Offset of Migos performs at Wireless Festival 2019

Offset of Migos performs at Wireless Festival 2019

Photo: Lorne Thomson/Redferns

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U.K.'s Wireless Festival Announces Wireless Connect Virtual Reality Festival, Set For July 2020

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The three-day event, taking place July 3-5, will feature prerecorded performances from "some of the biggest UK and US artists"
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
May 21, 2020 - 12:32 pm

U.K. music festival Wireless Festival has announced Wireless Connect, a brand-new live virtual reality festival. While no acts have been announced yet, the three-day event, taking place July 3-5, will feature pre-recorded performances from "some of the biggest UK and US artists," according to a social media post announcing the online experience. 

Viewers can tune into Wireless Connect for free by downloading the MelodyVR app or via Wireless Festival's Facebook page, NME reports. 

The inaugural Wireless Connect follows the cancelation of this year's Wireless Festival, which was officially called off earlier this month due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Billed as a 360-degree virtual reality festival, Wireless Connect is a collaboration with MelodyVR, a virtual reality platform specializing in the music and live music space. 

According to a blog post shared on the Wireless Festival website, Wireless Connect will feature "unseen performances" and "exclusive footage" from the as-of-yet unannounced artists featured on the lineup, which will be unveiled soon.

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

The online event will comprise live performances filmed in MelodyVR's studio space in Los Angeles as well as in the historic theatre of London's Alexandra Palace, according to Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic, the company behind Wireless Festival.

The 2020 installment of Wireless Festival was originally supposed to feature a hip-hop-heavy lineup, including headliners A$AP Rocky, Skepta and Meek Mill as well as Migos, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, City Girls, AJ Tracey, Tion Wayne, M Huncho and others.

Wireless Festival is one of many U.K. festivals and events canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which include Glastonbury, WOMAD, Isle of Wight, Parklife, All Points East, Lovebox and Download, among others. 

WATCH LIST: Online Concerts From BTS To COASTCITY To Catch During Coronavirus Quarantine

LISTEN TO WOMXN Logo

 

 

Courtesy Photo: Audio Assemble

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LISTEN TO WOMXN Virtual Music Festival Is Now Accepting Artist Submissions

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The two-day online event, taking place June 26-27, is providing a platform for female and non-binary artists
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
May 23, 2020 - 1:56 pm

LISTEN TO WOMXN Virtual Music Festival, an online event providing a "platform for womxn and non-binary artists to be seen, heard and celebrated," according to its website, has announced that it is accepting artist submissions for its 2020 edition now through May 29.

The festival is inviting women and gender non conforming (GNC) artists to apply for the chance to perform in the forthcoming two-day online event, which takes place June 26-27. Each artist confirmed to perform at the festival will receive $250 and opportunities to win prizes. 

Artists who are interested in applying to perform at the virtual festival must meet multiple criteria, including: all applicants must be women or GNC artists; their livelihood depends on gig income from public live performances; their music career has been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; and they have the ability to livestream and record a 20-30-minute set. 

Following the submission phase, the festival organizers will select a group of regional semifinalists, who will then go through a voting round that's open to the public. 

The festival will announce the 2020 lineup, based on the public voting, June 16, 10 days before the event launches. The ultimate winner will be announced July 1.

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

LISTEN TO WOMXN comes as the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the festival and live music industry since mid-March, essentially shutting down the global concert business.

"For artists, this is a paid performance opportunity amidst a time in which live performances (and their income stream) have come to a halt," the event's website states.

The digital event is a direct response to the widely reported gender inequality at musical festivals. A 2018 report from Pitchfork, which analyzed 19 major festivals, found that 19 percent of festival lineups featured women artists. 

"LISTEN TO WOMXN is tipping the scales and advancing gender equality - highlighting womxn and gnc artists to level the playing field of opportunities in the male dominated music industry," the event's website states. 

The event is also accepting sponsorship opportunities, which will go directly toward women and GNC artists. Sponsorship funds will be allocated to facilitating the online event itself, compensating the artists performing and providing relief during the COVID-19 crisis, according to the LISTEN TO WOMXN website. 

LISTEN TO WOMXN is presented by Women That Rock, Illumin Records and Audio Assemble.

Head to the LISTEN TO WOMXN website to learn more and to apply.

#WomenInTheMix Is Gaining Support In Light Of New Study On Gender Gap In Music

Taboo (L) and Will.I.Am (R) of The Black Eyed Peas perform in 2019

Taboo (L) and Will.I.Am (R) of The Black Eyed Peas perform in 2019

Photo: Sam Tabone/WireImage

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Japan's Supersonic 2020: Black Eyed Peas, Steve Aoki, Clean Bandit, Asian Kung-Fu Generation And More Confirmed

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The festival announced the lineup additions during the coronavirus pandemic, noting, "Under these difficult circumstances, the entire Supersonic staff is working to welcome the audience in the best form possible this fall"
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
May 20, 2020 - 9:43 am

Supersonic, the new multi-day, multi-city Japanese music festival, has unveiled its second artist lineup announcement for its first-ever edition this fall. The three-day event, taking place Sept. 19-21 in Tokyo and Osaka, has confirmed additional artists Black Eyed Peas, Steve Aoki, Clean Bandit and others. The festival has also added local Japanese artists including Asian Kung-Fu Generation, one of Japan's leading rock bands, Nulbarich, BiSH, chelmico and several others. 

They join headliners and other confirmed acts like Post Malone, The 1975, Skrillex, Wu-Tang Clan, Liam Gallagher, Fatboy Slim and Kygo, who were previously announced in early April.

The lineup news comes as the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the festival and live music industry since mid-March, essentially shutting down the global concert business. At the time of this writing, Japan has more than 17,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 778 coronavirus-related deaths, according to The New York Times. In early April, the country declared a state of emergency and this week fell into a recession for the first time since 2015, The New York Times reports.

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

In a blog post shared on the festival's website announcing the lineup additions, organizers addressed the "difficult circumstances" the COVID-19 pandemic has caused.

"Under these difficult circumstances, the entire Supersonic staff is working to welcome the audience in the best form possible this fall while exploring a new form for the festival from now on," the post reads. "We thank you for your understanding and cooperation."

Supersonic is produced by the team behind Summer Sonic, one of Japan's biggest music festivals that's held annually over the summer in Tokyo and Osaka. Festival organizers postponed this year's installment of Summer Sonic to 2021 due to the 2020 Summer Olympics and Summer Paralympics, which were originally scheduled to take place in Tokyo this summer before the global sporting event itself was also postponed to next year, and instead introduced Supersonic for this year only, Japan Web Magazine reports.

Last August, Summer Sonic celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a lineup that featured Red Hot Chili Peppers, BLACKPINK, The Chainsmokers, Weezer and more. Attracting 135,000 visitors over three days, Summer Sonic become Japan's biggest outdoor music festival last year, IQ reports.

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Dave Matthews performs at LOVE ROCKS NYC Benefit Concert in 2020

Dave Matthews performs at LOVE ROCKS NYC Benefit Concert in 2020

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for God's Love We Deliver

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Dave Matthews, The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers And More Confirmed For Colorado Music Relief Fund Virtual Benefit Concert

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Taking place Saturday, May 30, the online event will raise funds for those working in Colorado's music and entertainment industry who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
May 21, 2020 - 3:03 pm

The Colorado Music Relief Fund (CMRF), a newly established statewide initiative created to generate relief funds for those working in Colorado's music and entertainment industry who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, is officially launching with a star-studded virtual event featuring musicians from across the state as well as some of Colorado’s most beloved national acts. 

Taking place Saturday, May 30, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. MST, the online event, dubbed Banding Together: A Concert For The Colorado Music Relief Fund, will feature performances from Dave Matthews, The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers, Michael Franti, Rodrigo y Gabriela and many others. See the full lineup on the CMRF website.

Fans can watch the benefit concert livestream online at CBSN Denver. The event will also air on local radio station 97.3 KBCO in full; CBS Denver will broadcast the first hour. 

In addition to the performances, the benefit concert will feature "storytelling by musicians, crew members, industry members, and Colorado personalities," according to a press release announcing the event.

CMRF and the Banding Together benefit concert are a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has essentially shut down the global live music industry and has significantly impacted Colorado's concert business across the state.

Read: How Musicians Are Staying Positive & Productive Amidst A Pandemic

Known for its celebrated venues, renowned music festivals and unique artist community, Colorado is home to a rich, thriving music and live events industry. Over 16,000 Coloradans work in the local music industry, which generates $1.5 billion annually, with the majority of that amount stemming from public gatherings, according to the CMRF website.

CMRF will begin accepting applications starting May 28 via its website. The initiative is accepting donations now.

Following the benefit concert, CMRF will continue to raise funds and host events to support the Colorado music community.

CMRF is a multi-industry collaborative effort led by committee members from 7S Management, The Bee Vradenburg Foundation, The Bohemian Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries - Division of OEDIT, Colorado Music Hall Of Fame, Colorado State University, Energize Colorado, KBCO, KSUT, The Marigold Project,  RedLine and other organizations and companies. 

Banding Together is presented by Colorado-based craft brewery, Breckenridge Brewery.

Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

Crowd shot at WOMAD Festival 2017

Crowd shot at WOMAD Festival 2017

Photo: C Brandon/Redferns

News

Peter Gabriel's WOMAD Festival 2020 Canceled Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

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In a statement, Gabriel said many of the artists originally confirmed for this year's festival "have already offered, or agreed," to return for 2021
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Apr 8, 2020 - 9:35 am

WOMAD (World Of Music, Arts And Dance) festival, the international music and arts festival from Genesis founding member Peter Gabriel and others, has canceled its 2020 edition in the U.K. due to the growing coronavirus pandemic. Originally scheduled to take place July 23-26 at Charlton Park in Wiltshire, England, the festival, which featured headliners The Flaming Lips, Angélique Kidjo, Kate Tempest and Fatoumata Diawara, among many others, is confirmed to return next year (July 22-25), according to the updated dates on the event's official website. 

Festival organizers announced the event's cancellation via statements from Gabriel and the WOMAD team, both shared on the festival's official website and social media accounts today (April 8). In his statement, Gabriel said many of the artists originally confirmed for this year's festival "have already offered, or agreed," to return for 2021.

"Like many others, we have been hoping, waiting and watching the Coronavirus situation," Gabriel wrote. "Finally, we have been told that we will not be allowed to hold WOMAD this year at Charlton Park.

"Safety for all of our festivalgoers, artists and our own staff surpasses everything.

All of us involved with WOMAD have already been really touched by the help and generous offers of many of those we depend on to make the festival come to life. Many of the artists have already offered, or agreed, to play for us next year and we will now put our energies into making a great WOMAD 2021."

"We hope to see you all at Charlton Park next year for a big celebration, when we've put this meanie back in the bottle," he continued, alluding to the festival's return in 2021. "Your love and support for the dream that is WOMAD, has always meant a lot to us, but especially now."

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

"Following a meeting with the Licensing authority, the combined emergency services and taking fully into account the government advice on halting the spread of the virus, it is clear, that in order to meet our goal of protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of the whole community there is no way we can go ahead with WOMAD 2020," a statement from the wider WOMAD team read. "We are devastated but confident that this is the right and responsible decision and that we have to play our part in helping the country stay safe and to recover."

For ticket holders for its canceled 2020 U.K. edition, WOMAD is offering a transfer of tickets for the 2021 edition or full refunds. For those who paid for their tickets in installments, the festival is allowing a temporary pause on payments to be picked up again next year for WOMAD 2021 or refunds for the face value of the tickets. More information about ticket transfers and refunds is available on the festival website.

The festival, which originally announced its initial lineup this past February, posted an update about the event's U.K. edition last month (March 19). "At WOMAD we are examining the advice of the government, other authorities and of course the healthcare professionals before making a final decision on what actions we should be taking to lead by example and help to keep everyone in the WOMAD community safe and well," the statement read. 

In February, WOMAD postponed what was to be its first-ever edition in Mexico, originally scheduled for March 27–29, "due to events outside of our control," according to a post shared on the festival's website. While no new dates have been announced, WOMAD Mexico will return "later in the year," the post reads. 

WOMAD has already completed three international festivals in 2020, including installments in Chile in February and in Australia and New Zealand in March. 

WOMAD is the latest festival to be canceled or postponed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since March, Governors Ball, Glastonbury, Isle Of Wight, Download, All Points East, Lovebox and Parklife, Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz Fest, BottleRock Napa Valley, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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