1. AEG LOOKS TO DOMINATE EAST COAST CONCERT INDUSTRY: Live events company AEG Live is looking to give Live Nation a run for its money as the global concert industry’s major power. The company—which runs Coachella and events in Los Angeles’s Staples Center—is close to acquiring the Bowery Presents, a New York-based independent promoter that puts on shows in venues like the Bowery Ballroom, Terminal 5, and Madison Square Garden. Billboard: “Bowery will be the second notable New York independent to be bought out this year. Earlier this month, news came that Live Nation had acquired a majority stake in Founders Entertainment, producers of Governors Ball on Randall's Island. New York and the Northeastern U.S. have been one of the most competitive territories between Live Nation and AEG Live, and the latter's move with Bowery is a critical play outside the festival space. Though digitally-savvy, Bowery in many ways operates as an old-school promoter, focusing less on forging tour deals or getting into bidding wars with established acts and more on building loyalty with developing bands by taking risks early in their careers at the small venue level, hopefully building a significant number of these acts to the arena level.” http://bit.ly/1rokcxX
2. JOE WALSH WITHDRAWS FROM R.N.C. CONCERT: Rock musician Joe Walsh has bowed out of a July concert in Cleveland after learning the event was associated with the opening of the Republican National Convention. The Eagles and James Gang guitarist released a statement saying he thought the concert was a nonpartisan event benefiting families of veterans. Cleveland.com: “‘Therefore I must humbly withdraw my participation in this event, with apologies to any fans or veterans and their families that I may disappoint,’ Walsh's statement says. ‘I was misled as to the event's true purpose. ‘I am very concerned about the rampant vitriol, fear-mongering, and bullying coming from the current Republican campaigns, it is isolationist and spiteful. I cannot in good conscience endorse the Republican party in any way. I will look at doing a veteran-related benefit concert later this year.’” http://bit.ly/1SmhWxw
3. BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS TO AIR LIVE ON BOTH COASTS: Following in the footsteps of major awards shows like the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, and Emmys, the Billboard Music Awards will air live on both the East and West coast. ABC will broadcast the ceremony on May 22. Deadline: "The news comes on the heels of rising ratings for the franchise, which was revived by ABC in 2011 after a four-year break. Last year’s telecast hit a 12-year high in adults 18-49 with a 3.7 Live+Same Day rating and a 14-year high in total viewers with 11.1 million. After airing live from 5-8 p.m. PT, the show will run an encore in primetime on the West Coast. Hosted by Ludacris and Ciara this year, the Billboard Music Awards follow in the footsteps of the Grammys, which also went live in the West for the first time this year. Dick Clarks Prods., which produces the Billboard Music Awards, also produces the Golden Globes, which has been airing live on both coasts since 2010." http://bit.ly/1T05286
* LOCAL NEWS *
AUSTIN: The Austin Food and Wine Festival that was slated for this weekend has been canceled because of potential bad weather. Eater: http://bit.ly/1qEQ8wR
Hilton Austin will launch a $23 million renovation in May that will include full renovations of the lobby and meeting space, two new restaurants, a Starbucks, and a flexible event space.
BOSTON: The Boston Children’s Hospital League and Impulse by Adamas Fine Jewelry’s event “Sip, Savor, Sparkle” will take place May 19 at the Impulse showroom in Wellesley. The event will feature a raffle and mini makeovers.
CHICAGO: Time Out Chicago will host “Treat Yo’ Self,” a dessert reception, at Fulton Market Kitchen on April 24. The event will feature tastings from local bakeries; there will also be a tarot-card reader and a fortune teller.
LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas-based experiential entertainment company Pop Experience has partnered with Authentic Brands Group to create an interactive, multimedia touring exhibition that will showcase the life of Marilyn Monroe. Cities, venues, and dates for the exhibition will be announced later this year.
LOS ANGELES: The 28th annual Colleagues Spring Luncheon, which benefits the Children's Institute, will take place on Tuesday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Actress Angie Harmon will be the masters of ceremonies at the luncheon, which will feature a fashion show for Oscar de la Renta's Fall 2016 collection.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Chef Tom Colicchio will host Slow Food Miami’s “Snail of Approval” Tasting Party on April 29 at 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach. More than 30 chefs, local growers, and producers are expected to take part in the event.
NEW YORK: As part of its Brainwave series on emotion, the Rubin Museum is hosting a sold-out event Monday featuring a discussion with musician Questlove, chef Daniel Humm, and neurobiologist Stuart Firestein. The series, now in its ninth edition, matches brain experts with notable personalities to explore the role of emotions in our lives.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: In the coming month, several new restaurants will open at Disney World. In Disney Springs' fourth neighborhood, Town Center, dining venues slated to open include Sprinkles Cupcakes, Blaze Pizza, Amorette's Patisserie, D-Luxe Burger, Tablas Frontera from chef Rick Bayless, and Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine from chef Art Smith. At Animal Kingdom, Tiffins will open Memorial Day weekend. The table-service restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner, serving a menu of international fare such as lentil stew with mint chutney and miso-glazed black cod.
SAN FRANCISCO: Mister Jiu’s Restaurant is now open in Chinatown. The eatery offers Cantonese fare made with local ingredients; meals are geared toward groups and served banquet-style.
TORONTO: Kampai, a sake festival, will take place June 3 at the Fermenting Cellar. The event will showcase 150 kinds of sake, and offer appetizers from local eateries.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Voto Latino’s seventh annual “Our Voices: Celebrating Diversity in Media” will take place April 29 at the Hay-Adams Hotel rooftop.
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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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