London were rejected by the Mayor of London who said “the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents”.

A spokesperson for MSG tells IQ: “While we are disappointed in London’s decision, there are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities. We will concentrate on those.”

 


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.

U2 add 11 Sphere shows amid ‘unprecedented demand’

U2 have added a further 11 nights to their acclaimed U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency, prompted by “unprecedented demand”.

The extension brings the overall total of dates at the next-generation venue to 36, with the additional shows announced for 26-27 & 31 January and 2-3, 7, 9-10, 15 & 17-18 February.

The Irish rockers have completed the first nine shows of the run, which launched to rave reviews on 29 September to open Sphere Entertainment’s $2.3 billion, 20,000-cap Sphere in Las Vegas. Dutch musician Bram van den Berg has stepped in as a temporary replacement for drummer Larry Mullen Jr, who is taking time out due to surgery.

Tickets start at US$140 (€132), with 60% of tickets priced under $300. In an effort to help minimise resale and keep ticket prices at face value, general admission floor tickets are restricted from transfer and may only be resold at the original purchase price. Hospitality packages via LN’s music-led destination experience company Vibee include premium concert seating with priority entry to Sphere and hotel rooms at The Venetian Resort.

At each performance, 50 tickets to experience the show from an exclusive VIP riser will be made available for purchase benefitting (RED), the organisation founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to fight AIDS.

“We’re so grateful once again to U2 for their generosity”

“We’re so grateful once again to U2 for their generosity. And we’re very excited that each U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere performance will feature an iconic (RED) Zone, which lets fans choose (RED) and save lives while enjoying the show with an excellent view of the stage,” says Jennifer Lotito, president and COO of (RED).

“Over the years, U2’s generosity has delivered nearly $23 million for (RED)’s fight to end AIDS. Thanks to U2 and U2 fans everywhere for helping (RED) make preventable and treatable disease preventable and treatable for everyone.”

MSG Entertainment boss James Dolan recently offered an update on the company’s contentious plans for MSG London Sphere, saying the scheme was “moving forward”.

Elsewhere, Post Malone has been confirmed as the opening act at another new Las Vegas venue, the BleauLive Theater. The rapper will play two shows at the 3,800-cap venue from 30-31 December, while Kylie Minogue will be the first headliner of The Venetian Resort Las Vegas’ intimate 1,000-seat venue, Voltaire, which opens on 3 November.

 


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.

U2’s Las Vegas Sphere premiere wows critics

U2 have won widespread critical acclaim after ushering in “a new era in live entertainment” with the premiere of their U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency.

The Irish legends launched the 25-show run on Friday (29 September) to open Sphere Entertainment’s $2.3 billion Sphere at The Venetian in Las Vegas, US.

Based around U2’s classic 1991 album Achtung Baby, the residency at the cutting-edge 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue marks the band’s first live concerts since 2019. Dutch musician Bram van den Berg has stepped in as a temporary replacement for drummer Larry Mullen Jr, who will miss the gigs as he takes time out due to surgery.

The fully-immersive show, which sees the group reunite with longtime creative collaborator and show director Willie Williams, utilises every part of Sphere’s LED screen – showcasing bespoke art from renowned artists including Es Devlin, John Gerrard, Marco Brambilla and Industrial Light & Magic, while performing on a Brian Eno-inspired turntable stage.

Variety‘s Chris Willman lauded the performance as “the greatest-show-on-earth”, concluding that it “marks the apotheosis of a bigger-is-better ethos that has regularly occurred throughout the band’s career”.

“What U2 are doing in the Sphere is going to have an impact on the whole of live entertainment”

“Not to take any credit away from U2, but the most impressive moment of the Sphere show may be when you first walk in the room,” added Willman. “And that happens on two levels, literally. Above you, that massive domed ceiling has been made to look like you are in some industrial grain silo that has been constructed sky-high.

“It’s an immediate indication of some of the offbeat photorealism you will be in for. But at the same time, if you’re on one of the lower levels of the multi-tiered auditorium, looking out over the general-admission SRO floor, and block out what’s hovering over you (which is surprisingly easy to do), you suddenly feel like you’re in the world’s coolest nightclub.”

The Telegraph‘s Neil McCormick rated the show 5/5, adding: “In the wrong hands, this technology could be quite nauseating. But U2 are past masters when it comes to the emotional dynamics of a show… The focus (for the most part) remained very much on the band on a surprisingly spartan stage, with nothing between them and the audience. They may have been high-definition on the vast screen, but they were also right there in the flesh.

“They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Not this time, I think. What U2 are doing in the Sphere is going to have an impact on the whole of live entertainment.”

“It works so well that, like Abba’s Voyage show, you leave feeling confident this is an idea others are going to copy”

In another five-star review, the Guardian‘s Alexis Petridis concluded: “This cocktail of eye-popping visuals and slightly unruly performances absolutely works, allaying any concerns that a band from the post-punk era and the old showbiz connotations of a residency in Las Vegas constitute a slightly uncomfortable fit, regardless of how many millions of records the band has sold, or how mainstream an audience they’ve attracted in the interim. Indeed, it works so well that, like Abba’s Voyage show, you leave feeling confident this is an idea others are going to copy.”

NME also awarded the gig full marks, with Damian Jones writing: “Despite the early onslaught of breathtaking visuals, surprisingly the band almost abandon them for a good middle section of the show.

“Edge previously pointed out that U2 are taking the live concert experience ‘to the next level’ and this opening night does a fine balancing act of doing just that while also ensuring their music remains very much at the forefront.”

The New York Times‘ Jon Caramanica was rather less complimentary, writing: “Impressively detailed and lightly shocking, Sphere registers in intensity if not scale — at 366 feet, it is not even one of the 40 tallest buildings in Las Vegas. But on some level, its power is grounded simply in the novelty of the shape, even in a town that already has a pyramid and a palace and a castle.

“But inside it is, simply, a concert venue, albeit one with distinct advantages and challenges. In dry stretches, when the space between the band and the huge screen and the crowd was palpable, the result paralleled the airy emptiness of a corporate convention gig. In a stadium show, you can almost obscure a low-enthusiasm performance — here there was nowhere to hide.

“That’s because, despite the visual ambition the space demands, little of that burden falls on the band itself, which is largely confined to the size of stage one might find in any regional theatre across the country. It is a strangely vulnerable and inelegant setup for what is essentially a sinecure gig for a still-craved band.”

“I’ll tell you who is one hard worker: James Dolan… Thank you for this wondrous place”

Ticket prices started at $140 for the residency, which runs until 16 December, with 60% of tickets priced under $300 and more than one million ticket requests received. Celebrities in attendance on the opening night included Paul McCartney, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry, Jimmy Iovine, Lars Ulrich, Oprah, Matt Damon and Orlando Bloom.

The Sphere boasts the first 16K screen that wraps up, around, and behind the audience, plus Sphere Immersive Sound and 4D technologies. The 580,000 sq ft fully programmable LED screen comprises approximately 1.2 million LED pucks, each containing 48 individual LED diodes that can display 256 million different colours. Further live music headliners are yet to be announced.

The Sphere is the brainchild of Madison Square Garden Entertainment boss James Dolan, whom Rolling Stone reports earned a special shout out from Bono at the show, alongside Irving and Jeffrey Azoff, Arthur Fogel, Michael Rapino, and U2’s former managers Paul McGuinness and Guy Oseary,

“I’ll tell you who is one hard worker: James Dolan,” said the frontman. “Thank you for the Sphere. You’re one mad bastard. Thank you for this wondrous place.”

 


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.

MSG Sphere Vegas reveals ‘world’s biggest LED screen’

The MSG Sphere in Las Vegas revealed one of its flashiest features earlier this week – an 580,000 sq ft fully programmable LED screen, touted as the largest on earth.

As part of a special show to celebrate the Fouth of July, the ‘Exosphere’ lit up with a captivating display of dynamic, animated content for the first time ever.

With thousands of spectators watching from the Las Strip, the show started with a welcome message, “Hello world”, followed by fireworks and stars and stripes animations, a moon in a night sky and an imposing Halloween pumpkin.

“Sphere’s Exosphere is a 360-degree canvas for brand storytelling that will be seen around the world, offering our partners an unparalleled opportunity to become part of the greatest show on Earth,” says David Hopkinson, president and COO of MSG Sports, who oversees global marketing and brand partnerships across Sphere Ent.and the MSG companies, in a statement.

The Exosphere comprises approximately 1.2 million LED pucks, each containing 48 individual LED diodes that can display 256 million different colours that will transform the Vegas skyline.

The Sphere is located behind the Strip’s well-known Venetian Resort with a pedestrian bridge connecting the two sites.

“Sphere’s Exosphere is a 360-degree canvas for brand storytelling that will be seen around the world”

“There’s nothing comparable to the impact from displaying innovative brand and immersive content on the world’s largest video screen,” Hopkinson continued. “The extraordinary experiences we can create are only limited by imagination, and we’re thrilled to finally share with the world the spectacular potential of the Exosphere.”

The venue is set to open on 29 September with U2’s residency, U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere, which elicited a million ticket request registrations for its on-sale.

This special run of concerts – based around the group’s classic 1991 album Achtung Baby, marks their first live outing in four years, following The Joshua Tree 30th anniversary stadium tour, which was seen by 3.28 million fans worldwide from 2017-19, and grossed US$390.8 million.

MSG Sphere will introduce the first 16K screen that wraps up, around, and behind the audience, and also boasts Sphere Immersive Sound and 4D technologies.

In May, Sphere increased the estimated construction cost of the venue, inclusive of technology and soft costs, to $2.3 billion.

A similar project has been proposed for east London but has hit significant delays.

 


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.

U2 confirm dates for Vegas Sphere residency

Sphere Entertainment and Live Nation have announced the dates for the U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere residency, which will launch the Sphere at The Venetian in Las Vegas this autumn.

The legendary rock band will bring the “first-of-its-kind live music experience” to the 20,000-cap MSG venue for the five-show run on 29-30 September and 5, 7-8 October.

Tickets start at US$140 (€127) and will reflect all-in pricing. Promoters say the larger capacity allows for 60% of tickets to be priced under $300, while there will also be a limited number of premium priced tickets per show.

U2.com subscribers will have first access to tickets through Ticketmaster Request, which is open until Wednesday 26 April at 10am ET. There will then be a Ticketmaster Verified Fan presale. Fans who are selected to receive an access code will be able to participate in presale starting on Thursday 27 April. Any remaining tickets will then be sold during Friday’s general sale.

In an effort to minimise resale and keep ticket prices at face value for fans, GA floor tickets may only be resold at the original purchase price using the Ticketmaster Face Value Exchange.

At each performance, 50 tickets to experience the show from an exclusive VIP riser will be made available for purchase benefitting (RED), the organisation founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to fight AIDS.

The Irish group announced the project via a commercial during February’s Super Bowl

Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. will miss the gigs as he takes time out to undergo and recuperate from surgery in 2023, with Bram van den Berg set to step in as a temporary replacement.

The Irish group announced the project via a commercial during February’s Super Bowl, and recently gave Apple Music’s Zane Lowe a sneak preview tour of the Sphere and a glimpse into their ideas as they begin to create the production.

Vibee, the new music-led destination experience company founded by Live Nation, will be the exclusive Hotel Package and VIP Experience provider for the residency, offering a range of elevated hospitality packages.

This special run of concerts – based around the group’s classic 1991 album Achtung Baby – will see them work once again with longtime U2 creative collaborator and show director Willie Williams.

It marks their first live outing in four years, following The Joshua Tree 30th anniversary stadium tour, which was seen by 3.28 million fans worldwide from 2017-19, and grossed US$390.8 million. Their 2018 Experience + Innocence arena tour also played to a combined audience of almost one million across Europe and North America.

Last week, Madison Square Garden Entertainment announced “Sphere Experiences” as part of its opening programming at MSG Sphere at The Venetian in Las Vegas. The concept will launch this October with a “first-of-its-kind” immersive production Postcard from Earth.

MSG Sphere will introduce the first 16K screen that wraps up, around, and behind the audience, and also boasts Sphere Immersive Sound and 4D technologies.

 


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.

MSG Entertainment announces ‘Sphere Experiences’

Madison Square Garden Entertainment has announced “Sphere Experiences” as part of its opening programming at MSG Sphere at The Venetian in Las Vegas.

One of the core content categories to be featured at the 20,000-cap venue, the experiences concept will launch this October with a “first-of-its-kind” immersive production Postcard from Earth.

The result of collaborations between Sphere Studios – Sphere’s in-house creative and production studio – and acclaimed storytellers and creatives, Sphere Experiences are original immersive productions designed exclusively for the facility. Each Sphere Experience will be approximately 60 minutes in length, and productions are slated to run multiple times per day, year-round.

“We are redefining the future of entertainment through Sphere,” says James L. Dolan, executive chairman and CEO, MSG Entertainment. “Sphere provides a new medium for directors, artists, and brands to create experiences that cannot be seen or told anywhere else, and Sphere Experiences are just one of the ways we will use the venue’s technologies to engage the senses and transport audiences to places both real and imagined.

Postcard from Earth will set a new bar for multi-sensory storytelling possibilities”

Postcard from Earth will set a new bar for multi-sensory storytelling possibilities, and we look forward to having audiences experience it at Sphere this fall.”

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Postcard from Earth project will be directed by filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, with production currently underway. As the first Sphere Experience, it will “utilise the full breadth of Sphere’s technological capabilities to create a multi-sensory storytelling journey”.

MSG Sphere will introduce the first 16K screen that wraps up, around, and behind the audience, and also boasts Sphere Immersive Sound and 4D technologies. U2 will launch the venue this autumn with the U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere residency.

Earlier this year, MSG promoted long-serving executive Josephine Vaccarello to EVP, live. Vaccarello will lead the company’s live entertainment bookings across all of its venues, including MSG Sphere Las Vegas

 


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.

U2 residency to launch MSG Sphere Las Vegas

U2 will launch the state-of-the-art MSG Sphere at The Venetian in Las Vegas with a residency this autumn.

The band announced the project, U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere, via a commercial during yesterday’s Super Bowl. Information regarding the Live Nation-presented show dates and on sale details is still to be announced.

Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. will miss the gigs as he takes time out to undergo and recuperate from surgery in 2023, with Bram van den Berg set to step in as a temporary replacement.

Bono, The Edge and Adam say, “It’s going to take all we’ve got to approach the Sphere without our bandmate in the drum seat, but Larry has joined us in welcoming Bram van den Berg who is a force in his own right.

“The Sphere show has been in the works for a long time. We don’t want to let people down, least of all our audience… the truth is we miss them as much as they appear to miss us… our audience was always the fifth member of the band.”

“The Sphere is more than just a venue, it’s a gallery and U2’s music is going to be all over the walls”

This special run of concerts – based around the group’s classic 1991 album Achtung Baby, marks their first live outing in four years, following The Joshua Tree 30th anniversary stadium tour, which was seen by 3.28 million fans worldwide from 2017-19, and grossed US$390.8 million.

Their 2018 Experience + Innocence arena tour also played to a combined audience of almost one million across Europe and North America.

“Bottom line, U2 hasn’t played live since December 2019 and we need to get back on stage and see the faces of our fans again,” add the trio. “And what a unique stage they’re building for us out there in the desert… We’re the right band, Achtung Baby the right album, and the Sphere the right venue to take the live experience of music to the next level… That’s what U2’s been trying to do all along with our satellite stages and video installations, most memorably on the ZOO TV Tour, which ended in Tokyo 30 years ago this fall.

“The Sphere is more than just a venue, it’s a gallery and U2’s music is going to be all over the walls.”

“MSG Sphere’s advanced technology allows a legendary band like U2 to bring its music to life in entirely new ways”

MSG Sphere will introduce the first 16K screen that wraps up, around, and behind the audience, and also boasts Sphere Immersive Sound and 4D technologies.

“The beauty of the Sphere is not only the ground-breaking technology that will make it so unique, with the world’s most advanced audio system, integrated into a structure which is designed with sound quality as a priority; it’s also the possibilities around immersive experience in real and imaginary landscapes,” adds The Edge. “In short, it’s a canvas of an unparalleled scale and image resolution and a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We all thought about it and decided we’d be mad not to accept the invitation.”

“MSG Sphere’s advanced technology allows a legendary band like U2 to bring its music to life in entirely new ways,” says Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) Corp. executive chairman and CEO James L. Dolan. “The Sphere is a new medium that will redefine entertainment.”

Last month, MSG promoted long-serving executive Josephine Vaccarello to EVP, live. Vaccarello will lead the company’s live entertainment bookings across all of its venues, including MSG Sphere Las Vegas

Madison Square Garden’s controversial MSG Sphere London scheme recently overcame another hurdle after officials backed its digital advertising display plans. The proposed venue, which was approved in principal in March last year, will be covered in LED panels designed to display “moving images, artistic content and branded advertising across the entire façade of the building”.

Despite a number of objections from various parties, the scheme won the support of the London Legacy Development Corporation’s (LLDC) at a meeting on 24 January, subject to a five-year review.

 


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.