OneRepublic made history as the first American band to perform during China’s Spring Festival Gala, the country’s biggest televised event.

First aired in 1983, the long-running annual variety show is a key cultural event during the Lunar New Year and is broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV).

This year’s five-hour live programme, which took place on 29 January, drew a record-breaking 496 million livestream views, up 18% year-on-year.

Produced by China Media Group, the show includes music, dance, opera, martial arts, and comedy, shaping pop culture and national conversation around the Lunar New Year.

OneRepublic’s performance of their hit song Counting Stars in front of Wuhan’s famous Yellow Crane Tower marked a rare English-language set at the Spring Festival Gala.

“By featuring OneRepublic, the gala not only added a touch of international flair but also sent a message of China’s cultural openness,” CCTV said.

“By featuring OneRepublic, the gala not only added a touch of international flair but also sent a message of China’s cultural openness”

The rare performance comes as China makes a concerted push for international artists in the country. It was reported earlier this month that Shanghai officials held preliminary talks with Taylor Swift about a potential concert in the capital this year.

Last year, advisers to the Shanghai government referred to superstars such as Swift as “walking GDP” because of their massive economic impact, and called for restrictions on international performers to be relaxed to host more high-profile shows.

The counsellors’ office of the Shanghai municipal government said on its social media account last year that government departments should streamline approvals, visas, customs and other logistical challenges that limited the potential to attract top-tier talent.

China’s financial hub has hosted many large-scale, commercial performances in recent years, but “it lacks stars that are weighty, internationally influential or truly appealing to young people,” the counsellors’ office said in an article posted on its official WeChat account.

Spilt Works managing director Archie Hamilton spoke to IQ late last year about the future of international acts performing in China.

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A new 8,000-capacity venue called The Ford Amphitheatre has opened in the US state of Colorado.

The open-air venue in Colorado Springs is owned by local live entertainment company VENU and operated in partnership with AEG Presents.

Grammy Award-winning band and Colorado Springs natives OneRepublic inaugurated the amphitheatre on Friday 9 August with the first of three sold-out shows.

Band members Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins were also presented with the Spirit of the Springs award for their “notable achievements and lifelong contributions to the city”.

“The opening of Ford Amphitheater marks a new era in live entertainment for Colorado Spring”

“With the overwhelming response and success of three sold-out shows with OneRepublic opening weekend, Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs is set to redefine the live music experience and is the future of live entertainment in the region,” says Brent Fedrizzi from AEG Presents.

JW Roth, founder and chairman of VENU, adds: “The opening of Ford Amphitheater marks a new era in live entertainment for Colorado Springs. This weekend’s events were a testament to the power of music in bringing people together. We are beyond thrilled to have launched this venue with such a momentous occasion and look forward to many more memorable nights ahead.”

The Ford Amphitheatre soft-launched on 6 August with performances by School of Rock, The Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and country music star Phil Vassar.

Upcoming concerts at the venue include The Beach Boys, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Walker Hayes, John Fogerty and Dierks Bentley.

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Singapore Grand Prix is the latest Formula 1 event to secure a blockbuster lineup for 2024, headlined by Kylie Minogue, OneRepublic and Lenny Kravitz.

The motor racing event, set for 20–22 September at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, will offer more than 100 hours of entertainment across 12 stages.

Disclosure, The Corrs, Kool & The Gang, BabyMonster, Tones And I, James Murphy (DFA/LCD Soundsystem), Tones And I, Dean Lewis and Kelis are also set to perform, with single-day walkabout tickets starting from $128.

F1 Grand Prix lineups have gone from strength to strength since the company was acquired by Live Nation shareholder Liberty Media in 2017.

Earlier this month, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone offered four days of live music, headlined by Kings Of Leon, Stormzy, Rudimental and Pete Tong, at no extra cost to ticket holders.

“The inspiration and the intent has come from Formula 1 being under new ownership”

The famous motor racing circuit even reconfigured its music arena for an increased capacity of 60,000, plus enhanced viewing and a bigger stage.

Silverstone director of music Jamie Scott told IQ last year that “the inspiration and the intent has come from Formula 1 being under new ownership,” says Scott. “Clearly, the entertainment value is an important aspect now with other races [too].”

Indeed, the inaugural F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix took place last year with artists including J Balvin, Journey, Keith Urban, Steve Aoki, will.i.am, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Bishop Briggs and Swedish House Mafia.

In May, Miami’s Grand Prix took place with performances from Ed Sheeran, John Summit, Steve Aoki, Don Omar and Kaskade.

While the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024, set for 5–8 December at the Yas Marina Circuit, has already announced Eminem, Muse and Maroon 5.

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MTV has announced that OneRepublic will headline Europe’s biggest free summer festival, Isle of MTV Malta 2023.

The Ryan Tedder-fronted band will top the bill at the event, now in its 15th year, at the 50,000-cap Il-Fosos Square on 18 July, with additional performers to be confirmed.

The festival, which is staged in partnership with the Malta Tourism Authority, will be followed by Isle of MTV Malta Music Week, a series of club nights and parties across venues on the island from 18-23 July.

“Isle of MTV Malta’s 15th year is going to be bigger than ever as we once again light up il-Fosos Square with epic performances from today’s top artists,” says Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming & events, Paramount and chief content officer, music, Paramount+. “OneRepublic are long-time friends of MTV and, after their epic performance at the 2022 MTV EMAs, we can’t wait to see them wow fans in Malta.”

“It offers a fantastic opportunity for Maltese artists to exhibit their talents on the international stage”

Over its 14 editions, Isle of MTV Malta has welcomed acts such as Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, David Guetta and Martin Garrix.

“Isle of MTV has always been of great importance for Malta as it not only brings together thousands of music fans from all over Europe but is a sterling platform to showcase the island’s unique and vibrant entertainment scene,” adds Malta’s minister for tourism Clayton Bartolo. “In conjunction with renowned names in the music world, it offers a fantastic opportunity for Maltese artists to exhibit their talents on the international stage which in turn promotes Maltese culture and helps to enhance the island’s rich artistic heritage.”

The event will broadcast on MTV on 15 September in more than 150 countries across TV, digital and social channels.

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Leading UK festival Wireless is expanding to Abu Dhabi in 2023.

The event, which specialises in hip-hop, grime, Afrobeats and electronic music, will debut in the UAE capital on 4 March next year.

Launched in 2005, its most recent edition of Wireless was held across three sites – Crystal Palace Park and Finsbury Park in London, and the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham – in July with headliners A$AP Rocky, J. Cole, Tyler, the Creator, Dave, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, and SZA.

“With more than 200 nationalities living in the UAE, it is important we constantly track changing music tastes that are reflective of such a diverse population,” says James Craven, president of Live Nation MENA.

“The launch of Wireless Festival in Abu Dhabi next March will be a huge draw to urban music fans throughout the region”

“Hip-hop remains one of the most popular genres throughout the region and the launch of Wireless Festival in Abu Dhabi next March will be a huge draw to urban music fans throughout the region. The festival will showcase some of the biggest international hip-hop stars but will also provide a platform for local artists too.”

Wireless promoter Live Nation has also revealed details of its first ever live music festival in Abu Dhabi, Amplified Music Festival, which launches at Yas Links, Yas Island from 11-13 November, with headliners OneRepublic, Ministry of Sound Disco and Cigarettes After Sex.

Day tickets cost from 149AED (€41), with three-day Golden Circle passes priced at 499AED (€138).

In addition, Abu Dhabi’s 2022/23 winter season includes shows by artists such as Sting, Andrea Bocelli and A. R. Rahman, as well as the Club Social Festival from 28-30 October, featuring Liam Gallagher, Kaiser Chiefs and Clean Bandit.

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OneRepublic has become the first major-label US act to accept the cryptocurrency Bitcoin as full payment for a concert, according to the band’s reps.

The payment was for an intimate acoustic show at historical venue, Haydn Hall, outside of Vienna, Austria, on 16 November.

The Grammy award-winning band used peer-to-peer Bitcoin payment app, Strike, to accept payment for the gig, which is said to have sold out in a matter of minutes.

“My band and I are so happy to be a part of something that we believe is, without question, the future of how payments are transacted for unlimited amounts of assets, performances, services, purchases, music, etc. around the world,” says OneRepublic singer Ryan Tedder, whose interest in the NFT space is well documented.

“Without question, [this is] the future of how payments are transacted for unlimited amounts of assets around the world”

“Whether it’s artists using NFTs to fund albums with their fans or bands being paid for concerts in crypto, music & tech go hand in hand. With that in mind, it only made sense for us to take the next logical step. I also have an upcoming private concert in December I’m planning on taking Bitcoin for.”

The live music industry is increasingly adopting cryptocurrency for varying purposes. Recently, it was announced that AEG’s Staples Center in Los Angeles is to be renamed the Crypto.com Arena as part of a new 20-year naming rights deal.

Elsewhere, Universal Music Group has formed an ‘NFT supergroup’ made entirely out of digital apes, which will perform across and participate in video games, virtual-reality apps and the metaverse.

Live Nation is also capitalising on the trend by collaborating with artists to launch digital collectable NFT ticket stubs.

Kings of Leon, Grimes, Shawn Mendes, Steve Aoki, Quavo, Lil Baby, 2 Chainz, Jack Harlow, Tory Lanez, Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, 3lau, Ozuna are among the artists who have released collections of NFTs.

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Five major international acts will play their maiden shows in Singapore this September, joining Duran Duran and OneRepublic for after-race concerts at the Singaporean grand prix.

Race promoter Singapore GP yesterday announced the first wave of artists for this year’s shows – a tradition of Singaporean grands prix since the race’s revival in 2008 – bringing The Chainsmokers, Ariana Grande, Seal, Lianne La Havas and British rapper George the Poet for their debut performances in the city-state over three days in late September.

Duran Duran, who played their last Singaporean show in 2012, will perform on both Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September, with the other acts playing a single day apiece. More performers are set to be announced in future.

Liberty Media, which holds a significant minority stake in Live Nation, acquired grand prix organiser Formula 1 last September.

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