Jam Productions is known to many as the independent titan on the Chicago live entertainment scene. You've seen their ads in the paper (or online if you've given up on print), on your ticket stubs and on concert venue marquees across the area. If you've attended concerts in Chicago at least a few of them, if not most of them, have borne the Jam Productions imprimatur. Tomorrow night is your chance to sort of peek behind Jam's curtain and get a whiff of what really drives the internal gears as a few of the company's big wigs don their faded leather jackets and take to the turntables at The Burlington in Logan Square. more ›

Nearly snowed under among all the blizzard talk was news from City Hall yesterday that the bid to privatize Taste of Chicago by Celebrate Chicago LLC was rejected. Celebrate Chicago, the partnership of the Illinois Restaurant Association, JAM Productions and AEG Live, originally proposed a $20 admission for Taste. They later reduced the proposed admission to $10. more ›

The city, after only making a modest profit from last year's Taste of Chicago, received one bid from a private contractor to take over organizing the annual event. And that bidder, if they get their way, is looking to charge a $20 admission fee for folks to have the privilege to gnaw on giant turkey legs. more ›

With Labor Day weekend out of the way, 2010 is entering its autumn years, both literally and figuratively. Pretty soon, we'll all be ringing in 2011, wondering where the hell this year of tea parties, political upheavals and near book-burnings went. For those who want to spend their last moments of 2010 in less ponderous, more dance-worthy fashion, The Black Keys have got you covered. According to Jam Productions' Facebook page, the stylish twosome have announced that, once again, they'll be playing in Chicago on New Year's Eve. Instead of the Riviera, where the Keys played last year, the duo will see in the new year through in the larger though sonically inferior likes of the Aragon Ballroom. more ›

The historic Maxwell Street Market has been through several changes since it first opened in the late 1800s. It was closed down in the mid-90s due to the expressway and new developments and then relocated to Canal Street. In 2008, it moved to its current location on Desplaines Street between Harrison and Roosevelt. The market will now be managed by the city. The Daley Administration terminated its $850,000-a-year contract with JAM Productions, according to the Sun-Times. more ›

We’re not big fans of the outdoor music sheds, but Chicagoist’s suburban upbringing is dotted with warm remembrances of the old Poplar Creek Music Theater. Soon, the tweens of the Northwest suburbs will have similar memories of sitting on the grass as they listen to major label acts they’ve overpaid for, thanks to the Prairie Creek Music Theater, which is scheduled to open next May. According to an article in the Sun-Times by Jim DeRogatis... more ›

Which is better, words or music? more ›

We told you, not that long ago, that Live Nation had purchased the House of Blues chain effectively throwing another Molotov cocktail at Jam Productions in this war for Chicago’s live music scene. Little did we know that quietly, behind the scenes, Jam Productions, who dominates the small and mid-size venues in Chicago, was shoring up their defenses by purchasing the Riviera Theater in Uptown. Riviera Entertainment Properties LLC (same managers and address as Jam)... more ›

This week Live Nation agreed to purchase the House of Blues chain for a cool $350 million. What does this mean to us? No one knows yet as neither company is commenting about what changes the acquisition may bring. Jim Derogatis helps us understand what it could mean for Chicago in terms of market domination by one company ala Starbucks or Microsoft. He also explains how Chicago is unique in that we still have Jam... more ›

Yesterday afternoon Billboard's website added to the Smashing Pumpkins rumors circling the globe with a possible reunion occuring at the August 4-6th Lollapalooza here in Chicago. There's no confirmation of the dates or who will be playing, but the Texas-based Capital Sports & Entertainment are in charge again. The line-up will not be announced for weeks, but Thievery Corporation told Billboard that they would be there. more ›

In a post earlier this week on the city’s concert scene, commenter Hugh objected to the city charging people to sit on the lawn in Millennium Park during last night’s Tori Amos show. Now the Friends of the Park group is adding their voice to those who question the private vs. public nature of the park system’s pride and joy. more ›

Though the summer’s not quite over yet, yesterday’s Chicago Tribune took a look at what’s next for Chicago’s newest music venues. more ›

Clear Channel Communications in a move to have more Chicago street cred has renamed their music operations here to Elevated Concerts. Apparently sick and tired of defending their strong arm tactics and monopolistic-like buyouts during the '90s, Clear Channel is trying to get in our good graces by changing their name, not by changing their practices. Chicagoist finds this akin to a murderer changing his name in order to continue killing while on the lam, but that's just us. more ›

The stage faces the lake, aiming the sound over the water. Concertgoers will get an eyeful of twinkling skyscrapers as a backdrop...

Officials from the Chicago Park District said today that Clear Channel will win a contract to build a 10,000 seat music venue on Meigs Field. So celebrate people! Just think, we'll get at least one more Nickelback concert per year! And can visits from the edgy teen diva of the moment be far behind? And, uhm, seriously, start celebrating. Those armed men in the Clear Channel uniforms waving the "We Own Everything!" flags aren't fucking around. more ›