To those looking to debut new music during a concert set, Travis Scott has a solution: QR codes, delivered by a legion of gigantic overhead drones.
Scott, the music industry’s unofficial king of brand deals and promotional stunts, debuted upcoming single “Escape Plan” during his set at the Rolling Loud music festival this weekend, and to further hype the new track, he commissioned advertising platform MilkMoney for a too-big-to-miss QR code lining the festival sky, made possible by 250 flying drones. Concert-goers who scanned the code were taken to a pre-save link for the single, which doesn’t yet have an official release date. Scott’s reps tell Rolling Stone that the rapper is the first artist to tease new music through this type of technology, but did not share the cost of the project or the number of fans who actually scanned the QR code. The drones also came together to form a giant Cactus Jack logo during the set.
“Everyone knows Travis Scott is one of the best performers in the game, but on Saturday night he took it to another level. Dropping new music and giving fans direct access to the song through a drone installation is unheard of and MilkMoney and Travis made it happen,” Rolling Loud co-founder and co-CEO Tariq Cherif said in a statement.
The gimmick, to be clear, is just the latest in Scott’s ever-expanding empire of zany mad-lib track promotion. Last year, he debuted “Franchise” on the heels of his partnership with McDonald’s, which also saw the rapper selling merchandise including t-shirts and hoodies along with an immensely popular $90 McNugget body pillow. He also premiered “The Scotts” during his infamous Fortnite concert, Astronomical, slingshotting the single to a Number One debut and helping launch a trend of artists putting on concerts inside video games — a strategy that became paramount since touring revenue was sidelined for more than a year during the pandemic — and otherwise partnering with gaming companies on new initiatives.
Considering his own prior stunts, Scott’s “Escape Plan” promotion is comparably tame. It’s unclear how many artists will want to replicate such a spectacle in their own sets, but as the live music business comes roaring back, industry insiders expect more artists to try out more immersive experiences that can grab listeners’ attention in fresh ways. The best livestreams of the quarantine era found novel ways to rope audience members into the performances themselves, and more artists will be looking to bring that type of experimental tech to the in-person concert experience as well.
Maroon 5 officially launched the second weekend of American Express presents BST Hyde Park with a headline performance on London's Great Oak Stage on Friday, 3 July 2026. Taking a short break from their ongoing global Love Is Like tour, the multi-platinum American pop rock band delivered an energetic sold out concert for thousands of fans. The milestone performance reflected just how far the group has come since making its London debut at the intimate Barfly venue in 2005.
Frontman Adam Levine guided the six member band through an uninterrupted set packed with worldwide hits, kicking things off with "Harder To Breathe" after an opening audio tribute to The Beach Boys. The energy stayed high as the group launched into fan favorites including "Animals" and "One More Night," with Levine making his way along the runway to connect with fans gathered at the front of the stage. As the evening sky over London began to glow, "Sunday Morning" provided one of the night's standout moments, featuring an extended guitar showcase from lead guitarist James Valentine. The audience then joined together for huge singalongs to "She Will Be Loved" and the Cardi B collaboration "Girls Like You." The main performance wrapped up with the instantly recognizable whistle melody of "Moves Like Jagger," before an encore featuring "Payphone" and "Sugar" brought the night to an unforgettable finish.
The main stage also welcomed a crowd pleasing set from pop rock band OneRepublic during the late afternoon. Frontman Ryan Tedder performed a string of beloved hits spanning nearly twenty years, including "Stop and Stare," "Apologize," and the hugely successful European streaming favorite "Counting Stars." He also treated fans to a solo medley highlighting songs he has written for artists including Beyoncé and Adele.
Earlier in the day, Jess Glynne attracted a huge audience with spirited performances of chart hits "I’ll Be There" and "Hold My Hand," while R&B singer Ella Eyre impressed with powerful renditions of "Space" and a soulful take on "Crazy." The day's varied lineup also featured opening rock performances from Reading quartet Only The Poets, along with dynamic alternative sets by Bradley Simpson, Pedro Santos, and electronic pop duo VOILÀ across the festival site.
Photo credit: Sienna Lorraine Gray
