OneRepublic to headline Isle of MTV Malta 2023
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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Wireless Festival to launch in Abu Dhabi
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 ‘first major US act to accept Bitcoin for gig’
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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5 Singapore debuts at September grand prix
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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