Phish Raises Over $3.5 Million for Flood Recovery Efforts
Phish has raised over $3.5 million dollars for flood recovery efforts in Vermont and Upstate New York during their pair of benefit concerts at the Broadview Stage at SPAC in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 25 and 26.
Special Acoustic Sets and Guest Performances
Both shows featured special pre-show acoustic sets with Phish’s Page McConnell and Trey Anastasio, while the Aug. 26 show saw Phish joined on stage by guitarist Derek Trucks.
Continued Efforts and Donations
“We are so grateful to everyone who donated their time and resources to make these benefits possible, and those that attended the shows or watched online,” said McConnell. “The joy in the room at these concerts was undeniable. But for the people affected by the flooding, it is an ongoing struggle. That’s why we are continuing to accept donations, raise awareness and distribute the funds.”
Webcast and Donations
The concerts were webcast for free at LivePhish.com and on Phish’s YouTube channel, where fans were encouraged to donate directly to the WaterWheel Foundation’s 2023 Flood Recovery Fund. The money raised from both events is derived from 100% of the net proceeds from all ticket revenues and merchandise sales, as well as individual donations. The funds will be used to help communities throughout Vermont and Upstate New York that have been affected by historic levels of rain and major flooding.
Donation and Merchandise
The website to donate to WaterWheel is still live here, and an array of Benefit merchandise is available now at the Phish Dry Goods store.
Sean “Diddy” Combs Donates $1 Million to Jackson State Football
+ Sean “Diddy” Combs donated $1 million to Jackson State Football during the team’s Cricket MEAC-SWAC Challenge Kickoff in Atlanta on Aug. 26. This is the second huge investment the entrepreneur and music mogul has made in the last week, following his $1 million dollar TK into Earn Your Leisure, a media platform that helps propel “emerging and established content creators from the world of business, finance, and entrepreneurship whose perspective, expertise and in-depth insight has been undervalued and overlooked,” according to their website.
Continued Support for HBCUs
Combs pledged $1 million from the Sean Combs Foundation to JSU Football during his Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech at the 2022 BET Awards, with details finalized over the past year. Combs will continue to invest in JSU football in installments over the next several years.
Supporting HBCU Community
“As someone who went to Howard University and understands the invaluable experience of attending historically Black colleges and universities, it’s important that we all do our part to protect and preserve their legacy,” said Combs. “This contribution to Jackson State isn’t just about making a financial donation, it’s about giving back to a part of our culture that has changed countless lives and assuring HBCU’s receive the support they deserve.”
Uplifting the Entire HBCU Community
“Although this donation does not directly impact other schools, this pledge uplifts the entire HBCU community by bringing awareness to the ongoing commitment to professional development, career advancement, and increased support for HBCU athletics and institutions,” the press release reads.
Dice Raises $65 Million in Funding for Music Ticketing Platform
+ Music ticketing platform Dice has raised $65 million in funding led by “Music,” an investment company focused exclusively on music and music-adjacent businesses.
Expansion and New Partnerships
The funding will help accelerate Dice’s launch in new cities, as it continues its expansion across the U.S. and globally. New partnerships will be announced in the coming weeks though Dice has already unveiled plans to implement their ticketing technology in Austin, with more details to follow. This investment also follows landmark deals in Europe.
Enhancing the Fan Experience
Phil Hutcheon, CEO and founder of Dice, said: “The live music industry is adopting Dice faster than ever and proves our thesis that if you treat fans well, they buy more tickets, and go out more often. We’re investing heavily in building even more technology and this year alone we released over 60 new features for fans, venues and artists. I’m excited that Matt [Pincus, CEO of “Music”] has joined the Board [of Directors] and we’re more focused than ever on our mission to get fans out more.”
New Investors and Chief Financial Officer
Other investors include Structural Capital and Ahdritz Holding LLC, the investment vehicle for Willard Ahdritz, founder and chairman of Kobalt Music; with investments from Exor Ventures and Mirabaud Lifestyle Fund. This new funding will also support Dice’s ongoing product investments aimed at creating the best possible experience for fans and removing barriers preventing people from going out more. Dice simultaneously announced the appointment of Ali Byrd as its new chief financial officer. Ali joins Dice with more than a decade’s experience with start-up companies, most recently at Olive, a disruptive AI healthcare technology company based in the U.S. He also previously held senior positions at Microsoft, CoverWallet and Limewire.
BMG Appoints Anthony Abner as Global General Counsel
+ BMG has announced its long-time senior business and legal affairs executive Anthony (Tony) Abner has been appointed to global general counsel, and executive VP of business and legal affairs.
Senior Attorney and Global Legal Teams
Serving as the most senior attorney counseling BMG senior management and managing BMG’s global legal teams, Abner will report directly to BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld. Abner will work out of BMG’s Los Angeles offices, and his appointment comes one year after his relocation to BMG’s head office in Berlin to coordinate BMG’s global legal matters.
Experience and Previous Roles
Abner joined BMG in 2018 as the VP of business and legal affairs, responsible for the BMG recorded legal team in North America. In 2020 he was promoted to senior VP of business and legal affairs. Prior to joining BMG, Abner held senior executive posts at PMP Records (which functioned as Def Jam’s first West Coast office bringing Warren G, Domino, and Montel Jordan into Def Jam) and Loud Records (home to Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, 36Mafia, Big Pun, and Funkmaster Flex) as well senior attorney positions at music law firms Lenard & Gonzalez and Davis Shapiro Lewit Montone & Hayes.
Naïka Signs Global Publishing Deal with Sony Music Publishing
+ Naïka has signed a global publishing deal with