1. DESERT TRIP WON'T RETURN THIS YEAR: Desert Trip—last year's first-ever classic rock festival that featured headliners like Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones—won't take place this year, according to Goldenvoice's Paul Tollett. Billboard: "'We're not doing Desert Trip this year,' the L.A.-based concert promoter and Coachella founder tells Billboard. 'We loved 2016 Desert Trip—that was a special moment in time. Maybe someday in the future we'll do something similar.' The decision not to stage the event in 2017 puts to rest months of speculation about the future of Desert Trip, which grossed a staggering $160 million over two weekends in October 2016 and included performances by Bob Dylan, Neil Young and The Who. The classic rock festival was held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California—the same site as the annual Coachella and Stagecoach festivals -- and attracted 75,000 people per weekend with tickets ranging in price from $399 to $1,599. Many music fans had been hoping for a Led Zeppelin reunion in 2017, potentially as headliners for Desert Trip. Buzz about a possible reunion hit a crescendo last week, thanks in part to a cryptic message on singer Robert Plant’s website that simply read, 'Any time now...' But sources said that clue more likely alluded to a musical release. The Indio festival would be an obvious place to stage what would have been the biggest reunion in rock history, and while a concert with John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Plant would have been the ultimate get for any concert promoter, the three won't be reunited for Desert Trip—at least not in 2017." http://bit.ly/2pFMpiU
2. CANNES BANS STREAMING-ONLY FILMS FROM FUTURE FESTIVALS: Beginning in 2018, the Cannes Film Festival will no longer accept streaming-only film submissions from companies such as Netflix. Netflix C.E.O. Reed Hastings has spoken out against the festival's rule change. Variety: "The festival’s board had convened a meeting Tuesday to discuss the possibility of yanking both films from competition, as recommended by France’s exhibitors’ association, which is represented on the board. Although the idea was rejected, the festival issued a statement Wednesday expressing regret over Netflix’s decision not to release the films widely in French cinemas. 'Cannes is aware of the anxiety aroused by the absence of the release in theaters of those films in France. The Festival de Cannes asked Netflix in vain to accept that these two films could reach the audience of French movie theaters and not only its subscribers,' the statement said, adding: 'The festival regrets that no agreement has been reached.' The festival said it had decided to 'adapt its rules' for the future. Starting next year, 'any film that wishes to compete in competition at Cannes will have to commit itself to being distributed in French movie theaters.' Reacting to Cannes’s new rule, Netflix’s Reed Hastings wrote on his Facebook account that 'the establishment [is] closing ranks against us.' ... Although Cannes opted to maintain Netflix’s films in competition without a traditional theatrical release, the festival’s new rule is likely to pose a major obstacle for Netflix unless France tweaks its windowing rules. Discussions to amend the regulations have been deadlocked for several years, but many industry players are hopeful that the upcoming government of President-elect Emmanuel Macron will take a pragmatic approach and shake up the window release schedule." http://bit.ly/2q2SMQf
3. UNIVERSAL TO STAGE GIANT SARCOPHAGUS FOR 'MUMMY' REBOOT: To promote the upcoming reboot of The Mummy, Universal is going to stage a massive sarcophagus at a mummy-theme event in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter: "The studio has revealed it will bring a 75-foot, seven-ton sarcophagus to the Hollywood and Highland gateway in Los Angeles on May 20 for The Mummy Day. According to the studio, this will be the largest single vertical structure that has ever been assembled at the gateway. The sarcophagus requires eight weeks to construct and more than 160 hours to install. The event will be streamed on The Mummy Facebook page and Fandango's Facebook page at noon PT. Tom Cruise, will be there, alongside director Alex Kurtzman and stars Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella and Jake Johnson. Fans who attend will be invited to try The Mummy VR Zero Gravity Stunt Experience—showcasing the much touted zero-g plane stunt from the film —and The Mummy Escape Game, an immersive game in which guests will be recruited as security guards who must solve interactive puzzles to save mankind." http://bit.ly/2q7W2cY
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: Project: OM by Manduka, a nationwide yoga event to raise funds for Susan G. Komen, kicked off Thursday, with major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, and Miami hosting marquee yoga events this month.
BOSTON: Unicef U.S.A. New England Region will host its annual Unicef Children's Champion Award Dinner on June 1 at the Castle at Park Plaza.
CHICAGO: The Blackstone has joined Autograph Collection Hotels.
LAS VEGAS: The Neon Museum has partnered with Fashion Show to restore historic signs on the Las Vegas Strip. The project will launch in June with the "Red Barn" installation and feature a rotating lineup of signs from the museum's collection.
LOS ANGELES: The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, which funds care and research for pediatric Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, will host its eighth annual "Big Fighters, Big Cause" Charity Boxing Night May 24 at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Hosted by comedian Bill Bellamy, the event will honor 9-year-old Jackson Blair with the Golden Glove Award and include a performance by En Vogue.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Jackson Health Foundation's Golden Angels Society Dinner will take place May 16 at Joe's Stone Crab.
NEW YORK: New-York Historical Society's annual Strawberry Festival benefit luncheon will take place June 20. The event will honor Loretta Lynch.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
TORONTO: Dynamic Hospitality & Entertainment Group will host the grand opening of the restored Guild Inn Estate on June 14.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and 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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