K-pop's 'Big Four' unite for global music festival joint venture HYBE, JYP Entertainment, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment are coming together to launch a touring event "bigger than Coachella"

South Korea’s four major entertainment companies – HYBE, JYP Entertainment, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment – are preparing to establish a joint venture to launch a global touring music festival.

Live Nation shares dip in wake of monopoly trial verdict "The jury's verdict is not the last word on this matter" says entertainment giant, while opponents push for breakup

Live Nation shares fell more than 6% yesterday (15 April) afternoon, following the news that the entertainment giant had been found to have been acting monopolistically by a New York jury.

Jury finds Live Nation has acted as a monopoly Blockbuster New York trial, which could reshape the US concert and ticketing market, finds that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have acted in a monopolistic manner

In a verdict that has the potential to reshape the live entertainment market in the US, the New York jury has found that the world’s biggest live entertainment company illegally maintained monopoly power in the US ticketing and concert market.

Venu reverses proposed $75m public offering The US-based venue developer and operator changed course a day after announcing its intention to open common stock shares

Venu Holding Corporation, a US-based live entertainment venue developer and operator, has rescinded an offering of $75 million (€62.7m) in common stock shares one day after announcing the intention.

European Festival Survey: Only one-sixth of festivals sell out Key findings from IQ’s survey show that just 17% of festivals in Europe reported a complete sell-out, while a portion navigated boycott calls

IQ‘s newly released European Festival Survey 2025 paints a sector in flux, but events in their early years appear to be lasting the course.

“Welcome to the Robnaissance!” blared headlines earlier this summer. Except, can you call it a comeback if Robbie Williams has never really been away?

Read the tour report now at www.iqmagazine.com/2025/09/love....

Music festivals 'becoming the new family holiday' | IQ Magazine Ticketmaster's State of Play: Festivals 2025 report has revealed a multi-generational shift – and a rise in solo festivalgoers

Music festivals are emerging as a viable alternative to traditional family holidays – while solo festivalgoers are on the rise – according to a new Ticketmaster UK study.

'Art should be allowed to drive us forward' | IQ Magazine Syd For Solen organisers discuss how artists mixed politics with performance during the fourth edition of the Copenhagen festival

The team behind Denmark’s Syd For Solen festival have discussed the “privilege” of giving artists a platform to discuss humanitarian issues, following a successful fourth edition.

Summer of streaming: Festivals report viewership boom | IQ Magazine From terrestrial TV to TikTok, broadcasting partnerships are helping festivals, artists and brands garner bigger audiences than ever before

Major festivals have reported huge increases in global livestream and broadcast viewership this summer, with year-on-year increases of up to 324%.

Sziget reacts after Kneecap banned from Hungary | IQ Magazine "This is an unprecedented move which we believe is both unnecessary and regrettable," says the festival following the government's decision

#Sziget Festival organisers say that “cancel culture and cultural boycotts are not the solution” after the Hungarian government took the “unprecedented” step of banning #Kneecap from the country.

London 'leading the global music scene' | IQ Magazine The UK capital will welcome over 3.6m music fans this summer for concerts including ten nights with Coldplay and seven with Oasis

James Hanley | London 'Undisputed Capital Of Music' w/ 3.6M Concert Attendees Expected This Summer | @iqmagazine.com‬

www.iqmagazine.com/2025/07/lond...

Jim King promoted to CEO of AEG Presents UK | IQ Magazine In addition, Steve Homer will transition to a new position as president, UK touring, in the "newly realigned business"

AEG Presents has promoted Jim King to the role of CEO of AEG Presents UK and European festivals.

BST Hyde Park 2025 caps 'historic year for London' | IQ Magazine Neil Young and Stevie Wonder brought this year's concert series to a close after Jeff Lynne's ELO were forced to cancel

Neil Young and Stevie Wonder brought AEG’s BST Hyde Park 2025 to a close after around half a million people flocked to the London concert series over three weekends.

Perfect timing: When to unveil your festival bill | IQ Magazine With some gatherings now announcing headliners a year in advance, IQ gathers a mix of top events to explain their inner workings

The 2025 European festival season was barely underway when the first announcements for next summer started filtering through.

With some gatherings now announcing headliners a year in advance, IQ gathers a mix of top events to explain their inner workings...

Flying in the face of adversity | IQ Magazine The prospects for queer acts touring internationally have never been more complex, so how are those affected hoping to break down barriers?

The prospects for queer acts touring internationally have never been more complex, so how are those affected hoping to break down barriers?

Our latest feautre is now live:

🌎 NEW ANNUAL: GLOBAL ARENA GUIDE 2025 🌎

Even more expansive than 2024, this year's Guide features 70 country reports and a directory of key contact information for 600+ #arenas worldwide.

🌎 Read now: lnkd.in/eGciNa6g
📖 Or buy a copy: iqmag.square.site

IQ Magazine's 2025 Pride List has landed! 🍬

Our fifth roundup of LGBTQ+ executives making an impact on the international live music business, as nominated by our readers, have gone above and beyond to wave the flag for a more diverse and inclusive industry 🏳️‍🌈

🔗 www.iqmagazine.com/2025/06/lgbt...

IT'S QUEER & IT'S HERE: IQ 136 HAS LANDED 🏳️‍🌈

We're coming out... with the fifth-annual #Pride issue of IQ! Supported by #Ticketmaster, IQ 136 is hitting desks this week ahead as #PrideMonth gets into full swing.

🏳️‍🌈 Read now: iqmagazine.com/publications/iq-magazine
📖 Or buy a copy: iqmag.square.site

Industry remembers 'musical genius' Brian Wilson | IQ Magazine UTA's Neil Warnock and a host of other music figures have paid tribute to the Beach Boys co-founder following his death aged 82

UTA's Neil Warnock and a host of other music figures have paid tribute to The Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson, following his death aged 82

Goldman Sachs hails 'insatiable demand' for live | IQ Magazine The live music market will be worth $67.1bn in net revenue by 2035, according to the investment bank's latest Music in the Air report

Lisa Henderson | Goldman Sachs Claims There Is An ‘Insatiable Demand’ For Live Music | @iqmagazine.com‬

www.iqmagazine.com/2025/06/gold...

Global stadium tours expose flaws in resale markets | IQ Magazine Fans hoping to see Oasis, Blackpink, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, or Zach Bryan this summer might pay a premium price depending on venue location

With sold-out stadium tours & festivals fast-approaching this summer, @iqmagazine.com spoke to FEAT Director @sammy-s.bsky.social to dive into the effectiveness of ticket resale regulation across Europe 🎵

www.iqmagazine.com/2025/06/glob...

Dice acquired by tech platform Fever | IQ Magazine The companies say they have joined forces to build the "world’s leading independent live entertainment tech platform"

Live entertainment discovery platform Fever has announced the acquisition of ticketing firm Dice to build the “world’s leading independent live entertainment tech platform”.

Kneecap member charged with terror offence | IQ Magazine Senior industry figures press Glastonbury to drop the band from the lineup amid band member Mo Chara's charge

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh from Irish band #Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London gig.

Are major tours too focused on A-list markets? | IQ Magazine With international superstars increasingly concentrating on select cities, IQ investigates the implications of the trend

Are major tours too focused on A-list markets?

The trend of major international tours becoming ever more concentrated in A-list markets has sparked divergent views among live music executives.

'Constantly evolving' Sziget unveils site revamp | IQ Magazine The Hungarian event is shaking up its offering as it looks to "strengthen its position among the world’s leading festivals"

Organisers of Hungary’s #Sziget have unveiled a shake-up of the festival site as part of a multi-year strategy focused on “innovation”.

www.iqmagazine.com/2025/05/cons...

Eclectic mix: The festival lineup revolution | IQ Magazine Organisers from Sziget, Estéreo Picnic & Electric Castle speak to IQ about why the traditional rules no longer apply

Festivals worldwide are reaping the rewards of diversifying their lineups as audience tastes evolve, organisers tell IQ.

US Latin festival axed over 'political climate' | IQ Magazine Organisers of Chicago's Michelada Fest cited uncertainty with artist visas, adding to a recent trend for international touring musicians

Chicago’s Michelada Fest, a Latin music festival in the US, has cancelled its 2025 edition due to a “rapidly changing political climate” across the nation.

Organisers cited uncertainty with artist visas, adding to a recent trend for international touring musicians.

Live Nation hails global acts amid 'historic year' | IQ Magazine Posting its financial results for Q1 2025, the company says ticket sales for non English-speaking artists have rocketed since 2019

Ticket sales for non-English-speaking artists have nearly tripled pre-pandemic levels as the global artist pipeline continues to grow, #LiveNation has revealed in its Q1 2025 earnings report.

New Superstruct CEO as Channel 4 boss takes helm | IQ Magazine Alex Mahon, who was named as the UK channel's first female CEO in 2017, is to become the new boss of the festival giant

Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon is to become the new CEO of festival giant Superstruct Entertainment.

First lawsuit filed over DR nightclub disaster | IQ Magazine Relatives of a police officer who died in the Jet Set club roof collapse are seeking manslaughter charges against the venue's owners

The first lawsuit has been filed against the owners of the Jet Set nightclub over the disaster that killed at least 231 people in the Dominican Republic.