Beyonce's Tour Sells Out and Brings Controversy

Mega pop star Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has become quite the controversial figure since Super Bowl 50. She used the big game as a platform to promote the Black Panthers and criticize police brutality. Beyoncé and her dancers donned black berets along with bandoliers during the performance. Yet her social activism certainly hasn't hit her in the pocketbook. Most of the stops on her upcoming Formation world tour have already sold out. The tour is scheduled to launch this month in Miami. It is the singer's first tour since her Mrs. Carter World Tour in 2013. Though most of the tickets to Beyoncé's tour sold out quickly, it appears as though she might run into some problems due to her willingness to take a stance against police corruption. Her alliance with the Black Panthers has resulted in the National Police Union, known as the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), deciding to boycott the singer's upcoming concert in Miami. It will be interesting to see how security is handled at a show of this magnitude. The concert is scheduled to take place on April 26 in the Marlins Stadium. Beyoncé has refused to comment on the matter as of this article's publish date.

The Miami chapter of the FOP made the decision to boycott Beyoncé's Miami show through a democratic vote. The local union's president, Lieutenant Javier Ortiz, actually called on police officers across the country to boycott all of the Formation shows. The FOP believes that Beyoncé improperly used her Super Bowl 50 platform to spread what the police union describes as an “anti-police message”. Police across the country clashed with the Black Panthers during race riots that took place decades ago. Lieutenant Ortiz has not stated whether the boycott of Beyoncé's Miami concert is applicable to police officers across Miami, those who work in Dade county or only those who are members of the union.

Beyoncé's Formation World Tour will likely take place without a hitch. Beyoncé could hire private security for the event. It is also possible that enough police officers or non-union officers will make themselves available for the Miami show and any other shows that are boycotted by the police. Fans will undoubtedly have a blast at the show regardless of the political activism surrounding the tour. All in all, the tour's producer, Parkwood Entertainment, has sold just under one million total tickets. A number of shows have sold out in addition to the Miami date. The demand for tickets is so strong that seconds shows have been scheduled for May 28 at Chicago's Soldier Field and July 3 at Wembly Stadium in London. Fans who want to put a positive twist on the somewhat negative energy surrounding the show can do so by participating in the singer's #BeyGOOD initiative designed to support Miami's United Way program. Be sure to follow @beygood on Twitter to learn more.

Red Bull Culture Clash Brings Down the House

Four stages. Four music genres. One heck of a culture clash. The Red Bull Culture Clash event is just one more in-person mega party that lines right up with the Red Bull brand. On June 17^th, Red Bull will hold a third and final evening of all-star bands battling in one venue to get the largest crowd reactions and win the coveted bullhorn trophy. One big party with somewhere around 33,000 guests and four major stages is the kind of party you will need a Red Bull or two just to get through. Tickets for the event are currently on sale and priced at £45 for the London (June 17) event.

A Brave New Culture

Red Bull has been a successful company that surprised the world when an Austrian businessman joined a Thai tycoon to start the energy drink brand. The company is now 25 years old, but it is still partying like it’s 1999. The company was the first to start an entirely new category in the food and beverage market – the energy drink.

From extreme sport stunts to incredible in-person event planning, the company holds live events that match the excitement level of their branded marketing. The founder Dietrich Mateschitz defied odds when he rejected the recommendations of a market research report and spent two years fine-tuning his marketing and communication strategy.

So Far, So Good.

On March 4^th the party was popping in Bristol and then it moves to Manchester on March 10^th before hitting up London in June. The winner at the March 4^th Culture Clash was DJ Die with his Glitterfunk family. This was a city that showed love for its “drum’n’bass” with crowds excited about the dubplates and booming energy of the Glitterfunk vibe. It was a close battle to the end, but by the final round, there was only one clear winner.

Every group is given the opportunity to really shine at this major event. The groups choose their own songs, sounds and guests. Each group is on a stage with an individual PA system and lighting rig. There is no shorting the audience when it comes to this jam-packed concert on steroids. This is event marketing done right.

Not only did Red Bull go all out for their event atmosphere; they chose to pump up the hype with intense event marketing and then encouraged all their fans to live-Tweet the event under the hashtag campaign #CultureClash. And, while there is nothing like the live performances witnessed in-person, Red Bull also chose to stream the Culture Clash live on their website.

Bristol was pure madness and insane energy – but that’s just the way this edgy brand likes it.