International News: Changes At Legends, K-pop Touring Worries & More

AUSTRALASIA

by Christie Eliezer

AUSTRALIA

Biz Veteran Don Elford Departs Legends Global

Shrewd deal maker Don Elford exited his role as director of global partnerships at Legends Global (APAC) citing “personal priorities”. 

Referring to his “dedication and impact in the industry” Harvey Lister, chairman and CEO for APAC MENA said Elford “has been instrumental in driving significant achievements recently,” including national supply deals with Japanese beverage company Asahi.

“He has also played a pivotal role in securing over five venue naming rights deals during his time with us and two new deals set to be announced in the coming months.”

Elford thanked Lister and one-time ASM Global director Rod Pilbeam “for their unwavering support since 2005 and for the opportunities that have defined an extraordinary career.”

His 30-year career began with executive roles at Ticketek, a stint as director of marketing at the Sydney Kings NBL franchise, and marketing director at AEG Ogden (later ASM Global) and Legends Global.

According to Lister, global partnership, naming rights and sponsorships, and activations area will now draw on Legends Global’s teams in  North America and Europe.

More Red Tape Cut For NSW Venues

In a slew of changes announced Sept. 27 by the New South Wales (NSW) government, venues no longer have to apply in some circumstances for “outdated … arduous, expensive planning approvals,” according to nighttime economy minister John Graham.

These included allowing venues that host music, comedy and book readings to also have them outdoors, street fairs and community festivals on government land, venues wanting to expand outdoor dining, and eating businesses able to trade until midnight during special events.

A Sept. 2025 report by the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner indicated allowing venues to expand services could be worth $8 billion (US$5.23 billion) to the nighttime economy.

Bluesfest, Laneway, BTV In ARIA Noms

Nominees for the inaugural Festivals category at the Nov. 19 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards include Bluesfest, Laneway, Yours & Owls, and two by Untitled Group, Beyond The Valley (BTV) as well as Ability Fest with the Dylan Alcott Foundation.

Up for Best Live Act are pop singers Kylie Minogue and Troye Sivan, hard rock outfits Ball Park Music and Amyl and The Sniffers, DJ and producer Dom Dolla, art rock act Confidence Man, multiplatinum hip hop trio Hilltop Hoods, singer songwriter Miss Kaninna, hardcore punk band SPEED and First Nations rapper BARKAA.

The explosion of electronic dance was reflected in Ninajirachi’s leading with eight noms for her  debut album I Love My Computer – an astonishing leap from being discovered in a radio contest to currently touring the USA – and seven for Dom Dolla who in December becomes first domestic EDMer to play a stadium.

NEW ZEALAND

Report Says Eden Park Could Triple Economic Impact

As the New Zealand government considers increasing the amount of concerts at Auckland’s Eden Park Stadium, a University of Auckland report stated the economic boost to the city and region could be almost triplefold.

Eden Park has a 65,000-capacity for concerts, and 50,000 for sporting events.

Using figures from the 2023/4 financial year (Nov. 1, 2023 to Oct. 31, 2024), The Economic Contribution of Eden Park To The Auckland Region forecast an economic return to NZ$107 million ($61.7 million) from the NZ$24 million ($13.8 million) generated from three major concerts in the time period – two by P!NK and one by Travis Scott.

Twenty two sporting fixtures delivered NZ$13.3 million ($7.67 million).

The report stated, “A typical large concert adds around NZ$8.3 million ($4.79 million) to Auckland’s GDP, supports 114 [full time equivalent] jobs, and generates NZ$4.3 million ($2.48 million) in household incomes per event night.

“Medium-large concerts also have substantial impacts, averaging NZ$6.4 million ($3.69 million) GDP, 88 [full time equivalent jobs], and NZ$3.3 million ($1.90 million) in household incomes per event night.”

Eden Park is allowed 12 concerts a year “but only six artists in that 12 month period,” explained its chief executive Nick Sautner.  “There are also the days, times, and also quantity throughout a month.”

ASIA

by Phil Brasor

MALAYSIA

No Audience Dress Code Despite Earlier Claims

In a clarifying announcement on September 22, Malaysia’s Communications Ministry said that it’s recently updated guidelines on dress codes for foreign concert artists applied to the performers only and not to the audience for such concerts. According to Wakeup Singapore, Puspal, the agency that regulates applications for foreign artists to perform and film in Malaysia, explained that “while concertgoers are encouraged to dress and behave appropriately,” the guidelines act more as recommendations rather than rules. The statement reads, “Puspal would like to emphasize that the…Guidelines only set the code and ethics of attire for artists who will be performing, and do not prescribe any dress code or attire ethics for visitors or audiences attending concerts.”

The clarification was made after local media reported that the new guidelines applied to both performers and members of the audience while quoting a ministry spokesperson who said as much. However, concert organizers are “reminded to prioritize safety and crowd management, especially regarding alcohol and drugs at events.”

KOREA

The Boyz Tour Curtailed

Various K-pop fansites have reported that the upcoming tour by the nine-member boy band The Boyz has been drastically curtailed. The initial schedule for the tour literally covered the world, including stops in North America, with more cities promised after the final scheduled date of Nov. 8, when they would play Jakarta. However, on Sept. 25 the group’s agency, One Hundred, announced that the tour would end after the Jakarta stop, and that the Macau show on Oct. 11 and Taipei show on Oct. 25 had been cancelled “due to local circumstances.” 

Koreaboo.com says that the tour has already come up against a number of difficulties, including cancellation of a show in Oakland, California, on Sept. 19, and a number of last-minute changes of venues. Koreaboom added that some insiders indicated that the changes were made due to low ticket sales. 

The announcement triggered a slew of negative reactions on social media, with some fans asking what happened to promised dates in Europe. 

In the past year, a number of K-pop tours have had similar problems due to hastily booked itineraries that didn’t sufficiently take into account logistical issues. Typically, K-pop shows are planned with very little lead time between announcement and execution. 

JAPAN

A Hiatus For Perfume

Perfume, Japan’s long-running female idol act, announced it would go on hiatus following its recent sold-out 25th anniversary tour, which concluded at Tokyo Dome on Sept. 25. The trio, referencing the sci-fi imagery that tied together its two most recent albums, said it would enter “cold sleep” for the time being the day before the final tour concert. 

The tour was designed to take up exactly where Perfume had left off on Feb. 26, 2020, when their Tokyo Dome show was cancelled right before doors were to open due to the Covid-19 epidemic. The tour concerts were structured to address the history of the group in such a way so as to prepare for an indefinite time-out after 25 years of activity. Nevertheless, the group insisted that they would be back.

“This announcement was our declaration to take on new challenges so we can always, always be together,” member A-chan said from the stage, according to the webzine Electric Bloom. “We definitely want to return to this time again. Until that day, please stay well.”

CHINA

Post-Show Night Trains Launched

China Daily reports that China’s rail system is adapting to the country’s booming concert economy by launching late-night high-speed trains to accommodate concertgoers specifically. On September 22, two special trains departed the Beijing South Railway Station after midnight, one bound for Shanghai and the other for Tainjin, carrying hundreds of fans who had attended a concert by pop singer David Tao at the National Stadium, which is also called the Bird’s Nest. The carriages were festooned with posters and souvenirs from the show. 

It was the first time the Bejing railway authorities had provided overnight trains for concert fans. In the past, such supplemental services were only added during specific holiday peak travel periods. “Extending them to concerts illustrates how railways are fine-tuning operations to meet new patterns of demand,” said China Daily. In addition, Beijing South Station established dedicated waiting areas, expanded security checks and increased staff to help the concertgoers who were using the trains. 

In the past year, China’s concert activity has increased sharply, thus occasioning spikes in hotel bookings, restaurant sales and retail consumption in cities where the concerts take place. Many of the people who buy tickets for these concerts do not live within the cities, and thus have to travel from out of town. Such railway adaptations have already been instituted for large-scale sporting events, such as the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin.