RUMOR MILL
Back to Rumor Mill >
"I like to think our lineup this year is a testament to what Lilith first set in motion."
—-Marty Diamond
Tuesday, June 1, 2010

THE RETURN OF LILITH TOUR

Co-Founder Marty Diamond Tells Why the Time Is Right for Sarah McLachlan-Helmed Tour’s First Show in a Decade
Co-founded in ’97 by Sarah McLachlan, Terry McBride and Paradigm’s Marty Diamond as a showcase for female musical talent, Lilith Fair put on more than 100 dates before taking a decade-long hiatus in 1999. This year, with ABC Entertainment as a strategic partner, the renamed Lilith Tour will launch a 36-city summer tour in Calgary on June 27, with McLachlan headlining an eclectic lineup including 80-90 artists, from Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Emmylou Harris, Carly Simon, Sheryl Crow, Heart, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Kelly Clarkson and Indigo Girls to Metric, La Roux, Kate Nash, Ke$ha, Cat Power, Tegan and Sara and Selena Gomez. Veteran agent Diamond gives us the lowdown.

Why the 10-year absence?
We were just physically at the point where we had to rest. People were starting to get married and have families. The reasons to do it again just aligned. It felt like the right time. We’re just seeing an incredible diversity of female artists right now.

The winner of an online talent contest in each market will open.
We did a promotion with OurStage and a Facebook application. We did the same thing 10 years ago, but back then, it involved people auditioning at a Starbucks. The net has been cast considerably wider this time.

The tour has gotten a lot more diverse.
The first year we did Lilith Fair, people criticized us for how lily-white it was. It wasn’t for a lack of effort on our parts. Sometimes it was just a matter of availability. I like to think our lineup this year is a testament to what Lilith first set in motion. Back then, there were just a few female artists who were marquee headliners. Now, there’s a wide range of them, all making amazing music.

Your big move was bringing in ABC as a promotional partner.
The closest look we got from TV 10 years ago was a VH1 Behind the Music special. Our partnership with ABC Entertainment gives us access to Good Morning America, Kimmel, Dancing with the Stars and the ABC Music Lounge. Sheryl Crow was just on Cougartown; Sheryl, Miranda Lambert and Sarah were just part of a Lilith Fair Mother’s Day Extreme Makeover episode. Mike Benson and his team have an obvious commitment and connection to music. This made a ton of sense for both of us.

And you’re still maintaining the tour’s commitment to raising social consciousness?
A dollar a ticket every day will be donated to local charitable organizations in each market. That’s one of our precepts through thick and thin. I4C is our reference service for progressive, socially aware organizations that people can get information from. And it will be a green tour, thanks to Reverb.

It would seem a guy might have a good chance of getting laid at the Lilith Tour.
The ratio is 70-30. If you’re a smart guy, you will notice a lot of cute girls there.

 
BACK TO RUMOR MILL
 
SPOTIFY Q1 PROFIT TOPS $1B; SUBS HIT 239M
How Swede it is. (4/23a)
Check It Out Now
HITS LIST IN
PLAYOFF MODE
Will scoring records be broken this week? (4/23a)
Check It Out Now
THE COUNT: ALL THE DESERT'S A STAGE
The dust settles on the Indio Polo Grounds. (4/24a)
Check It Out Now
ROCK HALL UNVEILS
2024 INDUCTEES
Class of '24 comes alive. (4/22a)
Check It Out Now
TOP 20: TAYLOR TIME
Is it ever. (4/24a)
Check It Out Now
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)

By clicking submit you are agreeing
to Terms and Conditions