Spotify and Live Nation Urban have officially launched RNB X Live: The UK Sound, a two-city concert series designed to spotlight the next wave of British R&B talent in the United States.
First, the showcase begins on 21 August 2025 at August Hall in San Francisco and then continues on 27 August 2025 at Irving Plaza in New York.
The featured line-up includes KWN, Odeal, Elmiene, Sasha Keable, and Venna. Spotify’s flagship R&B playlist, RNB X, powers the event, championing genre-defining global talent.
Presale demand surges as tickets go live
Presale access for RNB X Live: The UK Sound opened on 31 July 2025 at 2 PM ET via Live Nation and 5 PM ET via Spotify Fans First, generating high demand from fans. General ticket sales officially open on 1 August 2025 via Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s platforms.
The series follows the success of Spotify’s RNB X After Hours showcase in Washington, D.C., which featured major acts such as Normani, Bryson Tiller, and Leon Thomas.
According to Spotify’s editorial team, this new initiative aims to amplify local R&B movements globally through immersive live experiences.
Showcasing the artists defining the UK sound
Spotify and Live Nation Urban feature KWN, Odeal, Elmiene, Sasha Keable, and Venna performing across both San Francisco and New York as part of the RNB X Live: The UK Sound concert series.
Alaysia Sierra, Spotify’s Head of R&B Editorial, explained that the UK’s R&B legacy, from Sade to Cleo Sol, has been pivotal in shaping the genre’s global evolution.
She added that, moreover, the concert series offers fans “an immersive way to tap into that energy”, thereby spotlighting genre-pushing British talent on an international stage.
RNB X Live: A strategy for globalising UK R&B
The launch of RNB X Live: UK Sound reflects Spotify’s ongoing strategy to globalise R&B through a mix of curated playlists and live showcases.
Live Nation Urban, a division of Live Nation Entertainment, specialises in promoting hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and other culturally significant music and events, making it the ideal partner for this initiative.
This collaboration marks another strategic expansion of Spotify’s live music footprint, following successful initiatives such as R&B First Nights and OUTSIDE.
The concert series will attract a broad US audience and industry attention, elevating the profile of the UK’s emerging R&B stars.
