The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago kicked off in style on Monday night (August 19) with rousing speeches from former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden and riveting performances from Jason Isbell and Mickey Guyton.

But on a night when Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her VP nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, made surprise appearances, one of the biggest unexpected moments came during the reveal of a new ad for the Harris/Walz campaign that is scored to Beyoncé‘s a cappella version of the bid’s theme song, “Freedom.”

The powerful Lemonade track that has quickly become the musical grace note of the 11th hour campaign that kicked off when Biden unexpectedly agreed to drop out of his second race against convicted felon and former one-term President Donald Trump soared from the speakers inside Chicago’s United Center to help hype the crowd up for what turned out to be a very long night.

Opening with images of horses running free on the prairie and trains moving through the desert West, the video was full of classic images of Americana, from desperate Dust Bowl families to American troops storming the beaches during WWII, plenty of American flags and the Statue of Liberty. “What kind of America do we want?” Oscar-nominee actor Jeffrey Wright intoned over video of regular citizens suiting up for a day’s work. “One where we’re divided, angry, depressed? C’mon! We’re Americans! Fascism? We conquered it. The Moon? Landed on it. The future? Building it. Freedom? Nobody loves it more.”

As pics of Black Lives Matter protests, the moon landing and Civil Rights, reproductive rights and gay pride marches mixed with training film of Paralympic athletes and citizens of all races and abilities filled the screen, Bey’s voice soared as she sang, “Freedom, freedom, I can’t move/ Freedom, cut me loose/ Singin’ freedom, freedom/ Where are you?”

In contrast to the often dark, dire message from Republicans during the RNC several weeks ago, the “Freedom” video offered a message of hope and unity, save for a bit that spotlighted the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol by Trump’s followers. “I’mma keep on running cuz a winner don’t quit on themselves,” Beyoncé’s bellowed as footage of Harris promised, “extremists want to take us back, but we are not going back!”

The convention that runs through Thursday (August 22) will nominate the nation’s first Black and Asian American woman to the precipice of the highest office in the land. It is expected to be a star-studded affair that will contrast with the RNCs roster of septuagenarian professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Fighting CEO Dana White, model Amber Rose, country singers Lee Greenwood, Jason Aldean and Chris Janson and rapper-turned-far-right country singer Kid Rock. Instead, the DNC will have nightly celeb hosts including Kerry Washington, Mindy Kaling, Ana Navarro and Tony Goldwyn as well as guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus, along with Jason Isbell and Mickey Guyton (who performed on night one) and James Taylor, who was cut for time on the first night.

After jumping into the race at the end of last month, Harris’ campaign rolled out “Freedom” during the veep’s walk-out at her inaugural visit to campaign headquarters; the rousing, full-band album version of the song was also featured in an early campaign video. Unlike Trump, who has been sued, issued cease & desist orders and strongly-worded requests to stop using the music of popular acts during his campaign stops by musicians who do not agree with his divisive, name-calling rhetoric, Queen Bey gave the Harris campaign full approval to use “Freedom” during the run for the White House.

And while Trump re-posted fake AI-generated images of what appeared to be Taylor Swift fans, and the singer herself, endorsing his third presidential bid over the weekend, the Harris campaign has been flooded with full-throated, A-list endorsements from a galaxy of contemporary and classic stars, from Olivia Rodrigo and Barbra Streisand to Megan Thee Stallion, John Legend, Spike Lee, Katy Perry, Charli XCX, P!nk, Cardi B, Kesha, Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and George Clooney, among many others.

Watch the new “Freedom” campaign video below.

SYDNEY, Australia — Playbill Group, the venue management business that operates the Hordern Pavilion, a Sydney landmark, has struck a partnership with AEG Presents and Frontier Touring, part of the Mushroom Group.

Going forward, Michael Nebenzahl continues as managing director of Playbill, in a “business as usual” arrangement, reads a joint statement.

Playbill and Frontier, both Australian, family-founded companies proving competitive on the global stage, have much in common, Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant tells Billboard. “When we met Michael and his team it became obvious that the similarities didn’t stop there. We think very similarly, we have similar values and a similar culture. Both companies care deeply and go the extra mile for their clients, be it a theatrical production, a sporting team, or a music artist. Both go out of their way to treat fans well. And both focus on hiring and developing talented people, care about their people and trust them to deliver day in day out.”

He adds, “with all the things the companies have in common the partnership feels natural for both.”  

Formed in 1958 by Brian and Jocelyn Nebenzahl, Playbill’s interests include management of the Hordern Pavilion, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary, and will host the ARIA Awards this November for the third-successive year.

From its grand opening in 1924 until 1983 (when the now demolished Sydney Entertainment Centre first opened its doors), the Hordern, with its 5,500-capacity, was the largest indoor venue in the country’s biggest city. Over time, the room has hosted concerts by a who’s who of global superstars, from Frank Sinatra to Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, David Bowie, Queen and the Jackson Five.

Playbill also merchandises for theatrical productions including musicals, national theatre and music companies in 12 countries worldwide, and partners with major sporting teams and operates venue concessions across the country and in Asia.

Playbill’s merchandise division has “been a mainstay” of the theater scene in Australia for over 60 years, notes Brant, “and is now a major force” on the world stage. ​ ​ 

“I am delighted to be partnering with AEG Presents and Frontier Touring in this next phase of the Playbill journey,” comments Nebenzahl in a statement. “We have always prided ourselves on serving our customers, whether in musical theatre, sport or as a venue through the Hordern Pavilion. In AEG, we have found a like-minded partner to continue to honor the legacy my parents created when they founded the business.”

Frontier Touring and AEG Presents, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, struck a strategic joint venture in 2019, formalizing a successful 12-year arrangement on tours into these parts. With that agreement, the award-winning Australian concerts specialist stepped into a global family whose portfolio includes venues around the globe, many at the arena-and-stadium level.

AEG has a long-established presence here through its then-named AEG Ogden joint venture, the largest venue management company in Asia Pacific. In 2019, AEG Facilities, the venue management subsidiary of AEG, announced a merger with SMG to create a new management empire called ASM Global, which would collect more than 300 facilities worldwide under a single banner.

“The Hordern and Frontier have a long-standing relationship bringing the best live music to Sydney,” comments Anthony Dunsford, GM Playbill Venues. “We look forward to continuing our role to bring iconic acts to the fans.”

Blink-182 are set to take their fans on another wild ride with the release of One More Time… Part-2, dropping on Sept. 6. The San Diego rockers Are set to take their fans on another journey with the release of One More Time… Part-2, dropping on Sept. 6.

Adding to the excitement, the band is set to share the first single from the expanded album, “All In My Head,” this Friday, Aug. 23.

The legendary pop-punk trio, who have been at the forefront of the genre since their mainstream breakthrough with 1999’s Enema of the State, is expanding their 2023 Billboard 200 No. 1 album One More Time… with eight fresh tracks.

One More Time… marked a significant moment for the band, as it was their first album with guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge since his return to the band.

DeLonge’s return was spurred by bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus’s battle with cancer, leading to a reconnection that resulted in the creation of the album. The project, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, became their third career No. 1 album, furthering their legacy in the pop-punk genre.

The album’s singles saw major success on the Billboard charts, with “Edging” and “One More Time” both topping the Alternative Airplay chart, the latter setting a record with 20 consecutive weeks at No. 1.

The buzz around Part-2 has been building ever since drummer Travis Barker teased fans with a cryptic tweet on July 22, asking, “Who’s ready for One More Time Part-2?” The anticipation reached a peak on Aug. 18 when Barker confirmed that the album was “mixed and mastered” and ready for fans.

One More Time… Part-2 features eight brand-new tracks that will be available in multiple physical formats, including a 2 LP Complete Deluxe Edition on Blue Balls Colored Vinyl and a 1 LP Deluxe Tracks Only variant on Red Rocket Colored Vinyl.

You can pre-order and pre-save One More Time… Part-2 here, while the first single from the album, “All In My Head,” will drop on Aug. 23.

It was a music-packed first night at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, with Jason Isbell, Mickey Guyton and James Taylor all performing at Chicago’s United Center in support of presidential hopeful Kamala Harris.

Isbell and Guyton both made their DNC debuts on Monday night (Aug. 19), while Taylor was playing his fifth straight convention in support of the Democratic Party. In an interview with CNN ahead of Monday’s performance, Guyton explained the importance of supporting Harris in her bid for the presidency. “For me, this is beyond a genre of music,” the country singer reflected. “This is about humanity. This is about the culture. This is about our country and I feel honored to be able to witness history.”

Watch the trio of performances below (we will add Taylor’s performance video once it’s live):

Jason Isbell

Six-time Grammy-winning Americana singer/songwriter Jason Isbell took the stage to perform “Something More Than Free,” which is the title track from his 2015 album. The poignant song speaks to the working man’s dilemma of toiling so hard for an unclear reward. “My back is numb, my hands are freezing/ What I’m working for is something more than free.”

Mickey Guyton

Grammy-nominated country artist Mickey Guyton played her song “All American,” which she co-wrote with Victoria Banks for her 2021 album Remember Her Name. The unifying chorus was a perfect fit for the DNC: “Ain’t we all, ain’t we all all American?”

James Taylor

James Taylor is set to finish the night with his 1971 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “You’ve Got a Friend” (his lone chart-topper), marking his fifth consecutive DNC performance.

Big Loud artists Morgan Wallen, HARDY and Ernest are set to celebrate Big Loud partner/CEO Seth England, as the T.J. Martell Foundation honors England with the lifetime music industry award during its 49th annual New York Honors Gala.

The event marks the T.J. Martell Foundation’s primary fundraiser of the year and supports the organization’s mission of curing cancer through funding high-risk, high-reward research with the aim of advancing early detection, screening and treatments. The lifetime music industry award honors England’s impact on the music industry, but also his steadfast support for the T.J. Martell Foundation’s mission.

The New York Honors Gala will take place at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Wallen, HARDY and Ernest will lead a writers’ round performance. The evening will also include a fundraising auction, while Archie Davis, Def Jam’s chief creative officer/executive vp (who was honored with the New York Honors Gala rising music superstar award in 2023), is set to announce an initiative that will continue to raise awareness of early screening and testing.

“We are thrilled to be honoring our distinguished music industry colleague and dear friend Seth England with this year’s Lifetime Music Industry Award to commemorate his deep commitment to the foundation,” said Steve Gawley, REPUBLIC Corps. executive vp of business & legal affairs and business development and chairman-elect of the Board of Trustees, T.J. Martell Foundation, via a statement. “We are proud to shine a spotlight on Seth’s dedicated efforts towards our cancer research as well as his pioneering work in the music world, and look forward to celebrating Seth and his achievements with an exhilarating night of music!”

England is the 2024 Billboard Country Power Players executive of the year, and the inaugural recipient of Billboard’s Country Power Players choice award, a peer-voted honor given to the country music executive that industry power players feel have made the most impact on the genre in that year.

The Big Loud Records roster of artists includes Wallen, HARDY, Ernest, Charles Wesley Godwin, Lauren Alaina, Larry Fleet, Lily Rose, Ashley Cooke, Lauren Watkins, Kashus Culpepper and more. Meanwhile Big Loud Publishing‘s clients include Cooke, Craig Wiseman, Jacob Durrett, Rocky Block and Rhys Rutherford. Big Loud Management‘s roster includes Ernest, HARDY, Cooke, Jake Worthington and more.

“As a longstanding proud member of the music industry, I am grateful to see the unwavering dedication and generosity that our music peers put forth to help propel this vital cancer research,” said John Esposito, Chairman of Board of Trustees, T.J. Martell Foundation, in a statement. “As we look ahead towards what will be the foundation’s 50th anniversary, this year’s gala is a great reminder of how far we have come as a foundation and how much further we still need to go in the fight against cancer.”

“We are incredibly thankful to the music community for uniting to support the foundation’s critical work in funding cancer research,” said Lynn-Anne Huck, CEO, T.J. Martell Foundation, in a statement. “Witnessing our donors rally around the fight against cancer and uphold the promise made between a father and his son is both beautiful and inspiring.”

The 49th Annual New York Honors Gala co-chair committee is comprised of music industry members including Ben Adelson, Tyler Arnold, Tom Corson, Archie Davis, John Esposito, Clint Higham, Monte Lipman, Avery Lipman, Rakiyah Marshall, Debbie Martell, Joey Moi, Brian O’Connell, Andre Stapleton, Julie Swidler, Greg Thompson, and Craig Wiseman.