Live entertainment company Live Nation Entertainment and artist-first livestream platform Veeps have teamed up to equip more than 60 venues in the United States for turnkey livestreaming. This new deal would give artists the ability to turn their live shows into livestreaming events at the flip of a switch.
Venues of all sizes, many of which are already major tour stops for artists, will be outfitted for livestreaming as part of this new partnership. The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA has already been set up and will be starting a 10-show series, dubbed “The Wiltern Series,” in May that will include shows from Young Thug, Lany, Waterparks, Young M.A. and Chase Atlantic, among others. Other venues set to launch soon include The Fillmore in San Francisco and Philadelphia, House of Blues in Chicago and New Orleans, Shoreline Amphitheater in California and The Gorge in Washington.
Said Veeps founder / Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden about the partnership,
“Amongst artists, it’s often said that the one side of our careers that truly belongs to us is touring. To help an entirely new touring vertical become readily available to artists is such a huge win for our community and we couldn’t be happier. It’s the exact type of thing that shows what our partnership with Live Nation can really mean for artists. Now, with the flip of a switch, every artist playing in these venues can make their show a global event. We’ve already seen how livestream shows drive engagement across every other area of an artist’s business and the added ticket revenue will allow them to re-invest in their art and make what they’re offering their fans even better. It’s a real dream come true for us at Veeps and our mission to help empower artists in their careers.”
Adds Live Nation Entertainment president and CEO Michael Rapino,
“Artists and fans are eager to get back to shows, and livestreams will continue to unlock opportunities for them to connect more than ever before. Veeps is the best at what they do, with Benji and Joel tapping into their own experience as artists to help other artists thrive, and we look forward to bringing this innovative idea to life in these iconic venues.”
During a pandemic that has virtually stopped the live music industry cold, livestreaming has allowed artists to reach fans in a whole new way. For its part, Veeps has been able to help artists earn more than $10 million from livestream events in 2020 alone. Artists who have turned to Veeps for various fan and charity events include Patti Smith, Brandi Carlile and One Direction alums Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson.
Livestreaming will also create new opportunities for venues, artists and fans. New equipment will mean new production jobs will become available. Fans will be able to see shows that were previously sold out or not coming to their town. There will also be opportunities for artists to provide exclusive content or varying angles (such as backstage or front-row points-of-view) to create a new and unique experience.
By partnering together, Live Nation and Veeps are doubling down on the importance of livestreaming to the future of live music. Even as venues slowly begin to reopen, the two companies plan to continue setting up venues to support livestream events and providing new ways of connecting artists with their fans.
