July 19, 2018: R.N.C. Recommends Charlotte as Host City for 2020 G.O.P. Convention, A.E.G. Acquires All of Firefly Music Festival, Another YouTuber Fan Event Ends in Disaster

1. R.N.C. RECOMMENDS CHARLOTTE AS HOST CITY FOR 2020 G.O.P. CONVENTION: The Republican National Committee has recommended Charlotte, North Carolina, as the host city of the 2020 G.O.P. Convention. Politico: "The committee is expected to finalize the selection at its annual summer meeting on Friday in Austin, Texas, according to a senior Republican familiar with the talks. The decision effectively caps a yearlong, behind-the-scenes search. At the outset, seven cities expressed interest in holding the convention. By spring the committee quickly narrowed the choice down to two: Charlotte and Las Vegas. Several people familiar with the decision said the party chose Charlotte for several reasons. The city, they said, had a sufficient number of hotel rooms to host a major party convention, demonstrated the ability to raise the needed funds to host the event, and boasted of a major airport. ... The search, however, was not without speed bumps. On Monday, the Charlotte City Council voted narrowly to approve plans to host the convention. Within the overwhelmingly Democratic city, there has been some resistance to holding what is expected to be a Trump-focused convention. Charlotte will host a major party convention for the second time in three presidential election cycles. In 2012, Democrats nominated then-President Barack Obama for reelection. That the city had a proven track record, one party official said, was a factor in the committee’s decision. The RNC has yet to set a date for the convention." https://bit.ly/2L5GmmG

2. A.E.G. ACQUIRES ALL OF FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL: Firefly Music Festival, an annual music festival held in Dover, Delaware, has been fully acquired by Coachella owner, A.E.G. Presents. The event company initially entered into a joint venture with Firefly producer Red Frog Events in 2014. Billboard: “AEG Presents decided to expand its ownership in the festival following this year’s successful Firefly, according to the company, while Red Frog Events has shifted its focus to other events and services. ‘From day one, we have always believed that Firefly is one of North America’s most special festivals,’ said Melissa Ormond, C.O.O., Festivals, AEG Presents, in a statement. ‘Combined with the full commitment of AEG Presents’ resources, including an unrivaled production team committed exclusively to festivals, there is no doubt that the best is yet to come for the Firefly Music Festival.’ Several members of the core team of people who have managed Firefly since its inception have joined AEG Presents to continue to manage the event, including Stephanie Mezzano, Firefly director and one of the festival’s founders. … Additionally, Alicia Karlin, a vice president and senior event producer for Madison House Presents (operated in partnership with AEG Presents), will become Firefly’s talent buyer. AEG Presents will also take over the promotion and production of the festival, which has hosted legendary entertainers such as Eminem, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, Chance the Rapper, and more since its 2012 launch.” https://bit.ly/2NV6TRv

3. ANOTHER YOUTUBER FAN EVENT ENDS IN DISASTER: Just weeks after YouTuber event TanaCon turned into a Fyre Festival-level disaster, another fan-focused event from controversial YouTuber FouseyTube recently ended in similar fashion. Polygon: “Yousef Saleh Erakat, who records videos under the FouseyTube alias, hosted a free, last-minute concert on July 15 in the name of spreading love. In a podcast interview with controversial YouTuber Adam22, Erakat referred to Hate Dies, Love Arrives as the next Coachella, but noted that the event didn’t even have a venue five days before it was supposed to happen. The entire concert was thrown together in seven days. Erakat promised fans that artists like Snoop Dogg and Drake would perform at the iconic Greek Theater venue in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park area. He was then forced to cancel the show following an alleged bomb threat, according to Deadline, in what police are now referring to as a potential swatting incident. About 1,500 people were evacuated to a nearby lot, where Erakat stood on top of a car and spoke to his audience. He told them not to let what happened affect their night. In the days since, Erakat has addressed criticism about false advertising, and responded to growing concerns from fans who are worried that his mental health could be at risk. Erakat spoke about living with bipolar disorder in 2016. … As creators grapple with their inability to eventize fame, and others analyze and criticize for their own gain, the overriding message becomes clear: creator events are here to stay. Even when they’re complete disasters, they’re entertaining enough to work in the long run for everyone involved. The management and production companies get more exposure, other creators publish their own vlogs on the situation, and the creators themselves get to stand in the limelight for a few days and bask in the increased attention. A event either pays off, and fans have a rekindled love for their favorite creators, or it’s a disaster and it’s all anyone can talk about for the next few days.” https://bit.ly/2LqqQRw


INDUSTRY NEWS

Cultural marketing agency Endeavor Global Marketing has acquired Clifford French, a U.K.-based sport and entertainment communications agency. 

* LOCAL NEWS *

LAS VEGAS:  The inaugural Collective Zoo Block Party will take place September 1 downtown. The event, which is produced by Collective Zoo and Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, will include food trucks, a Rockstar Beer beer garden, live art displays, a 2,200-square-foot pool, and more. 

LOS ANGELES:  The eighth annual Taste of Brews Long Beach will take place August 18 at Shoreline Aquatic Park. 

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The second annual Organic Beauty and Wellness Festival will take place October 28 at the Boca Raton Marriott. The vegan event will feature local and national companies that specialize in organic goods, organic beauty brands, and wellness products and services.

NEW YORK:  Picnic by Design on Broadway, Diffa’s annual summer fund-raiser, will take place September 5 at Viacom Lounge & Terrace. 

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

PHILADELPHIA:  Made in America festival will no longer take place at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway after its 2018 edition in September. NBC 10: https://bit.ly/2L7k7g8

SAN FRANCISCO:  Mayan Warrior, an art car featured at Burning Man, will come to Public Works on Saturday for a fund-raising event. In addition to the car created by Pablo Gonzalez Vargas, the event will feature music and an aesthetic inspired by Mexico City.

TORONTO:  The third annual Kensington Market Jazz Festival will take place September 14-16. 

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Ian Zelaya, and Kristine Liao in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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