MUSIC INDUSTRY UPDATE FROM LAS VEGAS: Beyoncé Performs Without a Cage, AMAs Offering Chairs Instead of Stalls
May 6, 2025, 11:21am
Last Updated: May 6, 2025, 11:21am
Corey Levitan Explores Commercial Gaming, EntertainmentExpert Insight, Las Vegas Culture
Beyoncè Argues Sphere, Dropped from Video Screening
In the heat of her "Cowboy Carter" tour this week, Queen B found herself in a legal pickle with The Sphere after stomping through Las Vegas with a giant Sphere in tow, suggesting her frustrated residency negotiations with Sphere chief, James Dolan, last year.
The video, which featured a digitally enhanced Beyoncè wandering Sin City, was re-edited post-haste to swap out the Sphere for images of Allegiant Stadium, where she will be performing on July 25 and 26. The amended version premiered at her May 4 show at SoFi Stadium in LA.
Freebies Galore!
Producers of the 51st American Music Awards are giving away free tickets to the event, held on May 26 in Las Vegas. For the legals amongst you, visit OSLAproductions.com and create your free profile to qualify. Rumor has it that Jennifer Lopez will host at the yet-to-be-announced venue, with experts suggesting the BleauLive Theatre at Fontainebleau to be the likely candidate.
Also, throwback to the good ol' days with the annual Fremont Street Experience free concert series. This year's lineup will feature Hinder, Drowning Pool, and Saliva (May 24), Alien Ant Farm and Jet (May 25), Buckcherry (June 7), Robin Thicke (June 21), Craig Morgan (July 4), Toad the Wet Sprocket, Dishwalla, Nine Days, and Vertical Horizon (Aug. 30), Sponge, Our Lady Peace, and Ugly Kid Joe (Aug. 31), Cracker, and Candlebox (Sept. 6), and Zebra (Sep. 20).
Behind the Scenes
Historical Context
Last year, Beyoncè and James Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment Group, attempted to work out a deal for the pop sensation to perform at the Las Vegas Sphere, a high-tech venue known for its immersive technology and recent residencies by artists such as U2 and The Eagles. Negotiations, however, failed to materialize[2][3].
The Controversy
During the opening legs of the "Cowboy Carter" tour, which began in April 2024, a video interlude featured scenes of Beyoncè interacting with a miniature version of the Las Vegas Sphere. The footage, although digitally enhanced, stirred speculation amongst fans about her fated residency at the venue[1][2]. Fearing that the unauthorized use of their property's image created misleading assumptions and violated intellectual property rights, Sphere Entertainment Group sent a cease-and-desist letter to Beyoncè's production company, demanding the removal of the visuals[3][4]. In response, her team swapped the Sphere for imagery of Allegiant Stadium, the actual venue for her scheduled Las Vegas performances in July 2025[1][2].
Taking Stock
- Now and Then: Despite prior negotiations, Beyoncè will not perform at the Sphere, but she will appear at the Allegiant Stadium in July.
- Visual Overhaul: Following Sphere Entertainment Group's cease-and-desist notice, Beyoncè updated the tour visuals to remove the Sphere.
- Legal Lessons: The case demonstrates the potential complexities around using iconic venue imagery in large-scale tour productions and the importance of obtaining proper licenses and permissions[2][3][4].
- Corey Levitan's exploration delves into the world of commercial gaming, entertainment, and Las Vegas culture, discussing recent developments.
- Beyoncé is in a legal dispute with The Sphere in Las Vegas, following her unsuccessful residency negotiations last year and her use of a Sphere image in her "Cowboy Carter" tour.
- The American Music Awards producers are offering free tickets for their May 26 event, to be held in Las Vegas.
- Jennifer Lopez is rumored to host the awards at the BleauLive Theatre at Fontainebleau, though the venue hasn't been formally announced.
- The Fremont Street Experience free concert series lineup includes Hinder, Drowning Pool, Alien Ant Farm, and Robin Thicke, among others, this year.
- The Sphere, a high-tech venue in Las Vegas, was initially considered for Beyoncé's residency, but the deal did not materialize, instead, she will perform at Allegiant Stadium.
- In response to Sphere Entertainment Group's cease-and-desist letter, Beyoncé revised her tour visuals to replace the Sphere imagery with that of Allegiant Stadium.
- The Beyoncé controversy serves as a valuable lesson on the complexities surrounding the use of iconic venue imagery in large-scale tour productions and the importance of obtaining proper licenses and permissions.
