LIVE NATION PLOTS DOWNTOWN L.A. TECH CENTER

Live Nation is growing its partnership with The SoLa Foundation to fund a new youth center in downtown Los Angeles, with plans to offer "fully subsidized educational and workforce training opportunities in the entertainment and technology sectors."

The project will result in the development of the SoLa Tech and Entertainment Center Powered by Live Nation, which will open in early 2025 in an 8,500-square foot space on the ground floor of the Crenshaw Lofts.

In partnership with Live Nation's pre-existing School of Live, the center will house the Live Nation Next Gen Program, described as a "one-of-a-kind" 18-week paid apprenticeship for South L.A. youth between the ages of 16 and 21. Through it, they will explore booking, marketing and concert operations with Live Nation staff and executives, and as a final project, promote, ticket and produce their own concert in the community.

SoLa Tech and Entertainment Center Powered by Live Nation will also provide access to technology and entertainment career education for more than 1,000 local students per year, including training on music business technology, audio engineering and recording, coding, 3D modeling and animation and graphic design.

"We created our School of Live because live music isn't a standard part of most schools and colleges, even though it continues to be a growing industry," Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino says. "By partnering together with SoLa, kids learn the business of music and we help them get first-hand experience, which unlocks a whole new world of careers, which has been incredible to be part of."

"We are incredibly inspired and encouraged by Live Nation's continued partnership and their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the live music industry and beyond," adds SoLa Impact's chief impact officer Sherri Francois. "This is another amazing example of the power of mission-aligned corporate and non-profit partners working together with focus and determination to solve seemingly intractable challenges. Thanks to Live Nation, the Crenshaw-LAX Corridor will become a hub of tech and career training. And we're just getting started."