Live Nation, the promoter behind Travis Scott’s Astroworld concert at which eight people were killed on Friday, has seen several similar tragedies in the past 15 years.
An investigation by the Houston Chronicle found records showing that at least 750 people have been injured and 200 people have died at Live Nation events. According to the report, Live Nation and its subsidiary, Live Nation Worldwide have paid out millions since 2006 as the result of similar disasters.
Like the events of Friday – in which the Houston crowd began to surge toward the stage, causing mass panic – many of these incidents involved overwhelming numbers of attendees getting out of hand at concerts.
Live Nation, the world’s largest live-event promoter, has also been fined for breaking the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s rules.
At a 2016 Snoop Dogg show in Camden, New Jersey, a crowd toppled a railing and 50 concertgoers fell 10 feet onto a concrete pathway.
That same year, a concertgoer broke her leg at a Gwen Stefani show in North Carolina after the singer allegedly made a remark about seats being available near the stage, prompting a stampede.
In 2018, the Global Citizen Festival took place in Central Park and was headlined by Cardi B, The Weeknd and Janet Jackson. One attendee stated in a lawsuit that “stampede-like conditions” led to her being “trampled,” “pummeled,” and “assaulted” as the event.
Some of the incidents have yielded massive settlements, like when a man was awarded $101 million by a Manhattan jury after he fractured his skull at a Jones Beach concert in 2013.
But the largest fatalities have resulted from terror attacks. Ninety people were shot and killed at a 2015 Eagles of Death Metal concert in Paris. The year after, a suicide bomber killed 22 at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. 2016 was also the year 60 people were gunned down at a Las Vegas concert in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Live Nation and Scott have vowed to work with law enforcement as they continue their investigation.
“Heartbroken for those lost and impacted at Astroworld last night,” the company tweeted on Nov. 6. “We will continue working to provide as much information and assistance as possible to the local authorities as they investigate the situation.”
Scott issued his own statement on Saturday saying he was “devastated” by the tragedy and that the Houston Police Department has his “total support.”
Two lawsuits have already been filed against Scott, fellow performer Drake and Astroworld’s organizers, including Live Nation.
On Monday, the rapper announced that he would refund all concertgoers and cancel upcoming performances in Las Vegas.