Welcome To The Future: Brad Paisley On Bringing Back Live
Posted: 6 Aug 2020, 3:00 am
Brad Paisley and his band were doing their thing on stage in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, March 12 when they got word of The End of the World as We Know It. And the band played on.
Wacken World Wide Counts 11 Million Live Content Views
Posted: 5 Aug 2020, 6:04 am
To make up for the first summer without Wacken in the festival's 31-year history, promoter ICS teamed up with German telco giant Telekom for a mixed-reality live program, July 29-Aug. 1, dubbed Wacken World Wide.
Mitch Slater: In Memoriam - A Conversation With Longtime Partner And NY Promoter Legend Ron Delsener
Posted: 4 Aug 2020, 12:00 pm
Over the course of his illustrious four-decade career, Mitch Slater developed a lot of friends and colleagues ? as well as competitors ? in the concert industry but no relationship was as long or as close as the one he had with Ron Delsener.
‘The Other Mitch Slater’ Remembers His Summer Camp Bunkmate
Posted: 4 Aug 2020, 11:30 am
This photo, taken in the summer of ?69 at Camp Winadu in the Berkshires, was always special to me. Imagine the irony of two kids having the same name becoming bunkmates. I remember
Nitelive Artists: Goodlive Launches Agency In Germany
Posted: 4 Aug 2020, 9:48 am
Goodlive Artists GmbH, which is the booking and touring division of German live entertainment company Goodlive, has launched a new agency by the name of Nitelive Artsts.
Q's With: Marcus King On Recreating ‘The Last Waltz’ And Making The Most Of Quarantine
Posted: 3 Aug 2020, 11:55 am
Marcus King ? the 24-year-old guitar prodigy and leader of The Marcus King Band ? found his solo full-length debut, El Dorado (produced by Dan Auerbach), and headlining tour sidelined thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but isn?t letting that stop him from performing. With the advent of livestreaming, he?s been able to play from his living room but decided he wanted to do something bigger.
'A Very Special Energy': ATC Management's Ric Salmon On Creating The Next Level Livestream
Posted: 3 Aug 2020, 11:45 am
"In history, real innovation tends to come from turmoil," said ATC Management director Ric Salmon, referring, of course, to the ongoing Covid crisis, which has immobilized the live events industry.
'No Better Group Of People To Find The Solution': UK Production Industry Joins Forces
Posted: 3 Aug 2020, 11:45 am
Professionals from across the global concert touring industry have joined forces to form the PSA Tour Production Group (PSA TPG), in order to provide a unified response to the impact of COVID-19 on live music events.
Microsoft In Talks To Buy TikTok After Trump Threatens Ban
Posted: 3 Aug 2020, 11:26 am
Microsoft is in advanced talks to buy the U.S. operations of TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned video app that has been a source of national security and censorship concerns, according to a person familiar with the discussions who spoke only on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity to the negotiations.
More than three years after the highly publicized Fyre Festival famously fizzled out in the Bahamas, merchandise and other "minor assets" are up for sale ? courtesy of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Sets Socially Distanced Standard With Outdoor, In-Person Shows
Posted: 3 Aug 2020, 10:41 am
As Europe has served as an example of how to put on drive-in shows, socially distanced arena concerts and even the odd outdoor in-person concert during the coronavirus pandemic, traditional concert venues on this side of the pond are getting back into the swing of things as well.
In Celebration of the Team?s First Game of the 2019-20 Restart, Golden 1 Center Offers Takeout Menu of Gameday Favorites for Curbside Pickup Beginning July 31
Today, the Sacramento Kings and Golden 1 Center announced the launch of the first NBA curbside pickup menu program featuring contactless payment powered by Rooam, a technology company focused on providing easy-to-use mobile payment solutions. This collaboration builds on the team?s technology leadership to enable fans to order and pay their check directly from their phone. Available beginning Friday, July 31, the Kings, Golden 1 Center and Legends Hospitality, the team?s hospitality and culinary partner, will offer a takeout menu of gameday favorites such as burgers, hot dogs, nachos, cookies and popcorn as well as Bogle Proud Roots wine and beer.
?We are committed to reimagining the fan experience using innovative solutions during this unprecedented time,? said Sacramento Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart. ?Rooam?s contactless payment technology enables us to safely engage with our fans while celebrating the return of basketball with Golden 1 Center gameday menu favorites.?
“Rooam is the leading contactless payment solution in the country,” said Rooam CEO Junaid Shams. “The Kings are leaders in implementing new technology to improve the fan experience. Together, we will be at the forefront of innovation, building a blueprint for other sports and entertainment venues to follow during COVID.”
As fans enjoy the return of game action on Kings TV and radio, they can pre-order food through the Sacramento Kings + Golden 1 Center App or order day-of for real-time takeout at Golden 1 Center to enjoy as they cheer on the team. Curbside pickup will take place on L Street between 6th and 7th street beginning three hours prior to tip and close one hour after the game starts. This offer will be available on gamedays the entire time the team plays in Orlando.
View the full menu offered for contactless curbside pickup HERE.
For years, the Kings have put safety, convenience, and innovation top of mind at Golden 1 Center. Earlier this season, the Kings opened the world?s in-arena checkout-free convenience store through a partnership with Zippin, allowing visitors to walk in, grab an item, and walk out in under 30 seconds. In February, the team partnered with Intel to launch the league?s first research and development (R&D) site at Golden 1 Center to test the next generation of immersive video technology and became the first arena in the world to let suite and loft guests pour their own drinks through an Internet of Things (IoT) powered device and mobile app called NINA. In March, the Kings announced an NBA?s first digital membership pass with the ability to deliver real-time personalized benefits to fans called Royalty Pass, powered by LAVA, to amplify fan engagement at games. The team is committed to using technology to reimagine the fan experience and have been named the “most innovative company in sports” by Fast Company and ?Most Tech-Savvy Team? by SportTechie.
During the 2015 offseason, the San Diego Padres turned Petco Park into something that few, if any, baseball teams had done before: a golf course. The Links by Callaway, a nine-hole ballpark golf experience done in conjunction with the infamous golf brand, has come back every year since.
While the Padres were becoming one of professional baseball?s first clubs to go through with the redesign, Geoff Iacuessa was taking notes on how it could be done.
?We saw the pictures and videos of it and thought, ?that might be something pretty neat to try here at our ballpark,?? Iacuessa, president and general manager of the Portland Sea Dogs, said. ?Then a couple of years ago, Hartford did it as well at their ballpark. It was something that we kept looking at for potentially doing in the fall after one of our seasons and hadn?t been able to pull it off yet but, with everything going on this year, I thought it was a good time to give it a try.?
The Sea Dogs are one of many Minor League Baseball teams that are taking a swing at the golf industry. After the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team worked for roughly a week to build a nine-hole golf course on the Skybox level at Hadlock Field. A member of the Sea Dogs? creative services team then began designing the layout of the holes and calculating the total distances and slopes.
After finishing touches on signage and scorecards, the Sea Dogs? golf transformation was complete and ready for sale at $30 per person. When Portland began selling tickets for the first experience from July 9 to 12, Iacuessa said that all 220 spots sold out in only one day.
Iacuessa declined to comment on how much revenue the Sea Dogs have generated from their foray into golf.
?Nothing?s going to make up for what we?ve lost with the season, but that?s no reason to sit on your hands and not do anything,? Iacuessa said. ?I think us, like many teams, are just trying to get as creative as possible to do events and create some revenue but to also be able to stay connected with the community.?
The Indianapolis Indians are another team that have taken it upon themselves to recreate their stadium into a golf course. From August 28 to 30, Victory Field will turn into ?The Links at Victory Field,? a nine-hole golf venue that will be open to individuals ($39 for nine holes), foursomes ($140 total for nine holes), and groups of 10 people ($500 per hour) who want to reserve private bays in the Yuengling Landing area.
Nine elevated tee boxes will be spaced throughout Victory Field, with all nine greens located on the baseball diamond. Five of the nine tee boxes are located in various locations around the left and right field sections, two are placed in the upper deck and holes eight and nine will be situated within the stadium?s new Elements Financial Club behind home plate.
?The golf outing was just one of a number of events that we had thrown out there as an idea,? Cheyne Reiter, the Indians? director of communications, said. ?There were a couple of other minor league teams spread across the country that had come out publicly as an event that they were looking to host at their stadiums and we thought, why not us? It?s a great opportunity for people to roll over some of their ticket credits from the 2020 season into a potential outing for themselves or for a four-some at Victory Field.?
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos, who have gotten attention for their unique efforts without baseball such as listing their stadium on Airbnb, got an idea to appeal to a different kind of golfer from minority owner and former Masters champion Bubba Watson.
When the pandemic struck MiLB in mid-March, Watson came to the Wahoos and asked if he could help add a disc golf course onto Admiral Fetterman Field. Donna Kirby, the Blue Wahoos? vice president of operations, had never heard of the game, but was intrigued by the idea. She and her colleagues began putting numbers together, gathering equipment and eventually rolled out professional baseball?s first-ever nine-hole disc golf course on May 15.
As many as 30 multiplayer teams have come out in a single day to the Blue Wahoos? disc golf course, which is only open on weekends. Kirby admits that it does not drive nearly as much revenue as the team?s Airbnb listing, but she knew that this non-baseball season is not about making money. The focus for the Blue Wahoos is two-fold: keep their 24 full-time employees on staff and make themselves available to the Pensacola community.
?We haven?t furloughed anybody, so keeping everybody on staff has been our number one goal,? Kirby said. ?And then number two, providing an outlet for the community so they?ve got a destination point that is safe, secure and family-friendly.?
?Money is way down at the bottom of the list,? Kirby added. ?As long as we can cover our payroll and keep our staff employed, that?s our number-one goal.?
With baseball on hold until 2021, MiLB teams are realizing that right now is the best time to experiment ? without any expiration date. From July 30 to August 2, the Blue Wahoos are hosting Eagles In The Outfield, a Topgolf-inspired golf competition where a dozen targets will be set up in the outfield and golfers will aim to hit them with their tee shots from stations beyond the centerfield wall.
After the initial success they saw, the Sea Dogs added four more days of golf from August 6 to 9. It varies slightly from the inaugural event in that people can book tee times every three minutes as opposed to six minutes. Within a day of going online, Iacuessa said that 300 of the 440 tee-time slots had already sold; as of July 29, only 25 tee times remain open for the entire four-day spectacle. Iacuessa has even gone as far to say that golf will be a part of the Sea Dogs? event plans this fall.
?As people?s behaviors change, the golf course has been a great place where, with COVID-19, people can socially distance,? Brad Horn, Syracuse public relations professor and sports PR professional, said.
?It?s innovative, it?s unique and it also promotes an experience, and those are the three key areas in which Minor League Baseball has been so successful over the years,? Horn said. ?I know not every club has the grounds-keeping talent to ensure that their field is not going to be chipped up with golf but, given that there?s no other product that really needs the field of play right now, it continues to show ingenuity and serve an important role locally in terms of relevance and getting name recognition out there.?
In January, no one expected that MiLB teams would be turning to golf to keep their clubs alive. To Kirby, that?s just the nature of the business.
?You have to be able to pivot with what we?re dealing with right now,? Kirby said. ?We?re going from being a baseball team to being a special events company.?
Pollstar Digital Session: One-On-One With Brad Paisley
Posted: 31 Jul 2020, 12:00 pm
Brad Paisley recently sat for a Zoom Q&A with Ray Waddell, president of Pollstar parent Oak View Group?s Media & Conferences division, from his farm near Nashville.
Four months into an unprecedented lockdown of the touring industry, Live Nation figured out a way to do full-production U.S. live concerts, where the fans and the artists were actually in the same place: ?Live from the Drive-In.? Among the artists who took part in the July 10-12 shows in St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Nashville were El Monstero (St. Louis), Nelly (St. Louis), Jon Pardi (Nashville, Indianapolis), Darius Rucker (Nashville), Yacht Rock Revue (Indianapolis), and Brad Paisley (St. Louis, Indianapolis, Nashville).
In today's press conference, July 31, UK prime minister Boris Johnson announced that the reopening of what he dubbed "higher-risk settings" would be postponed for at least two weeks.
CTS Eventim's Austrian Business Unfazed By Banking Scandal
Posted: 31 Jul 2020, 8:51 am
An Austrian bank is being investigated for making half-a-billion Euros disappear. CTS Eventim's Austrian business, Barracuda Music, currently cannot access its deposits.
Will provide resources for families impacted by coronavirus
TORONTO – The National Hockey League (NHL®), the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada today launched a Hockey Equipment Relief Program. As communities begin to re-open and kids look to re-engage in sports, this program will help families financially impacted by COVID-19 get their kids back on the ice.
“Children across the country are eager to hit the ice, but given our current environment, families will face many challenges to provide resources for their kids to continue to participate in the game they love,” said Rob Knesaurek, NHL Group Vice President of Youth Hockey and Industry Growth Fund. “We are extremely proud that the Hockey Equipment Relief Program will not only help offset some of these costs but will also continue to prioritize making our game more inclusive and diverse for everyone.”
The NHL, NHLPA, Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada combined resources to launch the Hockey Equipment Relief Program with an equipment donation initiative. This includes $2 million of hockey gear, with upwards of 7,000 sets to be distributed to families and communities most in need in the seven Canadian NHL cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal) and other regions across Canada. In the distribution of this equipment, particular attention will be provided to support minority communities.
“We’re proud to partner with the NHL, the NHLPA and Hockey Canada to help our game as regions begin to re-open,” said Mary-Kay Messier, VP of Global Marketing, Bauer Hockey. “The Hockey Equipment Relief Program is inspired by the realities that many hockey families are struggling financially. We know research shows that sports are critical for a child’s physical and mental health, and as a result we want to help struggling families get back on the ice without having to consider equipment costs.”
“As children look forward to returning to the ice with their friends, at the same time, many families are faced with the economic realities of COVID-19,” said Rob Zepp, NHLPA Manager, Special Projects. “It’s with great pride that alongside our First Shift partners, we’ve created a Hockey Equipment Relief Program to offset some of these costs and allow hockey participants to continue to experience their passion for the sport during such uncertain times.”
“As Hockey Canada and its 13 Members continue to work towards a safe return to hockey, it is important for us to recognize the difficulty faced by many Canadian families during these uncertain times,” said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “We are proud to partner with the NHL, NHLPA and Bauer Hockey on the Hockey Equipment Relief Program, and to assist with equipment distribution through our Members and local hockey associations from coast to coast to coast. We know this great initiative will allow a number of children and their families across the country to make an affordable return to hockey as soon as it is deemed safe.”
The equipment donation program will be administered through the seven Canadian NHL Clubs, Hockey Canada and provincial governing bodies to determine distribution plans. An update on this equipment donation opportunity will be provided in August.
The NBA will provide thousands of COVID-19 tests to various areas around the country as part of the NBA Together campaign, the league announced Wednesday.
“Public health data has made clear that the impacts of the coronavirus are most concentrated in historically marginalized communities of color where access to testing is scarce.” the league said in its statement. “To meet this need, the NBA collaborated with UnidosUS and the National Urban League as well as several private laboratories to identify communities most in need and provide access to no-cost testing programs in addition to communicating public health information to community members.”
Additionally, the NBA is providing free, daily testing at a mobile collection site in Orlando, Florida, where the league is preparing to resume the season Thursday. Appointments can be made for a test at Appointments.BioReference.com/NBAOrlando.
The news follows the NBA’s latest release of its own internal testing results, which found the Florida bubble has remained intact.
Of the 344 players currently on the campus of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, zero tested positive for the coronavirus. No players have tested positive since arriving at the bubble in mid-July. Those test results are also being reviewed in numerous academic studies on pooled testing and rapid turnaround testing to assess outbreak control and management.
Now the league is working to ensure it is taking care of the communities most at-risk across the nation.
Not only have the NBA and WNBA recorded more than 45 public service announcements, but they have also partnered with a national coalition of health officials to drive donations of plasma from those who have already survived COVID-19.
Including the site in Florida, the NBA has Federally Qualified Health Centers in all 30 local team markets and has donated tests to those facilities.
Plans to make testing available nationwide through basketball were first approved through the league’s health and safety protocols to return to play in 2020.
Bluegrass In The Backyard: Larry Keel Keeps His Band Busy With Private Events
Posted: 30 Jul 2020, 11:41 am
The Larry Keel Experience is back on the road playing live shows. Pre-pandemic, it wouldn?t be big news, but with the prolonged shutdown of music venues, the bluegrass trio is tweaking the business model by using social media to help book private events.
All Hail King Shabaka! A Preternaturally Talented Artist Shifts Gears
Posted: 30 Jul 2020, 11:01 am
If you haven?t heard Shabaka Hutchings and his brilliant tenor saxophone (and clarinet), his mind-blowing three projects in Shabaka & The Ancestors, The Comet is Coming and Sons of Kemet, any of the eight albums he?s released in the past seven years, his transcendent performances including his tour last year with Comet or the Spotify 2020 Coachella playlist in preparation for what surely would have been one of this preternaturally talented musician?s breakout live performances, do yourself a favor.
Members Of War On Drugs, Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, TV On The Radio Booked For 'Vote Ready' Stream
Posted: 30 Jul 2020, 11:00 am
Voter engagement advocacy group HeadCount, Fort William Artist Management and livestreaming series Live From Out There announced "VOTE READY, A Concert for Voter Registration" on Thursday.
The pledge by the Seattle NHL expansion team, Amazon, and Oak View Group to change the name of Seattle?s Key Arena to ?Climate Pledge Arena? and renovate it to be environmentally green is encouraging, but a true commitment to environmental justice, going beyond the building structure and changes, would better impact the racially diverse and low-income neighborhoods that commonly surround these stadiums, say Mustafa Santiago Ali, founder and CEO of Revitalization Strategies, and Kunal Merchant, managing director of Lotus Advisory.
The Seattle Kraken, Oak View Group, and Amazon made waves in announcing plans to rechristen the new and much-improved Key Arena as Climate Pledge Arena. It?s an intriguing move, and easily the highest profile pro sports venue naming rights deal to be centered so prominently around sustainability. It?s an encouraging, but incomplete start.
Underpinning the name are several promising commitments: a fully carbon-neutral facility, a functionally zero-waste operation, and the ?greenest ice? in the world has seen?complete with electric-powered Zambonis. These represent potentially game-changing achievements, building on years of increased momentum across the sports industry to build better and greener buildings.
However, amidst these meaningful pledges is a glaring blind spot, one missed not only in Seattle, but by the sports industry as a whole: a true commitment to environmental justice.
The Need to Think Beyond Buildings
Discussions of sustainability in sports have focused largely on how to better design, build and operate sports facilities. Stadiums and arenas have grown more adept at reducing energy and water consumption, utilizing greener supplies and materials, reducing trash, promoting recycling, and accommodating public transit.
But in any given community, the reach of a sports team is far greater than the footprint of its stadium or arena. To be truly bold and innovative on sustainability, teams must work harder to think beyond their buildings.
Practically every city that a pro sports team calls home also is home to thousands of residents disproportionately impacted by the negative consequences of the collective mismanagement of our air, water and soil. Tragically, America has a decades-long legacy of dumping pollution onto the doorsteps of our poorest communities. These sacrifice zones are where we place everything no one else wants?incinerators, coal fired power plants, waste treatment facilities, bus depots, lower-income housing, roads and much more.
Climate Justice Is Linked to Racial Justice
As others have noted, climate justice is inextricably linked to racial justice. When communities of color say ?We Can?t Breathe,? take them seriously and literally. Disproportionately, fossil fuel facilities locate in Black and brown neighborhoods. Disproportionately, the over 100,000 Americans who die prematurely each year from air pollution are African American and Latinx.
This reality is not unknown to the people of Seattle. A recent American Lung Association report, ranked Seattle as the ninth-worst city in America for air pollution. The resulting toxic exposures are linked to higher asthma, kidney, and cancer rates, along with a host of other public health concerns. Several additional studies have highlighted the disproportionate impact of diesel and industrial emissions in South Seattle. We must come together to address these public health challenges, if young children and athletes will ever be able to reach their full potential on and off the field.
As recent protests have raged in cities large and small across the country, Seattle has been home to some of the boldest and loudest voices in the fight for racial justice.
It follows then that in all cities, and at all moments, Seattle?s team can?t afford to leave climate justice out of its climate agenda.
Moving forward, we encourage a few additions to the ?Climate Pledge:?
conduct a ?Climate Justice Audit? to assess how team, venue, and corporate partner operations (including Amazon) adversely impact environmental and health conditions in low-income neighborhoods;
forge and fund authentic collaborative partnerships with local frontline leaders in climate-focused organizations dedicated to improving the health, safety and economic prospects of low-income communities of color;
review and enhance internal diversity, equity, and inclusion policies to ensure that the team and venue?s workforce?particularly in senior management roles?adequately integrates the voices and perspectives of communities disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis;
create an independent community advisory council to review, monitor and report out on the team?s long-term progress against Climate Pledge commitments, including additional metrics on climate justice; and
leverage the team?s considerable marketing assets to build a truly comprehensive education and advocacy campaign around the Climate Pledge initiative that enables fans, employees, corporate partners, and the general public become more educated and mobilized around climate justice issues
The Seattle Kraken, Oak View Group, and Amazon rightly deserve praise for pushing the envelope on sports and sustainability. But there is still more to do. Moving forward, let?s hope they ensure that all issues and all stakeholders have a seat at the table.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. or its owners.
Author Information
Mustafa Santiago Ali, founder and CEO of Revitalization Strategies, is a member of the Environmental Protection Network, and vice president of Environmental Justice, Climate and Community Revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation, and served as associate administrator in EPA?s Office of Environmental Justice for more than two decades.
Kunal Merchant is a member of the board of directors of the Green Sports Alliance, and managing director of Lotus Advisory, a firm that advises professional sports teams and leagues on strategy, public policy, and social impact.
The Kraft Group Scores a Touchdown for Sustainability with the Addition of Bloom Energy Servers to the Clean Energy Lineup Powering Gillette Stadium
Posted: 28 Jul 2020, 2:56 pm
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. & SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Kraft Group has added to its portfolio of clean energy solutions powering Gillette Stadium with the introduction of fuel cell technology from Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE).
Gillette Stadium is the region?s premier sports and entertainment venue and home to the New England Patriots and New England Revolution. The stadium attracts New England?s largest summer concerts, hosts an array of other sporting events and operates with office and function space that is utilized year-round. Bloom Energy Servers provide the stadium with two megawatts of power, supplying nearly 50 percent of the 65,878-seat stadium?s energy needs.
The Energy Servers are composed of solid oxide fuel cells and generate electricity without combustion using a highly efficient, electrochemical process. The use of Bloom Energy Servers is expected to reduce nearly 1,500 metric tons of CO2 each year.
The Kraft Group has already implemented several other clean energy and energy efficiency measures, including 500 kilowatts of combined heat and power at Gillette Stadium and one megawatt of solar panels throughout Patriot Place.
?Professional sports teams have the ability to leverage their visibility and following to drive social impact in the communities that support them,? said Dan Middleton, SVP of Americas at Bloom Energy. ?The Kraft Group is leading the charge for sustainability, minimizing its own environmental impact by utilizing all available technologies, and serving as a role model for other organizations to follow.?
?Good business and sustainability go hand in hand,? said Jim Nolan, COO of Gillette Stadium. ?The addition of Bloom Energy Servers provides power that is not only clean, but also reliable and always-on for stadium-goers and the community.?
The Bloom Energy Servers were installed in a microgrid-ready configuration, allowing the stadium to easily upgrade to a microgrid. A microgrid is a localized power grid that can disconnect from the traditional grid to operate autonomously. Bloom?s AlwaysON Microgrid solution provides enhanced resiliency in the face of grid outages and extreme weather events along with predictable energy costs. Planning for the future in this way aligns with the Kraft Group?s goal for Gillette Stadium to be the first stadium in the world to operate independently of the traditional electric grid.
Bloom Energy Servers also power the Honda Center, SAP Center, and STAPLES Center sporting arenas.
About The Kraft Group
The Kraft Group, headquartered in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is the holding company for the Kraft family?s many businesses, with concentrated interests in the following areas: the distribution of forest products, paper and packaging manufacturing, sports and entertainment, real estate development, as well as private equity and venture investing. Together, the Rand-Whitney Group and International Forest Products conduct business in more than 100 countries and form one of the largest privately-owned paper, packaging and distribution companies in the world, trading more than 4 million tons of pulp and paper grades annually. For more information, visit www.thekraftgroup.com.
About Bloom Energy
Bloom Energy?s mission is to make clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone in the world. The company?s product, the Bloom Energy Server, delivers highly reliable and resilient, always-on electric power that is clean, cost-effective, and ideal for microgrid applications. Bloom?s customers include many Fortune 100 companies and leaders in manufacturing, data centers, healthcare, retail, higher education, utilities, and other industries. For more information, visit www.bloomenergy.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as ?anticipates,? ?could,? ?expects,? ?intends,? ?plans,? ?projects,? ?believes,? ?seeks,? ?estimates,? ?can,? ?may,? ?will,? ?would? and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning the extent of Bloom Energy Server installation?s anticipated environmental impact. These statements should not be taken as guarantees of results and should not be considered an indication of future activity or future performance. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those included in the Risk Factor section of the Company?s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other risks detailed in Bloom?s SEC filings from time to time. Bloom undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly update any forward-looking statements unless if and as required by law.
Is the sports comeback safe? When can fans return to games? Should athletes get priority on potential vaccines? The nation?s expert on infectious disease tackles sports in a pandemic.
Click here to watch video. Sports fans are longing to return to the stands, but health experts say stadiums are one of the highest-risk areas for coronavirus transmission. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist, walks us through how easily the virus could spread among the crowd.
Photo: Associated Press
Dr. Anthony Fauci has been an unlikely player in the sports world since the very first day of the pandemic.
The nation?s leading authority on infectious diseases said on March 11 that the coronavirus posed enough of a threat for the NBA to play in empty arenas. As it turned out, there would be no games without fans. The league suspended its season that night. American sports were shut down that week.
The United States Soccer Federation is donating 500 masks made from old national team jerseys to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Robin Alam/Getty Images)
Deep in the bowels of the 19th century Chicago mansion that serves as the headquarters for the United States Soccer Federation, several hundred decades-old U.S. national team jerseys hung on storage racks, gathering dust.
Some of them had been worn in games by the biggest stars in modern men?s and women?s national team history. But even after a December 2019 purge during which the USSF sent many to the former players whose last names were emblazoned on the shirts, much of the inventory remained. Three months later, the coronavirus pandemic hit, and with it a shortage of personal protective equipment for frontline workers. An idea was born: maybe the old jerseys could be turned into functional, virus-mitigating face masks.
Led by its chief medical officer Dr. George Chiampas, U.S. Soccer had already started working on a number of COVID-19-related initiatives. Now, federation staffers found themselves lurking on Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade or vintage craft items. It was there they found Melizabeth Santos, normally a trainer of teachers in Chicago?s public school system who had instead been making masks and donating them to her first responder friends since the health crisis began.
?I felt a calling to help, especially when the CDC suggested that masks really do mitigate the health risk but all the factories were closed and masks were in need,? Santos, who just so happened to be a lifelong soccer fan, said in an interview with Yahoo Sports.
After taking a look at a few jerseys, she agreed to cut them into pieces and produce around 500 masks to be sent to people who needed them around the country.
Making face coverings out of a jersey rather than a flat piece of fabric presented challenges. Santos would have to sew a high-thread-count piece of cotton behind the breathable polyester to make them efficient at blocking viral particles. (Each one also has a pocket into which an additional filter can be placed.) At times, she?d have to work around seams that the needle of her sewing machine couldn?t pierce.
And for as many of them as possible, she tried to incorporate at least one easily identifiable element, such as a number or part of the nameplate, to make it obvious that the mask was made from a USMNT or USWNT uniform.
?Every single one of them is different ? they?re all unique pieces,? Santos said. ?That was the fun part for me, trying to figure out how to make these look cool.?
Santos experimented with different designs, eventually settling on two templates: a standard version and cover for the N95 surgical masks worn by doctors when interacting with patients. Among the ex-players whose jerseys were transformed as part of the project were Abby Wambach, a World Cup winner and the leading scorer in USWNT history; Gregg Berhalter, the current USMNT coach; Cobi Jones, the all-time leader in appearances for the men?s team; and three-time Olympic gold medalist Heather O?Reilly.
A jersey once worn by USWNT legend Heather O’Reilly was turned into three protective face masks. (U.S. Soccer)
The masks will be distributed to hospitals, fire and police departments and to former pro soccer players-turned physicians Marshall Leonard and Robbie Russell. One that originated from a jersey worn in the USMNT?s first match following the 9/11 terrorist attacks is destined for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City.
?People across the country realize that the mask they wear is becoming a little bit of a fashion statement,? said Chiampas, a longtime emergency room physician at Northwestern University?s medical center who has been dubbed the ?Soccer Fauci? ? a nod to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States? leading infectious disease expert ? by his USSF colleagues. ?These masks protect you and protect others during this pandemic, but they also identify you as someone to whom the game of soccer is core to who you are.?
WNBA dedicates season to Breonna Taylor and Say Her Name campaign
Posted: 27 Jul 2020, 4:27 pm
By: Leah Asmelash, CNN July 25, 2020
The sneakers of Breanna Stewart #30 of Seattle Storm during the game against the New York Liberty.
(CNN) Before the start of its 2020 campaign on Saturday, the WNBA dedicated the season to Breonna Taylor and the Say Her Name movement, which raises awareness for Black female victims of police violence.
The New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm held a 26-second long moment of silence in honor of Taylor, who was 26 years old when she was killed.
Before the moment of silence, Layshia Clarendon of the Liberty spoke about the league’s dedication this season.
New York Liberty forward Sabrina Ionescu (20) pushes the ball up the court during the first half against the Seattle Storm, with the BLM printed in the background.
“We are dedicating this season to Breonna Taylor, an outstanding EMT who was murdered over 130 days ago in her home,” Clarendon said.
“We are also dedicating this season to Say Her Name Campaign, a campaign committed to saying the names and fighting for justice for Black women,” she added. “Black women who are so often forgotten in this fight for justice, who do not have people marching in the streets for them.”
The first game of the season was scheduled for May but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The court, at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where all the games will be played this season, also featured the words “Black Lives Matter” printed on the edge.
Amid the announcement of the team name, logo and colors, Seattle Kraken reaffirms intention to give back, advocate and be engaged with BIPOC youth
The Seattle Kraken is the latest professional team in town. No longer NHL Seattle, the 32nd franchise now has a name and a logo to rally behind.
Team executives such as CEO Tod Leiweke and marketing vice president Heidi Dettmer talk about authenticity and nobility as two essentials characteristics that the team name and logo seek to embody. The success of meeting that expectation extends beyond the color palette and design. These words represent values of the franchise.
As it turns out, the two values also mark current times. Because of the coronavirus pandemic and the rise of conversations about racism and social justice, an authentic and noble approach to work and life is important, especially as the future of sports and much else in the world is a mystery.
“We pledge now to always embrace the passion of our fans and to always listen,” said Tod Leiweke at Climate Pledge Arena Thursday morning as part of the name announcement. “We hope today is proof-positive that we continue to honor that passion, a passion to build the next great franchise, a passion to bring the Stanley Cup back to Seattle.”
What is the right amount of listening and action amid the two currents crises? That is a question the National Hockey League is grappling with and the Seattle Kraken can answer with authenticity and nobility. At a time where so much is at stake to keep young people healthy, fed and educated in a safe environment, sports organizations and teams likely recognize there is an altered perspective about athletic competition.
“I feel like if you’re knee-deep in it, you’re probably not caring about sports coming back,” said Rell Be Free, co-founder of Washington Building Leaders of Change or WA-Bloc. “I don’t have two hours to sit down and watch a basketball game. And I loved that, even months ago it was something I would do.”
The South Seattle nonprofit works to empower young leaders through high-impact academic and “place-based” social justice leadership development. Right now, the work includes the Freedom Schools summer program. The summer program supports the WA-Bloc vision to re-engage students in school, dismantles systemic racism and disrupts the school-to-prison pipeline for black and brown youth in South Seattle.
“Through Freedom Schools, there’s particularly stories and narratives we uplift as far as individual people who are willing to live on that intersection of justice and their sports career,” said WA-Bloc co-founder Laura Wright. “But as a collective, sports isn’t really something that’s been on my radar at all.”
It is a delicate balance, to lean on sports to encourage a community while not tipping the scales to be insensitive to the harsh realities of the world. Kim Davis, NHL executive vice president of social Impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs, joined Thursday’s Seattle Kraken special livestream to discuss how professional hockey will approach return to play on the ice and engagement with the community. The NHL plans for 24 postseason teams to travel to Toronto an Edmonton, 12 in each city, this weekend to enter a protected “bubble” zone of arena, practice and training facilities and lodging. Games are proposed to begin Aug. 7 in pursuit of the 2020 Stanley Cup.
“The National Hockey League is understanding that both the racial and social justice movement is manifesting itself throughout our league,” said Davis. “I think you will be amazed to see how that is going to manifest itself with the return to play and our recognition of not only frontline workers who just really put themselves on the line across North America but also those social justice warriors on the frontline of change. The NHL is serious about not only advancing greater inclusion and diversity but putting a stake in the ground about eradicating racism. We’re going to be unequivocal about that.”
The Kraken will not hit the ice or even have any players until the second half of 2021 but is already prioritizing an ongoing pledge to engage in the community and stand community activists.
Upon releasing the first Kraken swag, the franchise announced all net proceeds from the releasethekrakenstore.com will benefit nonprofits YouthCare, Community Passageways and the Urban League of Seattle for sales through Aug. 21.
“I think right now, more than ever, it is so important to have a strong message behind everything we do,” said actor Lana Condor, who appeared early in the livestream to help unveil the commemorative line of “Release the Kraken” merchandise.
“If you’re from Seattle, our number one thing is to give back and to support each other,” said Condor. “Having the team lead the way by giving back and supporting communities of color is really something special.”
YouthCare is a local organization that serves homeless youth in Seattle. The Kraken has a formalized relationship to support YouthCare. For 46 years, YouthCare has worked to create a Seattle community in which the mission is no young person experiences homelessness. It also is is intent on dismantling the systems that oppress youth of color. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has focused and worked diligently to ensure homeless youth can remain in good health.
“When you’re talking about homeless youth, it’s hard to shelter in place when you don’t have shelter,” said Mari Horita, Seattle Kraken vice president of Community Engagement and Social Impact during a livestream session with YouthCare CEO Melinda Giovengo.
During the current pandemic, YouthCare has partnered with other organizations to run three facilities that focus on full care 24 hours a day: shelter, feeding, education, entertainment and employment support. This is in addition to the other 24 shelter and housing programs the nonprofit manages across Seattle.
The women and men working on Climate Pledge Arena have kept the project on schedule amid a health pandemic. The Seattle franchise took time out Thursday during the team name announcement to honor them.
“At the end of the day, the men and women who are building it deserve enormous credit,” said Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke. “So today we are announcing the first event we will ever have in the building will be for them and their families. We feel amazing kindred spirit with these men and women. And we should. We’re building the most beautiful arena in the world, the most sustainable arena in the world, and we’re generally on track.”
Time and again, the Seattle hockey franchise has been praised for doing things differently. From diverse hiring to thoughtful activations around Pride and Black History. There are lots more community-first opportunities ahead.
WA-Bloc’s Wright hopes pro teams pay attention to the advocacy and policy change communities: “I think there’s a real opportunity for the NHL to use its platform to uplift what grassroots organizers and activists have been carrying for so many years. I think we’re at a really important moment in history, particularly in our city right now.”
The Seattle Kraken franchise has been listening, said Giovengo on the livestream. While merchandise proceeds will benefit YouthCare through August 21, the Seattle Kraken made a long-0term commitment to the organization. Giovengo said she believes that makes this partnership stand out.
“Of course, there is financial support that they have pledged to us for the next 10 years and the reality is, that’s great,” said Giovengo. “But the most important is the idea that we’re going to be part of community development and our young people to have the opportunity, to learn skills and be part of this civic engagement in our community.”
The Seattle Kraken and Oak View Group committed $10 million in cash and in-kind donations over the next decade to YouthCare. That is in addition to the job training and employment opportunities the partnership will bring to youth struggling with housing security. On one of its biggest days as a franchise to-date, the Seattle Kraken re-committed to the community with the donation of all net proceeds of the first line of merchandise sales.
“Community is at the heart of this organization,” said Kyle Boyd, Seattle Kraken director of youth and Community Development during the announcement. “Sports can be the perfect stage to gather with friends [even virtually], to celebrate with family, and to learn from others. I know the Kraken is a seafaring creature, but this team will also serve as a bridge connecting people.”
Virginia’s History, Resorts and Culture Make it an Attractive Meetings Destination
Posted: 24 Oct 2019, 5:00 am
Virginia’s history, resorts and culture make it an attractive meetings destination in 2019. Read to discover the state’s best-in-class venues and other group offerings.
New and Expanded Convention Centers Heat Up the Texas Market
Posted: 23 Oct 2019, 6:20 am
The Texas convention center scene is a competitive market. With new developments stretching from the DFW Metroplex to West Texas, read the latest on the Lone Star State convention scene.
Ahead of IMEX America 2019, Meetings Today content developer Kate Cripe got a sneak peek of the $375 million Caesars Forum. During a hard hat tour, she got a first hand look at how the conference center project, which is expected to open in March 2020, is progressing.
4 Reasons to Leverage Digital Displays at Conventions
Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 12:10 pm
Learn why digital display technology is one of the best ways to take your event to the next level. We explore what it can mean for branding, the attendee experience, sustainability and more.
A glass sculpture titled You Are Here by Boise native Amy Westover was designed to inspire attendees and guests to look beyond the walls of the city's Boise Centre.
Speakers in the Open Expo Hall? A New Way to Maximize Conference Content
Posted: 21 May 2019, 6:00 am
When it comes to conference speaking, an innovative speaker stage setup can drive more and unexpected engagement. Meetings Today Chief Content Officer Christoph Trappe reports live from DES Madrid on how the "open air" concept works for attendees and presenters.
6 Tips for Working With a Convention Services Team
Posted: 30 Apr 2019, 7:35 am
Meeting and event planners working with a facility’s convention services team can help ensure their program is a success by providing some very basic, but essential, information. Maxine Compean, associate event manager for the dual-branded the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection and the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, offered the following six tips to keep meeting and event planners and the convention services team on the same page.
An Event Planner’s Take on the New Kentucky International Convention Center
Posted: 13 Mar 2019, 3:05 pm
Event planner Christa Mekki, founder and senior planner at Magnetic Magnificent Events, was one of the first to experience the brand-new Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC). Meetings Today reached out to Mekki for her take on the reimagined convention center.
6 Innovative Convention Center Projects That Are Reinventing the U.S. Meetings Landscape
Posted: 13 Mar 2019, 7:30 am
Innovation is requisite for staying ahead in the convention business. It’s second nature for Las Vegas, and it’s also the watchword for reinvention in convention markets around the U.S.
Event Venue Titans AEG Facilities and SMG Announce Merger
Posted: 8 Feb 2019, 10:20 am
AEG Facilities and SMG owner Onex announced they will merge to create ASM Global. The new company will be headquartered in Los Angeles and will operate over 300 venues across five continents that include arenas, stadiums, convention centers and performing arts centers.
San Francisco’s Moscone Center Nearly Doubles in Size
Posted: 19 Dec 2018, 5:45 am
As the new year approaches, so does a new beginning for San Francisco’s meetings business. The long-awaited opening of an upgraded Moscone Center came in early January, as the convention complex debuted a $551 million expansion.
Q&A With David Gibbons, Executive Director, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA)
Posted: 20 Nov 2018, 8:45 am
Meetings Today Senior Contributor Jeff Heilman touched base with Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) Executive Director David Gibbons on the MCCA’s increase in group business and the future of the facility.
Orlando's Orange County Convention Center is moving forward with a $605 million campus improvement plan. The project will bring expansions and new meeting and exhibit space in the North and South concourses, further increasing the center’s seven million square feet of total function space.
IACC, the association that represents the global conference center segment, is set to more than double its number of European facilities within the next four months if a deal to add the supplier members of two conference center groups comes to fruition, according to IACC CEO Mark Cooper.
St. Louis Convention Center Plans Extensive Renovation
Posted: 7 Oct 2018, 8:00 pm
The America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis will undergo an expansion and extensive renovations. The AC Next Gen Project, which will include the addition of 92,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 65,000-square-foot ballroom and meeting area, a new outdoor pavilion and 26 new loading docks, was announced during a press conference held on October 3.
On a recent tour of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Meetings Today spoke with John Page, general manager for SMG for the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). Page shared his advice for navigating a convention center renovation or expansion.
5 Things You May Not Have Known About the Chattanooga Convention Center
Posted: 18 Sep 2018, 8:00 pm
Once you’ve seen one convention center you’ve seen them all, right? A recent visit to the Chattanooga Convention Center left me surprised to find some nice touches that many of its bigger—and smaller—city counterparts lacked. Following are five standout features I noticed during my tour of the Chattanooga Convention Center led by Executive Director Mike Shuford, during a press trip with the Chattanooga CVB.
The Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) hosted a grand opening ceremony, Monday, Aug. 6, 2018 following a two-year, $207 million renovation and expansion project. State and local government officials, along with KICC facility officials and staff welcomed meeting clients, local stakeholders, interested citizens, and media to an open house that showcased how the new facility will host small to large-scale events.
Caesars Forum Conference Center Breaks Ground in Vegas
Posted: 16 Jul 2018, 8:00 pm
Caesars Entertainment broke ground on its $375 million, Caesars Forum conference center on Monday, July 16, during a ceremony for trade press, industry executives and Caesars staff members. The ceremony was also livestreamed by Caesars so that people could tune in from all over the world.
Q&A With Jennifer B. Davis on Greater Columbus Convention Center Updates
Posted: 30 Jun 2018, 8:00 pm
Meetings Today contributor Carolyn Blackburn interviewed Jennifer B. David, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager with the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC), to discuss recent updates to the facility. The GCCC, which features 373,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, wrapped a two-year $140 million renovation and expansion project in July 2017 to improve the overall guest experience, including the installation of an impressive art collection and local F&B concepts.
5 Campus Conference Centers That Will Enhance Any Event
Posted: 1 May 2018, 8:00 pm
College towns are happening hubs of activity, where the arts, sports and culinary delights thrive. All that and more is on deck for planners who book a university setting for a conference.
Creativity Takes Center Stage at Convention Centers
Posted: 26 Mar 2018, 8:00 pm
The artwork installed at an increasing number of popular convention centers transforms these necessarily utilitarian buildings into magnificent galleries that rival some of the most inspired museums in the world.
Arlington Unveils Plans for Massive Esports Stadium
Posted: 18 Mar 2018, 8:00 pm
The City of Arlington announced plans for Esports Stadium Arlington, an esports-specific venue designed to draw competitive gamers and fans from around the world. The proposed venue will be built within the existing Arlington Convention Center in collaboration with architecture firm Populous.
CEIR Releases Third Report in Attendee Retention Insights Series
Posted: 24 May 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 24 May 2016 ? The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced today the release of the third report in its newest series, 2016 Attendee Retention Insights Part Three: Education Content that Builds a Loyal Alumni Attendee Audience. This landmark body of research offers organizers a comprehensive resource to help understand the profile of attendees that visit an exhibition repeatedly and the content that turns them into loyal customers.
CEIR Releases Second Report in Attendee Retention Insights Series
Posted: 10 May 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 10 May 2016 ? The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced today the release of the second report in its newest series, 2016 Attendee Retention Insights Part Two: Exhibition Floor Features that Build a Loyal Alumni Attendee Audience. This landmark body of research offers organizers a comprehensive resource to help understand the profile of attendees that visit an exhibition repeatedly and the content that turns them into loyal customers
Fourth Annual IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum Another Sold Out Event
Posted: 4 May 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 4 May 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) celebrates another successful Women?s Leadership Forum on 26 April 2016 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. More than 200 attendees sold out this year?s event which featured education sessions for women at all stages of their career.
IAEE Now Accepting Applications for 2016 Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grants
Posted: 3 May 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 3 May 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) has opened the application process for the 2016 Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grants, which aid qualified professionals in their pursuit of continuing education and career development in the exhibitions and events industry.
IAEE Now Accepting 2016 Helen Brett Scholarship Applications
Posted: 2 May 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 2 May 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and EventsTM (IAEE) has opened the application process for the Helen Brett Scholarship awards in 2016. The scholarship serves to promote the exhibitions and events industry by attracting college-level students into the field of study and encouraging their pursuit with financial support.
CEIR Debuts New Report Series Focusing on Attendee Retention
Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 28 April 2016 ? The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced today the release of the first report in its newest series, 2016 Attendee Retention Insights. Reports from this exciting new, landmark study offers organizers a comprehensive resource to help understand the profile of attendees that visit an exhibition repeatedly and the content that turns them into a loyal fanbase. The series consists of five reports, beginning with Part One: Basics for Creating Your Attendee Retention Strategy: Tracking, Profiling and Why They Come Back.
IAEE Public Events Council Releases 2016 Survey Report
Posted: 26 Apr 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 26 April 2016 ? Today, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) Public Events Council released its Public Events Industry Report: 2015 Results. In 2009, the Public Events Council distributed a survey to public event organizers across 22 public events industry sectors to examine overall industry performance. The report identified which public events industry sectors fared well, which sectors struggled and their expectations for the future. As a follow-up to the benchmark report, the survey is repeated annually with subsequent reports detailing individual and comparative statistics over the years.
DALLAS, 12 April 2016 ? Today, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released the 2016 CEIR Index Report. The CEIR Index analyzes the 2015 exhibition industry and provides a future outlook for the next three years. Despite widespread pessimism and deceleration of activity during the fourth quarter, the U.S. economy still displayed significant signs of strength in 2015, led by personal consumption and residential construction. These strengths were offset partially by deterioration in energy development and net exports to produce real GDP growth of 2.4%. According to CEIR?s current projection, 2016 growth will be about the same, or perhaps slightly weaker as the trade gap widens further, before GDP accelerates in 2018 (see Figure 1).
DALLAS, 5 April 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) and the Japan Exhibition Association (JEXA) announced the renewal of a reciprocity agreement to benefit members of both organizations. Originally signed in 2012, the agreement renews the commitment of IAEE and JEXA to promote and develop the exhibitions and events industries in their respective countries through membership collaboration.
DALLAS, 4 April 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) announces the addition of its latest chapter in Asia, the IAEE India Chapter. The IAEE Board of Directors approved the creation of this new chapter during its meeting held 31 March 2016 at the HITEX Exhibition Center in Hyderabad, India.
IAEE MATSO Council Adds New Content for May Meeting
Posted: 31 Mar 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 31 March 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) MATSO Council?s program for this year?s MATSO Spring Program on 23-24 May 2016 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. will focus on exchanging information that address challenges, share best practices and understand the changing landscape of Tier 1 cities.
IAEE Awards Jacqueline Russo with 2016 Woman of Achievement Award
Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 30 March 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) proudly congratulates Jacqueline Russo, Vice President of Kuehne + Nagel, Inc., as this year?s recipient of the IAEE Woman of Achievement Award. This award recognizes a woman who has led the way in the advancement of women in the exhibitions and events industry, exhibited outstanding leadership, and made significant contributions to the industry and her community.
CEIR Releases New Industry Insight Series Report Written by Candy Adams
Posted: 29 Mar 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 29 March 2016 ? Today the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announces a new Industry Insight Series report, 99 Cost-Savings Tips and Tricks for Exhibit Managers written by Candy Adams, CTSM, CME, CEM, CMP, CMM, a revered and well-known exhibition industry veteran and owner of ?The Booth Mom®? Trade Show Consulting.
DALLAS, 28 March 2016 ? Registration is now open for the International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) Krakoff Leadership Institute (KLI) to be held 7-9 August 2016 at The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel in Huntington Beach, Calif. The program is open to IAEE members interested in enhancing their strategic skills, and broadening their knowledge as current and future leaders in the exhibitions and events industry.
IAEE Congratulates its 2016 International Excellence Award Recipient
Posted: 17 Mar 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 17 March 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) congratulates Edward J. Krause III (Ned), President and CEO of E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc. (EJK) as this year?s recipient of the IAEE International Excellence Award. The IAEE International Excellence Award recognizes an individual or organization that has made exceptional strides in creating, launching and managing an international event in the exhibitions and events industry on an international scale.
DALLAS, 15 March 2015 ? Today, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced the release of the final report in the CEIR Digital Toolkit series. The new report, entitled Focus Report on Exhibition Organizer Onsite and Post-event Offerings provides an in-depth look at attendee preferences compared to business-to-business exhibition offerings for show mobile apps, as well as other onsite digital amenities and post-event digital communications.
IAEE MATSO Council Announces City Working Group Initiative, Finalizes Governance Procedures
Posted: 9 Mar 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 9 March 2016 ? The International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) MATSO Council announced it will resurrect city task force updates following a recent council meeting that focused on future programming and governance procedures.
IAEE Announces 2016 Call for Nominations for Individual Awards
Posted: 8 Mar 2016, 1:00 am
DALLAS, 8 March 2016 ? Today, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events? (IAEE) has opened the Call for Nominations for its annual awards program to recognize exceptional professionals in the exhibitions and events industry. Industry professionals who meet the outlined criteria may be nominated for any of the awards listed below, and recipients will be honored at Expo! Expo! IAEE?s Annual Meeting & Exhibition to be held 6-8 December in Anaheim, Calif.
IAVM is actively monitoring the impact of recent Ebola incidents. At the direction of Chair Kim Bedier, CFE ? in collaboration with our Industry Affairs Council and key IAVM staff ? an Ebola task force has been formed to work on relevant communications to the IAVM community.
Please submit your session ideas for IAVM?s conferences. Presentations cannot be sales pitches, and if your topic is selected, IAVM will contact you concerning the coordination of the session speaker/panelists.
Exclusive: Flaming Lips to Star in Hyundai Super Bowl Commercial
Posted: 24 Jan 2013, 4:32 pm
When the Flaming Lips formed nearly 30 years ago, the notion that the group would be performing a song called "Sun Blows Up Today" in a Super Bowl ad would have been as surreal some of their lyrics. But that's exactly what will happen when the group stars in one of Hyundai's four spots during the big game, a 60-second commercial that will feature the band on-camera performing a brand-new, custom-written song bearing that name.
As the world's largest trade fair for the music industry, MIDEM can be daunting to navigate. Last year's gathering drew more than 6,850 attendees from 77 countries, representing 3,120 companies, including 155 startups. So, how best to manage MIDEM?
Downtown Sells Label to Cofounders, Focuses on Publishing
Posted: 24 Jan 2013, 7:00 am
Downtown Music LLC, the privately held parent company of Downtown Records and Downtown Music Publishing, today announced the sale of its recorded music business to cofounders Josh Deutsch and Terence Lam.
Black Keys File Third Lawsuit Against 'Soundalikes' in TV Commercials
Posted: 23 Jan 2013, 6:50 pm
After settling two lawsuits with Pizza Hut and Home Depot in December over alleged use of its songs in commercials, the Black Keys have filed a third lawsuit -- this time, against Pinnacle Entertainment, which runs casinos throughout the United States, and Manhattan Production Music, a company that creates music for commercial advertising.
Exclusive: Verizon Teams With Jill Scott for Black History Month Campaign
Posted: 23 Jan 2013, 6:24 pm
Verizon has teamed with Jill Scott for a multi-tiered print, TV and online advertising campaign to coincide with Black History Month, a rare artist endorsement deal for both parties, Billboard has learned.
Ultra Music and Sony Announce Partnership, Patrick Moxey Named President of Electronic Music
Posted: 23 Jan 2013, 3:48 pm
Sony Music and Ultra Music -- the electronic/dance record label, publishing house, management company and media platform owned and operated by Patrick Moxey -- have announced a globe-spanning strategic partnership between the two companies. As part of the deal Moxey was named president of electronic music for Sony Music Worldwide.
Searching For The Next 'Sugar Man'? Try 'Twenty Feet From Stardom'
Posted: 23 Jan 2013, 1:30 pm
This year's Sundance had a half-dozen music-driven docs, including: Dave Grohl's "Sound City," "History of the Eagles, Part One," "Pussy Riot -- A Punk Prayer," "Narco Culturo" and "Mussel Shoals" -- all fine films. But the power of Morgan Neville's "Twenty Feet From Stardom," a story chronicling of the lives of background singers who sang on era-defining records from the 1960s into the 1990s, is such that it transcends the typical music documentary ecliciting gasps of disbelief, spontaneous applause and tears. It's a winner.
Building the $100 Billion Dollar Music Business: Guest Post by Tom Silverman
Posted: 23 Jan 2013, 8:00 am
In this guest post, New Music Seminar/Tommy Boy Entertainment founder Tom Silverman describes how we can grow the music business into one that reaches $100 billion in annual retail revenue in the next decade.
Exclusive: Lionel Richie Signs With Red Light Management
Posted: 22 Jan 2013, 3:08 pm
Legendary hit maker Lionel Richie has signed with Red Light Management for representation, Billboard.biz has learned. This is the second major signing of the young year for RLM, which recently added Tiesto to its growing list of clients.
Exclusive: Kobalt Launches Label Services Division, Preps New Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Release
Posted: 22 Jan 2013, 2:07 pm
Not only did Kobalt sign a deal with Dave Grohl this week ( the company is also formally introducing a new Label Services division that will handle digital and physical releases for independent artists as well as Kobalt clients. Though the division has quietly released several albums in recent months, it will gain major attention next month with the release of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ “Push the Sky Away,” due out Feb. 18 through Kobalt Label Services and Cave’s Bad Seed Ltd.
The Jan. 26 edition of Billboard features a cover-story interview with Prince, but that world exclusive is accompanied by something else: A whole new magazine. This week, Billboard relaunches, and from the new logo on the front cover to the information packed graphic on the back page, the magazine is dedicated to the delivery of business journalism that leads and informs the essential conversations around the music and businesses it covers.
Warner Music, NMPA Reach Agreement on Royalty Rate for Music Videos
Posted: 21 Jan 2013, 2:43 pm
The Warner Music Group has become the second major label to agree to pay songwriters and publishers a royalty from revenue they derive from music videos, in a deal negotiated by the National Music Publishers' Association.
Tim Leiweke on AEG Sale: 'We're Getting Down to the Final Straws'
Posted: 21 Jan 2013, 2:42 pm
The sale of Anschutz Entertainment Group is “taking longer” than expected, AEG CEO, Tim Leiweke told Billboard.biz, but not due to lack of interest. While Leiweke declined to mention who the serious bidders were, he did indicate that the field has narrowed. “We’re getting down to the final straws here,” he said.
'Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer,' 'Twenty Feet From Stardom' Sell At Sundance
Posted: 21 Jan 2013, 6:17 am
Add “Pussy Riot — A Punk Prayer” to the growing music-centric documentaries sold at the Sundance Film Festival. HBO Docs acquired U.S. TV rights to the political documentary that received its world premiere Jan. 18. "Twenty Feet From Stardom," which tells the stories of several prominent backup singers, sold on Thursday to Radius and the Weinstein Co.
Kim Dotcom Launches Mega, New File-Sharing Service
Posted: 19 Jan 2013, 4:09 pm
Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has unveiled a new file-sharing website called Mega. "As of this minute one year ago #Megaupload was destroyed by the US Government," Dotcom tweeted on Saturday, along with a link to the new site.
Sony/ATV's Martin Bandier on New, 'Quite Reasonable' Pandora Deal
Posted: 18 Jan 2013, 7:00 pm
Sony/ATV pulled a major coup earlier this week by negotiating a higher royalty rate from Pandora. Chairman/CEO Martin Bandier spoke with Billboard.biz about the deal.
Six Music-Related Issues Facing This Administration and Congress
Posted: 18 Jan 2013, 4:45 pm
From performance royalties to deciding how musicians travel with their instruments on airplanes, numerous issues central to the music industry are alive Washington D.C. as the city prepares for the president inauguration on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
AVL Digital Group -- the parent company of CD Baby, Disc Makers and other self-publishing platforms -- has been sold to Stephens Capital Partners, a private equity group based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Billboard.biz has learned.
NARM Names Muve Music's Jeff Toig, Dimple Records' Dilyn Radakovitz to Board
Posted: 18 Jan 2013, 10:34 am
Muve Music senior VP Jeff Toig and Dimple Records founder and owner Dilyn Radakovitz have joined the board of directors of both NARM, the music business trade association, and digitalmusic.org, its digital initiatives arm.
Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels Presenting 'Garden of Laughs' Benefit Comedy Showcase
Posted: 18 Jan 2013, 10:13 am
At the height of his lowest point, Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels says he considered suicide. Before leaving the world, however, he wanted to publish an autobiography, his life story beyond music; a conversation with his mother shortly thereafter revealed more information than he had bargained for.
Backbeat: Carrie Underwood Celebrates No. 1 With 'Blown Away' Co-Writers Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins
Posted: 17 Jan 2013, 4:46 pm
Carrie Underwood joined Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins, the two songwriters who penned "Blown Away," at the CMA offices on Wednesday to celebrate their song hitting the top of the charts.
Elizabeth Sobol Named Decca Label Group President and CEO
Posted: 17 Jan 2013, 12:15 pm
Elizabeth Sobol, current managing director at IMG Artists North America, has been named Decca Label Group's president and CEO. Sobol will report to Universal Music Group International's chairman and CEO Max Hole, who was promoted to that position last week.
HMV Shutters Irish Operations, Appoints Receivers as Staff Stages Sit-In
Posted: 17 Jan 2013, 11:45 am
Staff at two HMV stores in Ireland have staged sit-in protests to secure their wages following the closure of the company’s 16 Irish stores, according to reports. HMV’s Irish operations were placed into receivership 24 hours after the British music retailer HMV confirmed it was suspending the trading of its shares and entering administration, the U.K. equivalent of Chapter 11.
Dave Grohl, Avicii and Afrojack: A Promoter's Approach to Booking Music at Sundance
Posted: 17 Jan 2013, 10:31 am
Park City Live is the only regularly operating nightclub in Park City, Utah, home of the Sundance Film Festival running Jan. 17-27, which will enter its second year of operation as a concert venue the day the festival begins. Here, Park City Live CEO Kathryn Burns talks about her first year promoting the venue.
Sony/ATV Negotiates 25% Royalty Increase From Pandora: Report
Posted: 17 Jan 2013, 8:01 am
The newly combined Sony/ATV-EMI music publishing powerhouse has used its market clout to negotiate a 25% royalty increase from Pandora, according to a report in the New York Post. The deal is said to run for the next 12 months.
Mark Poston, EMI Australia’s chairman, is out as Universal Music continues its global integration of EMI. According to Universal Music, Poston “decided to step down” from his current position as chairman and senior VP marketing, Australasia at EMI Music Australia. UMA's president George Ash will oversee EMI Australasia until a replacement is announced.
LyricFind Partners with Gracenote, Gets Investment from Larry Marcus
Posted: 16 Jan 2013, 4:40 pm
LyricFind will now power all of Gracenote's lyric services as part of their new partnership, while BandPage director Larry Marcus will be providing his experience, and a personal investment, to the company.
Lucian Grainge, Michael Lynton, will.i.am to Co-Host Inaugural Innovation Summit
Posted: 16 Jan 2013, 1:30 pm
Innovation Forum, an inaugural summit of business leaders from the U.S. and U.K., will come together Feb. 4-5 in Los Angeles, kicking off 2013 Grammy week. UMG Chairman & CEO Lucian Grainge, Sony Ent. CEO Michael Lynton, Ari Emanuel, co-CEO of WME, and musician will.i.am will co-host the event co-sponsored by the Founder's Forum and UK Trade & Investment.
Sony Music Boosts Digital Team With Ole Obermann and Mark Piibe
Posted: 16 Jan 2013, 10:29 am
In a statement today from Sony Music Entertainment's president of global digital business and U.S. sales Dennis Kooker, the company announced the creation and appointment of two new, digitally focused positions; current Sony Music executive Ole Obermann has been named executive vice president, digital partner development and sales, while Mark Piibe will be leaving EMI to take on the role of executive vice president, global business development and digital strategy.
Justin Timberlake's 'Suit & Tie' Aiming for First-Week Sales of 350,000
Posted: 15 Jan 2013, 4:44 pm
As reported yesterday (Jan. 14), Justin Timberlake's new single "Suit & Tie" is selling briskly and bound for a big first-week sales figure; label sources suggest that "Suit & Tie" may sell around 330,000 - 350,000 downloads by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, Jan. 20.
Universal Music France President Pascal Negre Named UMG's Global Head of New Business
Posted: 15 Jan 2013, 12:15 pm
Pascal Nègre, president at Universal Music France, Italy, Middle East and Africa, has been promoted to UMG's global head of new business, according to a press release.
Universal Music Japan's Kazuhiko Koike To Head EMI Japan
Posted: 15 Jan 2013, 8:07 am
Universal Music Japan today announced that its President and CEO Kazuhiko Koike will assume on the role of president/CEO of EMI Music Japan as well, replacing longtime CEO Hitoshi Namekata.
Greg Sandoval, Senior CNET Writer, Resigns Over CBS Controversy
Posted: 14 Jan 2013, 12:39 pm
CNET editor Greg Sandoval told Twitter earlier today that he's quitting the venerable tech news site over parent company CBS's apparent demand that the publication drop Dish Network's ad-skipping Hopper feature from consideration for its "Best of CES" awards.
Indie Band Love in the Circus Explores 3D Imaging at CES
Posted: 14 Jan 2013, 12:14 pm
Music can be as much about the visuals as it is about the sound. Among the more intriguing demonstrations of this at this year's Consumer Electronics Show was a video display in the Sony booth from an independent band called Love in the Circus; the Los Angeles based band used projection imaging to create a live stage that evokes a Cirque du Soleil-esque setting, wrapping custom animations around a physical stage set.
Pop Leads U.K. Album Sales for Second Year Running
Posted: 14 Jan 2013, 10:29 am
Big-selling albums from Emeli Sandé, Adele, Ed Sheeran and One Direction ensured that pop remained the most-popular genre in the United Kingdom in 2012, according to new figures released by the Official Charts Company (OCC) and British labels trade body the BPI.
Rock legends the Rolling Stones stand at the top of Hot Tours this week with ticket sales reaching $38.6 million from the 50 and Counting Tour, while Nickelback, Jennifer Lopez and Elton John reach the top ten on the strength of their Australian tours.
What does the association meeting of tomorrow look like and how can you prepare to provide your members with the type of meetings they need? A presenter at ASAE's 2011 Annual Meeting & Expo provides her expert glimpse into the future.
Rethinking Sponsorships in the Age of Social Media
Posted: 16 Sep 2011, 4:56 pm
Technology is changing our lives in seemingly countless ways, including association event sponsorships. Find out what a leading event software expert believes are the best ways to make the most of sponsorships in the age of social media.
What You Need to Know About Simultaneous Interpretation
Posted: 16 Sep 2011, 4:54 pm
As more associations venture overseas, simultaneous interpretation is more important than ever. Two experts who have conducted events around the globe share their insights.
Even the largest associations sometimes have meetings that don't represent a lot of room nights, which can reduce your ability to negotiate with the host hotel. Here are nine tips to help you get the best deal for your next meeting, no matter how many attendees you have.
We use strategic planning in our everyday lives but often get too caught up in all the details to apply it effectively during the meeting planning process. Discover how to be truly strategic the next time you're planning an important meeting.
There's more to meetings than good content and a nice location. An ASAE Fellow and association business strategy consultant shares his views on factors such as information needs, competing resources, and strategic barriers that impact attendance at association conventions and tradeshows.
Post-Recession Economy Requires New Guidelines for Association Events
Posted: 6 Jul 2011, 10:53 am
Association events are making a comeback following the deep recession, but everyone remains sensitive to appearing too extravagant and expensive. Here's a process for determining what's appropriate for your next events.
Increase Exhibitor Engagement Without Increasing Your Budget
Posted: 6 Jul 2011, 10:49 am
Every association tradeshow is under pressure to increase traffic, but at what cost? Follow these strategies for increasing traffic and enhancing exhibitor loyalty without busting your budget.
Letter From the Chair: ME Section Contributes to "199 Ideas" for Planners
Posted: 6 Jul 2011, 10:47 am
The Meetings & Expositions Section Council chair discusses the debut of an exciting new resource for association planners, provides a glimpse of the upcoming Annual Meeting & Exposition, and lends his perspective on the value of associations to society.
Tips to Make Transportation at Your Conference Greener
Posted: 9 May 2011, 10:09 am
Greening meetings has come a long way in recent years, but you can take it to the next level with a little strategy and a lot of enthusiasm. Learn how to get your group actively involved in being a deeper shade of green.
