Get ready, Texas: Today, Spotify and Live Nation announced RNB X Live in Dallas, a new one-day festival coming to town on November 1. Taking over The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, the inaugural event will celebrate the breadth of contemporary R&B, bringing together established stars and emerging artists defining the genre\u2019s next chapter. RNB X Live in Dallas is Spotify\u2019s first-ever standalone R&B concert event and the biggest expression to date of RNB X, Spotify\u2019s R&B editorial playlist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cR&B has always been a genre built on community, and a big part of our philosophy has been creating opportunities for artists to get closer to the fans who care about them most,\u201d said Brandon Payano, R&B Lead, Artist Partnerships at Spotify. \u201cOur partnership with Live Nation Urban has continued to grow around that shared belief, from our RNB X Live: The UK Sound shows last fall to their broader efforts to bring more R&B artists and fans together. RNB X Live in Dallas feels like an exciting and obvious next step, bringing artists and fans together for the kind of moments that show just how powerful R&B can be when experienced live.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lineup brings generations of the genre together in Dallas, home to a massive R&B fanbase. Erykah Badu<\/a> returns home fresh off her first project in 11 years, while H.E.R.<\/a> makes a rare return to the stage after several years away from headlining her own shows. Rising artists kwn<\/a>, Destin Conrad<\/a> and Jai\u2019len Josey<\/a> represent the next generation of R&B talent Spotify has supported through programs including Artists To Watch<\/a> and Fresh Finds<\/a>, while fellow Dallas native and Fresh Finds Favorite Rjtheweirdo<\/a> opens the night, bookending the festival with hometown talent.<\/p>\n For years, Spotify\u2019s RNB X playlist<\/a> has served as a home for R&B discovery and fandom, connecting listeners to both rising talent and the artists they already love. RNB X Live in Dallas brings this experience to life, creating a dedicated space where fans can connect with the icons who defined the genre and the new voices shaping its future. The event builds on previous Spotify RNB X live experiences, like RNB X After Hours<\/a> in Washington, D.C., and RNB X Live: The UK Sound<\/a> in New York and San Francisco.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFrom First Nights to RNB X Live, we\u2019ve been intentional about taking the work we do through RNB X on Spotify and extending it beyond the platform, creating real-life spaces for R&B artists and their fans to connect,\u201d said Alaysia Sierra, Spotify\u2019s head of editorial, R&B. \u201cR&B\u2019s influence spans genres and generations, shaping culture in ways that can\u2019t be defined by one sound or one type of artist. We wanted this festival to reflect that expansiveness, from an icon like Erykah Badu, to a defining voice like H.E.R., to rising stars like kwn and Jai\u2019Len. R&B has given so much to music and culture\u2014it\u2019s only right that we continue to invest in its potential, giving the artists of its past, present, and future the platform, resources, and space to keep pushing R&B forward.\u201d<\/p>\n The RNB X celebration won\u2019t end after the encore. Select performances will be captured for exclusive release on Spotify through Spotify Live, giving fans around the world a chance to experience moments from the festival.<\/p>\n Pre-sale tickets for RNB X Live will be available for Premium top fans on Tuesday, September 8th at 12 p.m. CT. General tickets go on sale Friday, September 11th at 12 p.m. CT.<\/p>\n