# data[].attributes.body
Live Nation festivals are not upholding protocols to keep fans at their events safe.

# data[].attributes.body
Brian Claypool
Civil rights attorney and child advocate has been centered on representing victims of child sexual abuse and social injustice. He also was in the Las Vegas shooting and almost got killed. He is the owner and managing partner of the Claypool Law Firm and is a trusted media personality.
CONTACT
626-602-1313
4 East Holly St.,
Suite 201
Pasadena, CA 91103
website: https://www.claypoollawfirm.com/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Claypool Law Firm | Litigation & Civil Rights Law

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Renowned trial attorney and broadcast legal analyst, Brian Claypool is California’s preeminent child abuse and civil rights litigator. Free consultation!

# data[].attributes.body
Peter Eliadis
International security expert with over 29 years of related experience. Also he is the founder of ICP, a full-service consulting company specialized security needs of private and public agencies, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and corporations.
202-930-2427
952 Washington Ave. Chestertown, Maryland 21620
website: https://intelligenceconsultingpartners.com/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today's world is ever-changing, and institutions of all sizes cannot ignore the potential for violent and disruptive incidents. Active shooters, cyber threats and terrorist attacks - along with emerging civil unrest concerns - are just a few of the scenarios that are top-of-mind for leaders in government, business and faith-based environments. At ICP, we help leaders provide a more resilient workplace for their employees, customers, partners and others by evaluating areas of risk and preparing the organization to meet future challenges.

Our Proprietary 5-Step Process

The ICP 5-Step Process for Crisis/Threat Readiness is recognized by more than 700 organizations worldwide as the standard for proactively addressing the many threats that organizations face in today's dynamic environment. This is a comprehensive method that is far more effective than the cookie-cutter solutions offered by our competitors. Rather than enrolling employees in a one-size-fits-all training program, we customize services to the needs of the client. First, we assess potential areas of weakness and risk - which may include both physical and digital spaces. We familiarize ourselves with the unique needs and culture of the organization. We collaboratively assist with policy creation to address the specific issues identified as part of the assessment. We train CEOs, elected officials and other leaders to enhance their leadership during a crisis. Finally, we train employees and security forces.

ICP provides organizations with a comprehensive, strategic approach to security. The ICP 5-Step Process for Crisis/Threat Readiness aligns situational awareness, training, policies and other readiness tools to make workplaces safer. Our diverse and responsive team brings proven strategies to help you take a proactive approach to protect yourself and others. With extensive experience and proven skillsets, we help our clients navigate the threats and crisis situations that are becoming more frequent in today's world.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: Using next generation tools, we train and educate your employees at all levels of the organization to be ready in an emergency. By boosting safety, awareness and knowledge, you will foster preparedness and a proactive mindset.

CYBER SECURITY: The ICP team has extensive experience with the new reality of cyber threats and will lead your organization to adopt policies and procedures that prevent and mitigate cyber risks.

DEPLOYMENT WITHIN 72 HOURS: Our team has trained allied governments and private sectors in more than 60 countries and can deploy anywhere in the world within three days. We are headquartered in the United States with a satellite office in Senegal, West Africa.

Simply put, we believe we can make the United States and the world safer and more secure - one community at a time. With our worldwide headquarters located in the United States and a satellite office in Senegal, West Africa, we serve government agencies, corporations, ports, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, military and intelligence agencies, and other clients throughout the continental United States and internationally.

At ICP, we strongly support taking a proactive approach to safety and security. We employ our specialized skills and extensive experience from a variety of disciplines to evaluate and make recommendations tailored to your needs. It gives us great satisfaction to know that we are making communities and workplaces safer and more secure.

We take inspiration from leadership expert Simon Sinek, who is known for popularizing the concept of "WHY" in his first TED Talk in 2009. He likes to say that "people don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."

Simon invented a concept called The Golden Circle to explain why some people and organizations are particularly able to inspire others. Companies that are universally identified as unique and successful - like Apple or Google - communicate with an "inside-out" type of thinking, Sinek says. That means they "start with the why" and only then do they move on to talk about the how and what portions of what they do.

We are leaders in educating organizations through next generation adult learning tools!

Our goal at Intelligence Consulting Partners is to provide effective solutions designed to boost safety, awareness, and knowledge in your organization. Our customized created holistic programs carefully instruct critical counter techniques to enhance safety and reduce liability. Our programs offer solutions to modern threats thru behavioral modifications and environmental safeguards.

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS:

952 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620

WEST AFRICA SATELLITE OFFICE:

Sicap Liberté, Villa 6902, Dakar, Senegal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The World Leader In Security Readiness and Training

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today's world is ever-changing, and institutions of all sizes cannot ignore the potential for violent and disruptive incidents. Active shooters, cyber threats and terrorist attacks - along with emerging civil unrest concerns - are just a few of the scenarios that are top-of-mind for leaders in government, business and faith-based environments.

# data[].attributes.headline
Attorney representing the family of one of the victims, John Hilgert

# data[].attributes.subject
Attorney representing the family of one of the victims, John Hilgert

# data[].attributes.body
Richard Mithoff.
He has been the spoken person for the Hilgert family, who lost 14-year-old John Hilgert.
The father Christopher Hilgert has only put out a written statement.
713-654-1122
One Allen Center – Penthouse 500 Dallas Street Houston, TX 77002
website:
https://www.mithofflaw.com/attorneys/richard-mithoff/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Founder, Trial Attorney

Houston, TX

713.654.1122

713.739.8085

Richard Mithoff's Attorney Profile

Richard Warren Mithoff has been described by the National Law Journal as "one of the nation's highest profile litigators," and the Texas Lawyer, noting his "impressive trial record," has described his approach to the law as "magic."

Richard has consistently been named among the top trial lawyers in the country:

Top 10 Texas "Super Lawyers" Texas Monthly (2003-2007, 2009-2013, 2017-2021)

2018 The University of Texas Law School Lifetime Achievement Award

2018 The University of Texas Distinguished Alumnus Award

2016 Professional Excellence Award, Lifetime Achiever - Texas Lawyer

2016 Texas Watch - Champion of Justice

2015 Leon Green Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Legal Profession - Texas Law Review

2014 Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy Award - Texas Association of Civil Trial & Appellate Specialists

Texas Super Lawyers 2003 - 2021

Top Five "Go To" Personal Injury Lawyers, Texas Lawyer (2002)

Top 10 Trial Lawyers in the Southwest, National Law Journal (1999)

Top 10 Trial Lawyers in the United States, Forbes (1989 and 1995)

2006 Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year - Texas Bar Association Foundation

Best Civil Lawyer in Houston, Houston Press (1998 and 2004)

Best Lawyers in the U.S., (1989-2021)

American College of Trial Lawyers

International Academy of Trial Lawyers

International Society of Barristers

American Board of Trial Advocates

Professional background

A native of Lufkin and reared in El Paso, Mr. Mithoff attended the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in business administration. After graduating in 1968, he enrolled in the UT Law School, graduating in 1971. He was Project Editor of the Texas Law Review in his final year at UT. Following graduation, he clerked for U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice. In 1974, he went into practice with legendary trial attorney Joe Jamail with the firm that later became Jamail, Kolius & Mithoff. In 1984 he established the Mithoff Law Firm.

Mr. Mithoff has endowed a series of scholarships at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin, including a Presidential Scholarship in law for educationally, socially and culturally disadvantaged students at the UT Law School, a Presidential Scholarship for disabled students at UT Business School and an endowed professorship in neonatal/perinatal medicine at the UT School of Medicine. The UT Medical School endowment funded community outreach perinatal centers, as well as the Life Flight program to bring injured babies quickly from outlying community hospitals to major medical centers.

In 2014 The University of Texas School of Law renamed its pro bono center the Richard and Ginni Mithoff Pro Bono Center, following a total of $2 million in donations from the Mithoffs. In 2015 the UT School of Law presented him with the Leon Green Award for outstanding contributions to the legal profession. Former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Tom Phillips introduced him at that event.

Active in State Bar committees and Continuing Legal Education, Mr. Mithoff has served on the Supreme Court of Texas Committee on Judicial Appointments, on the State Bar of Texas Committee on Pattern Jury Charges, and as Special Assistant Disciplinary Counsel to the Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline. He has also been a guest speaker at many seminars on a variety of topics throughout the country. He has served as president of the Houston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and president of the Houston Trial Lawyers.

In 1997, Mr. Mithoff was awarded the Jurisprudence Award by the Anti-Defamation League in recognition of his "immense talents, persuasive ability, and energy to fight for the principles enshrined in the Constitution and the League's mission-justice and fair treatment for all."

Richard and Ginni Mithoff were awarded the first "Ben Taub Humanitarian Award" by Harris County Hospital District Foundation in 2000 in recognition of their philanthropic endeavors as exemplified by the "generosity, interest and advocacy for health care" of the late Ben Taub. The hospital district named its world-class trauma center the Ginni and Richard Mithoff Trauma Center at the Ben Taub Hospital in 2007.

In 2014 the couple was honored at the 24th Annual Children's Scholarship Ball, benefiting the Irvin Kaplan Children's Scholarship Fund at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center.

They were selected as Honorees at the "Children at Risk Accolades" luncheon in 2002 for their "continuous commitment and service to the children of Houston" and were honored by County Judge Robert Eckels and the Harris County Commissioners Court with a proclamation that Wednesday, October 2, 2003, be Ginni and Richard Mithoff and Children at Risk Day, in recognition of their efforts "making a positive difference in the lives of the children of our community." The couple was honored in 2003 with the "Samaritan Spirit Award" in recognition of their "significant contributions to human health and growth" and in 2007 by Family Services of Greater Houston as the "2007 Family of the Year."

In 2008, Texas Appleseed presented Mr. Mithoff with the J. Chrys Dougherty "Good Apple Award" for his lifetime commitment to justice and his pursuit of diversity and highest standards for the legal profession. A video presentation was created for this event.

In 2006 the Texas Bar Foundation awarded him the Ronald D. Secrest "Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year."

In 2010, Mr. Mithoff was awarded the "Clarence Darrow Award" by the Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association.

In 2012 Richard and Ginni Mithoff were given the "Amazing Grace Award" by Childbuilders, for their commitment to working with children and families.

In 2016 Texas Watch - a non-partisan citizen advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that corporations and insurance companies are accountable to their customers - named him the 2016 Champion of Justice.

In 2017, Access to Justice honored Mr. Mithoff for setting up the Joe Jamail Endowment for legal services for veterans. He was honored by Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht.

In 2018 The University of Texas School of Law honored Mr. Mithoff with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Mithoff enjoys skiing and mountain climbing. His summits have included Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and the Grand Teton in Wyoming, as well as numerous climbs in Patagonia (South America), the Pyrenees (Spain), Mont Blanc range (France), Drakensberg range (South Africa), and numerous rock climbs in Wyoming and Colorado. He and his wife, Ginni, have two grown children, Michael and Caroline, and five grandchildren: Mia, daughter of Michael and his wife, Melissa and their twin sons, Max and Matthew, and Isabella and Alex, children of Caroline Mithoff and her husband Scott Perez.

Practice areas:

Super Lawyers: Top 10 Lawyers in Texas - Peers rank Mithoff a top 10 lawyer for 13 years
Read More

Richard Mithoff - Profile

Representative Experience

In naming Mr. Mithoff the "Best Civil Lawyer" in Houston in 1998 and again in 2004, the Houston Press described his courtroom style as "dazzling his opposition with pretrial maneuvers and connecting emotionally with any juror he needs," while noting that he has "earned a reputation for honesty and forthrightness with clients, judges, and the media."

Practicing in the area of general civil litigation, the Mithoff Law has focused on personal injury and commercial litigation, including medical malpractice, products liability, aviation, and admiralty cases. Mr. Mithoff and the firm have recovered more than $1 million by verdict or settlement in several hundred personal injury and commercial cases, and has successfully defended a number of clients in commercial cases involving claims of several hundred million dollars in the areas of breach of contract, antitrust, trade secrets, and patent infringement.

His diverse list of clients has included San Diego Padres owner John Moores, Conoco-Phillips, Texas Heart Institute, shareholders of BP stock following the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, singer Willie Nelson, the Berry children orphaned after a car accident which killed their parents, the family of former Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams, the family of police-shooting victim Pedro Oregon, the Democratic Party of Texas, J.P. Morgan Chase in the Enron litigation, Momentum Operating Co. in the Texas Panhandle oil and gas dispute, the families of five men killed in the 2005 BP Texas City explosion and the families of six elderly people burned to death in the 2005 Hurricane Rita evacuation bus fire.

Significant Cases

Mithoff Law has been retained in a wide variety of cases, including:

In 1998, represented Harris County in the tobacco litigation and joined with several other attorneys in securing a judgment in behalf of all Texas counties and hospital districts. He requested that $10 million from the fee he earned in that case be retained by Harris County to fund children's health programs. The Houston Chronicle, in an editorial praising the landmark settlement, described Mr. Mithoff as a "powerhouse attorney" whose "charitable gesture is deserving of the highest accolades."

In 1999, in a complex trade secret dispute involving major business entities, lead negotiations for a confidential settlement in which claims against their client (the defendant) were dismissed completely, with the plaintiff paying damages to settle a counterclaim for anti-trust damages.

In 2000, obtained a verdict against Columbia Kingwood Medical Center for acting with malice in the retention of a staff physician whose botched surgery resulted in catastrophic brain injury to the patient, the first such verdict of its kind in the country. The case was subsequently settled after it was reversed and remanded for new trial.

In 2002, won a verdict in behalf of the family of a man killed in a rollover accident, securing a judgment against Sears, the tire retailer, in the first verdict in the country involving a Bridgestone/Firestone tire since the recall in 2000. Negotiated in a confidential settlement.

In 2002, filed suit in behalf of four people seriously injured or killed following bariatric bypass surgery. Cases were settled and the suits prompted the Texas Board of Medical Examiners to investigate, fine and place the doctor on probation. Cases settled. Story featured on CBS 48 Hours.

In 2003, negotiated a confidential settlement in behalf of the family of a 9-year-old child burned to death in a fire resulting from a rear-end collision with a Houston Metro bus, prompting calls for reform, in the hiring and training procedures of the bus operator First Transit.

In 2003, represented the 42-year-old victim of explosion at Imperial Sugar Co. facility in Sugar Land, Texas, citing defects with its explosion suppression system.

In 2004, won a verdict against Progressive Insurance Company, among others, for negligence in arranging for a rental car for a man known by the company to have had a recent history of convictions for driving while intoxicated, resulting in the collision, fire and death of a 56-year-old woman. Confidential settlement reached on appeal.

In 2005, represented families of five victims killed in the explosion of a west Texas refinery.

In 2008 and 2009, as lead liaison counsel for the plaintiffs, led the negotiation of a settlement for the families of nursing home passengers who died or were injured in fleeing Hurricane Rita in a bus. Represented the families of seven people who died in the bus fire.

In 2007, won a verdict against Allied Van Lines in behalf of the families of a 9-year-old child and an 18-year-old woman burned to death along with two victims severely burned in a fire after a rear-end collision with the 18-wheeler. Judgment was affirmed on appeal.

In 2008 and again in 2010, filed suit against two different bus companies involved in accidents in South Texas, which killed and injured passengers. Both (unrelated) cases settled confidentially.

In 2009, represented the widow of a offshore oil rig worker from San Antonio, killed in a helicopter crash caused by a defective windshield. Confidential settlement.

In 2010, represented the family of a young college student, killed in her Dallas apartment by a maintenance man, employed by the complex.

In 2011, represented the family of a Houston couple, killed when an Air France jetliner crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South America. The couple was the only Americans onboard. Confidential settlement

In 2012, hired to represent the three Berry children, orphaned by a horrific accident which killed their parents and left the two boys paralyzed. The case against Chrysler is pending.

In 2012, appointed lead plaintiff's co-counsel in suit representing shareholders of BP stock, impacted financially by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and deadly explosion.

In 2012, retained by Vantage Drilling Co. in its multi-million suit against BP, blaming it for increase in financing costs stemming from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill

In 2012, represented the family of an Austin man, killed when a gas leak ignited his house, causing an explosion and fire. Confidential settlement

In 2013, represented the Texas Heart Institute in contract dispute with St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. The case was settled and THI was the recipient of $220 million in contractual obligations over the next decade by the new owners of St. Luke's, Catholic Health Initiative.

In 2013, retained by the city of Houston to pursue litigation against the international banks that defrauded the city in its investments utilizing LIBOR market information.

In 2013, retained by the Houston Rockets to represent the team in litigation involving the Houston Astros and Comcast.

In 2014, helped settle the $7 million estate of Houstonian James Martin Hill Jr., and arranged for the disbursement to 14 local charities, as named in the will.

In 2015 hired by Harris County as lead counsel (for all Texas counties) in its suit against Volkswagen for fraudulently manipulating emission controls in their vehicles.

In 2016 retained by more than 400 residents of the San Jacinto River neighborhood to represent them in a water contamination and pollution case.

Pioneering Cases

Mr. Mithoff won the first case to establish a defect in silicone breast implants in a landmark decision in 1977, and he and his firm in recent years have recovered millions for clients in breast implant litigation.

Nationally, he is recognized for his "pioneering litigation" in cases of babies suffering brain damage during childbirth. One of his first widely publicized cases involved a settlement in a malpractice case against a Pasadena hospital in behalf of a child injured at birth. The case was featured on ABC's Nightline and led to changes in the laws relating to hospital reporting requirements for the misconduct of doctors.

A judgment obtained in 1997 by Mr. Mithoff in behalf of a pregnant woman against a hospital and anesthesiologist with a history of drug abuse required the hospital to make sweeping changes in its by-laws and drug screening procedures-an order described as a "precedent setting decision" by the American Hospital Association.

Another landmark case won by Mr. Mithoff in 1993 involving the death of a young woman from hyponatremia-a low sodium condition affecting primarily women and young children following the use of improper IV solutions after surgery. The verdict resulted in changes in hospital procedures concerning the use of such IV fluids, and one of the experts involved in recommending these changes has estimated that such changes will save thousands of lives every year.

Mr. Mithoff has also been involved in many other landmark cases over the years in which resulting changes in product design or usage have led to a reduction in risk of injury. These cases include litigation involving the defective Dalkon Shield IUD, which increased the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, and defective tampons, which elevated the dangers of toxic shock syndrome.

Honors & awards

2017 Men of Distinction - Houston

2017 Texas Access to Justice - Joe Jamail Endowment for Legal Services for Veterans

2016 Joe Jamail Award for Justice by Aid for Victims of Domestic Abuse

2016 Texas Watch - Champion of Justice

2015 Leon Green Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Legal Profession - Texas Law Review

2014 Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy Award - Texas Association of Civil Trial & Appellate Specialists

Top 10 Texas Super Lawyers, Texas Monthly, 2003-2007, 2009-2013, 2017-2021. 15 times top 10 list.

Top Five "Go To" Personal Injury Lawyers, Texas Lawyer, 2002

Top 10 Trial Lawyers in the Southwest, National Law Journal, 1999

Top 10 Trial Lawyers in the United States, Forbes, 1989 and 1995

2006 Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year - Texas Bar Foundation

Best Civil Lawyer in Houston, Houston Press, 1998 and 2004

Best Lawyers in the U.S., 1989-2021 U.S. News and World Report

Texas SuperLawyers, 2003-2021

Admissions

Texas

U.S. District Court, Western, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits

U.S. Supreme Court

Education

University of Texas at Austin, JD, 1971

Project Editor, Law Review

University of Texas at Austin, BBA, 1968

Representative Experience

$63 Million

Texas Justices Keep Noble on the Hook for the $63 million Indemnity

Read More

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Founder, Trial Attorney Houston, TX 713.654.1122 713.739.8085 Richard Mithoff's Attorney Profile Richard Warren Mithoff has been described by the National Law Journal as "one of the nation's highest profile litigators," and the Texas Lawyer, noting his "impressive trial record," has described his approach to the law as "magic."

# data[].attributes.body
Paul Wertheimer
Founder of Crowd Management Strategies a concert-safety consulting firm in California with 30 years of experience.
310-402-1771
cms@crowdsafe.com
linkedin.com/in/paulwertheimer

# data[].attributes.headline
There is no federal law on crowd safety in the U.S.

# data[].attributes.subject
There is no federal law on crowd safety in the U.S.

# data[].attributes.body
But the National Fire Protection Association's 101 Life Safety Code is considered the standard.

# data[].attributes.headline
National Fire Protection Association's 101 Life Safety Code (U.S.)

# data[].attributes.subject
National Fire Protection Association's 101 Life Safety Code (U.S.)

# data[].attributes.body
Is revised every three years and has been adopted in more than 400 jurisdictions and agencies.
https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=101

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Code/Standard # and/or key word:

Life Safety Code®

The Life Safety Code is the most widely used source for strategies to protect people based on building construction, protection, and occupancy features that minimize the effects of fire and related hazards. Unique in the field, it is the only document that covers life safety in both new and existing structures

Choose Edition:

Select the Free Access Edition:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
1.1* Scope. A.1.1 The following is a suggested procedure for determining the Code requirements for a building or structure: (1) Determine the occupancy classification by referring to the occupancy definitions in Chapter 6 and the occupancy Chapters 12 through 42. (See 6.1.14 for buildings withmore than one use.)

# data[].attributes.body
The only legislation we could find are the rules for public parks that contain the Rules of Conduct in Parks
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=31&pt=2&ch=59&sch=F&rl=Y

# data[].attributes.body
This specific piece discusses the Astroworld event beyond the tragedy of lives being taken. It identifies the problems that large corporations like live nation fail to comply with regarding safety guidelines.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
(Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Live Nation Entertainment, a concert organizer behind rapper Travis Scott's Astroworld festival that has left 10 people dead so far, has a history with event injuries and deaths, according to a Nov. 6 article by the Houston Chronicle.

The Chronicle looked through Occupational Health and Safety Administration records and found that about 200 deaths and nearly 750 injuries had occurred at Live Nation events since 2006.

Live Nation, Scott, real name Jacques Webster III, fellow rapper Drake, real name Aubrey Graham and festival venue NRG Stadium are all being currently sued for inciting "mayhem and chaos."

Scott has a history of encouraging his fans to "rage" and do dangerous stunts, even resulting in one fan getting paralyzed at a concert in 2017 after supposedly being pushed off a third-floor balcony.

In the last two years, Live Nation has dramatically increased its lobbying efforts compared to the previous decade. In 2020 and 2021, the company spent close to $1.1 million and $930,000, respectively, on lobbying, a dramatic increase over previous years such as 2018 and 2019, when it spent close to $390,000 and $240,000 and increased its number of lobbyists to 30 from 25.

The company directed a lot of its 2020 lobbying efforts towards the CARES Act, a COVID-19 pandemic-related stimulus bill passed in March 2020, which was criticized for having benefits that "disproportionately" went "to the wealthiest corporations and individuals" in a June 2020 Time Magazine analysis.

The company also faced criticism when it acquired Ticketmaster in 2010, which was the largest ticket sales company at the time, running nearly 70% of the market. An op-ed in the Los Angeles Times written by Rep. Bill Prascell Jr. (D-N.J.) in 2018 called for the company to to be "broken up" and that it was "squeezing its customers."

Also in 2020, the company targeted its lobbying efforts at House bill H.R.3248, sponsored by Prascell, that would "require ticket sellers to make specified disclosures to purchasers, including with respect to ancillary charges and refunds" and "prohibit a primary ticket seller from restricting the ability of a purchaser to resell tickets."

Prascell would later call on Ticketmaster with Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) in April 2020 to refund ticket sales for concerts that were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Ticketmaster said it would not refund ticket sales.
"We write to you today incredulous at Ticketmaster's announced policy to refuse refunds to all requesting fans for ticketed events postponed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," Prascell and Porter wrote in the April statement. "With Americans weathering the brutal and continuing impacts of this global crisis, your decision to confiscate their money is reprehensible and should be reversed immediately."

Support Accountability Journalism

OpenSecrets is participating in Newsmatch 2021! Through December 31st, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $1,000, thanks to our friends at Newsmatch. Support independent journalism today!

At OpenSecrets.org we offer in-depth, money-in-politics stories in the public interest. Whether you're reading about 2020 presidential fundraising, conflicts of interest or "dark money" influence, we produce this content with a small, but dedicated team. Every donation we receive from users like you goes directly into promoting high-quality data analysis and investigative journalism that you can trust.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Astroworld organizer Live Nation, historically connected with safety violations, dramatically increases lobbying OpenSecrets News

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Live Nation Entertainment, a concert organizer behind rapper Travis Scott's Astroworld festival that has left 10 people dead so far, has a history with event injuries and deaths, according to a Nov. 6 article by the Houston Chronicle.

# data[].attributes.body
This piece is important because it looks at concerts and human reaction outside of this specific situation with Travis Scott. Showing people this is a global issue beyond one specific artist is important.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Credit... Noah Baker

Mr. Ayers is a musician, writer and the U.S. head of the British record label 4AD. His memoir will be published by Viking in 2022.

Antagonistic throngs of metal heads and punks looked ready to collide when my friends and I arrived, a group of high school juniors, at a packed Salt Lake City arena to see Guns N' Roses. It was 1988, years before the 2000 Pearl Jam concert where nine people died in a stampede, but I knew that people had been crushed to death at a 1979 Who concert and stabbed at a 1969 Rolling Stones concert. So I hung back and watched the band alone that night, as my friends disappeared into the crowd of thousands that pushed up against the stage under a haze of smoke.

I remember their proud smiles when they emerged 45 minutes later with their T-shirts torn and stained. Each glowed with the arrogant joy of a teenage boy who'd just won a fight. And I wondered whether, by choosing caution, I'd missed something important, some essential rite of passage that would bind the rest of them together.

I thought of that moment this week, as the internet was flooded with horrific videos from the Travis Scott concert where eight people were killed and hundreds injured, at the Astroworld festival in Houston on Nov. 5. Investigations into what went so terribly wrong are still underway. It's clear, however, that fans of the rapper, who has created a stage show that combines mosh-pit sensibilities with bombastic technology and pyrotechnics, come seeking a physical and cathartic experience, just like my friends at that Guns N' Roses concert.

Why are generation after generation of young people drawn to these places where they're pushed, jostled, pummeled or worse? Why do they run into a seething crowd?

It's not an easy question to answer, but over my 25-year career playing in bands, and now as a record label executive, I've come to realize that when a feeling of shared community and that primal sense of adventure and danger meet at a concert, the result can be intoxicating. We feel a rush when we push things to the edge, especially when we do so in communion with others. And even if the crowd is rowdy or scary, there's unity in surviving it, a fellowship in trauma. As the journalist Bill Buford wrote in "Among the Thugs," "being in a crowd is an act of violence. Nothingness is what you find there. Nothingness in its beauty, its simplicity, its nihilistic purity."

A few years after that Guns N' Roses show, I found myself in the pit at the Lollapalooza festival, where tens of thousands of bodies swayed as one mass. The crowd surged toward the stage, and I was lifted off the ground and floating uncontrollably, in slow motion. What I felt in that moment was a wave of tremendous terror, and I remember wondering why nobody else looked as scared as I felt. In fact, the people around me all looked as if this was why they were there, that this was the most rewarding part of the event.

Live music has often prompted a physical response. Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" received " a storm of hissing" and caused what some described as a riot at its 1913 Paris debut. By the time I went to that Guns N' Roses show, 75 years later, chairs had been removed from arenas, bringing the audiences to their feet. Sound systems had become deafening, and concerts were extravaganzas of explosions and flames whose heat could be felt at the back of the hall. None of this was designed to keep crowds calm.

Today's festivals and concerts are taking the athleticism of the mosh pit to a new level. As Mr. Scott himself has said, his shows feel like wrestling matches, with the audience "raging and, you know, having fun and expressing good feelings." Part of what fans are looking for in these secular places of worship is a feeling of belonging. The singalong of a chorus can unite thousands, and the simple acknowledgment of the person next to us who wears the same shirt, or displays a similar tattoo, can feel connective. Humans socialize in different ways, and many of us choose to do so among people who identify with the same music.

We mosh, elbows to ribs and chins. We let others hoist us up and pass our bodies over the heads of strangers, trusting them not to drop or grope us. We climb on stages, dodging beefy security guards, to run a short victory lap before leaping into the welcoming arms of a crowd. We do all of these things with an unspoken understanding that we are there together, that we will take care of one another and that nobody wants to leave with more than a minor injury.

By my early 20s, I had made it to the other side of the pit and was onstage as the drummer in a rock band. It might look as if the band exists outside of the crowd and its mayhem, but the performers can be swept up like any crowd member. There were times that I felt so lost in the moment that I blacked out my memory of an entire set. Other times, I felt like a spectator as I watched fans collide into one another at the front of the stage, wondering why they did what they did and questioning my role in their behavior - the behavior I'd always feared as a fan.

Even the largest music events are usually safe. But part of what many people love about concerts is the feeling of danger; the sense that you never know, something might go wrong. We like horror movies with scenes that make us jump. We pay money to sky-dive and hang glide. We take our children on roller coaster rides.

My band once opened for the Los Angeles punk band Fear. During our set, the packed club crowd threw beer bottles at us (not out of appreciation). One bottle smashed on my bandmate's guitar, narrowly missing his hand. Another bottle would have hit me squarely in the head had I not ducked mid-song. That was the most scared I've ever been at a show.

But in that moment, I finally understood my friends' rush of excitement at the Guns N' Roses concert. The sense of imminent danger told me I should flee but also froze me in place. Like so many others who have survived a churning crowd, I felt a tremendous bond with my bandmates that night. I knew that if I could make it through that show, I'd never forget it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mr. Ayers is a musician, writer and the U.S. head of the British record label 4AD. His memoir will be published by Viking in 2022. Antagonistic throngs of metal heads and punks looked ready to collide when my friends and I arrived, a group of high school juniors, at a packed Salt Lake City arena to see Guns N' Roses.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a dataset of Travis Scott’s monthly streams and chart topping songs. This demonstrates his influence over music and how in demand he as an artist is. In some cases because of an artists influence and popularity events like Astroworld can occur without any regard for the fans but rather to host an experience fans won’t forget.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A website that collects and analyzes music data from around the world. All of the charts, sales and streams, constantly updated.

# data[].attributes.headline
Live Nation, a company behind Astroworld, has a long history of safety violations

# data[].attributes.subject
Live Nation, a company behind Astroworld, has a long history of safety violations

# data[].attributes.body
This article speaks about how Live Nation has been linked with hundreds of deaths and injuries in the past 15 years. The main takeaway from this article is that the Astroworld festival tragedy is not the first time a Live Nation show went out of control and resulted in the death and injuries of many people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Rapper Travis Scott was the most recognizable figure associated with Astroworld, the Houston music festival that ended in tragedy Friday evening when eight people died and hundreds more were injured. Also among the event organizers, however, was the conglomerate Live Nation, the world's largest live-events company - and one that has already been linked to hundreds of deaths and injuries in the past 15 years.

Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Live Nation Worldwide have been connected to about 200 deaths and at least 750 injuries since 2006, the Houston Chronicle reported on Monday after searching past court records, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports and news coverage. NPR has also found numerous OSHA citations against Live Nation.

In a message posted to social media on Saturday, the company wrote: "Heartbroken for those lost and impacted at Astroworld last night. We will continue working to provide as much information and assistance as possible to the local authorities as they investigate the situation."

Houston Public Media reported Monday that at least 12 lawsuits have been filed against Travis Scott as well as Live Nation thus far. Other defendants in the suits include Drake, who was also performing at the event, and the festival's venue, NRG Park.

In a statement to NPR on Monday afternoon, Live Nation wrote: "We continue to support and assist local authorities in their ongoing investigation so that both the fans who attended and their families can get the answers they want and deserve, and we will address all legal matters at the appropriate time."

In a statement Live Nation published on social media Monday afternoon, the company added: "Load out of the site and equipment is currently paused to give investigators the time they requested to walk and document the grounds. Full refunds are being offered for all those who purchased tickets."

The statement continued: "And most importantly we are working on ways to support attendees, the families of victims, and staff, from providing mental health counseling to setting up a health fund to help with costs for medical expenses. Our entire team is mourning alongside the community."

The Live Nation-linked incidents reported by the Houston Chronicle include deaths and injuries committed by intruders, including the suicide bomber who attacked an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, in 2017 and the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas later that year.

However, those incidents also include a 2011 stage collapse in Indiana in which seven people were killed and 61 injured; the company settled with the victims for $50 million. In a 2013 incident, a concert staffer in Long Island, N.Y., suffered brain damage after a forklift tipped over the booth he had been working in. A jury awarded him $101 million.

NPR has also found records on OSHA's website showing that Live Nation has been cited for previous safety violations, including an incident in 2018 when a Live Nation employee was hit on the head by a 6-foot steel metal post that tipped over; the victim required hospitalization.

Just last week, Live Nation reported $2.7 billion in revenue for its third quarter, beating Wall Street expectations. The company attributed its growth to consumers' pent-up demand for concerts, festivals and other live events that had been squelched by the coronavirus pandemic. The company has also been able to corner even more of the live-events market during the last 19 months, as smaller independent venues and organizers have struggled to stay afloat during lockdowns. (In the aftermath of the Astroworld tragedy, Live Nation's stock price slid more than 4% during trading Monday, as of publication time.)

At the inaugural edition of Astroworld, in 2019, three people were injured in a stampede while trying to get into the festival, which was also held at NRG Park. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

On Monday, The New York Times reported that according to its sources, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner personally visited Scott in his trailer before Friday's performance "and conveyed concerns about the energy in the crowd."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Live Nation, a company behind Astroworld, has a long history of safety violations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rapper Travis Scott was the most recognizable figure associated with Astroworld, the Houston music festival that ended in tragedy Friday evening when eight people died and hundreds more were injured. Also among the event organizers, however, was the conglomerate Live Nation, the world's largest live-events company - and one that has already been linked to hundreds of deaths and injuries in the past 15 years.

# data[].attributes.headline
Toronto stage collapse: Blame Live Nation, not Radiohead

# data[].attributes.subject
Toronto stage collapse: Blame Live Nation, not Radiohead

# data[].attributes.body
This article speaks about the stage collapsed at a Radiohead concert in 2011. It is relevant because Live Nation booked the venue and hired the contractor to build the stage. Since they hired the contractor, it was their responsibility to make sure the stage was safe enough before the concert.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Updated 9:30 p.m. Wednesday with corrections noted at the end of the story.
The headlines invariably mention the band-"Stage Collapses Before Toronto Radiohead Concert," reads The New York Times-which is no surprise, given that celebrity sells stories.

Much less justifiable is that a mere fraction of the reports about the latest concert tragedy note that this is the third second major disaster of its kind in the last year at a show run by with a connection to Live Nation, the monopolistic concert giant whose record of emphasizing its profit margin over concerns for fans and artists has shifted from a matter of comfort, respect and aesthetics to one of safety.
In 2009, one concertgoer was killed and 15 were critically injured when a powerful windstorm caused the main stage to collapse at the Big Valley Jamboree near Camrose, Canada. The promoter: Live Nation.
Last August, shortly before a performance by Sugarland at the Indianapolis State Fair, a stage collapse killed seven people and injured 58 others. The show was set to go on despite three days of warnings about the possibility of violent weather. The promoter: Live Nation had sold sponsorships to the fair and was named in a civil lawsuit filed by the victims' families, which was resolved in a $5 million settlement in December of 2011. What role Live Nation played in that collapse still is unclear.

In contrast to that incident, the 40,000 people who were about to fill Toronto's Downsview Park on Saturday to see Radiohead at yet another Live Nation show basked under clear, sunny skies with 75-degree temperatures and no wind. Nevertheless, an hour before the gates opened, as the most eager fans waited outside, the stage collapsed "like a pile of toothpicks," according to one observer, killing the band's drum technician Scott Johnson and injuring three other people.

According to the CBC, the lighting crew had expressed concerns that the temporary structure was not strong enough to accommodate the band's massive rig. Industry sources tell this reporter that Live Nation had intended to use a smaller stage because it was promoting two less sizable concerts in the same park after the Radiohead show, but the band insisted on a structure meeting its specifications, and the group was assured that its requirements had been met.

The incident is being investigated by Ontario's Labour Ministry, which officially is looking at all four of the companies involved: Live Nation, the promoter; Optex Staging, the contractor Live Nation hired to build the stage; Nasco Staffing Solutions, the technical and audio-visual contractor, and Ticker Tape Touring, Radiohead's British corporation, which handles the group's merchandise, tours, equipment, music distribution and publishing.

But, the industry sources say, the primary focus of the Canadian probe is Live Nation.

Live Nation has called the Downsview Park incident a "serious and tragic accident," but the company declined comment on the Canadian probe. "This accident is being investigated but we do not have any further details at this time," a spokeswoman said.

Other than expressing the depth of its loss, the band also has mostly declined comment. Significantly, however, its publicist did tell the CBC that, "Radiohead installs its production into the performance space as provided by the venue and/or promoter"-that is, Live Nation.

Though fans often hold the band accountable when anything goes wrong at a concert, anyone who follows the industry knows that the promoter really is responsible for everything that happens at the venue-all the more so when it's a giant corporation like Live Nation, which often owns the facility and has a hand in everything from parking to concessions to ticket sales (since its U.S. government-approved mega-merger with the hated ticket seller Ticketmaster).

To what degree, if any, is Radiohead culpable? At worst, the group made a decision that may have been good for business-with major headline acts, Live Nation often gives the band 100 percent of ticket sales, taking its profit from the sale of beer and hot dogs, parking and ticket "convenience charges"-but which did not show its usual concern for its loyal fan base.

This critic and journalist's heart sank when the group announced that it had signed with Live Nation for its summer tour and would be playing the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park as its Chicago stop. Formerly the World Music Theatre, the venue is notorious as one of the poorest-sounding sheds in the U.S. Patrons are fleeced with a steep per-person (as opposed to per-car) parking fee, even if they don't drive or carpool, and despite the fact that the place is surrounded by empty dirt fields in the middle of nowhere.

Add to that the steep concession prices, Live Nation's obnoxious and ubiquitous marketing and a harsh and joyless ambience that screams "concentration camp" rather than "concert venue," and you have an experience that is more about making money than enjoying music.

However, aside from a handful of notable and failed crusades (remember Pearl Jam versus Ticketmaster in the '90s?), artists seem to have accepted Live Nation as the devil they have to deal with-even acts that are famous for caring for its fans and crusading for political causes, like Radiohead (with its support of Green Peace and quotes from Naomi Klein's No Logo), Neil Young (the plight of farmers) and U2 (everything from feeding Africa to championing Aung Sun Suu Kyi).

Unless superstars on that level begin demanding that Live Nation put fans first, it won't happen-not with the pressure from Wall Street for the company to perform. According to the financial press, the mega-corp has lost money for the last three years, for a total of $611 million. And investors are beginning to voice their dissatisfaction with that and the sky-high compensation for its top executives.

In a little-noted story that has an interesting connection to Chicago, shareholders recently showed a significant lack of confidence for the company's board of directors. They were re-elected nonetheless, but the vote is usually just a formality, and this time, some of the directors garnered as many as 25 percent "no votes." Among them: Ari Emanuel, head of Hollywood's biggest talent agency, and the brother of our mayor.

Correction:As originally posted earlier today, this story about Live Nation and the Toronto stage collapse contained two errors. The company was not the promoter of the Indiana Sugarland concert that claimed seven lives last summer; it sold sponsorships to the event and was named in the civil lawsuit filed by victims' families along with the band's ownership company, ESG Security, the stagehands' union and other companies.

Also, while Live Nation has a hand in this year's Big Valley Jamboree at the Camrose Exhibition Centre in Canada, Panhandle Promotions, not Live Nation, was the promoter of the 2009 concert that claimed one life and injured 15 people.
Some earlier reports in this blog about Ticketmaster/Live Nation: Nov. 2, 2010: Jam to Ticketmaster/Live Nation: Drop dead! June 21, 2010: It's official: Ticketmaster/Live Nation free to devour the concert business March 18, 2010: Top Justice Department official talks about the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger at SXSW Jan. 28, 2010: A Q&A with the Justice Department on the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger Jan. 26, 2010: Looking closer at the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: What does it mean for Chicago? Jan. 25, 2010: Meet the new boss: Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger approved

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Updated 9:30 p.m. Wednesday with corrections noted at the end of the story. The headlines invariably mention the band-"Stage Collapses Before Toronto Radiohead Concert," reads The New York Times -which is no surprise, given that celebrity sells stories.

# data[].attributes.headline
Live Nation, MGM Resorts Sued In The Wake Of Route 91 Harvest Festival Tragedy

# data[].attributes.subject
Live Nation, MGM Resorts Sued In The Wake Of Route 91 Harvest Festival Tragedy

# data[].attributes.body
This article speaks about how Live Nation faced a lawsuit following the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting. The article says that ten of the survivors from the tragedy have filed lawsuits against Live Nation for not properly training and supervising their staff and coming up with an action plan in case of an emergency.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess) - Ten survivors of the deadly shooting spree at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas have hit the estate of alleged gunman Stephen Paddock, as well as MGM Resorts, Mandalay Bay and festival promoter Live Nation with a lawsuit alleging negligence.

The litigants in the suit, all from San Bernardino and Riverside counties in California, seeks redress for physical and emotional suffering as a result of the attack. Two of them were struck by gunfire and all ten say they have "emotional wounds" according to CBS news.

In a statement to CBS, a rep for MGM Resorts said:

"The tragic incident that took place on October 1st was a meticulously planned, evil senseless act. As our company and city work through the healing process, our primary focus and concern is taking actions to support the victims and their families, our guests and employees and cooperating with law enforcement. We are grateful for all who came to the victims' aid that evening, including our employees, first responders, the police and citizens who acted in countless ways to assist. Out of respect for the victims, we are not going to try this case in the public domain and we will give our response through the appropriate legal channels."

The suit follows a separate lawsuit filed last week by Paige Gasper, a 21-year-old student at Sonoma State University in California. Defendants in Gasper's suit include Mandalay Bay and its owner, MGM Resorts; Live Nation; and the company that manufactured the 'bump stocks' that modify semi-automatic rifles to be fired quickly and which were used by the Las Vegas gunman.

Gasper's suit claims that te defendants "breached their duty of reasonable care" and failed to keep the hotel "in a reasonably safe condition" and failed to "properly train and supervise employees in an appropriate plan of action in case of an emergency."

Live Nation declined to respond to CBS citing pending litigation but said they are cooperating with the investigation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Live Nation, MGM Resorts Sued In The Wake Of Route 91 Harvest Festival Tragedy - CelebrityAccess

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess) - Ten survivors of the deadly shooting spree at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas have hit the estate of alleged gunman Stephen Paddock, as well as MGM Resorts, Mandalay Bay and festival promoter Live Nation with a lawsuit alleging negligence.

# data[].attributes.headline
Astroworld promoter Live Nation has a history of safety violations

# data[].attributes.subject
Astroworld promoter Live Nation has a history of safety violations

# data[].attributes.body
This article speaks about how there have been many lawsuits that have been filed against Live Nation over the past decade, in light of the recent Astroworld tragedy. This article is relevant because it shows that Live Nation has a history of not ensuring the safety of their staff, and their customers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
has a history of safety violations - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Astroworld promoter Live Nation has a history of safety violations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Live Nation Entertainment, the concert promoter that organized the tragic Astroworld Festival, has been cited about a dozen times for numerous safety issues, records show.

# data[].attributes.body
1. What was different about Astroworld crowd-management that lead to the unfortunate events?

If you are asking how is this Astroworld festival different that the previous two Travis Scott festivals, I cannot answer that question fully because I have not reviewed the crowd management plans of the past two festivals.

However, I have seen the 2021 Event Operations Plan for Astroworld. The plans fatal flaws, a shocking revelation, are that it does not address the dangers of “festival seating” standing room---the most dangerous and deadly crowd configuration in concert and festival history--- or how to make it reasonably safe for the festival fans. There is no discussion of crowd craze, crowd surge, crowd crush, crowd collapse, moshing, crowd surfing or stage diving and how to deal with situations should they develop. There is neither a discussion of the artist’s controversial crowd safety history, nor a discussion of the anticipated crowd profile. As a result, there was no effective emergency plan should medical services be required for any of these scenarios. A situation that became nightmarishly evident on November 7.

2. In your opinion, are the laws and standards for festivals like this strong enough to prevent future tragedies?

The laws and standards protecting people in crowds at festivals and concerts are woefully deficient. This is why fans keep dying in preventable tragedies such as Astroworld in Houston.

There are three reasons primary why fans are still not protected in the 21st Century by reasonable crowd safety laws.

First, the live entertainment industry is an extraordinarily powerful lobby in the U.S. and around the world---including in Canada. The live entertainment industry is today, what the tobacco lobby once was. The industry effectively blocks safety laws locally and nationally that would prevent tragedies such as Astroworld.

The second reason is the failure of elected officials and public safety officials to put in place the regulations that will protect the public.

Third, and finally, the historic failure of the public to stop the senseless loss of life at concerts and festivals; primarily affecting young people.

3. How do I know I am in a danger situation inside of a crowd before a disaster happens?

There are a number of signs that should be taken as warnings that you may be in danger in a crowd. Here are six:

1) Your biological survival instincts set-off an alarm, making you feel anxious and insecure.

2) Movement is restricted and exiting the crowd is difficult

3) Crowd density becomes tight, and you are in a situation where you are touching should

4) or other body parts with strangers in the crowd. This usually occurs at 3square feet per person. Less than that, and one is entering the “crush zone.”

5) Crowd surges (waves of pressure) develop within the crowd, and one is pushed against one’s will.

6) People near barricades are pulled out of the crowd to escape the crush of the crowd

You’ll find additional tips here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-BBfcbQX7Q

Stay Safe in the Crowd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4gbBEucIwQ

How to avoid being trampled in a crowd

https://youtu.be/X4B7hnfidhw

# data[].attributes.body
Origin: The idea was prompted from https://www.wbez.org/stories/toronto-stage-collapse-blame-live-nation-not-radiohead/7435d22e-807b-4a8c-a33c-3de3ebd182ec

Recap: The article covers about the stage collapse during the Radiohead concert, 2012 in Toronto in which Live Nation was the promoter.

Request Idea: Any and all details like set designer’s plan, structural plan, safety plans, material quotation, paperwork regarding load and electrification, and the license of the contractor who constructed the stage.

Department: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Explanation: The collapse of stage in the Downsview Park, Toronto led to the injury of three members of Radiohead road crew and the drum technician Scott Johnson. I am interested to know the details about the stage structure and the factors that led to the collapse.

Written Request:

Department: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Request: Any and all inspection records of the history of contractor who was responsible for construction of the stage. I will also require designing plan, structural plan, safety plans, material quotation provided and the paperwork regarding load and electrification of the stage.

FOI Coordinator and Contact Information: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Phone: +1 416-325-2626.

# data[].attributes.body
Origin: The idea was prompted from https://www.wbez.org/stories/toronto-stage-collapse-blame-live-nation-not-radiohead/7435d22e-807b-4a8c-a33c-3de3ebd182ec

Recap: The article covers about the stage collapse during the Radiohead concert, 2012 in Toronto in which Live Nation was the promoter.

Request Idea: Any and all details like set designer’s plan, structural plan, safety plans, material quotation, paperwork regarding load and electrification, the license of the contractor who constructed the stage and paperwork filed by Live Nation.

Department: Event Support Sector, Economic Development & Cultural Division, Toronto.

Explanation: The collapse of stage in the Downsview Park, Toronto led to the injury of three members of Radiohead road crew and the drum technician Scott Johnson. I am interested to know the details about the stage structure and the factors that led to the collapse.

Written Request:

Department: Event Support Sector, Economic Development & Cultural Division, Toronto.

Request: Any and all inspection records of the history of contractor who was responsible for construction of the stage. Safety checks done by the city on the conduction of the event. I will require designing plan, structural plan, safety plans, material quotation provided and the paperwork regarding load and electrification of the stage. I will also require the permit and license paperwork that was filed to the City of Toronto by Live Nation prior to the inception of this event.

FOI coordinator and Contact Information: Event Support Sector, Economic Development & Cultural Division, Toronto, Phone: +1 416-395-0490

# data[].attributes.headline
National Fire Protection Association – Life Safety Code 2021

# data[].attributes.subject
National Fire Protection Association – Life Safety Code 2021

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=101

https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/NFPA-Today/Blog-Posts/2021/05/20/Strategies-for-Crowd-Management-Safety

(Chapter 13: Existing Assembly Occupancies)

In the United States there is no federal law on crowd safety but the Nation Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code is used to reference strategies for crowd management in concert venues and festivals. The NFPA Life Safety Code is used to reference strategies on how to protect people. This Is the only code that includes life safety in new and existing features. This document bases its strategies on building construction, protection, and occupancy features to limit the extreme effects of fire hazards and other dangers.

In the case of the Travis Scott concert Occupancy Load is important to look at. Large venues offer a very high number of occupants to accommodate big crowds who are both coming and going. The amount of people that can be let in is determined by how the space is used and estimating the maximum population that can occupy this space safely.

In a space where there is more than 10,000 people the occupant load cannot exceed a density of one person in every 7ft2 (0.65 m2). This limit is meant to avoid overcrowding. When overcrowding happens walking becomes difficult and you start to shuffle a bit and then movement becomes stagnant if more people are let in.

During the Travis Scoot concert and other instances of concerts where people have been trampled, pushed around and injured this is caused from overcrowding.

The Life Safety Evaluation is also a criteria that needs to be looked at in situations like this when the occupancy load exceeds 6,000 people. The Life Safety Evaluation is done because there is no certainty that safety measures and protection alone will guarantee safe entry and exit into the arena. Expected crowd behaviour is part of the evaluation. Travis Scott has been charged for inciting riots at his concerts before, so this criteria for the evaluation would be extremely important to a concert with a performer who has a history of inciting riots. The Evaluation must assess:

Nature of the events and the participants and attendees

Access and egress movement, including crowd density problems

Medical emergencies

Fire hazards

Permanent and temporary structural systems

Severe weather conditions

Earthquakes

Civil or other disturbances

Hazardous materials incidents within and near the facility

Relationships among facility management, event participants, emergency response agencies, and others having a role in the events accommodated in the facility

The relationships among facility management is extremely important to prevent situations like this. Security, cameramen, and other staff should all be in contact with one another in case of emergencies.

Other criteria the Life Safety Code looks at are entrance and exits and crowd managers. Now that the pandemic plays a role in occupancy loads, the lack of regulation for the amount of people let into a festival like the Astroworld Festival is detrimental to the safety of attendees.

# data[].attributes.headline
United States Department of Labour – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

# data[].attributes.subject
United States Department of Labour – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/toc

The OSHA was created to foster safe and healthy conditions for workers and enforce standards to prevent and protect workers from dangerous situations. It is built to educate, train and assist all workers.

Live Nation has a history of violating the act and in the case of this Astroworld Festival it was extremely understaffed. The venue NGR Park has also had a history of having ineffective barricades that were easily pushed down in other performances. The Astroworld festival is also not new to circumstances like this. The festival has had multiple injuries and instances of trampling.

# data[].attributes.headline
Emergency Preparedness Guidelines for Mass, Crowd-Intensive Events- Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness

# data[].attributes.subject
Emergency Preparedness Guidelines for Mass, Crowd-Intensive Events- Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.jumpjet.info/Emergency-Preparedness/Disaster-Mitigation/Civil/Emergency_Preparedness_Guidelines_For_Mass,_Crowd-Intensive_Events.pdf

In Comparison to the United States in Canada these guidelines were put in place to control mass public gatherings where there is a lack of sufficient security measures and crowd control. There have been a number of large events that result in people being injured and even resulted in death. Large events like music festivals and concerts are known to incite crowd related incidents.

This document covers an array of different situations, even high-risk events like events that involve high-profile political figures, controversial public figures and activists.

The document covers a number of criteria such as pre-event planning where it is imperative to look at the site, spectators, legislative issues, public health issues, emergency health issues, and contingency plans. Emergency vehicle clearways are also important if there is no way for emergency vehicles to get through. When overcrowding starts there is less and less chance for emergency vehicles to make it through the way safely.

Live Nation's history of riots and lack of upholding safety regulations causes incidents to happen like the ones at Astroworld Festival. The amount of time taken for emergency vehicles and medical staff to tend to injured spectators can be the difference between life and death.

The lack of federal laws and legislative documents in the United States can impede on these types of festivals. There is no way to truly regulate how to control crowd management. Crowd Managers are not enough for venues of this size.

This document specifies what types of barriers are needed for each type of venue, whether indoor or outdoor. Live Nation has been known to have insufficient barricades and this type of guideline would create more structure for events and festivals.

# data[].attributes.body
https://esacanada.ca/About/

The Event Safety Alliance is meant to provide awareness on keeping people safe at various events and educating staff on crowd management. The alliance promotes “life safety first”. From the production of a show all the way to the end of the show post performance. Preventing the risk of injury and foreseeable injuries is what is imperative.

The expertise given is based on the Canadian government legislation. This ensures all management falls in line with government regulations. In the United States there are no federal regulations or laws for specificity in crowd safety so this makes it far harder to build measures without a foundation.

# data[].attributes.headline
Dancing in the Dark: An Analysis of the Live Entertainment Industry and the Deceptive Market Practices of Ticketmaster and Live Nation

# data[].attributes.subject
Dancing in the Dark: An Analysis of the Live Entertainment Industry and the Deceptive Market Practices of Ticketmaster and Live Nation

# data[].attributes.body
This article is an analysis of the Live Entertainment Industry and speaks about the controversy surrounding Live Nation and Ticketmaster.  This article is relevant because it gives more insight in the different problems that surrounds Live Nation.

Holmstrom, Erik. "Dancing in the Dark: An Analysis of the Live Entertainment Industry and the Deceptive Market Practices of Ticketmaster and Live Nation." WJ Legal Stud. 9 (2019): 1.

# data[].attributes.headline
Article: Regulated to Death: Safety Regulation in the Live Event Industry

# data[].attributes.subject
Article: Regulated to Death: Safety Regulation in the Live Event Industry

# data[].attributes.body
This article is from 2003 and speaks about the effectiveness of health and safety regulations during live concerts. It states that changes will only be made if governments include those from the entertainment industry and mentions that to have effective health and safety regulations, then the industry needs to be more proactive.

Challis, Ben, and Music Industry Lawyer. "Regulated to death: safety regulation in the live event industry." Music Law Updates (2003).

Article: Dynamics of crowd disasters: An empirical study

This article explores crowd dynamics through video recordings from a crowd disaster in Mina/Makkah during the Hajj in 2006. This article is relevant because it can bring more insight on the behaviour of crowds during these events and can help us understand what went on in the crowd during the Astroworld tragedy.

Helbing, Dirk, Anders Johansson, and Habib Zein Al-Abideen. "Dynamics of crowd disasters: An empirical study." Physical review E 75.4 (2007): 046109.

# data[].attributes.headline
THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF CROWD DISASTERS

# data[].attributes.subject
THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF CROWD DISASTERS

# data[].attributes.body
This article illustrates crowd characteristics in order to provide guidelines on how these kind of incidents can be prevented in the future. After seeing how often these incidents actually occur, this article can aid us on how we can help prevent crowd disasters from occuring again.

https://www.workingwithcrowds.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/THE-CAUSES-AND-PREVENTION-OF-CROWD-DISASTERS-by-John-J.-Fruin-Ph.D.-P.E..pdf