1. PRESIDENT OF OSCARS BOARD UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT: John Bailey, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is under investigation for sexual harassment. Variety: "The Academy received three harassment claims on Wednesday and immediately opened a probe, according to sources familiar with the situation. Bailey was elected president of the institution in August. If he were forced to step down, he would be temporarily replaced by Lois Burwell, a veteran makeup artist who is the Academy’s vice president, until the next election in July. Bailey’s tenure has been marked by a historic shift in the Academy’s approach to misconduct by its members. In October, the Academy voted to expel Harvey Weinstein less than 10 days after the New York Times first reported on his history of sexual harassment. The Academy also replaced Casey Affleck, who settled two sexual harassment lawsuits in 2010, as the presenter of the best actress award at this year’s Oscars. In December, the Academy established a code of conduct which provides that members may be disciplined or expelled for abuse, harassment or discrimination. The Academy also set up a claims process which set forth how such allegations would be adjudicated." http://bit.ly/2IvgDix
2. DAWN HUDSON STEPS DOWN AS N.F.L. CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER: Dawn Hudson, the chief marketing officer for the National Football League, has announced she will step down next month. Hudson was the league's C.M.O. for more than three years. The Wall Street Journal: "Her departure follows the appointment of Maryann Turcke as chief operating officer, a role in which she oversees marketing and communications, among other functions. Ms. Hudson said that when she joined the NFL in 2014, she and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell agreed that she would only stay for a handful of seasons. When Ms. Turcke was promoted, it 'seemed like a natural breaking point,' Ms. Hudson said. 'She deserves someone who will be in it for the long-term with her. That wasn’t going to be me.' ... Ms. Hudson spent the last four years helping the league tackle various crises, from accusations of domestic abuse involving players to studies linking football with long-term brain injuries. The league has also been grappling with backlash surrounding players kneeling during the national anthem as a form of protest and two straight seasons of declining ratings. The NFL will conduct a search internally and externally to replace Ms. Hudson. It’s a hectic job with a lot of travel, and no shortage of challenges, said Ms. Hudson. Through various communications and ad efforts, she tried to use the NFL’s reach to shed light on the larger issue of domestic violence, which she described as 'a bit of a closet subject people didn’t talk about.' Ms. Hudson wasn’t always putting out fires. She was also behind various campaigns meant to bring 'humanity' to the NFL brand. Among the heartwarming ads were 'Super Bowl Babies,' a humorous spot that shows babies dressed up as football legends, and 'Inside These Lines,' an ad promoting unity in a country divided after the Presidential election." http://on.wsj.com/2po29YZ
3. MCDONALD'S CELEBRATED ST. PATRICK'S DAY WITH A GIANT GREEN RAINBOW: Each year, McDonald's celebrates St. Patrick's Day with activations surrounding its seasonal Shamrock Shake. This year, the fast food company staged an illuminated rainbow over the Chicago River. Adweek: "You may remember a few years back, when Leo Burnett dumped a giant Shamrock Shake into the Chicago River, which the city turns green every March 17 as part of the Irish celebration. Well, this year, McDonald’s agency We Are Unlimited did something a little more elevated—working with artist Andrew Shoben and production studio Chicago Scenic to get a big green rainbow to magically appear in Daley Plaza on Wednesday night. The rainbow, dubbed the 'Shambow' (short for Shamrock Rainbow), was made using water vapor, fog and projection mapping. It appeared next to a popup Shamrock Shake shop, where McDonald’s gave away the minty treats for free. ... We Are Unlimited said it used social listening to identify Chicago as one of the cities with the highest volume of social chatter around the doom and gloom of winter. The Shambow, a rep for the agency said, was meant to offer 'unique experience for people in the hopes that they are inspired to ‘shake’ off their winter blues in anticipation of the arrival of spring.'" http://bit.ly/2DxdISP
* LOCAL NEWS *
CHICAGO: The fourth annual Lincoln Park Wine Festival will take place May 18-20 at Jonquil Park.
LOS ANGELES: The first-ever Adult Swim Festival will take place October 6-7 in downtown Los Angeles. The cultural event will feature two stages and a marketplace offering premiere screenings, comedy performances, interactive gaming, exclusive merchandise, and a live music lineup headlined by Run the Jewels.
This year's Amfar Gala Los Angeles will honor Katy Perry October 18.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
NEW YORK: Madison Square Garden has booted its W.N.B.A. team to a venue in Westchester County, even though it could cost the arena as much as $50 million per year. New York Daily News: http://nydn.us/2ppJLii
The International Live Events Association’s New York Metro Chapter will host a luncheon and panel focused on event safety and security Tuesday at Flight Deck at the Graybar Building. Broadcast journalist Budd Mishkin will moderate the panel.
El Museo del Barrio will have its 25th annual fund-raising gala May 10 at the Plaza Hotel. The event will honor fashion designer Esteban Cortazar, artist Marta Minujín, art patron César Reyes, and music producer Maestro Julio Reyes Copello.
Park South Hotel has appointed Justin Kellerman general manager. Kellerman previously was general manager of the Smyth hotel.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
TORONTO: The inaugural Toronto Sandwich Fest will take place April 22 at Artscape Wychwood Barns. The event will have vendor tastings, chef demos, an eating competition, and a sandwich design competition.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: America’s Promise Alliance, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, will host its fourth annual Promise Night Gala April 18 at the Newseum.
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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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