O3 Space, a startup founded by Luca Yang, has opened a 24/7 study cafe in Sydney, transforming a former radical bookshop site. Popular with students, the cafe offers a unique "third place" environment, charging hourly after three free weekly hours, and plans to expand its around-the-clock access.
Darwin's live music scene faces a decline in touring acts due to high costs and low profitability, impacting local musicians like Leisa Howlett. Industry figures such as MusicNT's Mark Smith and venue manager Russell Temple highlight the challenges, urging a ground-up approach to support local talent and venues.
Andy Burnham's proposed 20% business rate reduction for pubs, clubs, and music venues, costing £100m, aims to support high streets. While welcomed as a gesture, industry figures like pub owner Dan Smith and consultant Colm O'Leary view the £1,000 average saving as insufficient compared to other rising costs like VAT and staffing.
England's pubs, clubs, and live music venues will receive a 20% business rates discount as part of a £100m aid package from Prime Minister Burnham, aimed at supporting high streets and easing living costs, though some industry leaders and opposition question its scope and funding.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a 20% cut to business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues to ease the cost of living crisis. The policy, costing £100M annually, is the third since his Monday appointment, aiming to save 32,000 hospitality businesses £1,100/year.
Andy Burnham's administration will cut business rates by 20% for nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs, and live music venues in England from April, as part of a £10m package to support high streets and ease cost of living pressures. The initiative will be funded by reviewing relief for businesses deemed not to contribute positively to communities.
Glasgow prepares for the scaled-back Commonwealth Games 2026 opening ceremony on Thursday. Organisers hope for a late surge in ticket sales, as demand has reportedly been slower than expected for the event, reduced in scale after Victoria's withdrawal.
The live music industry faces challenges from "blue dot fever" (empty seats) and soaring production costs, leading to higher ticket prices. While superstars thrive, smaller acts struggle, threatening the industry's diversity. Experts call for solidarity and support for grassroots music.
UK music tourism reached a record £11.2bn in spending last year, attracting 24.7 million fans, including a 27% surge in overseas visitors. Major artists like Oasis, Coldplay, and Beyoncé contributed to the boom, with London seeing a significant rise in tourism revenue.
Consumers are "priced out" of many concerts due to soaring ticket prices, leading to a K-shaped demand curve in live music. While top artists sell out stadiums, smaller acts struggle, reflecting broader economic pressures and changing spending habits.
Bulgaria won Eurovision in Vienna with 'Bangaranga,' marking its first win. Five countries boycotted due to Israel's participation, which finished second. Protests occurred in Vienna.
Eurovision's final in Vienna is underway with five countries boycotting over Israel's participation. Protesters accuse organizers of hypocrisy, while favorites include Finland and Australia.
Lost anti-fascist Yiddish songs from World War II, collected by Soviet ethnologist Moisei Beregovsky, are set to make their Asian debut in Shanghai through a performance project by Anna Shternshis and Psoy Korolenko.
Dianjiang, a small county tucked away in southwestern China’s Chongqing, was transformed into a bustling live music hub in April as fans flocked to a concert headlined by Mandopop stars, including Jeff Chang. Such scenes are no longer unusual. Once the preserve of megacities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, high-profile concerts are now breathing life into lesser-known venues. As China endeavours to make consumption its main growth driver and targets untapped markets, entertainment spending...
New iPhone app Gigs uses AI to turn old tickets, screenshots, and emails into a personal concert archive with stats, memories, and more.
