1. 'TODAY' HOST TO LAUNCH NEWFRONT-STYLE EVENT FOR LIVE VIDEO: Today show host Al Roker's recently created Roker Media has partnered with strategic advisory firm Brave Ventures to launch the "Live Fronts," a NewFront-style event for content producers and marketers in the live video and streaming industry. According to Brave Ventures co-founder Jesse Redniss, the inaugural event will take place in New York in October and be open to those in the live video business, which include platforms like Persicope and Facebook Live. Advertising Age: "The hope is the event will be bigger than just Mr. Roker's company showcasing their live programming and talent. The goal is to gather about a dozen people from agencies, TV networks and influencers to discuss live video initiatives, data transparency and measurement, Mr. Redniss said. Certainly, live video has received plenty of hype in recent months as Facebook, in particularly, builds out its live broadcasting capabilities. While some marketers have experimented with their own live streams of events or product launches, the opportunity for brands to advertise in or around live streams is limited. … Live programming Roker Media will be showcasing at the Live Fronts includes an interactive talk show hosted by Mario Armstrong, who regularly appears on the "Today" show; a sports series hosted by NBA All-Star Paul Millsap; a matchmaking show where the relationships are decided by the audience; and a show following the planning of the wedding of spin instructors at JoyRide. All of the shows include an interactive element that allow viewers to participate, communicate with or influence the content in some way." http://bit.ly/28JAaxS
2. NO DEATHS REPORTED AT E.D.C. LAS VEGAS: The future seems brighter for Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnivial, which wrapped up on Sunday. The festival had 131,000 attendees and no deaths were reported, marking the first time no one has died at the event since 2013. Los Angeles Times: “Fan deaths had been the major cloud over the festival ever since the 2010 incident that contributed to the festival’s departure from L.A. and into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. EDC has since grown significantly, and with it came a stereotype that–though risk is perhaps inevitable at any fest of this size–it was potentially a dangerous show, from illicit drug use to heat to all of the things that come with a 400,000-strong rave in Vegas in the summer. There were 212 medical calls and 40 felony narcotics arrests on Sunday – the latter being a record for the festival. But that also may reflect an increased vigilance for policing on the festival site. … If EDC is going to be a perpetual teenage and early-20s cultural staple, it proved that raves can be a safe part of growing up. For all of Insomniac’s challenges of late, EDC looks to finally be settling into its rhythms, from the music to the logistics to the security systems that are now more fundamental than ever to saving raves in the U.S. From San Bernardino to Argentina, governments are taking second looks at what EDM culture means to the safety of cities and their citizens.” http://lat.ms/28JJf6X
Update: Since this item was published, it's been reported that one 20-year-old Southern California woman did die at last week's festival. The cause of death won't be official until the coroner releases a report. http://bit.ly/28QBJag
3. N.B.A. CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS OSCARS-LEVEL RATINGS: Sunday night's N.B.A. finals game between the winning Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors drew almost 31 million viewers, making it the most-watched N.B.A. event in 18 years. The New York Times: "Viewership peaked in the final minutes, between 10:30 and 10:40 p.m., with a whopping 44.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen. It was the sort of audience usually reserved for National Football League playoff games. By comparison, last year’s deciding Game 6 of the N.B.A. finals, also between the Warriors, of Oakland, Calif., and Cavaliers, drew 23.3 million viewers. Sunday’s game was the most-viewed finals game since Game 6 in 1998, which turned out to be Michael Jordan’s final game as a player. It was also the most-watched telecast since the 2016 Academy Awards, which had 34.4 million viewers, ABC said. It also had the highest rating in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic since Super Bowl 50 in February." http://nyti.ms/28JIVrn
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: AC Hotels by Marriott has announced a partnership with Startup Grind to connect entrepreneurs and provide them with places to work, preferred pricing, and access to media salons and meeting rooms. Press release: http://prn.to/28MbDFR
BOSTON: AnDevCon, the Android Developer Conference, will take place August 1-4 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel.
CHICAGO: The Kinzie Hotel in River North has appointed Andrew Eck as general manager.
LAS VEGAS: Michael Morton and David Morton will debut a new steakhouse restaurant the the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas in 2017.
LOS ANGELES: Joanna Cichocki has left her position as senior vice president of special events at PMK-BNC to join WME-IMG as vice president of global partnership, strategy, and activations, beginning July 6.
On June 18, the BET Experience at L.A. Live presented by Coca-Cola Kick-Off Concert took over the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Outdoor Promenade with 4,000 fans. It was the official pre-event celebration for the big festival.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: AmericanAirlines Arena launches its free "Summer Movie Night" series Friday at the Xfinity East Plaza with a screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The 34,000-square-foot outdoor space has a 16-foot, ultra-high-definition LED screen and a 70,000-watt sound system. Guests must bring their own chairs/seating and are required to pre-register by downloading the Miami Heat's mobile app. For the opening screening, guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Star Wars characters for a costume contest; the winner will get four Miami Heat tickets at the team's next opening night at the arena.
The Miami Marlins have partnered with EventRide to launch a ride-share app dedicated to sports and concert events. People can log into their Facebook accounts to either give or get a ride to Marlins games all season, and fans can also share the cost of parking and fuel through the app.
NASHVILLE: The first-ever Game of Thrones fan convention, A Con of Ice and Fire, will take place June 30-July 2, 2017. Produced by Mischief Management, the convention will feature panels, workshops, concerts, meet-and-greets, and a marketplace with merchandise and memorabilia. http://prn.to/28Jx5xF
NEW YORK: The Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk opens Saturday with a concert by Ziggy Marley. The 5,000-seat venue, which is located at the former Childs Building, includes a rooftop bar and an indoor restaurant. Live Nation holds a long-term lease to operate the amphitheater, which will host a mix of concerts, family shows, sports, comedy, and multicultural events, and become the new permanent home of the free Seaside Summer Concert Series. Hospitality services will be provided by Legends, and Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment will sell naming rights and sponsorships as well as support the branding and programming of the beachfront complex. Artists scheduled to perform at upcoming concerts include Sting, Peter Gabriel, Jane's Addiction, Maxwell, the Beach Boys, 311, Fifth Harmony, and Willie Nelson.
Jon Bakhshi of Beautique eatery will open Megu at Dream Downtown in July. The 5,000-square-foot modern Japanese concept will seat 145.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
PHILADELPHIA: The fifth annual Budweiser Made in America festival, slated for September 3-4 at Benjamin Franklin Parkway, has announced its lineup. Headliners include Rihanna and Coldplay.
TORONTO: Harbourfront Centre's Free Flicks, in partnership with TIFF and Pride Toronto, will host a special screening of Mean Girls on Wednesday with appearances from the film's stars Lindsay Lohan and Daniel Franzese.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Events DC will host Olympic Day DC on Friday, in celebration of the upcoming Summer Olympics. The event, which will take place at CityCenterDC Pavilion, will include local athlete appearances and interactive sports experiences, such as pole vaulting, power lifting, wrestling, boxing, fencing, and Paralympic basketball.
Aspen Institute Financial Security Program will present a public forum about retirement savings on Friday at the Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building. Several leaders in politics and business will speak at the event, including U.S. Representatives Joseph Crowley and Jared Polis, Empower Retirement president Edmund F. Murphy III, and Prudential Bank and Trust chairman/C.E.O. John "Jamie" Kalamarides.
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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.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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