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UMG Officially Announces New York City Relocation—To One of the Busiest Hubs In the City

Photo Credit: Penn 2 by Vornado Realty Trust
Universal Music Group is relocating its New York offices to The Penn District in the heart of Manhattan. As first tipped by Digital Music News earlier this year, UMG has now signed a 22-year lease in the newly renovated Penn 2 building.
Universal Music Group (UMG) has officially announced the leasing of new office space at Penn 2, Vornado Realty Trust’s recently completed office tower along Seventh Avenue in The Penn District, one of the busiest hubs in the city.
The building will serve as the headquarters of labels Def Jam Recordings, Island Records, Mercury Records, and Republic Records—all part of the Republic Collective—as well as Bravado, UMG’s merch company, and Verve Label Group. The building will also serve as the East Coast offices for leading global music publisher Universal Music Publishing Group as well as several UMG corporate functions.
UMG will occupy the entire fourth through seventh floors of Penn 2 as part of a 22-year lease. The company will also occupy a ground-floor space along Seventh Avenue for a future premium retail experience dedicated to serving music superfans in the heart of Manhattan, and a private lobby on 33rd Street. The lobby will feature a visitor center and direct elevator access to its floors. In addition, UMG will have the ability to showcase its artists on a large-scale LED signage within The Penn District.
The new headquarters will be located within The Bustle, a 430-foot-wide expanse of office space stretching from 31st to 33rd Street on Seventh Avenue. A dramatic centerpiece of the Penn 2 redevelopment, it includes 88,000 square feet of double-height, 23-foot-high, column-free office space. There, UMG will build its New York offices and state-of-the-art studio production facilities complemented by exclusive access to more than 3,500 square feet of landscaped outdoor space.
The new production facilities will bolster UMG’s global network of the world’s leading recording studios that already includes the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, Capitol Studios in LA, and East Iris Studios in Nashville.
“UMG’s relocation of its New York offices to the new Penn 2 Tower reflects our vision and ambition,” said Boyd Muir, UMG’s Chief Operating Officer. “Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and literally adjacent to Madison Square Garden, one of music’s most storied venues where so many of our artists perform to a packed house, Penn 2 will serve as an ideal nexus for our employees, artists, and songwriters. Beyond office space, Penn 2 will house music studios and retail spaces, featuring a range of artist merchandise and exclusive products. We look forward to working with the team at Vornado as we work towards a 2027 move in date.”
“We are delighted to welcome Universal Music Group to The Penn District, which has firmly established itself as the epicenter of Manhattan’s new West Side,” added Glen Weiss, Executive Vice President, Office Leasing & Co-Head of Real Estate at Vornado Realty Trust. “Universal Music’s commitment to Penn 2 is further evidence of the district’s appeal to the world’s most iconic brands in business, lifestyle, and entertainment.”
As part of its recently completed $750-million redevelopment of Penn 2, Vornado installed a highly efficient modern glass curtain wall; a striking triple-height lobby; 16 distinctive double-height outdoor tenant loggias; and The Bustle. Penn 2 will incorporate 30,000 square feet of curated retail, including the Dynamo Room, a 7,100 square foot full-service restaurant and bar from Sunday Hospitality.
The building also features 72,000 square feet of outdoor green spaces; The Perch, a rooftop glass pavilion and event space that opens onto a lushly landscaped 17,000 square-foot private green space available to all tenants; and a 280-seat Town Hall suspended above Plaza33. Penn 2 is also the headquarters for Madison Square Garden and Major League Soccer.
The Penn District campus is situated directly above North America’s most accessible and active mass transit hub. A total of 15 subway lines, along with Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, PATH, and Amtrak all converge in the district. They will be joined by Metro-North commuters beginning in 2027.
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Music Biz Is Sticking With Atlanta After a Rip-Roaring Event — So Where Does That Leave Nashville?

Adaptive Music’s Tony Alexander chats with soul artist MAJOR on indie marketing and branding at Music Biz in Atlanta last week (Photo: Music Biz)
Music Biz switched cities and kept most of the music business crowd. Now, Atlanta is the chosen city for 2026 as well — leaving a potentially juicy opportunity for a Nashville industry event.
Despite excessive hand-wringing over Music Biz’s switch to Atlanta from Nashville, the music business crowd showed up in relative droves last week. Attendance appeared slightly down from last year’s Nashville shindig, it should be noted, though the conference announced its intention to remain in Atlanta in 2026.
Music Biz’s city-switch is vaguely reminiscent of the Grammys of yore, when ‘Music’s Biggest Night’ ping-ponged between New York and Los Angeles before largely being anchored in Tinseltown. For Music Biz, it looks like a ‘build it in a new city and they will come’ dynamic is at work: for those bumping elbows at Music Biz at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, crowds were solid and dealmaking brisk — all ingredients for a solid music industry fest.
We’re still not clear on the machinations surrounding Music Biz’s shift from Nashville after several years in Music City, though organizers said they’ve always been planning to shift cities periodically. Apparently COVID complicated plans to shift cities, though now the original game plan is being implemented.
That’s the official line and Music Biz is sticking to it, though some chatter suggests a political motivation for the shift — though that’s one hot potato we’ll politely pass along. Either way, the crowd’s showed up, and the event was chock full of core music industry companies and execs.
So how does this shift the deck on the music industry conference scene?
Music Biz continues to emerge as a marquee music industry event in the US, particularly given SXSW’s waning reputation for actual business and dealmaking. Nashville already has a smattering of good industry events — most notably CRS — but given the city’s density of music celebs, songwriters, and industry folk, is there suddenly a serious opportunity for someone to make a big industry conference run in Tennessee?
Separately, Nashville’s sudden importance in the music industry’s critical lobbying agenda can’t be overstated, particularly given the huge shakeup at the U.S. Copyright Office. Suddenly, the music industry is waffling in Washington against the tech bros — can Nashville and its more red-leaning artists potentially turn things around on the AI and copyright protection fronts?
Both were undoubtedly top topics at Music Biz, where a who’s who of ‘the biz’ was bumping around.
And with that, here just a quick canvass of the companies on deck this year:
Apple Music, Spotify, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, DiMA, ASCAP, A2IM, RIAA, SONA, The Orchard, OpenPlay, Empire Publishing, Rhymesayers Entertainment, Concord Music, CD Baby, Downtown Music Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Columbia College Chicago, DDEX, The MLC, AllTrack, Sound Credit, Encore Music Tech Solutions, MusicWatch, Luminate, New West Records, Music Canada, Criminal Records, Elektra Music Group, The Vinyl Alliance, Stem Disintermedia, Lark42, Sureel AI, University of North Texas, Drexel University, Music Business Toolbox, 24/7 Artists….
… and so forth.
See ya’ll next year! — in Atlanta, that is.
 
 
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Belgium’s Rampage Announces First-Ever North American Tour

Rampage is bringing its booming bass to North America for the first time ever.
The powerhouse Belgian promoter announced on social media today that it will make its stateside debut at the end of the month, beginning with a doubleheader in Montreal before shows in Denver and Vancouver in June.
Known around the world for its massive annual Rampage Open Air and Indoor Weekender festivals, Rampage will open its North American run on May 30-31, hosting sets from heavy hitters like Midnight Tyrannosaurus, Gentlemens Club, ÆON:MODE, Kanine, REAPER, Riot Ten B2B Murdock, STOOG3S (HAMRO B2B SQISHI B2B BLVNKSPVCE), Witching Hour (VAMPA & JEANIE), and many more across two nights at MTELUS Montreal.
The breakneck bass brand will then head to The Church nightclub in Denver on June 5, inviting drum & bass favorites REAPER, Mozey, Turno, and a special guest set from Murdock, before closing the premiere tour with performances from Barely Alive, Sub Zero, Mudock, and many more at Vancouver’s Harbour Event & Convention Center on June 7. Check out the full lineups below.
The North American tour announcement arrives more than a year after Rampage began teasing a U.S.-based event on social media in September 2023.
Since its launch as a 1,000-capacity club night in 2009, Rampage has grown to become one of bass music’s leading event promoters, hailed for booking artists from nearly every corner of the genre across its flagship festivals, club nights, and stage takeovers, including a debut at Tomorrowland Belgium in 2024.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit rampage.eu/events.




Featured image courtesy: Rampage.
The post Belgium’s Rampage Announces First-Ever North American Tour appeared first on EDM Maniac.
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Epic Games Triumphs in Marathon Patent Infringement Suit Involving Travis Scott and Ariana Grande Fortnite Concerts

The jury verdict in favor of Epic Games, which has prevailed in a marathon patent infringement lawsuit centering on the technology behind Fortnite concerts from Travis Scott and Ariana Grande. Photo Credit: Digital Music News
Four years and one week-long trial later, Epic Games has triumphed in a patent infringement suit involving Fortnite concerts from Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, and others.
The jury just recently sided with Epic, which a company called Utherverse Gaming sued back in June 2021. Letting this initial complaint take the wheel for a moment – and keeping the focus on brass-tacks details – the plaintiff said it’d assumed ownership in 2020 over several patents.
As laid out by the filing party, three of the patents concerned “multi-instance, multi-user animation platforms,” with another describing tech purportedly allowing “for massively populated virtual worlds in which participants can share the same experience without overcrowding.”
Citing, among other things, Scott’s mentioned 2020 Fortnite show, the plaintiff maintained Epic had “utilized the claimed inventions of the Asserted Patents to host repeatable, large-scale events for multitudes of participants.”
That refers specifically to “the software that when executed on a server enables many Fortnite participants to experience the same virtual worlds for virtual social events and concerts,” according to the document.
Unsurprisingly, in light of the newly concluded trial, Epic refuted the allegations – including by firing off counterclaims challenging the patents’ validity and more.
When all was said and done, the trial and the jury’s assessment boiled down to whether Epic had infringed one patent, “Method, System and Apparatus of Recording and Playing Back an Experience in a Virtual Worlds System,” in its Grande and Scott concerts.
In the jury’s eyes, neither of those digital happenings constituted infringement of the claims within the central patent, the verdict form shows.  
But the jury also found – perhaps, given the presence of some clarifying markings, after a bit of debate – that Epic hadn’t proven the patent claims to be “invalid as obvious based on the prior art.”
Close but no cigar: Another page from the jury’s verdict form. Photo Credit: Digital Music News
(On the debate front, it evidently wasn’t a good sign for the plaintiff when the already-deliberating jury asked the presiding judge if unanimous verdicts were required. “The jury must be unanimous when it answers any individual question on the verdict form,” the court reiterated in response.)
Lastly, on the same form, the jury determined Epic had proven one of the patent’s relevant claims “involved only technology that a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider to be well-understood, routine, and conventional as of” 2014.
With that, the jury necessarily left blank the verdict form’s damages page, including a section for a percentage-royalty obligation.
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Darude To Celebrate 25 Years Of “Sandstorm” With 6K Fun Run

Darude is celebrating 25 years of “Sandstorm” with a fun run cruising past landmarks from the trance classic’s original music video.
The 6K “Sandstorm Run” will take place in Helsinki, the capital of Darude’s native Finland, on August 31, commemorating the lasting legacy of the platinum-selling single and iconic music video that helped launch the producer and DJ to global notoriety in 2000.
Along the 3.7-mile route, runners will pass through recognizable sights from the music video, such as Kaivopuisto park, the Helsinki Cathedral, and the church steps where its famous chase sequence begins, according to a press release.
Darude will be there to cheer on runners at the finish line, and is encouraging participants to “dress in the spirit” of the famously odd and frequently memed video. He’ll help award the best outfits in individual, pair, and team categories with prizes such as a meet and greet, group photo, and show tickets to the Helsinki stop on his STORM 25 World Tour. 
Shot in 2000 and directed by Juuso Syrjä, the roughly four-minute “Sandstorm” video oozes budget action movie, as security guards chase a stolen briefcase down alleys, over fences, and down railroad tracks. After a classic double-cross, an all-seeing Darude, clad in headphones and wraparound shades, is there to help the thieves escape via yacht. 
Today, it has over 300 million views on YouTube and is regarded as one of Finland’s most recognizable pop culture exports. Watch it in full below.
“It’s amazing to celebrate my career right where it all began,” Darude said in a press release. The ‘Sandstorm’ video is still watched around the world, and it’s incredible to see it come alive again through the runners. I hope as many people as possible join us to have fun and get moving.”
Fans can find a full list of Darude’s STORM 25 World Tour Dates here. For more information or to purchase tickets to “Sandstorm Run,” visit sandstormrun.com.

Featured image courtesy: Darude.
The post Darude To Celebrate 25 Years Of “Sandstorm” With 6K Fun Run appeared first on EDM Maniac.
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Fedde Le Grand Got Married This Month

Fedde Le Grand was a defining figure for house music. His most iconic song, Put Your Hands Up For Detroit, was released in 2006, and So Much Love was released in 2010.
Fedde Le Grand has accomplished many things in his life and career. For several years, he was ranked in the top 20 DJs by DJ Mag, had a number one hit single on the UK Singles Charts, and received various awards for his tracks. And now, the music legend can add one more accomplishment to his life, but this one has nothing to do with music.
On May 9th, Fedde Le Grand held his wedding and married his wife, Sofia. Posted on all socials, he wrote:

The post Fedde Le Grand Got Married This Month appeared first on EDMTunes.
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Cherry Red Records Acquires Soul and R&B Label Dome Records: ‘It’s Time to Hand Over the Reins to a New Custodian’

(l to r) Cherry Red Records MD Adam Velasco; Korda Marshall (a consultant on today’s deal); Cherry Red founder and chairman Iain McNay; Dome Records founder Peter Robinson; Dome GM Santosh Robinson; and Cherry Red director Matt Bristow. Photo Credit: Cherry Red
Cherry Red Records has acquired Dome Records, with plans in place to “diligently” oversee the soul and R&B label’s catalog while continuing to release new material from signed acts.
47-year-old Cherry Red formally disclosed the buyout today. Founded in 1992 by Peter Robinson, Dome is said to have put out projects from talent including Lulu, Beverley Knight (whose “Mutual Feeling” was sampled by Playboi Carti earlier in 2025), Incognito, Hil St Soul, and the James Taylor Quartet, to name a few.
Additionally, the likes of Drizabone Soul Family, Jarrod Lawson, and Shaun Escoffery have dropped new works via Dome as of late. Cherry Red itself is “concentrating more on” catalog at present, but it’s still releasing fresh recordings and, as initially highlighted, plans to unveil “some new albums” from Dome acts moving forward.
“In recent years we have focused less on releasing new recordings (although we will still put out around 20 new albums this year) and concentrating more on catalogue,” Cherry Red founder and chairman Iain McNay elaborated in part.
“We are very excited to be acquiring Dome from Peter and Santosh and will look after their catalogue diligently as well as releasing some new albums by their artists. Dome will live on within Cherry Red!” the AFCW PLC director proceeded.
On the other side of the transaction, aforementioned Dome founder Peter Robinson is expected to “continue working with the label as a consultant” once the deal wraps.
“After 55 years in the industry and more than three decades running Dome together with Santosh,” added Robinson, “it’s time to hand over the reins to a new custodian, and I’m very confident that Iain McNay, Adam Velasco, Matt Bristow and the team that have helped to build Cherry Red into one of the UK’s most respected independent label groups will maintain the Dome legacy in the years ahead.”
Regarding Dome’s price tag, the involved parties rather unsurprisingly opted against diving into specifics as part of their announcement message. And Dome Records and Dome Publishing financials, though covering the 12 months ended March 31st, don’t appear to provide too much pertinent info on this front.
In any event, today’s deal marks the latest in a line of 2025 indie sales – with the main attraction seemingly being IP holdings even at labels still releasing new works. Just in passing, these transactions include plays for Monstercat, !K7, Mack Avenue, New State, ARC Musicq, Symphony Recording, and Musicraft Entertainment.
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Glastonbury To Expand Popular Dance Music Areas For 2025 Festival

Glastonbury is expanding its dance music areas for 2025.
After the world-famous British festival unveiled its 2025 site map on Saturday, a report from Mixmag highlights that changes to its layout, stage placements, and campgrounds will revamp or expand several of Glastonbury’s electronic music party hubs, including Silver Hayes, Shangri-La, Arcadia, and The Glade. 
The site map announcement comes as Glastonbury continues to roll out lineups for each of the musical areas across its roughly 1,200-acre festival site at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, England.
Shangri-La—set to host performances from Pa Salieu, KNEECAP, EXAMPLE, Katy B, Skepta’s Más Tiempo, Chloe Robinson, Sicaria, A Little Sound, Goldie, and more this year—will expand with more public space and four new stages. 
Hosting names like Amelie Lens, CamelPhat, Fatboy Slim, Vintage Culture, Seth Troxler, NOTION, PAWSA, and many more, Silver Hayes, also home to four stages, will change locations, allowing for more public space and expanded stage areas for all but its indoor Assembly stage.
The Glade, featuring acts like Carl Cox & Eric Powell’s Mobile Disco, Shygirl, Skepta B2B Mochakk, Joy Orbison, and Fish56Octagon; and Arcadia, welcoming Job Jobse B2b Palms Trax, Sonny Fodera, Four Tet, Michael Bibi B2B Solomun, and more, will both accommodate larger crowds this year. The Prodigy will also play in front of an expanded crowd area at the Other stage.
In the 35 years since dance music was first introduced at Glastonbury, it has grown into one of the festival’s most popular musical offerings. Drawing record crowds of more than 210,000 people in 2024, Glastonbury was criticised last year for overcrowding instances that led to the temporary closure of electronic music hotspots, including Silver Hayes and Block9, among others.
Glastonbury will return to Somerset, England, for its 55th edition this June 25-29.
Explore the map below and the full lineup here. For more information, visit glastonburyfestivals.co.uk.

Featured image courtesy: Glastonbury.
The post Glastonbury To Expand Popular Dance Music Areas For 2025 Festival appeared first on EDM Maniac.
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Glastonbury To Expand Popular Dance Music Areas For 2025 Festival

Glastonbury is expanding its dance music areas for 2025.
After the world-famous British festival unveiled its 2025 site map on Saturday, a report from Mixmag highlights that changes to its layout, stage placements, and campgrounds will revamp or expand several of Glastonbury’s electronic music party hubs, including Silver Hayes, Shangri-La, Arcadia, and The Glade. 
The site map announcement comes as Glastonbury continues to roll out lineups for each of the musical areas across its roughly 1,200-acre festival site at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, England.
Shangri-La—set to host performances from Pa Salieu, KNEECAP, EXAMPLE, Katy B, Skepta’s Más Tiempo, Chloe Robinson, Sicaria, A Little Sound, Goldie, and more this year—will expand with more public space and four new stages. 
Hosting names like Amelie Lens, CamelPhat, Fatboy Slim, Vintage Culture, Seth Troxler, NOTION, PAWSA, and many more, Silver Hayes, also home to four stages, will change locations, allowing for more public space and expanded stage areas for all but its indoor Assembly stage.
The Glade, featuring acts like Carl Cox & Eric Powell’s Mobile Disco, Shygirl, Skepta B2B Mochakk, Joy Orbison, and Fish56Octagon; and Arcadia, welcoming Job Jobse B2b Palms Trax, Sonny Fodera, Four Tet, Michael Bibi B2B Solomun, and more, will both accommodate larger crowds this year. The Prodigy will also play in front of an expanded crowd area at the Other stage.
In the 35 years since dance music was first introduced at Glastonbury, it has grown into one of the festival’s most popular musical offerings. Drawing record crowds of more than 210,000 people in 2024, Glastonbury was criticised last year for overcrowding instances that led to the temporary closure of electronic music hotspots, including Silver Hayes and Block9, among others.
Glastonbury will return to Somerset, England, for its 55th edition this June 25-29.
Explore the map below and the full lineup here. For more information, visit glastonburyfestivals.co.uk.

Featured image courtesy: Glastonbury.
The post Glastonbury To Expand Popular Dance Music Areas For 2025 Festival appeared first on EDM Maniac.
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TikTok No Longer the Most Downloaded App—Dethroned By ChatGPT

Photo Credit: Solen Feyissa
The digital app landscape is forever shifting—TikTok has been dethroned by ChatGPT as the most downloaded app worldwide. ChatGPT was downloaded 52 million times in April 2025 across both Google Play and iOS.
This milestone marks a dramatic change in app dominance, especially among the younger Gen Z cohort—who often drive trends in both music and technology. TikTok has held the crown of most downloaded app for several years now. The short-form video format has fueled music trends, launched careers, and continues to shape global listening habits. But ChatGPT recently outpaced TikTok’s 39 million downloads last month to claim the most downloaded app title.
OpenAI rolled out several major updates in March, including a significant upgrade to image generation and improvements to AI voice features. The app’s flexibility and creative potential has resonated with Gen Z, who prioritize tools that enable rapid content creation and personalized interaction. That’s one reason TikTok sister app CapCut gained such popularity—it makes editing videos for the platform much easier.
Photo Credit: Backlinko
ChatGPT’s conversational interface, image tools, and generation features align with Gen Z’s demand for instant, interactive experiences. The app saw a 12% increase in downloads from March to April—and a whopping 38% jump since January 2025. This growth reflects the broader shift in how young creators are engaging with technology. While TikTok’s influence remains strong, it’s no longer the top dog when it comes to downloads.
Both TikTok and Instagram are neck-and-neck, reflecting the latter’s efforts to woo younger audiences with short-form content. Instagram enhanced its ‘Explore’ page to more accurately feel like TikTok’s ‘For You’ page. It has also included several interactive features for Reels, including polls, questions, and group chat capabilities. While both TikTok and Instagram vie for attention from Gen Z—ChatGPT is dominating downloads with several new updates intended to make AI-guided content creation even easier for the younger generation.
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Latest Monster Sync: Hulu’s Handmaid’s Tale Soundtracks Taylor Swift’s ‘Look What you Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)’

Photo Credit: Taylor Swift by Paolo Villanueva / CC by 2.0
Taylor Swift’s re-recorded version of “Look What You Made Me Do,” featured in an episode of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
Is Reputation (Taylor’s Version) on the way? Swifties have been theorizing that an announcement of the album is fast approaching. That theory was given further credence on Monday night, when “Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)” featured prominently in a new episode of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

Taylor Swift’s most devoted fans have been anticipating the announcement from the star since Reputation became eligible for her to re-record in late 2022. This has been the longest stretch between re-records in the megastar’s discography. She released 1989 (Taylor’s Version) in October 2023. Alongside Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version), Reputation will be one of the last albums up for re-recording from her previous contract with Big Machine Records.
Fans noticed potential Easter eggs on Swift’s official merch site, with the home page reorganized as Apparel, Music, Accessories, and Sale—the first letters of which spell out AMAs. Swifties are therefore theorizing that Taylor could be gearing up to announce Reputation (Taylor’s Version) at the American Music Awards on May 26.
Swift previously spoke about revisiting the album in an interview with Time in 2023. The magazine selected her as the publication’s Person of the Year. “It’s a goth-punk moment of female rage at being gaslit by an entire social structure,” she said of the original album. “I think a lot of people see it and they’re just like, ‘sick, snakes, and strobe lights.’” Further, she referred to the unreleased vault tracks from the project as “fire.”
Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album, Reputation was originally released in November 2017. The project contained a slew of hits for the prolific star. They include “Look What You Made Me Do,” “Ready For It?,” “End Game,” “Delicate,” “Gorgeous,” and more.
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Audio Obscura Announces 9-Hour Rave on Amsterdam’s A10 Highway

Have you ever heard of electronic music street parties like Rave The Planet Parade in Berlin or the Paris Techno Parade in France? Well, the Netherlands, and more specifically, Amsterdam, is about to take the concept of a “street party” to the next level with Audio Obscura that will host a 9-hour rave on the A10 Zuid highway.
On Saturday, June 21st, Amsterdam’s A10 Ring Road will be transformed into a 15-kilometer-long, car-free festival in celebration of the city’s 750th anniversary, with Festival Op de Ring. With 25 program elements spread across three zones along the highway, the event promises a vibrant mix of music, art, activities, and local entrepreneurs – all coming together on the longest day of the year.
Among the most spectacular highlights is Audio Obscura’s Highway Rave, where the Dutch event collective, known for pushing the boundaries of raving into unconventional spaces, will host the largest stage of the day. From the tunnel beneath the Rijksmuseum to the passage under Amsterdam Central Station and even the G-Star headquarters during ADE in 2022, Audio Obscura has built a reputation for transforming unexpected locations into unforgettable dance floors.
The full line-up is still under wraps but will be revealed in the coming weeks. However, looking at past Audio Obscura events, names like Benwal, Chris Stussy, Lucky Done Gone, Joris Voorn, and Moody Mehran have all graced the decks, so it’s safe to expect a carefully curated roster of talented DJs for the Highway Rave.
The attendance to the Highway Rave is free for those who pre-register, with tickets becoming available on Wednesday, May 21st at 10:00 CEST. More information can be found on Audio Obscuras website, or by clicking here.
Audio Obscuras upcoming takeover of the A10 will undoubtedly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and a unique celebration of history, community and how music has the power to bring people together in the most unexpected places. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, a seasoned raver or just curious, this is not the event to miss.
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Amazon Music AI-Powered Search Rolls Out in Beta to Select US Subscribers to ‘Enhance Music Discovery’

Photo Credit: Amazon Music
Amazon Music announces the beta of its new AI-powered search, designed to help fans learn more about their music.
Select Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers in the US can take a sneak peek at Amazon’s new AI-powered search. The idea is to enhance music discovery and help fans learn more about their favorite artists.
To use this beta feature, users can tap the “Find” button at the bottom of the screen and enter an artist’s name in the search bar. By selecting the “Explore” tab at the top left, users can discover information about the artist. That info includes collaborations, similar artists, and highlights from their discography.
For example, a search for Jelly Roll can highlight not only his solo work but his collaborations.  Collabs like “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson, or “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” with T-Pain will appear—notably an Amazon Music Original.
Users can also create AI-generated playlists. Last year, Amazon Music launched Maestro, its answer to Spotify’s AI DJ. That move came as part of continuing efforts to compete with the streaming giant. By incorporating Maestro into the new Explore feature, Amazon is hoping to encourage more users to try its AI playlisting.
“This new feature is about transforming each search into a journey of musical discovery, and we’re thrilled to start introducing it to customers,” said Ryan Redington, General Manager at Amazon Music.
“By leveraging AI to enhance search and discovery features, we’re making it easier for fans to dive deeper into the worlds of their favorite artists and find new ones they’ll love. This beta builds on our previous AI innovations and represents our ongoing commitment to connecting artists and fans in meaningful ways. We can’t wait to see how fans will use it to enhance how they’re enjoying music on our service.”
Notably, Explore is rolling out today for select US subscribers in the iOS app. Currently, the beta feature is limited to 10,000 artists, including Bad Bunny, Blackpink, and Jelly Roll.
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Opening Weak-End: The Weeknd’s ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Struggles at the Box Office

Photo Credit: Jenna Ortega in Hurry Up Tomorrow / Lionsgate
The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow, a psychological thriller co-starring Jenna Ortega, bombed at the box office in its opening weekend.
The Weeknd’s first feature film, Hurry Up Tomorrow, didn’t get off to the best start during its opening weekend. The R-rated film co-stars Jenna Ortega and features The Weeknd, who goes by his real name, Abel Tesfaye, in the credits. It’s his first major acting role since the controversial HBO Max series, The Idol, with Lily-Rose Depp.
Tesfaye plays a fictionalized version of himself, also named Abel, while Ortega plays a stranger named Anima. The film is directed by Trey Edward Shults, based on a screenplay by Reza Fahim, Shults, and Tesfaye. The logline for the film reads, “A musician plagued by insomnia is pulled into an odyssey with a stranger who begins to unravel the very core of his existence.”
Hurry Up Tomorrow opened in 2,020 theaters across North America on Friday. That evening, it was projected to see a mere $3.3 million to $4.7 million in its opening weekend. According to Lionsgate in an email on Saturday, the film was looking at an opening weekend pull of $3 million to $3.6 million, which still “makes it profitable for the studio.” On Sunday, Lionsgate projected the film would earn $3.3 million by the end of the week.
Notably, Lionsgate is only distributing the film and is not responsible for its production cost, which was around $15 million.
The film is part of a three-pronged project from The Weeknd, alongside the artist’s new album and tour. “Hurry Up Tomorrow was conceived as part of The Weeknd’s broader creative ecosystem, anchored by the artist’s new album and tour, with creative alignment across music, film, and live performance,” said Lionsgate. Its release fell on the same day that The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour kicked off in Glendale, Arizona.
One factor undeniably hurting the film’s box office numbers is a series of negative reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. As of Saturday, the film had a 14% “rotten” rating, based on 52 reviews. Among those, viewers have called the film an “ego-stroke of monumental hubris,” “vapid,” and “meandering.” One reviewer wrote that the film will easily secure the position for the year’s worst movie.
According to The Weeknd, the film unsurprisingly means something personal to him. “I look in the mirror and feel both old and new, stuck in limbo and unable to move,” he wrote earlier this year. “I still haven’t faced myself.”
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Jamie xx To Play B2B With Skrillex At 2025 LIDO Festival In London

Jamie xx has leveled up the lineup for his takeover at London’s LIDO Festival with an exclusive Skrillex B2B and several new additions.
In the throws of his club-leaning solo project after the 2024 release of his third LP, In Waves, the award-winning British producer, DJ, and founding member of The xx, will host a one-day show at Victoria Park on June 7, for which he yesterday announced a rare collaborative set with the American dubstep and electronic music icon.
In addition to playing B2B with Skrillex, Jamie xx will also throw down with heralded jungle revivalist Nia Archives, bringing his performance total to three, including a solo headline set.
Other anticipated lineup additions include UK garage pioneer Todd Edwards playing B2B with new-school speed garage phenom bullet tooth, another cross-generational set from jungle innovators Shy FX B2B Tim Reaper, and appearances from Villager and Stresshead. Previously confirmed names include Arca, Sampha, DJ Gigola, Wookie, Shy One, a three-hour set from DJ Harvey, and Jamie’s The xx bandmate, Romy, among others.
Helmed by AEG Presents, who bring London’s beloved All Points East festival to Victoria Park each year, LIDO Festival will take shape as a series of one-day festivals throughout the month of June. Other themed festival events include a “Party Girl” takeover from Charli XCX and Massive Attack‘s first London festival headline in nine years.
Check out the full lineup for Jamie xx at LIDO Festival 2025 in the post below. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lidofestival.co.uk.

Featured image courtesy: Jamie xx. Credit: Maias Salman.
The post Jamie xx To Play B2B With Skrillex At 2025 LIDO Festival In London appeared first on EDM Maniac.
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Jamie xx To Play B2B With Skrillex At 2025 LIDO Festival In London

Jamie xx has leveled up the lineup for his takeover at London’s LIDO Festival with an exclusive Skrillex B2B and several new additions.
In the throws of his club-leaning solo project after the 2024 release of his third LP, In Waves, the award-winning British producer, DJ, and founding member of The xx, will host a one-day show at Victoria Park on June 7, for which he yesterday announced a rare collaborative set with the American dubstep and electronic music icon.
In addition to playing B2B with Skrillex, Jamie xx will also throw down with heralded jungle revivalist Nia Archives, bringing his performance total to three, including a solo headline set.
Other anticipated lineup additions include UK garage pioneer Todd Edwards playing B2B with new-school speed garage phenom bullet tooth, another cross-generational set from jungle innovators Shy FX B2B Tim Reaper, and appearances from Villager and Stresshead. Previously confirmed names include Arca, Sampha, DJ Gigola, Wookie, Shy One, a three-hour set from DJ Harvey, and Jamie’s The xx bandmate, Romy, among others.
Helmed by AEG Presents, who bring London’s beloved All Points East festival to Victoria Park each year, LIDO Festival will take shape as a series of one-day festivals throughout the month of June. Other themed festival events include a “Party Girl” takeover from Charli XCX and Massive Attack‘s first London festival headline in nine years.
Check out the full lineup for Jamie xx at LIDO Festival 2025 in the post below. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lidofestival.co.uk.

Featured image courtesy: Jamie xx. Credit: Maias Salman.
The post Jamie xx To Play B2B With Skrillex At 2025 LIDO Festival In London appeared first on EDM Maniac.
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Amsterdam to Shut Down Major Highway for Massive Audio Obscura Rave

As the home of the world's leading electronic music summit, ADE, and a longstanding seedbed of rave culture, Amsterdam is no stranger to bold ideas. But closing a major highway for a rave? Even for one of the cultural capitals of dance music, it's an ambitious endeavor.
On June 21st, Audio Obscura will transform a section of the Netherlands' A10 Zuid motorway into a one-day-only rave venue, welcoming 5,000 fans to celebrate Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. The landmark event is part of the wider Festival op de Ring, a 17-kilometer spectacle that will see the A10 closed to traffic and repurposed for a celebration of Dutch art, culture and music.
Known for curating events in unconventional venues like the Rijksmuseum bicycle passage and Concertgebouw, Audio Obscura is one of the city's foremost champions of its globally revered electronic music scene. The team is now taking over the stretch of highway near the RAI Metro Station, promising nine hours of adrenaline-fueled DJ sets from a slew of artists still to be announced.
CUPRA, the event's lead partner, has helped make the highway rave free to attend. Fans can register via the Audio Obscura website for a chance to score a ticket when they officially drop at 10am CEST on May 21st.
Check out the event's trailer below.
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California Governor Newsom Proposes $11.5M Cuts in Arts Funding

Photo Credit: CA.gov
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent budget proposal sent shockwaves through the arts sector with a targeted $11.5 million cut. The budget cuts could have far-reaching consequences for music funding and the broader creative community.
While the headline figure for the cut is $11.5 million, critics argue that the true impact could be much larger. Arts advocates are estimating up to 58% cuts for certain arts programs. The $11.5 million slated for elimination comes from the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF), a program designed to support non-profit arts organizations. That includes orchestras, music groups, and theaters with a budget of less than $2 million.
This fund was created from leftover pandemic relief money and helps these smaller organizations comply with California’s AB5 gig worker law—requiring many freelance roles to be reclassified as employees. The elimination of the PAEPF will disproportionately affect small and medium-sized organizations. Many of them rely on these funds to pay musicians, technicians, and their administrative staff.
The San Francisco Bay Area Theatre company says it expected to receive over $150,000 from the fund. Meanwhile, groups like Dance Mission Theater and Hillbarn Theatre anticipate losing six-figure grants. Arts advocates warn that the combined effect of the PAEPF budget cut and a proposed $10 million reduction to the California Arts Council’s Local Assistance Funding could result in a 58% decrease in state support for small non-profit arts organizations. They point out that this would move California’s per capita arts spending near the bottom nationally, ranking 45th out of 50 states.
These cuts are part of a broader response to California’s projected $12 billion budget deficit for 2025/26. These cuts are driven by declining revenues and increased social services costs. Governor Newsom says these reductions are necessary across the board—but the arts sector is among the hardest hit. California was doubly hit when the National Endowment for the Arts withdrew an estimated $25 million in grants across the nation.
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Audio Obscura To Host Free Highway Rave For Amsterdam 750 Celebrations

Audio Obscura is throwing a free highway rave in Amsterdam this summer, commemorating the city’s 750th anniversary.
The renowned Dutch electronic promoter will take over a section of Amsterdam’s A10 motorway, near the S109 access road, on June 21. The event will form part of the city’s Festival op de Ring, which is set to close 15 km (just over 9 miles) of the south ring highway, from S103 to S113, for an entire day of “Amsterdam 750” celebrations. 
Audio Obscura will host nine hours of music on the day, and will be the only dance music brand to appear on the festival’s main music sites, according to a report from DJ Mag. The event’s website promises one stage with “wild back-to-backs.” A full lineup will be shared in the coming weeks.
The highway rave announcement marks the latest of several unique rave locations from the house and techno party outfit, which has previously held events at Amsterdam Central Station, The Loft in A’DAM Tower, and the Rijksmuseum bike passage, among others.
After the highway rave, Audio Obscura will make its annual return to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), held from October 22-26, and this year falling just days before Amsterdam’s 750th birthday on October 27.
Admission to Audio Obscura at Festival op de Ring is free, but guests must reserve tickets ahead of time. A limited number of free tickets will drop tomorrow, Wednesday, May 21, at 10 AM CEST (4AM EDT).
Check out the official trailer for Audio Obscura’s Highway Rave below. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit audio-obscura.com/highway-rave.
Featured image courtesy: Audio Obscura.
The post Audio Obscura To Host Free Highway Rave For Amsterdam 750 Celebrations appeared first on EDM Maniac.
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Skrillex and Jamie xx to Deliver Rare B2B Set at London's LIDO Festival

LIDO Festival's June debut in London has just escalated from anticipated to essential with the announcement of a b2b set between Skrillex and Jamie xx.
While not entirely unprecedented, their joining forces behind the decks remains a rarity, one reserved for moments that aim to push the envelope beyond the standard music festival playbook.
The performance will take place on Saturday, June 7th as part of the Jamie xx-curated lineup at Victoria Park. The day also features his b2b with Nia Archives, a showcase of his underground club concept "The Floor" and sets from avant-pop visionaries like Arca and Romy.
Skrillex has made a habit of surprising audiences with unlikely b2b sets in recent years, including his collaborative performances alongside Fred again.. and Four Tet, with whom he headlined sold-out spectacles at Coachella and Madison Square Garden. Presently, he's riding the wave of a disruptive new chapter following the release of his long-awaited fourth album, F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3.
Tickets for LIDO Festival, taking place June 6-7 and June 13-15 at London's Victoria Park, are available now.
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VERKNIPT TAKES OVER AFAS LIVE FOR ADE 2025 WITH TWO MASSIVE SHOWS

Verknipt takes over one of Amsterdam’s most iconic venues this October with hard techno heavy weights 6EJOU b2b SNTS, KARAH b2b KLOFAMA, KRUELTY b2b VIEZE ASBAK, FUMI b2b SERAFINA, NOVAH, Onlynumbers and more.
AMSTERDAM (20 May, 2025) –  This October, Verknipt returns to Amsterdam Dance Event with two of the most anticipated showcases of the week: The Big Opening on Wednesday 22 October and The Big Closing on Saturday 26 October, both taking place at AFAS Live. Following one of the most outstanding, sold-out shows at the venue earlier this year, Verknipt is set to make history once again with its signature high-energy hard techno events at one of Amsterdam’s most iconic stages.
Last year’s ADE editions at Taets Zaandam & AFAS Live  drew over 8,000 fans and established Verknipt as a cornerstone of ADE’s harder styles programming. This year, the move to AFAS Live marks a bold new chapter – bringing even bigger production, a stacked lineup of international heavyweights, and Verknipt’s unrivaled intensity to the heart of Amsterdam.
The Big Opening – Wednesday 22 October
Verknipt kicks off ADE with a full-force opening night, transforming AFAS Live into a dark, pulsating arena of sound. On the lineup: 6EJOU b2b SNTS, DANIQUE b2b TANJA MIJU, INTRUDE b2b XRTN, Jowi b2b SLVL, KARAH b2b KLOFAMA, KRUELTY b2b VIEZE ASBAK, LS41 b2b Jayron, NZGÛL b2b RUDAKI, TOXIC MACHINERY b2b SANTØS. It’s the perfect start to the week for hard techno lovers who want to dive in headfirst.
The Big Closing – Saturday 26 October
On Saturday, Verknipt returns for The Big Closing, wrapping up ADE with a bang. Featuring A.N.I., BØĘRY b3b Jo3y3t b3b SANTØS, Cara Elizabeth b2b SZG, Johannes Schuster b2b Palø, NOVAH, Onlynumbers, SERAFINA b2b FUMI, EUBERREST, Zwilling b2b WILDERÍCH it’s a stacked night of raw energy and unrelenting BPMs – the only fitting way to close out the week.
Known for its uncompromising sound and dedication to the harder styles, Verknipt has become a global reference point for hard techno fans – and their ADE editions are nothing short of legendary. After the success of their AFAS Live debut earlier this year, expectations are sky-high for these two unmissable nights in October.
Tickets are on sale now via verknipt.org

Event Details
Event: VERKNIPT ADE THE BIG OPENING
Date 22 October, 2025
Times: 22:00 – 08:00
Location: AFAS Live – Johan Cruijff Boulevard 590, 1101 DS, Amsterdam
Ticket Information via this link

VERKNIPT ADE THE BIG OPENING
Lineup (A-Z)
6EJOU b2b SNTS
DANIQUE b2b TANJA MIJU
INTRUDE b2b XRTN
Jowi b2b SLVL
KARAH b2b KLOFAMA
KRUELTY b2b VIEZE ASBAK
LS41 b2b Jayron
NZGÛL b2b RUDAKI
TOXIC MACHINERY b2b SANTØS
Event Details
Event: VERKNIPT ADE THE BIG CLOSING
Date 26 October, 2025
Times: 12:00 – 00:00
Location: AFAS Live – Johan Cruijff Boulevard 590, 1101 DS, Amsterdam
Ticket Information via this link

VERKNIPT ADE THE BIG CLOSING
Lineup (A-Z)
A.N.I.
BØĘRY b3b Jo3y3t b3b SANTØS
Cara Elizabeth b2b SZG
Johannes Schuster b2b Palø
NOVAH
Onlynumbers
SERAFINA b2b FUMI
EUBERREST 
Zwilling b2b WILDERÍCH
About Verknipt
Founded in 2012 in the Netherlands, Verknipt has evolved from a bold underground movement into one of the leading forces in the global hard dance scene. By embracing a new sound and employing an exceptional social media strategy, Verknipt swiftly ascended to the forefront of one of the industry’s fastest-growing genres. Over the years, Verknipt expanded rapidly, hosting more than 20 events annually across 11 countries, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors, and building a worldwide community centered around the harder styles of dance music.
A major turning point came in 2020, when Verknipt recognized the growing momentum within hard techno and sharpened its focus to meet the rising global demand for harder sounds By 2024, Verknipt made history by hosting the largest hard techno rave ever, selling out Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff ArenA with 40,000 visitors. This milestone paved the way for Verknipt ArenA’s return in 2025, featuring the world’s largest 360-degree stage: an immersive experience redefining large-scale dance events.
With a full calendar ahead, including multiple editions of its flagship Verknipt Festival, signature All Night Long events, and the second edition of Verknipt Croatia | Holiday Festival, Verknipt continues to set new standards in the global hard dance scene.
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EDC Las Vegas Offered a $575,000 Bottle Service Package at 2025 Festival

What does over half a million dollars buy you in a place where kandi-trades and cheap White Claws are the cultural currency? At EDC Las Vegas 2025, it apparently yields an alcohol arsenal so opulent it could toast the entire "Forbes 30 Under 30" list twice over.
For those who found Ultra's $425,000 champagne-fueled VIP fantasy just a touch too humble, EDC returned this past weekend with a jaw-dropping rebuttal. The festival's menu options featured "The Notorious," a bottle service experience that stretches the definition of "splurge" to a new fiscal altitude: $575,000.
According to an image shared on social media by Las Vegas Locally, the package includes 125 bottles of Dom Pérignon Brut, 125 bottles of Dom Pérignon Rosé and 10 bottles of Clase Azul Ultra Tequila for a 260-bottle flex of financial bravado.
The rest of the menu doesn’t shy away from indulgence either. A six-pack of Bud Light would've set you back $150 while a single 6L Methuselah of Armand de Brignac Rosé topped out at $63,000. Even the lower-tier champagne packages boast names like "Supernova Pop" ($105,000) and "You, Me, & Everyone We Know" ($140,000), proving once again that the sky is the starting point at North America's largest EDM festival.
EDC returned to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway May 16-18, 2025.
Follow EDC Las Vegas:
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Jeff Mills Posts Techno Billboards In Detroit Ahead Of Movement Music Festival

Ravers arriving in Detroit for Movement Music Festival this weekend should keep an eye out for thought-provoking techno billboards around the city, posted by Jeff Mills’ Axis Records.
With the three-day festival back in techno’s Motor City birthplace for Memorial Day weekend, the billboards, each depicting a pair of images adorned with the words, “THIS IS TECHNO” popped up in four locations around Detroit last week.
In a press statement, Mills wrote that the billboards are meant to incite discussion about the genre and “sharpen our sense to detect what is Techno and what is not.” 
The Detroit techno pioneer and foundational label founder also likened their imagery to the Rorschach test, which famously examines subjects based on what their minds recognize from inkblots.
“These two comparable images are often at different angles of the same experience, both are elements that point to an unseen answer, a third image, which can only lie inside your imagination,” Mills wrote. 
He continued: “The imagination tries to understand their relationship and thus, stretches the possibilities. A stretched imagination is the goal. Images are not taken literally but indirectly, like parts of a puzzle. This is Techno requires you to use your sense to know, to build something.”
Mills further explained that this deciphering of meaning is done “without verbal or textual context—illusive to Technology and the ways we commonly use to communicate.”
The billboards arrive following several months of Mills’ posting similar images to Instagram, each with the same caption, “This Is Techno.”
Mills will headline Movement this Saturday, replacing Carl Cox, who in February announced he would postpone his appearance until 2026. Further performers at the event, which returns to Hart Plaza from May 25-27, include Charlotte de Witte, John Summit, Sara Landry, Mau P, Sammy Virji, Nina Kraviz, The Blessed Madonna, FJAAK, Sama’ Abdulhadi, and more.
The Axis Records billboards can be found at the following locations:
Woodward Ave. & West Canfield St.
East Jefferson Ave. & Orleans St.
Woodward Ave & Burroughs St.
Gratiot Ave. and Jay St.

Featured image courtesy: Jeff Mills.
The post Jeff Mills Posts Techno Billboards In Detroit Ahead Of Movement Music Festival appeared first on EDM Maniac.
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ROXi Sells in ‘Management Buyout’ and Eyes ‘FastStream’ Expansion — U2 Bassist Adam Clayton Comes Aboard as an Investor

U2 bassist Adam Clayton, who has an interest in the just-sold ROXi music video service. Photo Credit: U2start
Self-described “music video streaming service” ROXi has officially sold in a “management buyout,” with multiple broadcasters and U2 bassist Adam Clayton among its stakeholders.
Reps for London-based ROXi reached out with word of the deal, executed via a new company called FastStream Interactive. All told, ROXi/FastStream says it’s drawn support from north of 100 “major” backers thus far.
Those parties include but certainly aren’t limited to Simon Cowell, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Sheryl Crow, and Alesha Dixon, who all boarded the ROXi train a while ago. At the time, the business was still zeroing in chiefly on providing access to music videos and especially karaoke via smart TVs.
Since then, ROXi, currently counting broadcasters Sinclair (an existing partner) and Gray Media as stakeholders, has adjusted its focus to prioritize “interactive TV channels.”
And it’s these channels that FastStream Interactive head Rob Lewis emphasized when addressing the buyout of ROXi, which was at one point considering an IPO.
“The new technology, FastStream, will revolutionise Broadcast TV,” indicated Lewis. “For the first time in history, consumers tuning into a normal TV channel will find they automatically start at the beginning of the program, and that they are able to skip, pause or search, even though they are watching normal Broadcast TV.”
Running with the idea, FastStream took the opportunity to confirm its forthcoming release of “America’s first Interactive TV Music channel,” referring to ROXi. This free offering is said to be teed up to debut via “new digital TV standard” NextGen TV – which Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley has been touting for some time – with no app or registration required.
NextGen, for its part, describes itself as “the biggest leap forward in TV in years” and claims to combine “the benefits of broadcast with broadband TV viewing.”
With an antenna required for access, NextGen before 2028 will be supported by 75% of U.S. TVs sold, FastStream estimated.
“FastStream Interactive will empower Sinclair to deliver a range of cutting edge, fully interactive TV channels,” summed up Sinclair VP and GM of technology business development Skip Flenniken. “Our viewers across the U.S. will be able to search, skip, and engage with content in a seamless, personalised experience.”
Besides the initially mentioned U2 member as well as Gray and Sinclair, other ROXi/FastStream stakeholders include Terra Firma Capital Management founder Guy Hands, businessman Jim Mellon, and longtime Rothschild partner Warner Mandel.
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Venue Woes Continue as Brooklyn Mirage Postpones Memorial Day Weekend Shows

Avant Gardner, the operators of the Brooklyn Mirage, announced Tuesday that all concerts scheduled through Memorial Day weekend have been postponed due to ongoing permit issues, further delaying the venue's highly anticipated reopening.
In a statement, management confirmed that affected shows would be rescheduled for July and August, with ticket-holders receiving email and text notifications about refund options.
"Although the Brooklyn Mirage is opening later than anticipated, we are making great progress towards opening our doors," the venue stated. "We take responsibility for the delay and are working diligently with the City of New York to make sure that we meet all regulations and requirements, so that we can deliver a safe and unforgettable experience for everyone."
The Chainsmokers were set to headline a pair of concerts, which have now been rescheduled for August 7-8. They took to Instagram Stories to lament the postponements.
"We are being told the venue still does not have the permitting required to open," the duo wrote. "We are truly devastated. We put so much into building an amazing show for our favorite city but this is just how things go sometimes."
The postponements mark another setback for the beleaguered open-air venue, which has undergone extensive renovations and was expected to unveil significant upgrades this spring. The venue was unable to open on its scheduled date of May 2nd after reportedly failing to secure final compliance from building inspectors, ultimately postponing the relaunch indefinitely.
Avant Gardner today promised to share updates about the Mirage's progress and expected opening date by the end of this week, noting they are working "24/7 to bring you the groundbreaking experience we promised." Helmed by new CEO Josh Wyatt, the renovation project includes structural upgrades, a redesigned stage and major enhancements to the venue's sound and lighting systems.
"I can tell you that when you walk into Brooklyn Mirage for the first time, you're going to see a set design that will blow you away," Wyatt told EDM.com in a recent interview. "Then when you come back two weeks or two months later, it's going to look totally different. The type of technology that we're designing to be able to allow us to do that is bespoke and has never been done before—I think it's pretty mind-blowing."
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