Call it the ultimate mashup.
The newly announced partnership between Rolling Loud and WWE will see hip-hop’s biggest names performing alongside WWE SmackDown wrestling. This partnership is the first of its kind. No other time in history has seen a collaboration between wrestling and a large-scale music festival.
This is how it’s basically going to go down. On July 23, SmackDown will feature a split FOX broadcast with two matches being held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (same venue as Rolling Loud) while the rest are at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
I’m honestly extremely intrigued by the thought of A$AP ROCKY, Travis Scott, and Post Malone performing in between or alongside a LIVE wrestling match. With that caliber of a lineup, concert-deprived fans, and throw in some of the world’s most entertaining wrestlers? The energy all around is bound to be ELECTRIFYING.
So what does this mean for the future of collaborations between live music and sporting events?
I think the opportunities are endless. But before I go any further, I should clarify that while I am an enthusiast of the virtual space – I don’t foresee in-person gatherings becoming null and void, ever. There’s just something that comes with having human energy together collectively in one space. Let’s explore a few of my ideas.
Most sporting venues also double as concert venues. Could this be the beginning of seeing mega venues that could concurrently host a live music and sporting event? I see this being easily achieved even more specifically in the world of e-sports.
Or even take for example the current format of sporting events. In some capacity, small-scope performances already take place during sporting events i.e. halftime, national anthem singers, etc. Might we start to see longer pre or post-game concerts? To reference a basketball analogy, a 2 for 1? Will we see tours scheduled around team calendars? A league that is primed to do this would be Ice Cube’s Big 3.
Not all people who go to live music and sporting events go to actually listen to music or watch the game. They go to socialize and network. They may possibly have been enticed by promotions or a giveaway. They may simply want to make an impression or maybe they are big fans of an artist or team after all. No matter the circumstance, I think the ultimate draw to such collaborative efforts is the fusion of audiences and the power of sport and music to unite.
As told on WWE.com, “WWE has a rich history of integrating music into all aspects of its brand and collaborating with some of the most celebrated artists in the world. Over the years, world-renowned hip-hop artists including Snoop Dogg, Diddy, Three 6 Mafia, MGK, Wale, and many others have performed at WWE’s biggest events.”
I know that I have a bias but music has always played a very important role in sports and vice versa. I think it was Drake that said “Damn, I swear sports and music are so synonymous. ‘Cause, we want to be them, and they want to be us.”LOL!
I will definitely be tuned in on the 23 to see how this looks like in actuality. I am also eager to see the continuation in the development of how to further collaborate across the music and sports landscapes from the live production and programming standpoint.
