Latest news with #MusicFestival
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Live Nation Urban Just Launched The Largest Black Creator Network In The Industry
Festival-goers gather at Broccoli City 2024 in Washington, D.C., celebrating Black culture, music, ... More and community. Exclusive: This new platform helps brands move authentically through Black culture while uplifting the creators who shape it daily. Everyone wants to be a content creator. And there's no shortage of Black creators in the digital space. But is the field guaranteed to be lucrative? Not quite. One major barrier is the lack of access to high-impact, brand-backed campaigns. Live Nation Urban is stepping in with a strategic solution. Exclusively reported here on Forbes, the live-event production powerhouse has officially launched the Live Nation Urban Creator Network—a bold new partnership with Breakr, the creator marketing platform fueling some of the biggest campaigns in music and media. 'Creators have long been an integral part of how we market our tours and festivals' said Live Nation Urban President Shawn Gee in a press statement. 'But the demand from our brand partners pushed us to think bigger—to move beyond treating creator marketing as an internal tool and instead build a business model around it. As brands increasingly looked to us to help them connect authentically with Black audiences, even outside the context of our events, it became clear there was an opportunity to create something larger." At its core, the Live Nation Urban Creator Network isn't about popularity. It's about potency. The platform isn't looking for creators who simply rack up vanity metrics. It's looking for cultural movers. As Malcolm Gray, the VP, Marketing and Partnerships at Live Nation Urban explained in our exclusive interview, 'We're kind of building these platforms and especially in the past few years, the macro creators are cool for awareness, but the micro to mid creators drive culture.' That means creators with smaller, deeply engaged followings often hold more value than those with millions of passive followers. Rather than rely on a one-size-fits-all vetting process, Live Nation Urban leans into nuance. Every creator brings something different to the table, whether it's high-volume reach or niche influence. According to Malcolm, 'It's not somebody that has maybe even 50,000 followers—it might be somebody with 5,000 followers, but those 5,000 followers are very influential or they're also really tapped into everything that that person does.' This rather bespoke approach gives the platform its edge. It touches on the actuality of who is actually listening to the voices of content creators. Fans gather at Roots Picnic 2025 in Philadelphia, celebrating music, culture, and community at one ... More of Live Nation Urban's flagship festivals. Richard Gay, COO at Live Nation Urban, further touched on the power of customization. 'Sometimes it's who's the one that can move a 24-year-old female and who's the one that can move a 60-year-old female that loves gospel and is going to our gospel festival for Franklin down in Dallas, right?' In other words, the Creator Network isn't just an engine for buzz, but rather a strategy-driven vehicle designed to meet audiences where they are, both geographically and culturally. What makes this platform visionary isn't just its embrace of creators, it's its embrace of strategy. 'Everything is custom for us,' Richard said. 'We understand that there's no one solution.' That level of intentionality positions the Creator Network not just as another influencer roster, but as a cultural infrastructure. Moreover, a living, breathing system that connects creators to campaigns with real impact, not just algorithms. When it comes to creator partnerships, compensation isn't just a detail, it's a dealbreaker. And in a field where Net 30 and Net 60 delays are still the industry standard, that waiting game can kill momentum, and at times tug at the livelihood of future relations. Live Nation Urban understood that pain point intimately. Their team had been managing creator collaborations manually, through Excel spreadsheets, endless email threads, and a patchwork of document requests. 'If you want to move at the speed of marketing, you can't do that with a process like that,' Malcolm explained. Enter Breakr, a tech-forward solution founded by two young Black brothers, Anthony and Ameer Brown, that did more than streamline logistics. The platform's creator search tool made onboarding creators seamless, trimming days of research into just hours. But it was their revolutionary tool BreakrPay™ that truly shifted the paradigm. Through BreakrPay™, creators are stationed to receive their compensation within 48 hours. As Malcolm put it, 'we use a platform to curate, negotiate, confirm offers, make sure that the talent and the creators execute, see analytics, and then we can pay them within 48 hours of them making the post, which is not normal. That's a game changer for us.' In an industry where freelancers often chase down payments like bill collectors, this frictionless payment system is more than convenient. It's equitable. BreakrPay fronts the creator's payment while consolidating the invoicing process on the back end, freeing both the talent and the brand from bureaucratic lag. 'That took so much stress and process out of it,' Malcolm shared. 'Hey, cool—you make the post, and within 48 hours, you get paid. We're on to the next one.' Lil Wayne joins Juvenile, B.G., and Turk for a Hot Boys reunion at 2023 Lil Weezyana ... More Festival—bringing the iconic Cash Money crew back together on home turf. But the brilliance of this partnership didn't end with efficiency. It aligned squarely with what Richard deems as Live Nation Urban's investment thesis. 'We always need to be the leaders in Black live events, and with the Black audience,' Richard explained. That leadership considers the creation of the infrastructure, and investing in the people building it. 'When Tony and Ameer came in, here's these two young African-American males that had this great thing, this unbelievable product… they're amazing and talented, they're going to drive lots of growth for our business and our industry, and we're going to help drive lots of growth in theirs.' That ethos is precisely what undergirds the Black Lilly Fund, Live Nation Urban's vehicle for investing in Black-led innovation across live events, tech, and cultural strategy. Whether it's through platforms like Breakr or community activations like Black on the Block, the fund reflects a broader commitment: to build, fund, and champion the next generation of Black entrepreneurs. Especially those disrupting the status quo. One concern I brought to the table was this: how does Live Nation Urban ensure the Creator Network isn't just a seasonal play tied to Black cultural moments, but a sustained, year-round ecosystem for creators? Far too often, Black creatives are spotlighted for campaigns only when it's trendy, not when it's strategic. Think Black History Month. Juneteenth. The birth of hip-hop. But as Malcolm clarified, this network was never about checking a DEI box—it's about building long-term economic and cultural value. 'We have all these people we work with that are great creators,' he said, 'But now we can pitch them to brands as part of experiences… campaigns that aren't specifically tied to one of our festivals.' Richard took it a step further, distilling the mission in no uncertain terms: 'This has nothing to do with whether DEI is in favor or not, right, it has nothing to do with that.' What they're building isn't conditional on the corporate diversity trend cycle. It's a market-tested mechanism to drive real results. Whether that means selling tickets, pushing a product, or activating a voter base, the network is equipped to 'move audiences to action,' and that's something brands need every day of the year, not just when Black culture becomes marketable. Megan Thee Stallion commands the stage at 2024 Broccoli City Festival, bringing high energy and ... More Houston heat to Washington, D.C. That year-round relevance is precisely why the Creator Network is structurally distinct from Live Nation Urban's events. With access to a scalable creator roster that can be segmented by audience, category, or campaign goal, the team can deliver measurable impressions on demand. 'That is a need where the creator network is… really, really valuable and powerful, far beyond us,' said Richard. And perhaps most powerfully, 'that's why we're opening up our Black box.' I had to ask the obvious, yet critical question: with so many platforms and collectives claiming to center Black creators, what truly sets this one apart? Because let's be clear, there's no shortage of agencies or influencer marketing tools that 'target Black audiences.' But too often, those efforts feel extractive or surface-level. What Live Nation Urban is doing through this network feels deeper and is rather, more strategic, more lived-in, and more earned. According to Richard, it comes down to infrastructure. 'We have access to 30 million plus records on folks… That's something people don't have,' he shared. That data doesn't just sit in a spreadsheet. It's sliced, indexed, and overlaid with the lived experience of 15+ years producing live events for Black audiences. This is statistics. Skewed Black. 'We can curate and match and scale that… this is the mosaic of Black culture,' he added. Malcolm finds value in Live Nation Urban rich network lexicon. Other platforms may offer software, but in addition, Live Nation Urban offers relationships. 'We do this,' he said plainly. 'We do events, we do tours, we do festivals… we live off selling tickets.' That means creators in the network are stepping into a constant flow of opportunity, not just hopeful invitations. 'We just have access,' Malcolm explained. 'So even if you only work on Live Nation Urban stuff, that's still probably four, five, six events a year you can put on your resume.' Let's be clear, this isn't some newly launched beta program. Live Nation Urban has been doing the work, consistently and deliberately, for more than four years. Long before it was fashionable to 'invest in Black creators,' they were building an ecosystem that positioned Black creatives not just as participants, but as central players in exposure. From The Roots Picnic to Mary J. Blige's Strength of a Woman Festival, from Broccoli City to the Emmy-nominated 'Sly Lives!' documentary directed by Questlove, the Creator Network has already activated some of the most defining cultural events in Black America. WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Zoe Spencer attends BET Awards 2025 Media House at Quixote ... More Studios West Hollywood on June 08, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Robinfor BET) And the creators tapped for these campaigns aren't just your standard viral influencers. They're community connectors who bring their own loyal audiences along for the ride. We're talking about creators like Zoe Spencer (3.9M+ followers), Big Homie Blocks (2.27M+), Fats Da Barber (696K+), Reggie Couz (4.6M+), and FunnyMan Gaitlin (6.3M+). This isn't about moment marketing. Such as of 2025 is effortless. And modern marketing in entertainment extends beyond effortless creator behavior. It's about movement marketing. That phrase, used by the Live Nation Urban team, doesn't just sound good, it's the truth of what they've built. The Creator Network is more than an influencer roster. It's a platform with data-backed muscle, culturally grounded strategy, and a blueprint for what equitable creator ecosystems should look like. Live Nation Urban is fixated on long-term impact. Their team's approach, "movement marketing," reflects the substance of what they've developed. The Creator Network is a platform that uses data, smart strategy, and a plan for fair creator partnerships. There are currently 75,000 creators listed supported by 55 million data points, and successful collaborations with brands like BET, STARZ, and Hulu. Live Nation Urban Creator Network For Black creators, this network offers more than just opportunity, providing a direct path to success. Whether you have 5,000 or 5 million followers, the LNU Creator Network values quality and result driven Black content creators. Applications for the Live Nation Urban Creator Network are now live. Prospective Black creators can apply to the 2025 Creator Class here.
CTV News
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Arrested Development added to Thursday folk festival lineup
The 2024 Calgary Folk Festival kicks off Thursday night on Prince's Island Park. (Photo: X@calgaryfolkfest) The Calgary Folk Festival has announced a lineup change. Hip hop group Arrested Development has been added to Thursday night's lineup. The lineup change came down Tuesday after the scheduled act, Michael Kiwanuka, had to cancel his upcoming performance Thursday due to illness. Arrested Development will now play the ATB Stage before headliner Sierra Ferrell. The group won two Grammy Awards in 1993, for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Rap Group. This will be the group's third time performing at the Calgary Folk Festival, previously playing in 2009 and 2015. Folkfest kicks off Thursday and goes until Sunday, with tickets still available online.
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
10 things to do in Calgary this weekend (July 25 to 27)
The Calgary Folk Music Festival is held annually at Prince's Island Park. (Facebook/Calgary Folk Music Festival) There are plenty of local events and activities you can check out in Calgary this weekend. Here's a look at just 10 of the many amazing things happening around the city: Calgary Folk Music Festival What: The 2025 Calgary Folk Music Festival features 70 artists from around the world. This year, Steve Earle and Reckless Kelly are among those set to perform. The event also features food vendors, an arts market and a family zone. The 2025 Calgary Folk Music Festival features 70 artists from around the world. This year, Steve Earle and Reckless Kelly are among those set to perform. The event also features food vendors, an arts market and a family zone. When: Thursday, July 24 to Sunday, July 27, 2025. Thursday, July 24 to Sunday, July 27, 2025. Where: Prince's Island Park, 698 Eau Claire Ave. S.W. Midway and a movie What: Head to Heritage Park to enjoy a movie or two and the antique midway as part of Midway and a Movie. This event includes a double feature of Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Head to Heritage Park to enjoy a movie or two and the antique midway as part of Midway and a Movie. This event includes a double feature of Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. When: Friday, July 25 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday, July 25 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Where: Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W. Surge vs. Bandits What: The Calgary Surge take on the Vancouver Bandits. The Calgary Surge take on the Vancouver Bandits. When: Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m. Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m. Where: WinSport Event Centre, 151 Canada Olympic Rd. S.W. 98 Degrees What: Known for 90s hits like Because of You , Invisible Man and The Hardest Thing , musical group 98 Degrees comes to Calgary to perform at the Grey Eagle. Known for 90s hits like , and , musical group 98 Degrees comes to Calgary to perform at the Grey Eagle. When: Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m. Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m. Where: Grey Eagle Event Centre, 3777 Grey Eagle Dr. Cavalry vs. York United What: Calgary's Cavalry FC take on the York United at ATCO Field. Calgary's Cavalry FC take on the York United at ATCO Field. When: Saturday, July 26 at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at 3 p.m. Where: ATCO Field, 18011 Spruce Meadows Way S.W. Surge vs. Sea Bears What: The Calgary Surge take on the Winnipeg Sea Bears. The Calgary Surge take on the Winnipeg Sea Bears. When: Sunday, July 26 at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26 at 2 p.m. Where: WinSport Event Centre, 151 Canada Olympic Rd. S.W. Debbie Gibson What: Head to the Grey Eagle to see 80s pop princess Debbie Gibson perform as part of her Newstalgia Live tour. Head to the Grey Eagle to see 80s pop princess Debbie Gibson perform as part of her tour. When: Sunday, July 27 at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 27 at 8 p.m. Where: Grey Eagle Event Centre, 3777 Grey Eagle Dr. YYC Ice Cream Fest What: Enjoy dozens of specialty ice cream flavours sold throughout Calgary as part of YYC Ice Cream Fest, a charitable competition that sees a portion of sales donated to Calgary Meals on Wheels. Enjoy dozens of specialty ice cream flavours sold throughout Calgary as part of YYC Ice Cream Fest, a charitable competition that sees a portion of sales donated to Calgary Meals on Wheels. When: Until Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025 Until Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025 Where: Various locations throughout Calgary. Legends of the 80's What: Stage West Calgary presents Legends of the 80's , a 1980s musical extravaganza, featuring music by legends like Elton John, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and Queen. Stage West Calgary presents , a 1980s musical extravaganza, featuring music by legends like Elton John, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and Queen. When: Until Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. Until Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. Where: Stage West, 727 42 Ave. S.E. ABBA Mania: Back to the Disco Dimension
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
River & Sky Fest kicks off Thursday with art, music
River & Sky Music Festival starts Thursday on Sturgeon River's shores. The event will feature art by self-taught artist David Chops, North Bay's Allison Roberts, Studio Nude Beach and Temagami First Nation's Amanda Mathias.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
JT picks: What not to miss at Fuji Rock 2025
Summer festival season is here — and The Japan Times team is heading to the mountains of Niigata Prefecture for a weekend of blistering riffs, hypnotic grooves and unforgettable moments at Fuji Rock Festival. From high-octane punk to Mercury Prize-winning rap and viral TikTok hits, here are some of the acts we're most excited to catch. Philip Brasor, contributing writer Mdou Moctar (Friday, 3:50 p.m., White Stage): There's an abundance of skilled guitarists this year, but if you're mainly into shredding, then this Niger singer-songwriter is the act to see. As a master of so-called desert blues he leans psychedelic, with a clear, dense tone that cuts through metal. His singing and politically charged Tuareg poetry are just as heavy. Little Simz (Sunday, 5 p.m., Green Stage): Of the three Mercury Prize-winners at Fuji '25, this London rapper is the biggest sales-wise, not to mention the most personal. Her beats scan rock as much as they do Afrobeat or R&B, but it's the melodic nature of her flow that pulls you in. If she's in the right mood, she could be the festival highlight because that's what personal's all about. The Hives (Sunday, 8:10 p.m., Red Marquee): Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and his Swedish garage rockers first appeared at Fuji when they were neophytes and now qualify as this year's legacy act. They haven't changed their rock 'n' roll burlesque shtick over the decades, while miraculously maintaining a raw capability for crunchy, tuneful riffs. Too bad they're playing at the same time as the excellent Hitsujibungaku, so if you have to choose, remember: The Hives are much funnier. Johan Brooks, contributing photographer Creepy Nuts (Sunday, Green Stage, 3:00 p.m.): Still riding high on their viral, chart-smashing hit 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,' hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts are set to unleash an eccentric rampage on the festival's main stage. kanekoayano (Sunday, Red Marquee, 6:00 p.m.): Now appearing as kanekoayano, singer-songwriter Ayano Kaneko shifts from being a soloist backed by a band to fronting a unified project that gives her longtime collaborators room to shine as they perform their rich, emotional sound. Radwimps (Sunday, Green Stage, 7:00 p.m.): From this longtime album charts fixture, you can expect a set that'll feel like a scene out of a Makoto Shinkai anime film. Alyssa I. Smith, staff writer Vaundy (Friday, Green Stage, 7:00 p.m.): One of Japan's biggest hitmakers of the 2020s, Vaundy brings his genre-blurring pop to Fuji Rock's main stage ahead of headliner Fred Again.. With 17 songs topping 100 million streams, the Gen Z singer-songwriter's gift for addictive melodies promises emotional highs and a soundtrack for your summer memories. Balming Tiger (Saturday, White Stage, 2:00 p.m.): Landing right in the middle of the Fuji Rock weekend, Balming Tiger delivers a burst of pure infectious fun that will have you dancing in no time. This 11-member South Korean collective defies K-pop conventions with a chaotic, genre-hopping blend of hip-hop, pop, rock and electronica. Bolstered by wacky choreography and creative visuals, their live shows are gleefully unpredictable. Hitsujibungaku (Sunday, White Stage, 8:10 p.m.): This year marks the fourth time alt-rock trio Hitsujibungaku has played Fuji Rock, having first appeared on the Rookie A Go-Go stage back in 2016. Known for their slow-burning rock, the band has shifted from the indie circuit to become a rising international name with tours in the U.S. and U.K. this year. Expect a stirring nighttime set made all the more cinematic thanks to the surrounding forests of Naeba. Patrick St. Michel, contributing writer Summer Eye (Friday, Orange Echo, 12:25 p.m.): Former Siamese Cats vocalist Tomoyuki Natsume's solo project brings a tropical breeze and dance-ready pulse to rock. Live, he's unpredictable and always eager to head into the crowd to bring the coastal vibes closer to listeners, making this a great set to enter the first day's afternoon. mei ehara (Saturday, Field of Heaven, 11:30 a.m.): Singer-songwriter mei ehara crafts hypnotic grooves that can be laid-back and enveloping in equal measures. Ahead of a new album this fall, this set at the Field of Heaven offers a chance to see what she's been cooking up. If it's too early, though, catch American artist Faye Webster's performance later in the day at the White Stage, as the two have collaborated and ehara is bound to make an appearance. TV Tairiku Ondo (Monday, Rookie-A-Go-Go, 1 a.m.): Close out your Fuji Rock with a reminder that the kids are alright. The Sapporo group went viral while still in high school thanks to the fidgety rock onslaught of 'Ore ni Shinjitsu o Oshiete Kure!!' ('Tell Me the Truth!!'), the most unlikely TikTok hit of the decade. Save a little energy for the group's whirlwind live show late Sunday night. Mark Thompson, staff writer Otoboke Beaver (Friday, 12:10 p.m., White Stage): Skip the cappuccino. Get the adrenaline shot you need to start the day with this riot grrrl-inspired hardcore quartet, who rarely play songs over two minutes. Stomping in the footsteps of Shonen Knife and Afrirampo, their high-energy thrash mixes the raw power of garage and punk with generous dollops of Kansai humor. Be prepared to laugh and mosh. Hyukoh & Sunset Rollercoaster (Friday, 5 p.m., Green Stage): Torrents of creativity cascade out of this recently formed Taiwan-South Korea collaboration. Little is predictable about this 10-piece conglomeration, who blend city pop, yacht rock and psychedelia, projecting a vibe that is smooth and sometimes goofy but rarely self-indulgent. Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso (Saturday, 11 a.m., Green Stage): Ever since their Tiny Desk Concert went viral, the star of this Argentine duo has been skyrocketing. Having zipped around the international festival circuit this spring and summer, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso will open for Kendrick Lamar on the Latin America leg of his Grand National tour this fall. Their genre — trap, hip-hop, funk — isn't important; the groove's the thing, and it's extremely well honed and bolstered by a large yet tight band. With their Python-esque stage productions, Ca7riel & Paco are bound to make their Japan debut a memorable one. Fuji Rock Festival takes place at Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata Prefecture, from July 25-27. For more information, visit
