- The Washington Times - Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Live Nation Entertainment, the country’s largest concert promoter, has begun outfitting music venues across the U.S. with equipment to allow for “turnkey livestreaming,” the company announced Tuesday.

More than 60 venues operated by Live Nation are being equipped to give artists the option to easily broadcast their performances over the internet to online audiences, the company explained.

Live Nation said the venues are being outfitted with the equipment as part of a partnership with livestreaming platform Veeps, which it purchased a majority stake of in January for an undisclosed sum.

“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,” said Michael Rapino, Live Nation president and CEO.

“Now, with the flip of a switch, every artist playing in these venues can make their show a global event,” said Veeps co-founder Joel Madden, the lead vocalist for pop-punk band Good Charlotte.

Over a year since the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic effectively halted the live music industry, a number of touring bands have resorted to performing to fans through online platforms instead.

Veeps boasts of having played host to hundreds of livestreamed performances during 2020, in turn allowing artists to earn what the company says was millions of dollars in revenue last year.

Live Nation said the venues being outfitted by Veeps include clubs, theaters and amphitheaters located around the country, with 10 shows already set to be streamed from The Wiltern in Los Angeles.

Mr. Madden, 42, formed Good Charlotte in 1995 in Walford, Maryland, with his twin brother, Benji Madden, the band’s guitarist. They started Veeps together in 2017.

• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.

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