The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Florida will reopen after a 15-month renovation that saw the venue receive a new second-floor balcony and expanded seating and performance areas, along with new best-in-class audio and lighting systems. Multiple Grammy Award-winning bluegrass artist Dan Tyminski will open the venue Friday (Aug. 1) and set the stage for a new season of live performances.

Led by Gabriel Pellicer, CEO/president of SJC Cultural Events, which also manages the famed St. Augustine Amphitheater, Ponte Vedra’s reopening traces back to February 2011 when St. John’s County acquired the former church as part of a land deal. Over the years, artists including Art Garfunkel, Ziggy Marley and Ani DiFranco have played the venue.

The facility “was showing a lot of success for cultural impact and the greater good of our community,” over the past decade, Pellicer says. “St John’s County has a lot of people that love live music and we took this old church and built it into a venue that people came to truly love. Now, after 12 years of pilot testing and making a serious long term investment, we’re eager to unveil the next phase of this true passion project.”

Designed by the architecture and interior design firm Fisher Koppenhafer, the expanded Ponte Vedra Concert Hall includes a new second-floor wrap-around balcony and an outdoor terrace. Overall capacity will expand 25% — up from about 900 to roughly 1,100 attendees — as part of the renovation, which also includes modernized restrooms, a multi-use room for special events and meetings and expanded backstage offerings for artists.

Ponte Vedra is also getting a serious sound upgrade with the installation of a L’Acoustics L2D 50K watt audio system, providing the venue with a best-in-class large-format sound system customized for a compact performance space.

The total cost of renovation is $12.9 million, with much of it spearheaded by the non-profit Friends of the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, which was instrumental in launching the “Elevate” campaign, the driving force behind expanding the venue with the addition of a second-floor balcony. In June 2022, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners awarded $5.4 million in funding for the renovation project.

“It’s exciting because it cements our reputation as a world class music and arts presenter in the state of Florida,” says Pellicer. “We want managers and agents to know about Ponte Vedra whenever they need a date in Florida and they are looking for a place they could trust to treat the artist the right way.”

The venue now has four guest dressing rooms for traveling shows, three showers and two laundry facilities — rare amenities for a venue its size, said Pellicer.

“To be in a room for 12 years and to read every single Google review and acknowledge every single thing you want to do better and finally get the handcuffs pulled off of you and be able to sit down and design it the way you wanted it is a special experience,” Pellicer says. “We’re going to absolutely crush it once we open.”

Rosalía has become the latest public figure to face pressure regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On Wednesday (July 30), the superstar published an Instagram Story expressing her sentiment over the escalating situation in Palestine while responding to her critics.

The spotlight on her intensified after Spanish fashion designer Miguel Adrover cited her “silence” as the reason he refused to collaborate with the artist on a custom project.

“I have followed with great sadness what has been said in recent days […] The fact that I have not used my platform in line with other people’s style or expectations does not mean that I do not condemn what is happening in Palestine,” the singer wrote.

She also condemned the violence in the region, noting, “It is terrible to see innocent people being killed day after day, and those who should stop this are not doing so.” However, Rosalía took issue with the “shaming” she has faced, suggesting that condemnation between individuals is not as productive as holding decision-makers accountable.

“I do not see how shaming each other is the best way to move forward in the fight for Palestinian freedom,” she said, arguing that “the finger should be pointed upwards (towards those who make decisions and have the power to act) and not horizontally (between us).”

Rosalía also acknowledged her own imperfections and contradictions: “In today’s world, we all live in constant contradiction, myself included,” she added, before expressing her respect for those actively working to make a difference, including NGOs, activists, journalists and volunteers.

Her remarks come after Miguel Adrover publicly refused to design for the MOTOMAMI singer. The designer, known for his political outspokenness, took to Instagram on Tuesday (July 29) to reveal that he had turned down a request for a custom-made dress for Rosalía.

“Doing ‘The Right Thing’… Silence is complicity, and even more so when you have a big loudspeaker where millions of people listen to you when you sing,” Adrover wrote in the caption. “That’s why you have the responsibility to use this power to denounce this genocide.”

In the third slide of that post, Adrover shared a screenshot of an email exchange with Rosalía’s team regarding the collaboration. “I’m sorry, but Miguel doesn’t work with any artist who doesn’t publicly support Palestine,” the reply read.

Addressing the Spanish artist directly, Adrover further added in the caption, “Rosalía, this is nothing personal. I admire you for all your talent and for everything you’ve achieved […] Now we have to do “The Right Thing.” 

Though Rosalía had previously avoided extensive public commentary, fans noted that she had shared an Instagram Story in October 2023 to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Live Nation will increase its holdings in Mexico’s leading concert promoter, OCESA, to 75% by acquiring an additional 24% stake from its minority owner, Grupo CEI, the companies announced Tuesday (July 29). The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of August, will be worth an estimated $646 million.

Alejandro Soberón, founder and CEO of both CIE and OCESA, will remain OCESA’s CEO through 2032. CIE will retain the remaining 25% stake in OCESA. Additionally, the put/call agreement for the remaining stake will be shifted to 2032.

Live Nation and its CEO, Michael Rapino, have been “ideal partners” for OCESA, Soberón said in a statement. “The combination of our market knowledge and Live Nation’s expertise have come together to create more opportunities for artists to perform in Mexico and for fans to enjoy these shows.”

“Our investment in OCESA has been incredibly successful, and Alejandro and his team have done a tremendous job utilizing the global Live Nation infrastructure to drive growth in Mexico,” Rapino added. “Together we have more than tripled the number of fans attending our concerts in Mexico since 2019, making Mexico now the 3rd largest music market in the world, and I expect we have many years of strong growth ahead of us.”

The Mexico City-based promoter was the No. 3 promoter in Billboard Boxscore’s 2025 mid-year report behind Live Nation and AEG. OCESA promoted some of the top concerts in the first half of the year. The top boxscore was the OCESA-promoted seven-night stand by Shakira at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros that grossed $46.6 million from 396,000 attendees. OCESA was also behind the No. 8 event, Electric Daisy Carnival at Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which grossed $20.9 million and brought in 307,000 fans.

Live Nation acquired a 51% stake in OCESA in 2021 for $416 million. Initially, Live Nation believed the deal would be completed by the end of 2019, but a slowdown in the regulatory approval process delayed the expected closing date to the second quarter of 2020. Live Nation then postponed its investment in May 2020 once the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the global touring business. The deal added OCESA’s ticketing business, Ticketmaster Mexico, to Live Nation’s Ticketmaster division.  

Adding to its presence in Latin America, in May, Live Nation acquired SD concerts, a promoter in the Dominican Republic with a growing presence in Central and South America. 

Multi-platinum, Grammy-winning band Incubus signed with CAA. The band, which wrapped a U.S. arena tour last year behind its re-recorded Morning View album, has notched seven top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, including one No. 1, 2006’s Light Grenades. It also scored a top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100 with 2001’s “Drive,” which peaked at No. 9. The band is managed by Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group, with attorney Todd Cooper of Greenberg Traurig providing legal representation.

Egyptian singer-songwriter Tamer Hosny signed with Warner Music Group, which released his new album, Lena Road, on July 15. The deal is designed to expand his music to audiences globally.

Believe expanded its artist services division in the MENA region by signing Arabic pop star Nancy Ajram, Lebanese artist Ragheb Alama and Egyptian artist Angham. Ajram has worked with Believe for digital distribution and marketing services for more than 14 years and has now added artist services to her deal with the company; she released a new album, Nancy 11, on July 17. Meanwhile, Alama has partnered with Believe for distribution services since 2016 and has a new album releasing later this year. Lastly, Angham has been working with Believe since 2021, but more recently signed an artist services deal with the company, under which she released the album Tegu Nsib in July 2024.

Pop-punk band Waterparks signed a label deal with BMG and inked with Range Media Partners for management. The band released its latest single, “Red Guitar,” on July 18; it’s slated to play the U.K.’s Reading and Leeds Festivals in August. A new album is in the works.

Rock vocalist John Corabi, best known for his four-year stint with Mötley Crüe, signed a label deal with Frontiers Music Srl. Corabi debuted as part of Hollywood Records-signed group The Scream in 1991 before joining Mötley Crüe following the departure of Vince Neil in 1992. After leaving the band in 1996, he formed the Union with KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick. He has also performed with RATT and is a member of The Dead Daisies, in addition to his solo work.

Warner Music Italy signed Milanese producer and DJ Mace, who has worked with rappers including Fabri Fibra, Gemitaiz, Gué, Ghali, Marracash, Noyz Narcos and Salmo. “We’re going to hit the ground running in building on his successful artist career and take his music to the world stage,” said Pico Cibelli, president of Warner Music Italy, in a statement.

ONErpm signed Toronto artist Verzache. The company will provide multi-pronged support, including marketing, digital campaigns, global distribution, direct-to-fan initiatives and more. Verzache is managed by Brad Cohen at Raw Material.

Bright Antenna Records re-signed folk rock trio Wilderado. The label and band previously worked together on Wilderado’s self-titled debut album in 2021 and its 2024 follow-up, Talker. The group is on the road with The Head and the Heart this summer, among other live engagements.

Alt-rock artist Kami Kehoe signed with Atlantic Records (in partnership with Coup D’Etat and 10K Projects) for the release of her new EP, Kandy. She also signed with Cupid Theory for management. Kehoe is slated to open for Duaghtry, Seether and P.O.D. on their U.S. tour in the fall.

Austin band The Droptines signed with Big Loud Texas, which released the group’s new single, “Take Too Much,” on Friday (July 25). The Droptines are on the Lollapalooza bill and will open for Dwight Yoakam and headline shows in 2025.

U.K. rock band Don Broco signed with Fearless Records and released the new single “Cellophane” on Friday (July 25). The band is set to embark on a U.S., U.K. and Australian tour this fall.

Folk artist runo plum signed a label deal with Winspear. Her first single for the label was “Lemon Garland.” She’s set to tour in the U.K. and Europe in November.

Centricity Music signed musical group The Choir Room, a project of Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Dwan Hill. The group, which was featured on Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” invites audience members to join in with the group at concerts. Centricity will release the group’s second album, Everybody Needs Someone, later this summer.

Singer-songwriter Ian Harrison signed with Sony Music Nashville. The first release under the deal is Harrison’s debut single, “Not the One.”

Cash Cobain served as a pioneer, ushering in the titillating subgenre of sexy drill, and Justin Bieber took note of the New York native’s ingenuity as the pop star recruited Cash for his SWAG album earlier in July.

On Tuesday (July 29), Rolling Stone caught up with the “Fisherrr” rapper, who detailed how his relationship with JB went from a DM showing him love to a collaboration.

“Everybody would just send me that sh–, so I just followed bro and I wrote, ‘Now we got to work. We got to get something in,’” Cash recalled after seeing Bieber post his “Trippin on a Yacht” track. “He was like, ‘All right, bet. Definitely got to do it, I f— with your sh–.’”

Cash pulled up on Bieber at his home and they got to work on a few ideas. “We had, like, a laptop, speakers and instruments in this circle,” he recalled. “We was just vibing and sh–. … That n—a’s a movie. He was just doing ideas. I never got to really see him really locked in, like, on some Justin Bieber sh–. I’m pretty sure that sh– will be fire.”

The rapper-producer continued to pepper Bieber with beats until landing on something they liked. “He’s swaggy. He’s been on the swag sh– for a little minute,” he added. “But we was talking regular sh–, too. We cool. He’d check on me like, ‘I’m just checking on you.’”

The week of SWAG, Cash Cobain heard back from JB that he was “going to try to get” one of their collabs on the album. “I’m like, ‘All right, bet.’ So I fixed it up and then the next day or the day after the next day, that sh– was out.”

“SWAG” ended up as track No. 18 on the album and also features Eddie Benjamin. The project debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 163,000 album-equivalent units earned.

“Man, who hasn’t been listening to Justin Bieber? Come on, it’s Bieber,” Cobain said of being a longtime fan of JB. “That boy into it, you know? He on top of his game. He knows what’s good. He knows what’s going on.”

As for Cash, he’s gearing up for the Party With Slizzy tour, which kicks off in NYC on Sept. 7, and is set to release an album this fall.