October 7, 2016: Desert Trip Slated For Music Festival Success, Why The New Yorker Festival Is Hosting Sponsored Events, N.F.L. to Fine Teams for Socially Sharing Videos From Games

1. DESERT TRIP SLATED FOR MUSIC FESTIVAL SUCCESS: The inaugural Desert Trip, which has been dubbed “Oldchella,” kicks off today with headliners including Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones that are attracting a massive baby boomer crowd. The Goldenvoice-produced festival in Indio is slated to bring in $160 million over this weekend and next weekend, almost doubling the $84 million record that was set by last year’s Coachella. Los Angeles Times: “In an industry struggling to recover revenue in the age of free music-streaming, many see the rise of such a high-grossing festival as cause for celebration.’ It’s a whole different game,’ said Jim Guerinot, a veteran Southland concert promoter, record company executive and talent manager. ‘If Coachella is the Cadillac of festivals, this is the spaceship.’ Desert Trip is the first of its kind to feature six of classic rock’s most musically and culturally influential acts on one bill. That lineup also includes Bob Dylan, Neil Young, the Who and Roger Waters—all of whom have never previously shared the same stage—in an event  aimed directly at baby boomers, a demographic often overlooked by the youth-focused music machinery. … Still, none approach Desert Trip, where capacity  is around 75,000 per day, and early tickets sold out in about five hours when they went on sale in the spring. But it isn’t just the cost that could make this a new model. The structure of Desert Trip provides a significant new addition to the concert festival picture. Its single-stage, two-act-per-day curated lineup is distinctly different from the 12-hour-plus marathons featuring dozens of acts—nearly 160 at Coachella in 2016—over multiple stages offered at virtually all other festivals. Desert Trip is expected to add upward of $250 million to the Coachella Valley economy with hotel stays and recreational visits to golf courses, spas and shopping, according to Michael Bracken, managing partner and chief economist for Development Management Group, which consults for Desert Trip promoter Goldenvoice. That's a lot of money spent for a generation that once was happy to crash in the muddy fields of Woodstock.” http://lat.ms/2cWGF2a

2. WHY THE NEW YORKER FESTIVAL IS HOSTING SPONSORED EVENTS: For the second consecutive year, the New Yorker Festival is hosting brand-sponsored events and panels after experimenting with the new feature last year. The festival's 17th edition kicks off today. Advertising Age: "Editors from Bon Appétit and Condé Nast Traveler will take part in the food panel, and editors from Architectural Digest and Golf Digest will discuss travel. The reason? Because the sponsored panels are part of an 'integrative' and 'multiplatform' advertising buy from Raymond Jones, which includes paid media in all five of the titles, according New Yorker publisher Lisa Hughes. The New Yorker experimented with sponsored panels for the first time last year, when whisky company The Glenlivet tapped New York food personalities to discuss dining. The panel was a big success, as tickets went quickly, Ms. Hughes said. Tickets to sponsored panels are free, which probably helps explain why this year's Raymond James-funded events are both sold out. Online, the events are clearly labeled as 'sponsored.' But, Ms. Hughes said, 'I don't think 'sponsored' is a pejorative. We're just being clear that this is not programmed by [New Yorker editor] David Remnick.' Live events are becoming an increasingly big part of the revenue mix for media companies, and The New Yorker Festival is no exception. As a tentpole event, it is central to hitting the magazine's advertising revenue targets. Ms. Hughes said that branded panels are here to stay, and she predicted they will become even more commonplace in the future." http://bit.ly/2e6zEMl

3. N.F.L. TO FINE TEAMS FOR SOCIALLY SHARING VIDEOS FROM GAMES: The N.F.L. has sent a memo to teams saying it will issue $25,000 fines for posting video from games to social media. Fines could reach up to $100,000 for subsequent offenses. Mashable: "On a subsequent conference call with public relations, marketing, social media and digital personnel from all 32 teams to go over the new rules, the league deemed video to be 'anything that moves,' according to a source from one franchise who was on the call. That includes GIFs from previous games of players celebrating, or even pop culture GIFs such as tangentially relevant quotes from Seinfeld or other TV shows. So, for now at least, even moving images of Harambe are off limits during games (let's pour a little out for him yet again). That conference call was Tuesday, and the memo states the policy goes into effect on Oct. 12. Sources from two teams said they feel the new policy is meant to limit the creativity of what teams can do online during games in order to drive attention and eyeballs to official NFL accounts, as opposed to social accounts operated by franchises. … 'We recognize the importance of social for clubs and look to balance increasing flexibility while building long-term strategic value,' Brian McCarthy, the NFL's vice president of communications, said via email. 'We continue to update and evolve our policies to drive engagement and fan development.' The new guidelines do loosen some restrictions on social media use during the week for teams. But game-days are by far when teams find the most engagement, which then in many cases carries them through the week—thus explaining much of the frustration with the new rules." http://on.mash.to/2cVx37W

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has appointed Christian Clerc as president of worldwide hotel operations and Vince Parrotta as president of hotel operations in the Americas.

AUSTIN:  Fairmont Austin, a 37-story luxury hotel opening in summer 2017, has named Fernando Teixeira as director of conference services and catering.

CHICAGO:  The Event Center at McCormick Square held its beam-raising ceremony on Wednesday. The venue, which will be available for a variety of special events, is slated to open in fall 2017.

LAS VEGAS:  Fremont Street Experience has converted to its Halloween destination, "Fremont Fright Fest,” now through October 31.

LOS ANGELES:  The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens has contracted Bon Appétit Management Co. to provide dining and catering services.

Wolfgang Puck Catering has hired a new head chef: Eric Klein, who will be based in Los Angeles. Executive chef and partner Matt Bencivenga passed away last year from pancreatic cancer.

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

NEW YORK:  The Knot's annual Knot Gala will take place Monday at the New York Public Library. The event, produced by Strawberry Milk Events, will have a Fêtes des Rêves dream party theme inspired by the Tuileries Gardens in Paris.

The Orphaned Starfish Foundation's annual gala, celebrating its 15th anniversary, will take place October 21 at Cipriani Wall Street.

The International Women's Media Foundation will host its 27th annual Courage in Journalism Awards ceremony October 26 at Cipriani 42nd Street.

Six Senses New York, the first U.S. hotel from Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, will open in 2019 on 10th Avenue between 17th and 18th streets. The 10-floor, 137-room hotel will have two restaurants and a meeting space that will cater to small groups and board meetings. The project is being lead by HFZ Capital Group.

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  The Water Quality Association has contracted independent trade show organizer Corcoran Expositions to assist with ticket sales and related services for the association's 2017 convention, which runs March 28-31 in Orlando. 

Correction: This item has been updated to more accurately reflect Corcoran's role in the event. 

TORONTO:  Cask Days will take place October 21-23 at Brick Works. The event will bring in 50 casks from 20 Oregon breweries and offer guests tastings of 400 beers and ciders.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has appointed Broadway producer Jeffrey Finn as president of theater producing and programming. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/2dW8MPZ

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Carla Hay, Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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