1. CALL FOR TRANSPARENT MUSIC TICKETING MADE AT BILLBOARD LIVE MUSIC SUMMIT: StubHub president Sukhinder Singh Cassidy demanded more transparency in ticketing during the Billboard Live Music Summit on Wednesday. Billboard.com: “‘The average consumer does not understand what percentage of tickets are being put out into the market for general availability versus holdbacks versus dripping into the market,' said Singh Cassidy, noting that quantity and dynamic pricing are important aspects of the buying process for consumers. Singh Cassidy explained that StubHub’s main objective as a company is not to be a broker, but to drive sell-through on its marketplace. The pricing tools the company plans to develop are a means to help content rights holders and fans get the best price for tickets."
2. TOP CHEF EXITS LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU FOLLOWING VIOLENT OUTBURST: Executive chef Doug Psaltis, a high profile partner of Lettuce Entertain You who oversaw a number of the group's restaurants, has left the organization. No formal explanation has been issued but current and former employees revealed that the culinarian physically and verbally attacked an employee at RPM Steak Chicago last week. Eater.com: “Significantly, Psaltis also shaped LEYE’s massive $50 million project along the Chicago Riverwalk, which was announced by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Melman family in March... The opening for the final piece of the four-level project, RPM Seafood—selected as one of the most anticipated openings of 2019—has been delayed until January."
3. WONDER WOMEN TECH DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CONFERENCE KICKS OFF AGAIN: The Wonder Women Tech Diversity & Inclusion Conference kicks off today in Long Beach, California, with a highly diverse audience of technology superstars. In its fifth year, the conference is slated to bring in about 3,000 attendees, including college and high-school students, mid-career professionals and upper-level executives as well as both entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. Inc.: “The purpose of the events is to provide opportunities and inspiration for a better gender balance and greater diversity in all STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics). 'The important benefit is getting to see successful founders and executives who don't fit into Silicon Valley's dominant white male demographic,' said Lisa Mae Brunson, founder and director of the event. 'The most important thing is understanding and networking with people like themselves who are looking to make their mark in the world.'”