A singer passionately performing on stage with a microphone, dressed in a red blazer, immersed in music performance.

The Top 10 Live Music Controversies of 2025

From Kneecap to Bob Vylan to Primal Scream, this has been a year of politics, incidents, and artistic expression clashing, with the live music environment often acting as a tinderbox. Let’s explore.

Share on:
Modern urban building with glass windows, outdoor seating, and warm lighting, highlighting architecture and cityscape, perfect for music industry events, creative hubs, or entertainment venues.

4 Major Performance Spaces Undergoing Years-Long Renovations

London’s Barbican Centre announced its plans to undergo renovations beginning in 2028. Here are the other major performance venues closing for significant amounts of time.

Share on:
live music carbon footprint

MIT Report Reveals Live Music’s Carbon Footprint: How Artists, Venues, and Fans Can Cut Emissions

The concert and touring industry has long talked about sustainability. Thanks to an extensive MIT study there is now real data on live music’s carbon footprint and where artists, venues and fans can cut emissions.

Share on:
independent venue marketing lessons

Independent Venue Marketing Lessons From Across the U.S.

Hypebot’s ‘In The Trenches’ interview series highlights the on-the-ground realities of concert marketing – from tiny independent rooms to multi-venue regional operators. Across these venues one thing is clear: effective live-music marketing is more strategic, data-driven, and community-rooted than ever. Learn standout independent venue marketing lessons from the people battling to fill their rooms.

Share on:
Performing youth musician on stage with guitar effects pedals and sound equipment, emphasizing youth music, live performance, and musical creativity for youth music enthusiasts.

Exposing the Normalized Harm and Safety Issues for Youth in the Live Music Industry

Read about the Youth Music’s new report exposing harmful practices affecting young musicians and audiences in live music culture in the UK.

Share on:
- Diverse group of young professionals in a music studio, collaborating on music production and sound engineering, emphasizing creativity and teamwork in the music industry.

Clipping. Announced as the 2026 Sled Island Music Festival Guest Curator

In this post, we share details of Sled Island’s announcement, plus how and why guest curators can offer local audiences a more bespoke largescale event experience in 2026.

Share on:
Vibrant concert crowd at a live music event with hands raised, colorful lights, and energetic atmosphere, capturing the essence of music festivals and nightlife entertainment.

How the ‘Middle-Class’ Nightclub Once Kept the DJ Club Scene Together

We can now veritably declare that the “middle-ground nightclub is dead.” You now have two choices: enter the “Hyperclub” to perform for the algorithm, or pay a premium to hide in the dark.

Share on:
Live music performance at a vibrant nightclub with an enthusiastic audience enjoying the artist's guitar and singing, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere.

Small Venues in Small Cities: A Playbook for Building Community

In this post, we offer strategies for live music venues, promoters, and festivals in smaller markets around how to strengthen and develop the local community rather than focus on growth.

Share on:
Live music performance at a bustling nightclub, featuring a singer with a microphone and a DJ playing electronic music, with a vibrant crowd enjoying the entertainment.

How to Throw an Unforgettable Listening Party

Here’s why listening parties have become so popular in recent years and how to throw a listening party your fans will never forget.

Share on:
A young musician passionately singing and playing acoustic guitar at a live performance, capturing the essence of indie and singer-songwriter music genres.

Lewis Capaldi Is Back on the Road. We Need to Talk About the Mental Health Toll of Touring

The widely-adored Scottish singer-songwriter is back on tour after a long hiatus due to health issues; his story is becoming increasingly common.

Share on:
Suno has acquired Songkick

Suno has acquired Songkick: What it means for Artists

Controversial AI music platform Suno acquired Songkick as part of its new deal with Warner Music Group. But why would an AI music creation tool want to own a struggling concert listing service?

Share on: