Women In Music (WIM), a non-profit organization with a mission to promote awareness, diversity, and equality in the musical arts, has unveiled an exciting lineup of events for the remainder of 2023 and beyond. These programs and summits promise to have a significant impact on the industry, fostering inclusivity and empowerment.
2023 Fall Mentorship Program: Forging the Future
Launched on October 2, WIM’s 2023 Fall Mentorship Program pairs mentees from diverse backgrounds with seasoned female artist management professionals as mentors. This initiative is a crucial step toward achieving gender balance in the field of artist management.
All Things Go Festival 2023: Uniting Music and Equality
WIM left its mark at the All Things Go Music Festival on September 29. The Creator Summit kicked off with a lively Pre-Party at the Eaton Hotel, fostering connections among panelists, festival attendees, and WIM DC Members. Sponsored by The MLC, this event set the stage for thought-provoking discussions and networking.
At the All Things Go Creator Summit, Chissy Nkemere, WIM’s Global Chair of Education and Rock & Alternative, Artist Partnerships at Spotify, participated in a panel titled “Harmonizing Equity.” The discussion celebrated the multifaceted roles of women in the music industry, highlighting the power of diversity and inclusivity.
Mondo NYC: Amplifying Music Business and Tech
On October 10, 2023, WIM collaborates with She is the Music to co-host the Mondo NYC Opening Night Reception, hosted by SoundExchange. At this event, WIM will present a panel in partnership with MMF-US, delving into Artist Management Entrepreneurship. Additionally, WIM President Nicole Barsalona will moderate a panel hosted by Keychange U.S., exploring gender equity in music technology. Mondo NYC, now in its 8th annual edition, promises to be a hub of innovation and ideas in the ever-evolving music business and technology landscape.
2024 Women In Music Summit: A Virtual Extravaganza
Save the dates for the 4th Annual Women In Music Summit, scheduled to be held virtually from January 17-19, 2024. This event provides members with opportunities for engaging in educational and career development presentations virtually, complemented by in-person networking events at various WIM Chapters. The Summit is a celebration of empowerment, learning, and camaraderie.
Established in 1985, Women in Music is a global 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing awareness, equality, and diversity in the musical arts. With a diverse membership that includes music industry professionals from various career stages, Women in Music shares a common passion for promoting inclusivity and equality in the music industry.
The Empire State Youth Orchestra are excited to announce their upcoming 2023-2024 season entitled ‘Breathe!’ The first concert of the season begins with a performance by the ESYO featuring William Lauricella on Saturday, October 29 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
The Empire State Youth Orchestra challenges and inspires young people to achieve excellence through music in a progressive learning environment leading to high-level performance opportunities. More than 500 youth from New York’s Capital Region and western New England are selected by audition each year to perform in ESYO. With 14 performing ensembles and orchestras suiting a range of playing levels, members receive training from outstanding conductors and coaches, and tutelage from extraordinary guest artists.
In 2015, ESYO launched CHIME (Creating Harmony Inspiring Musical Excellence) in Schenectady to address fundamental inequities preventing universal access to high level music opportunities for youth. Today, this free music program serves more than 150 students in partnership with the Schenectady and Albany City School Districts.
Founded in 1979, ESYO is a not-for-profit organization that has been recognized as a premier music education/performance program for youth and has received three ASCAP awards.
“I think of music like a living thing: we can explore how it breathes, and we can tune into its pulse, If an orchestra doesn’t breathe, it’s not really alive. This year, we will breathe more fully with each other and with the music, so we can live in the present moment and truly connect with each other and the world around us.”
– Etienne Abelin Symphony Orchestra Conductor
The engaging performance series is a celebration of unity, harmony and the collective spirit of music, allowing musicians and audiences to breathe together in the shared experience of live orchestral performances. In addition, the musicians will explore various interpretations of breath through the repertoire under an authoritarian regime. This season will challenge ESYO musicians to learn and perform a piece on stage without a conductor giving them the opportunity to sense the pulse, embody the music, breathe and work together as a whole. The public is invited to celebrate these outstanding musicians and savor the joy and magic of their live musical talent.
Ticket information, venue details, and the full concert schedule is available at esyo.org/news-concerts.
ESYO 2023-2024 Concert Season
Oct 29th, 2023 – EMPIRE STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT FEATURING WILLIAM LAURICELLA – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Nov 5, 2023 – REPERTORY ORCHESTRA, STRING ORCHESTRA, AND CONCERTINO STRINGS – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Nov 5, 2023 – PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES – Brown School, Schenectady
Nov 19, 2023 – YOUTH AND REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRAS – Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium, SUNY Schenectady
Dec 10, 2023 – WIND ORCHESTRA CHAMBER MUSIC – Massry Center for the Arts, College of St. Rose
Dec 14-17, 2023 – MELODIES OF CHRISTMAS FEATURING ESYO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND MELODIES OF CHRISTMAS CHORALE – Produced by CBS 6 at Proctors Theater, Schenectady
Dec 17, 2023 – PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES HOLIDAY CONCERT – Massry Center for the Arts, College of St. Rose
Feb 14, 2024 – REPERTORY ORCHESTRA AND CONCERTINO STRINGS – Location TBD
Feb 15, 2024 – STRING AND YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRAS – Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium, SUNY Schenectady
March 10, 2024 – WIND ORCHESTRA AND REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRA – Massry Center for the Arts, College of St. Rose
March 11, 2024 – FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC WITH ESYO PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES – University of Albany Performing Arts Center
March 23, 2024 – PLAYATHON – Crossgates Mall
April 21, 2024 – SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FEATURING THE 2024 CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNER – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
May 4, 2024 – REPERTORY ORCHESTRA AND STRING ORCHESTRA – Zankel Music Center – Skidmore
May 5, 2024 – CONCERTINO STRINGS, WOODWINDS AND BRASS ENSEMBLES – Location TBD
May 5, 2024 – PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES AND CONCERTINO PERCUSSION – Brown School
May 10, 2024 – YOUTH AND REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRAS – Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium, SUNY Schenectady
May 12, 2024 – WIND ORCHESTRA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND CHAMBER MUSIC – Massry Center for the Arts, College of St. Rose
June 2, 2024 – FESTIVAL OF YOUNG ARTISTS – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Bandcamp United, a union comprised of Bandcamp employees, released a statement last week in response to the recent sale of the company to Songtradr, a music marketing company. They have launched a petition, demanding better employee treatment, among other things.
According to Relix, the union acknowledged being engaged in negotiations with the company since August, reached out to Songtradr CEO Paul Wiltshire with a request for voluntary recognition, having not heard from Songtradr. According to Bandcamp United, most Bandcamp workers have had access revoked to critical systems by Epic Games during the transition.
For almost 15 years, Bandcamp has been built on the idea of community. It has functioned as much more than a marketplace, providing a way for artists to connect and communicate with fans directly and for like-minded artists to find one another. Bandcamp has always stood strong in its beliefs and its place in the community that it has helped foster. Maintaining that value is critical for artists everywhere, and it starts with valuing the workers who have built it into the beloved platform it is today.
They are pushing for demands that include job offers for all employees, clear, fair, and consistent voluntary severance offers, and recognition of their union at Songtradr, with a swift continuation of negotiations while retaining the progress achieved at the bargaining table. They added that Songtradr is “offering positions to workers on a rolling basis with a 72-hour turnaround for acceptance despite the sales documents stipulating that the Purchaser allow 7 days to consider the offer.”
The integrity of the workers who build Bandcamp is a crucial aspect of the company’s ability to uphold its values. Bandcamp’s core mission is best protected by retaining all workers and by those workers having a seat at the table.
Cami Ramirez-Arau, Support Specialist
The union has initiated a petition, urging supporters to call on Wiltshire to acknowledge Bandcamp United. Songtradr has since issued a statement, saying “We have received Bandcamp United’s letter and are reviewing it. Supporting the Bandcamp community will be our number one priority once the purchase is completed.” They went on to say that “Not all Bandcamp employees will receive offers from Songtradr. Based on its current financials, Bandcamp requires some adjustments to ensure a sustainable and healthy company that can serve its community of artists and fans long into the future.”
Ed Blair, another support specialist said, “Bandcamp isn’t Bandcamp without the people who build and maintain the website – we are the people who made this website the platform it is for artists. Songtradr not immediately recognizing Bandcamp United is a worrying indicator that they have misunderstood the value of Bandcamp. It’s not a platform or a portal, it is a painstakingly hand-crafted community. The workers who make up Bandcamp United are essential for the future of Bandcamp.”
Songtradr dropped a new press statement but still hasn’t recognized our union. This Bandcamp United Friday, keep buying music & help us fight for our union by emailing Paul, CEO of Songtradr.
Please keep the emails respectful! Post a screenshot & tag us on social media. pic.twitter.com/QnrpAiHJ1o
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will hold its second Orchestral Series Concert of the 2023-24 season at Ithaca College this October. Called “Beethoven’s Eighth,” the program is led by Music Director Finalist Guillaume Pirard and features Cellist Guy Johnston.
The CCO was founded in 1976 and is officially designated “Ithaca’s Orchestra.” Each season for the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra includes an Orchestral Series, Chamber Music Series, a Holiday concert, free Family Concerts, and the long-standing Willard Daetsch Youth Outreach Program, which earned the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator award. In 2017, the CCO added a Youth Orchestra, which offers a high quality symphony orchestra experience for youth in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra’s concert will open with Arvo Pärt’s meditative In Spe, followed by Shostakovich’s haunting Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, and the evening will be closed with Beethoven’s jubilant Symphony No. 8. There is also a free Pre-concert chat with the conductor and soloist at 6:30 pm.
With a deep belief in the power of collaborative music making to create transformational experiences for musicians and audiences alike, Guillaume Pirard has become a highly respected artist and educator of his generation. Since making his debut with the Orlando Philharmonic, Pirard has conducted the New York University and Cornell University Orchestras, Ensemble X, Opus Ithaca, the Philharmonic of Moravia, the Metamorphosis Chamber Orchestra, the Lviv Philharmonic, the Mannes School of Music Opera and the Mannes Orchestra, and served as Assistant Conductor for the Buffalo Philharmonic and Ensemble 21.
As co-concertmaster and founding member of The Knights, Pirard toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe with performances at the Tonhalle in Zurich, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the Muziverein in Vienna, and major festival appearances at Tanglewood, Ravinia, Caramoor, Skaneateles, the Festival-de-Paques in Aix-en-Provence and the Salzburg Festpiele. Pirard is serving as Visiting Professor of Violin at Ithaca College for the 2023-24 academic year.
Guy Johnston is one of the most exciting British cellists of his generation. His early successes included winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and significant awards, notably the Shell London Symphony Orchestra Gerald MacDonald Award, Suggia Gift Award and a Young British Classical Performer Brit Award. He has performed with many leading international orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony, Britten Sinfonia, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Moscow Philharmonic and St Petersburg Symphony.
The concert will take place Saturday, October 21 at 7:30pm in Ford Hall at Ithaca College.
For more information and “late edition” subscriptions or single tickets, visit CCOithaca.org.
Rufus and Martha Wainwright will perform, “A Not So Silent Night” at The Town Hall on December 22, raising awareness for The Kate McGarrigle Fund for sarcoma research. The family-friendly holiday show features special guests including Emmylou Harris, Sean Lennon, Norah Jones, Loudon Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche.
“A Not So Silent Night” has become an annual family tradition for the Wainwrights. The two siblings will be joined by their immediate family members of the Wainwright and McGarrigle clans to share and celebrate the spirit of the holidays. This event will be held at The Town hall, a 1,500-seat, 501C3 non-profit national historic landmark venue in the heart of New York City, created by suffragists in 1921 and host to countless cultural and musical milestones.
“I am utterly excited to bring our holiday concert back to New York City after a hiatus of almost 5 years. These shows very much reflect who Martha and I are as artists and a family, slightly messy but incredibly powerful and emotional, festive, and fun. The Town Hall is one of my favorite venues to perform in. So many Greats have graced the stage, and it is a place that my mother Kate worshipped.”
– Rufus Wainwright
The annual holiday celebration has had its roots in the childhood home of Rufus and Martha’s mother, Kate McGarrigle. The tradition began in the living room of their wooden home in the Laurentian mountain town of St. Sauveur. Kate was tragically diagnosed with Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, and since has raised money and awareness for funding research into the disease as at the time there were no drugs available to treat it. Rufus and Martha continue Kate’s legacy with the Christmas shows, helping to raise awareness and money for the Kate McGarrigle Foundation for Sarcoma Research.
The holiday show will be supported by an outstanding band led by music director David Mansfield with Jon Cowherd on keys, Doug Wieselman on oboe and guitar, Shawn Pelton on drums, Armand Hirsch on guitar, and Tony Scherr on bass. Special merch items benefiting the Kate McGarrigle Fund will also be available the night of the show.
VIP Gold tickets also include the best seats in the house, attending part of the soundcheck, a group photo with Rufus and Martha, and a special signed merch item, are available. Also available is the opportunity to sing on the closing song of the first half, “Silent Night,” with Rufus, Martha, and family.
“These Christmas shows, conceived of over 25 years ago by our mum, have BECOME our Christmas! There’s always a slight annoyance (and dread?) as we start preparing in June but by the time the show starts all the holiday magic in the world shows up on stage and the importance (and wonderful ridiculousness) of the holiday season is revealed. Most apparent though is the love and music that reigns”
– Martha Wainwright
Tickets go on sale on Friday, October 6, for more information please visit here.
For more information about the Kate McGarrigle Fund please visit here.
The New York Philharmonic presents six orchestral programs from late September through late October at the Wu Tsai Theater in David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, having started on September 29. This season’s opening concerts include notable conducting debuts and premieres of works by composers from a variety of cultural traditions.
After leading the New York Philharmonic’s opening gala, Music director Jaap van Zweden conducts the first two subscription programs, each featuring a premiere. Following, the philharmonic presents four programs that each feature remarkable debuts including musicians such as Mira Gražinytė-Tyla, returning soloist Yefim Bronfman, The Apollo’s Singers making their subscription debut with Sorrell who serves as their artistic director.
To close out the opening season, Brad Lubman makes his NY Phil debut in ‘Sound On’ on October 27 conducting the premiere of Kinan Azmeh and Loyal Chaker’s Dawning for improvising musicians and orchestra, featuring clarinet and violin soloists.
For more information for the New York Philharmonic performances please visit here.
Opening Concert Season at Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hallat Lincoln Center
JAAP van ZWEDEN Conducts: US Premiere of The Elements with Joshua Bell – Sep 29 – Oct 1
JAAP van ZWEDEN Conducts: World Premiere of Steve Reich’s Jacob’s Ladder – Oct 5 – 7
MIRGA GRAŽINYTĖ-TYLA’S Debut Conducts: Sibelius, Raminta Serksnyte, and R. Schumann with Daniil Trifonov – Oct 11 – 14
David Robertson Conducts: The US Premiere of Elena Firsova’s Piano Concerto – Oct 19 – 21
Jeannette Sorrell Conducts: Handel’s Israel in Egypt – Oct 25 and 26
Zorn, Azmeh, Chaker, and Chin Brad Lubman Conducts: “Sound On” – Oct 27
On Sept. 26, Live Nation announced a new program, “On The Road Again,” designed to combat unfair merch sales cuts and provide supplemental money for touring staff and artists. Although this program appears on the surface to be a step in the right direction, in practice it could negatively impact both independent promoters and venues, potentially diverting bands and fans away from smaller independent venues.
As a refresher, the new “On The Road Again” program, inspired by the Willie Nelson song, says that all acts playing Live Nation-owned and operated clubs, from headliners to support acts, will receive a $1,500 gas and travel cash stipend per show to all headliners and support acts, on top of nightly performance compensation. The company’s clubs will no longer charge merchandise selling fees, allowing artists to keep 100% of merch profits, which many artists rely on to generate cash for the band while they’re on the road.
However, this could have unrealized negative impacts on independent venues and promoters. The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) released a statement, saying “Temporary measures may appear to help artists in the short run but actually can squeeze out independent venues which provide the lifeblood of many artists on thin margins.”
The organization continued, saying “Instead, it appears to be a calculated attempt to use a publicly-traded conglomerate’s immeasurable resources to divert artists from independent venues and further consolidate control over the live entertainment sector. Such tactics threaten the vitality of small and medium-sized venues under 3000 capacity, many of which still struggle to keep their doors open.”
NIVA is not the only one to take note of this PR move. Gideon Plotnicki, from GMP Live, voiced his concerns about the program, citing it as “pretty scary for indie promoters.”
Independent promoters and venues are the lifeblood of the live music community. We invest in artists and provide crucial support and belief that helps them build their audience during the earliest phases of their career. How are independent promoters supposed to compete with a publicly traded company that uses its seemingly endless funds to entice artists to play their venues? How are we supposed to ask the artists to stick with us, rather than taking the bigger money elsewhere? It’s a question that a lot of independents will be asking themselves over the coming weeks and months.
Gideon Plotnicki- GMP Live
He also recognized that it is a pilot program, and may not “impact any specific market more than the other.” In turn, the “true impact will be felt if the program is successful and gets picked up for good. At that point, every Live Nation venue will hold an even more obvious financial advantage.”
Although the “On The Road Again” program may be beneficial to smaller acts touring right now, it could have negative impacts on independent venues, which are where artists get their start. An agreement between indie venues and Live Nation might need to be implemented, but for now, support the indie venues in your area by going to shows, buying merch, and supporting your local scene.
Geddy Lee, the iconic Canadian musician and Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Famer, is set to electrify New York City on Monday, November 13 with a one-of-a-kind event, “My Effin’ Life” In Conversation.
This highly anticipated evening will take place at The Beacon Theatre, a legendary venue for music enthusiasts. Geddy Lee’s special appearance is not just a performance, it is a journey into the heart and soul of one of the most legendary figures in rock history.
The event will coincide with the release of Geddy Lee’s eagerly awaited memoir, “My Effin’ Life,” which hits the shelves on November 14, courtesy of Harper Collins. This intimate evening promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to connect with Geddy Lee and delve into the stories that have shaped his extraordinary life and career.
As the curtain rises at The Beacon Theatre, Geddy Lee will offer a rare glimpse into the tapestry of his life, from heartfelt reflections on his family and childhood to a deep dive into the history of Rush alongside lifelong friends and bandmates, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart.
Joining Geddy Lee on stage will be a special guest interviewer who will guide the conversation, providing fans with an intimate and unfiltered look at the man behind the music. Geddy Lee will read select passages from “My Effin’ Life” and share insights and anecdotes from his incredible journey.
Furthermore, fans will have the unique opportunity to participate in a special Q&A session, where they can directly engage with Geddy Lee and have their burning questions answered.
“Being in a band all those years was reassuring because it was an ongoing thing. It felt like it was forever. There was always unfinished business: the next record, the next set design, the next tour. It’s been the theme of my life. But you need a lot more determination to proceed in the world of music without the comfort of your bandmates, and I can only hope that finishing this book will release me to return to what I do and love best.”
Geddy Lee
General ticket sales for this event begin on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 10 am, exclusively on Ticketmaster. Every ticket purchase includes a complimentary copy of Geddy Lee’s “My Effin’ Life,” which will be provided to ticket holders upon entry to the venue. Please note that there is a four-ticket limit per person.
In addition to the excitement surrounding the event, Geddy Lee’s “My Effin’ Life” tour is giving back. $1 from every ticket sold will contribute to the Neil Peart Memorial At Lakeside Park fund. The success of this project and its timeline depends on raising the $1 million fundraising goal set for the project. Fans and supporters can make donations of any size towards the memorial project online at www.stcatharines.ca/neilpeart. Geddy Lee’s “My Effin’ Life” tour will be a 14-city journey, beginning in New York City and spanning the United States and Canada.
Geddy Lee ‘My Effin Life’ Tour Dates:
Mon Nov 13 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Wed Nov 15 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia
Fri Nov 17 – National Harbor, MD – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Sat Nov 18 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre presented by Citizens
Sun Nov 19 – Cleveland, OH – State Theatre at Playhouse Square
Tue Nov 21 – Montréal, QC – Théâtre Maisonneuve
Thu Nov 23 – Vancouver, BC – The Centre in Vancouver
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson will host the debut of Season 49 on Saturday, October 14, bringing along musical guest Ice Spice for a return to the airwaves.
Davidson, an eight year veteran cast member who departed the show in May 2022, was slated to host the finale of Season 48 this past May, but the episode was scratched due to strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
The WGA has ended their strike after a tentative agreement on a new contract with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), while SAG-AFTRA continue their strike.
Due to variety shows such as SNL working under a different contract than scripted television shows, production can begin on the 49th season without issue.
In addition to Pete Davidson being announced as host, Saturday Night Live has added a new cast member, featured player Chloe Troast. She will join current cast members Michael Che, Colin Jost, Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Punkie Johnson, Ego Nwodim and Kenan Thompson.
Bad Bunny will serve as both host and musical guest on Saturday, October 21.
On Friday, September 29, U2 lit up the stage of the Sphere in Las Vegas with the opening night of their highly-anticipated U2:UV Achtung Baby Live series at the world’s most cutting-edge venue.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg performed two sets of Achtung Baby tunes plus a lengthy encore of hits standing on a Brian Eno-inspired turntable stage. U2 utilized every part of Sphere’s LED screen, offering the world’s largest and highest-resolution, with an awe-inspiring gallery of visual art showcasing bespoke art from artists including Es Devlin, John Gerrard, Marco Brambilla, and Industrial Light & Magic.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 30: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 30, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
U2 provided fans a fully immersive experience featuring top of the line technology offered at Sphere, which is reinventing the live music experience with the world’s highest-resolution LED screen on the interior of the Sphere, spanning four acres and surrounding the stage and audience, creating a completely immersive visual environment.
The four-football field long interior screen hovers 240 feet above the stage, with a steel framework supporting the 160,000-square-foot screen and the 160,000-speaker Holoplot multilayered audio system weighs about 730 tons.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Outside of Sphere, the Exosphere is the largest LED screen on Earth consists of approximately 1.2 million LED pucks across 580,000 square feet of surface, with each puck containing 48 individual LED diodes, and each diode capable of displaying 256 million different colors, all combining to create an unmistakably vivid landmark on the Las Vegas skyline.
The Exosphere displays a wide range of custom artistic and branded content, attracting worldwide interest as a result of the venue being photographed and shared widely on social media daily.
The state-of-the-art Sphere Immersive Sound, developed by Holoplot and considered to be the world’s most advanced audio system, provides the world’s largest, fully integrated concert-grade audio system and will revolutionize immersive audio experiences. A system of 1,600 permanently installed and 300 mobile Holoplot X1 Matrix Array loudspeaker modules includes a total of 167,000 individually amplified loudspeaker drivers. Using Holoplot’s next-generation 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis technology, the audio is transformed for delivery in large-scale venues such as Sphere.
The result is a controlled, consistent and crystal-clear concert-grade audio for audiences of up to 20,000 people, providing individual audience members with a personalized listening experience, whether sitting in the front or back rows. At Sphere, you may not see the sound system as the entire apparatus is completely hidden behind the 160,000-square-foot interior LED display plane.
So with this ground-breaking audio-visual venue at their disposal, U2 celebrated an historic live music milestone with fans from all over the world and VIP attendees including Dr. Dre, Jimmy Kimmel, John Starks, Paul McCartney, Sheryl Sandberg, Snoop Dogg and many more.
The show was the first in a 25-date run of shows that celebrates the band’s acclaimed album Achtung Baby, as well as its accompanying and industry-defining ZOO TV Tour in 1991. U2 also performed a new song, “Atomic City,” an homage to the magnetic spirit of 70’s post-punk with a nod to Blondie, whose pioneering work with Giorgio Moroder inspired and influenced the band.
The name “Atomic City” is also a 1950s nickname for Las Vegas from a time when nuclear fascination swept the nation and the city promoted itself as a center of atomic tourism due to its proximity to the Nevada Test Site.
U2 – Sphere, Las Vegas, NC – September 29, 2023
Achtung Baby Part 1: Zoo Station, The Fly, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, One, Until the End of the World, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World Turntable Set: All I Want Is You, Desire, Angel of Harlem, Love Rescue Me Achtung Baby Part 2: So Cruel, Acrobat, Ultraviolet (Light My Way), Love Is Blindness Encore: Elevation, My Way, Atomic City, Vertigo, Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You, Beautiful Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2f5NzAALCA
Sphere has also announced the first movie studio collaboration with Dreamworks Animation for the upcoming Trolls Band Together. A brand campaign specifically designed for the Exosphere – the fully programmable LED exterior of Sphere in Las Vegas – Trolls Band Together, which hits theaters nationwide on November 17.
We’re thrilled to have the innovative and imaginative DreamWorks Animation be the first movie studio to collaborate on a bespoke marketing campaign for the Exosphere. The Exosphere’s larger-than-life canvas has become the premier platform for brands looking to tell their stories on an unparalleled scale, reaching audiences across the globe from the heart of Las Vegas.
David Hopkinson, President and Chief Operating Officer of MSG Sports
DreamWorks collaborated with Sphere Studios, Sphere’s in-house creative studio, to develop custom animated content featuring beloved characters from the movie alongside kaleidoscopic art from the film. The week-long campaign began September 25, and will include a special takeover of the venue on the night of September 28 to countdown to the release of *NSYNC’s new single “Better Place” on September 29, which will be featured in Trolls Band Together.
interior of SpheredefaultLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
