Live Nation to Restore Hollywood Palladium

Chances are if you're going to a Hip-Hop show at a House of Blues anywhere in the country or a bigger venue, Live Nation is putting that show on. The L.A.-based company's announcement Wednesday that it has signed a long-term lease with the Hollywood Palladium should mean that the 4,000 capacity venue will be the spot to see some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists in the years to come. L.A. has lacked that mid-size venue for years, with the Staples Center being the arena for big wigs and Gibson Amphitheatre (formerly Universal Amphitheatre) being the next in line.

Hip-Hop in L.A. has been relegated to smaller venues because venues probably don't want to deal with security nightmares and already have enough rock acts to fill a year's calendar.

Live Nation has also partnered up with Guerilla Union to throw Rock the Bells Festival in New York on July 28th. That show will be at Live Nation-promoted Randall's Island in Queens, and is already sold out, meaning NY's finest will have to reckon with a few dozen thousand heads who love some Wu and Rage.

Gotta love it.

- Slav Kandyba writes Hip-Hop Files.