Beyoncé kicked off her Cowboy Carter Tour with a record-breaking five-night stand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The Los Angeles residency sold 217,000 tickets and grossed $55.7 million, making it the biggest reported single-venue engagement by a woman in Billboard Boxscore history.

It’s also the fifth-highest grossing tour stop in Boxscore history, only behind two legs of U2’s Sphere residency in Las Vegas (2023-24), Harry Styles’ 15 shows at Madison Square Garden in New York (2022), and eight nights of Take That at Wembley Stadium in London (2011).

“In every respect, it’s a brilliant start for the Cowboy Carter Tour in Los Angeles,” Arthur Fogel, Live Nation’s chairman of global music and president of global touring, told IQ.

The Cowboy Carter Tour launched on Monday 28 April at SoFi Stadium, with successive performances on May 1, 4, 7, and 9. On average, Beyoncé grossed $11.1 million per night, playing to more than 43,000 fans at each show.

“In every respect, it’s a brilliant start for the Cowboy Carter Tour in Los Angeles”

In completing the run, the Texan has now played more shows at SoFi Stadium than any other artist in the venue’s history – eight, including three in 2023 – since its opening at the beginning of the decade.

The 43-year-old superstar is also due to play a five-night stand at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and a six-night stand at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, which could challenge the $55 million take.

Total attendance at the 32-date Cowboy Carter Tour is set to eclipse one million, according to promoter Live Nation. By Billboard‘s estimations, Beyoncé’s 2025 run is barreling toward $300 million, which would out-gross all of her previous tours except 2023’s Renaissance World Tour.

Renaissance World Tour, which ran for 56 shows compared to Cowboy Carter Tour’s current routing of 32, was the second highest-grossing tour of 2023 after Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

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AEG has promoted Katie Pandolfo to general manager of Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.

Pandolfo, whose appointment is effective from 1 June, brings more than 25 years of experience to the position, most recently serving as the GM of the company’s Dignity Health Sports Park in California.

She will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the 20,000-cap flagship arena, which is home to three professional sports franchises — the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s LA Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks — and has hosted over 200 national and international events annually. Pandolfo will report directly to AEG president and CEO Dan Beckerman.

“Katie brings a wealth of experience to this role having guided the operations and management of Dignity Health Sports Park for over two decades,” says Beckerman. “She is a talented leader with a proven track record of success in delivering world class events and an incredible reputation for guiding and motivating her team. Her dedication and passion will be invaluable assets in leading Crypto.com Arena into the future, especially as the arena continues to build its legacy as a premier sports and entertainment destination.”

Pandolfo succeeds industry veteran Lee Zeidman, who will remain as an advisor to aid in the transition before retiring in 2025.

“Lee has made an indelible and lasting impact on AEG, Crypto.com Arena and the city of Los Angeles and his retirement later this year will mark the end of a remarkable chapter in his career,” adds Beckerman. “I am grateful for Lee’s friendship and support over these many years and wholeheartedly thank him for his years of leadership and numerous contributions.”

“Crypto.com Arena is more than just a venue, it is a renowned destination”

Acts booked to perform at the venue in 2025 include Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, A.R. Rahman, Ado, Wu-Tang Clan and Sleep Token.

“Crypto.com Arena is more than just a venue, it is a renowned destination and the home of championship teams and iconic performers and events that has been at the forefront in driving live sports and entertainment, delivering innovative guest services and building community,” shares Pandolfo. “I am excited to join the talented team at Crypto.com Arena and look forward to collaborating with the arena’s management team and partners to continue delivering exceptional experiences that shape the future of culture and entertainment.”

Elsewhere, premium experiences specialist Legends has announced that seasoned sports and entertainment executive Matt O’Neil has been appointed chief marketing officer of the combined Legends and ASM Global business.

O’Neil has been with Legends since August 2022, previously serving as chief content & experience officer.

“Matt’s appointment as CMO comes at a pivotal time as we combine Legends and ASM Global into one integrated business, uniting our brand and marketing strategies,” says Legends CEO Dan Levy. “His deep understanding of fan experience, storytelling, and marketing innovation across sports and entertainment makes him the right person to shape our unified identity and help our clients thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.”

In his new role, O’Neil will oversee marketing, creative, content, communications and events, focusing on driving growth and revenue across all areas and closely collaborating with Legends’ clients to provide marketing and branding consulting.

“Bringing together the capabilities of Legends and ASM Global unlocks incredible opportunity for us to shape the future of live experiences,” adds O’Neil. “I’m energised by the opportunity to build a unified marketing approach that not only supports our world-class clients but also improves the way fans and guests engage with every venue, team, and event.”

“It’s an honour to work alongside such exceptional colleagues to help shape what’s next for our clients”

Meanwhile at WME, brand partnerships agent Adam Bulleid has been promoted to partner at WME.

Bulleid, who joined the agency from Universal Music UK in 2022, works to identify partnership opportunities for clients including Dave, Raye, Stormzy, Little Simz, Sam Fender and Lewis Capaldi.

“It’s an honour to work alongside such exceptional colleagues to help shape what’s next for our clients,” he says. “I’m extremely grateful for the trust and support afforded to me from both our blossoming team at WME and our best-in-class clients as we embark on this exciting new chapter.”

In addition, Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International has announced veteran talent agent Ryan Abboushi is joining the company as president of entertainment. Abboushi began his career at William Morris Agency and has spent the last 16 years at CAA.

In his new role, Abboushi will provide oversight of MGM Resorts’ venue utilisation, show bookings, talent management and partner relationships. He will also be responsible for building scalable, branded entertainment and content experiences that can extend across MGM Resorts destinations.

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Half of the estimated $100 million (€96m) raised from last month’s FireAid benefit concerts in Los Angeles has been distributed for immediate relief.

Selected community-based organisations on the front lines of wildfire relief have each received $100,000 or more in the initial phase of gifting. The full list of recipients can be found here.

At least 29 people were killed as a result of the January 2025 blazes, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in Southern California.

“The selected organisations have the infrastructure, experience, and relationships necessary to efficiently and equitably deliver assistance to fire-impacted individuals and have each received $100,000 or more,” says a FireAid statement. “The need for immediate relief funding remains dire and these funds will serve to assist with that goal.

“Grants have been allocated to support a myriad of fire affected individuals including displaced residents, workers, small business owners and first responders, with a focus on essential services, food assistance, childcare support, critical healthcare resources, housing support, rental relief, student assistance programmes, and navigation services to ensure victims can access legal resources, government benefits and seamlessly work through challenging paperwork.”

Produced by the Azoff family in conjunction with Live Nation and AEG Presents, FireAid featured performances from more than 30 artists at two LA venues – Intuit Dome (cap. 18,000) and Kia Forum (17,500) on 30 January – and were watched by more than 50 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms.

“FireAid has also established a programme for the issuance of smaller grants available to community-based organisations, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000”

Acts included Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Nicks, as well as the surviving members of Nirvana.

The estimated $100m raised includes ticket sales for both venues, sponsorships led by presenting partners Kaiser Permanente and Scopely, merchandise sales, and donations from the public including private gifts from the Azoff family, the Eagles, Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and U2. Intuit Dome owner Steve Ballmer and Connie Ballmer continue to match all pledges received from broadcast.

The Inuit Dome is the home venue of NBA franchise LA Clippers, who served as operating partner for the event and underwrote all production expenses.

The first phase of funds will be fully distributed by the end of February, with phase two funding then set to focus on additional relief needs including sustaining long-term recovery, remediation and rebuilding, and further address environmental issues.

“Survivors of prior megafires and experts with whom FireAid consulted emphasised how crucial it is to reserve funds for unanticipated needs raised by communities, and to be both responsive and flexible, in planning for all phases of recovery,” adds the statement.

A non-profit organisation, FireAid has also established a programme for the issuance of smaller grants available to community-based groups, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

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Kanye West is no longer represented by the Los Angeles-based talent agency 33 & West, a representative for the company has confirmed.

The dismissal comes after the rapper posted a stream of antisemitic abuse on social media, put T-shirts with a swastika on sale in his online shop, and was alleged to have described himself as Hitler to a Jewish employee.

On Monday (10 February), Daniel McCartney of 33 & West wrote in a statement that his working relationship with West was over, “effective immediately … due to his harmful and hateful remarks that myself nor 33 & West can stand for”.

Last week West, also known as Ye, wrote a barrage of antisemitic posts on X including, “I’m a Nazi … I love Hitler”. The swastika T-shirt was placed for sale on the website of his fashion brand Yeezy, with the product line “HH-01”, assumed to be code for “Heil Hitler”.

Shopify, the company that provided the online platform for Yeezy, has now taken the store offline, stating: “All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform. This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms.”

Daniel McCartney of 33 & West wrote in a statement that his working relationship with West was over

On Tuesday, a former staff member for West’s company – anonymised as Jane Doe – filed a lawsuit against him in Los Angeles superior court, alleging wrongful termination, and gender and religious discrimination.

The woman, who is Jewish, alleges a series of incidents between January and June 2024, including that he fired her after sending her a text message reading “Hail [sic] Hitler”.

Another alleged text message read: “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler.” The woman’s lawyer, Carney Shegerian, described “a relentless and deliberate campaign of antisemitism and misogyny” from West. West has not commented on the lawsuit, nor the actions of Shopify and 33 & West.

These are not the first instances of antisemitic behaviour from the rapper. In 2022, West posted antisemitic slurs on social media and wore a shirt with a slogan associated with white supremacists.

The music and fashion industries subsequently cut ties with him, with UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer and Endeavor’s Ari Emanuel encouraging the boycott of West.

CAA, which had represented West for touring since 2016, dropped the rapper from its roster that week.

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The FireAid benefit concerts are expected to have raised more than US$100 million (€96m) for the Los Angeles wildfire relief effort, according to organisers.

Produced by the Azoff family in conjunction with Live Nation and AEG Presents, last Thursday night’s (30 January) near six-hour event was organised at just two weeks’ notice in the wake of one of the largest natural disasters in US history.

The shows featured performances from more than 30 artists at two LA venues – Intuit Dome (cap. 18,000) and Kia Forum (17,500) – and were watched by more than 50 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms.

Acts included Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Nicks, as well as the surviving members of Nirvana.

The estimated amount raised includes ticket sales for both venues, sponsorships, merchandise sales and donations from the public

The estimated amount raised includes ticket sales for both venues, sponsorships, merchandise sales and donations from the public including private gifts from the Azoff family, the Eagles, Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and U2.

Intuit Dome owner Steve Ballmer also pledged to match every donation received during the broadcast and VOD viewing. The fundraiser was broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music and the Apple TV app, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudom, Paramount+, Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps, and YouTube, and at select AMC Theatre locations in 70 US markets.

At least 29 people have been killed as a result of the January 2025 blazes, which have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.

The FireAid Grants Advisory Committee, led by the Annenberg Foundation, have been working to identify key areas of need for maximum impact, with the first phase of grants expected to be awarded by mid-February.

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The 67th edition of the Grammy Awards took place last night (2 February) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with performances from some of the biggest names in pop music.

More than 20 musicians performed during the awards show, which took place in the wake of the LA wildfires – one of the largest natural disasters in US history.

The ceremony kicked off with a tribute to the city, featuring an all-star cast of artists including Dawes, Brad Paisley, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard and St. Vincent.

The supergroup delivered a jaunty rendition of Randy Newman’s I Love L.A. as clips of firefighters and first responders played on the screens behind them.

Elsewhere, Charli XCX delivered a ‘boisterous’ performance of Von Dutch and Guess, with the former track earning her Best Dance/Pop Recording. The British popstar also scooped Best Dance/Electronic Album for the cultural phenomenon BRAT.

Doechii delivered an electrifying performance of her breakout hits Catfish and Denial Is A River after becoming the third woman ever to win Best Rap Album and Chappell Roan gave a buoyant performance of Pink Pony Club before walking away with Best New Artist.

Beyoncé, the most nominated artist in 2025 and in Grammys history, did not perform, but she finally won Album of the Year on her fifth try for Cowboy Carter. The star also went home with Best Country Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her track II Most Wanted ft Miley Cyrus.

Beyoncé finally won Album of the Year on her fifth try for Cowboy Carter

Minutes before winning her first-ever Grammy Award, Sabrina Carpenter took the stage to perform her smash hit Espresso (which earned her Best Pop Solo Performance) and Please Please Please. She later earned Best Pop Vocal Album for her recent LP Short n’ Sweet.

Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish – who earned six and seven nominations, respectively – went home empty-handed. Eilish performed her nominated hit Birds of a Feather alongside her brother Finneas.

The biggest winner of the night was Kendrick Lamar whose track Not Like Us was named Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance and Best Music Video.

Other artists that performed during the ceremony included Shakira, Benson Boone, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, Raye, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, Khruangbin and The Weeknd, who delivered a surprise performance.

An all-star tribute to Quincy Jones, who died on 3 November 2024, drew performances from Cynthia Erivo, Herbie Hancock, Jacob Collier, Lainey Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monáe. Elsewhere, Coldplay’s Chris Martin delivered a muted take on the band’s track All My Love for the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment.

See the full list of nominees and winners at Grammys 2025 here.

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A surprise Nirvana reunion and performances by an array of other A-listers put the seal on last night’s epic, star-studded FireAid charity gigs in Los Angeles.

Produced by the Azoff family in conjunction with Live Nation and AEG Presents, the near six-hour event was organised at just two weeks’ notice to raise funds for the LA wildfire relief effort, in the wake of one of the largest natural disasters in US history.

At least 29 people have been killed as a result of the January 2025 blazes, which have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.

Speaking before the two-venue benefit, FireAid co-organiser Irving Azoff said he hoped the concerts – held at the city’s Intuit Dome (cap. 18,000) and Kia Forum (17,500) – would raise upwards of $50 million to rebuild communities devastated by the wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California.

The event started at 6pm PST at the Kia Forum and 7.30pm at the Intuit Dome.

Actor Billy Crystal, who lost his Pacific Palisades home in the fires, opened the show by explaining that Intuit Dome owner Steve Ballmer would match every donation received, including the $1 million pledged by the night’s first donors, U2.

Billie Eilish, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Tate McRae performed at Intuit Dome, while Alanis Morissette, Anderson. Paak, Dave Matthews and John Mayer, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks and The Black Crowes appeared at the Kia Forum.

Nirvana surviving members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear reunited, fronted by a lineup of female guest vocalists

One of the evening’s most talked-about moments saw Nirvana surviving members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear reunite, fronted by a lineup of female guest vocalists – St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett and Grohl’s daughter Violet –who sang the band’s Breed, School, Territorial Pissings and All Apologies, respectively.

Another highlight included Eilish duetting on stage with Green Day, while Joni Mitchell delivered a rare performance, singing Both Sides Now while sat on a gold throne.

“Mitchell’s observation that ‘something’s lost but something’s gained in living every day’ was met with a huge cheer,” wrote the Telegraph‘s James Hall. “It felt like a dose of regal perspective from one of the all-time greats. The song was recorded in LA. And this is where this concert was most effective. The host of songs recorded in, or written about, LA reminded us about the place’s musical pedigree and what could all too easily be lost.”

The fundraiser was broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music and the Apple TV app, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudom, Paramount+, Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps, and YouTube, and at select AMC Theatre locations in 70 US markets.

“When widespread devastation creates uncertainty and suffering, maybe the sound of massive stars delivering deeply beloved songs can provide comfort and consolation,” said Chris Richards of the Washington Post. “The livestream didn’t resemble a telethon so much as a transmission from the tower of song in which lyrics chiseled in stone suddenly felt like they were freshly inked for this occasion.”

Lady Gaga, meanwhile, closed the event by debuting a new track, All I Need is Time, written especially for the occasion with her fiance Michael Polansky.

“By the end of the night, it was lost how much money was raised; gone are the Jerry Lewis telethon days when a ticker showed the numbers climbing higher and higher,” concluded the Guardian‘s Rob LeDonne. “Perhaps the number was so big it could have discouraged additional donations. Regardless of the figure, FireAid proved the power of music and how a just cause can bring together polar opposites. If anything, here’s hoping it’s a harbinger for the future.”

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FireAid co-organiser Irving Azoff says he hopes the Los Angeles wildfire benefit will raise upwards of $50 million after the full lineups for the 30 January charity concerts were confirmed.

Billie Eilish, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Tate McRae will perform at Intuit Dome (cap. 18,000).

Meanwhile, Alanis Morissette, Anderson. Paak, Dave Matthews and John Mayer, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks and The Black Crowes will appear at the 17,500-cap Kia Forum.

The one-night-only event is being produced by the Azoff family in conjunction with Live Nation and AEG Presents.

“As soon as we understood the magnitude of the problem, the family, kids, Shelli [Azoff, wife] and I started talking about what we could do,” Irving Azoff tells Hits Daily Double. “Shelli said, we really need to do a show. Shelli and I spoke with Gillian Zucker, who’s the president of business operations for [NBA team and Intuit Dome tenant] the Clippers and is a close friend.

“We kind of had the idea to do a show at the same time, and she said, ‘Of course you can have Intuit.'”

One of the largest natural disasters in US history, at least 28 people have been killed as a result of the devastating blazes in LA, which have destroyed thousands of homes and business since igniting on 7 January. FireAid will raise money for rebuilding communities devastated by the wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California.

“We want people to give money for the joy of the music and the joy of the rebuild”

“As the outpouring of volunteers to perform became clear, we expanded to the second building,” continues Azoff. “We couldn’t possibly have gotten everybody on and off the stage in one night at Intuit. And that’s when we came up with the idea of adding the Forum as well.”

Tickets for both concerts go on sale today (22 January) at noon PT, through Ticketmaster, starting at $99 (€95). All proceeds will go to the relief efforts, with all venue and ticketing service fees waived. The event will start at 6pm at the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome will begin at 7:30 p.m.

In an effort to ensure people can experience as much of the show as possible, fans who buy tickets for Intuit Dome will be able to view the Kia Forum gig, when it begins, on screens inside the Intuit Dome. Conversely, when the Kia Forum show ends, fans inside will be able to view the acts at Intuit Dome, on screens at the Kia Forum, until the end of the event.

Azoff considers it feasible for the shows to raise “north of $50m”.

“Currently, the most significant portion of the money we’re raising is from sponsors,” he adds. “We have suites at Intuit, and no suites at the Forum, so we’re able to generate massive corporate donations at Intuit.

“We have no idea if people sitting at home are going to donate. We don’t know if anybody outside of California gives a shit. So we needed the two live gates, and we didn’t want to make it feel like a radio show, right? We couldn’t book everybody who wanted to perform.

“We don’t really want it to be a big, somber moment. This is about the spirit of LA. and how music heals… We want people to give money for the joy of the music and the joy of the rebuild.”

“Crew Nation is continuing its core mission of helping this hardworking community through unforeseen hardship”

The fundraiser will be broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music and the Apple TV app, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudom, Paramount+, Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps, and YouTube, and at select AMC Theatre locations in 70 US markets.

Last week, Live Nation’s Crew Nation Global Relief Fund announced it is committing $1 million to assist performing musicians, live music crew and live music industry workers affected by the recent wildfires.

Crew Nation has opened applications for grants up to $5,000 for individuals currently employed within the industry facing displacement expenses due to mandatory evacuation orders, damage, or loss. Those seeking support can apply for Crew Nation Fund grants here.

“LA is home to so many who help make live music possible, and Crew Nation is continuing its core mission of helping this hardworking community through unforeseen hardship,” says Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino.

Separately, Live Nation is also supporting impacted employees from its Los Angeles headquarters with direct relief through its Taking Care of Our Own programme.

In addition, the co-founders of hip-hop festival Rolling Loud raised $25,000 for the LA Wildfires Relief Fund from a benefit concert held at Kemistry Nightclub in Fort Lauderdale on 20 January, headlined by Ski Mask The Slump God.

Meanwhile, the 2025 edition of annual live entertainment conference Pollstar Live!, which was scheduled for the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles from 18-20 February, has been postponed to 15-17 April to focus on the rebuilding efforts.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Los Angeles as they deal with the ongoing devastating wildfires and the long recovery ahead,” says Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke. “LA was home to Oak View Group, parent company of Pollstar, for the last decade, and many of our colleagues and music industry partners have been deeply and personally affected by this tragedy.

“Right now, Oak View Group is focused on the immediate needs of the community and raising funds in support of FireAid.”

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K-pop festival Waterbomb will stage an Australian edition for the first time as it relaunches its international expansion.

The touring series plans to stop in Sydney later this year, picking up on the Waterbomb World Tour that faltered in 2024. Dates and performers will be announced in the coming months.

Waterbomb’s expansion comes after organisers failed to deliver its rapid global expansion last year, after it announced editions in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, the UAE, Singapore, the US, the Philippines and Indonesia.

The only new editions to go ahead were Hong Kong, the UAE, and Singapore, while the event continued its tour of multiple South Korean and Japanese cities.

The Los Angeles edition was postponed due to “operational challenges” with less than three weeks to go to the event, while the Indonesian debut in Jakarta was delayed in October. Extreme weather and flooding forced the cancellation of the Taipei and Ho Chi Minh events. No new dates have been announced for these editions.

“We’ll return stronger and better prepared to deliver the Waterbomb experience you’ve been waiting for,” said organisers at the time of US cancellation.

In contrast, another Australian festival will not return his year

Four stops are already confirmed for 2025, with plans to return to China, and South Korea, where the Seoul edition has been held annually since the event launched in 2015. The festival will debut in Manila, Philippines and Bali, Indonesia next month, after pushing both countries’ inaugural editions late last year.

Artists due to perform in Manila include Kangdaniel, Dynamic Duo, Sulreggae, Chanyeol, Bambam, Viviz, and other K-pop, hip-hop and dance stars.

Though lineups vary by city, past performers have included Blackpink, aespa, TWICE’s Nayeon, American rapper Jay Park, and SHINEE’s Taemin, and South Korean singers Hwasa, Chung Ha, Bibi, Simon Dominic, and Jessi.

In contrast, the Australian festival Hello Sunshine will not be held this year. The family-friendly event was set to return to Melbourne for its third year and debut on the Gold Coast this March.

Organisers cited low ticket sales and rising production costs as reasons for the cancellation.

Stone Temple Pilots, Smash Mouth, Wolfmother, Kasey Chambers, Rogue Traders, and Drapht were on tap to headline the event.

The cancellation is the latest to hit the Australian festival sector. Last November, the debut edition of You & Me Festival was cancelled for similar reasons. They join several Oz festivals cancelled in the past year, including Splendour in the Grass, Groovin the Moo, and Return to Rio.

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A star-studded benefit concert has been announced to support the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires in the US.

Set to take place at the city’s Intuit Dome (cap. 18,000) and Kia Forum (17,500) on Thursday 30 January, FireAid will feature the likes of Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Rod Stewart, P!nk, Joni Mitchell, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Sting and Earth, Wind & Fire.

The one-night-only event, which is being produced by the Azoff family in conjunction with Live Nation and AEG Presents, will also include Gracie Abrams, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lil Baby, Stephen Stills and Tate McRae, as well as Dave Matthews & John Mayer, who will be performing together for the first time.

Additional artists, special guests, and lineups for each venue will be announced in the coming days, with tickets for both concerts going on sale via Ticketmaster on Wednesday 22 January.

At least 27 people have been killed as a result of the devastating blazes in LA, which have destroyed more than 12,000 homes and business

At least 27 people have been killed as a result of the devastating blazes in LA, which have destroyed more than 12,000 homes and business since igniting on 7 January. The economic damage could top $50 billion and may rank as one of the most costly natural disasters in US history, according to the Los Angeles Times.

FireAid will raise money for rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California. Event partners include American Express, Intuit and UBS, while the Eagles have donated $2.5 million (€2.4m) to the cause. Taylor Swift has also made donations to a number of organisations.

The fundraiser will be broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music and the Apple TV app, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudom, Paramount+, Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps, and YouTube, and at select AMC Theatre locations in 70 US markets. iHeartRadio will serve as the national audio partner.

Contributions will be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation, for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters. All proceeds from the FireAid benefit will go directly to the event’s designated beneficiaries, as the NBA’s LA Clippers, whose home venue is the Intuit Dome, will be covering the millions in expenses associated with the event.

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