Billboard Live Music Summit 2025: Usher to Be Honored as Touring Artist of the Year
Los Angeles — November 3, 2025
Published in partnership with AEG Presents.
The Billboard Live Music Summit returns to Los Angeles on November 3, spotlighting Usher as the Touring Artist of the Year. With eight Grammy Awards, nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and a career that has spanned arenas, residencies and the Super Bowl, Usher remains one of live music’s most enduring and influential performers. Latin superstar Rauw Alejandro will also appear, joining a conversation with Hans from Live Nation and Billboard Español’s Leila Cobo to discuss his ascent in Latin music and his experiences on the road.
The Summit brings together touring executives, promoters and artists for a day of panels, interviews and networking. AEG Presents — a global leader in live entertainment, from festivals to arena tours — is partnering on the event and will sponsor the midday luncheon, creating a relaxed environment for deeper conversations among artists, panelists and attendees.
Featured conversations and panels
Highlights include:
- Usher in conversation with Gail Mitchell: A retrospective on a 28-year touring career and an inside look at the strategies behind his most successful live projects.
- Rauw Alejandro with Hans (Live Nation) and Leila Cobo: A discussion on Latin music’s global expansion and the logistics of touring across diverse markets.
- Ticketing Panel: Kristen Mitchell (Wasserman), Lauren McKinney (Foundations Artist Management) and Dean Dewulf (AXS), moderated by Dave Brooks (Billboard), examining ticket access, fan-first approaches and future industry practices.
- Agents Power Panel: Top agents from WME, CAA, UTA, AGI and Arrival Artists discuss artist development, representation and career strategy.
Both Usher and Rauw Alejandro were among the top touring acts of 2025, making their appearances particularly resonant for an audience of industry professionals focused on live performance and tour production.
The AEG-sponsored luncheon, scheduled between morning panels, is designed to foster informal exchanges and networking opportunities in a more intimate setting. Attendees will have multiple chances throughout the day to connect with touring executives, ticketing partners and artist representatives.
For full programming details, ticketing information and to purchase passes, visit the Summit website.
