Ariana Grande to headline Budweiser MLB All-Star Concert, part of the Pepsi Music Series during 2015 MLB All-Star Week

Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-nominated artist ARIANA GRANDE will headline the Budweiser MLB All-Star Concert, part of the Pepsi Music Series, with musical guest, RIXTON, on Saturday, July 11^th at Paul Brown Stadium during 2015 MLB All-Star Week. The rain or shine concert will start at 8:00 p.m. ET, with gates opening to the public at 5:00 p.m. ET. A special fireworks show will be conducted immediately following the concert. The 86^th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park airs on FOX with coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. The full Pepsi Music Series lineup, which will feature a range of artists throughout MLB All-Star Week, will be released at a later date.

Fans can obtain either a free General Admission Ticket or free On-Field Standing Room Ticket based on availability at AllStarGame.com/Concert beginning Thursday, June 18^th at 9:00 a.m. ET. Free tickets, which may not be sold, must be downloaded, printed and brought to Paul Brown Stadium for entry to the concert. There is a limit of four tickets per individual request.      

"The Midsummer Classic is a global stage for baseball's biggest stars, so it is fitting to be featuring one of music's most exceptional young talents, Ariana Grande, on the All-Star Concert stage," said Tony Petitti, Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball. "Alongside our partners Budweiser and Pepsi, we are certain Ariana will give the fans an unforgettable experience." 

"As always, it is a pleasure to be a part of MLB All-Star Week," said Brian Perkins, VP, Budweiser Marketing. "Major League Baseball has always been a valuable partner of the brand, and they continue to impress with amazing opportunities for Budweiser to activate, not only during All-Star Week festivities, but throughout the baseball season."

"The intersection of sports and music is built into our history at Pepsi, and we are excited to partner with MLB on an All-Star Week music series," said Melissa Duhaime, Senior Sports Marketing Manager at Pepsi.

Within less than a year, ARIANA GRANDE captured the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 twice - first with her Republic Records debut Yours Truly and also with its 2014 follow up My Everything. Yours Truly yielded the game-changing pop smash "The Way" featuring Mac Miller, which went double-platinum, landed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, and seized #1 on the iTunes Overall Top Songs chart. Meanwhile, the platinum-selling My Everything garnered a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Album" and spawned the five times-platinum hit "Problem" featuring Iggy Azalea. Upon the single's release ARIANA became "the youngest woman to debut with over 400K sold first-week," while the song ranked as the 5^th "highest digital song debut for a female artist" and 9^th highest ever. Moreover, it debuted at No. 1 in 85 countries, topping the iTunes Overall Top Songs and Pop Songs charts for four weeks. During release week, My Everything was No. 1 on Spotify as ARIANA personally rose to No. 1 on Billboard's Artists 100 chart. She also became the first woman in history and the first artist since Michael Jackson to simultaneously have three songs - "Problem," "Break Free" featuring Zedd, and "Bang Bang" with Nicki Minaj and Jessie J - in the Top 6 of the Digital Songs Chart. "Bang Bang" went platinum and was Grammy-nominated for "Best Pop Duo/Group Performance."

In 2013, she was named "Best New Artist" at the American Music Awards. Other accolades followed with ARIANA winning "Favorite Breakout Artist" at the 2014 People's Choice Awards, the "Young Influencer Award" at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the "Radio Disney Chart Topper Award," "Choice Female Artist" and "Choice Single" "Problem" at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards, and more. At the 2014 MTV VMAs, "Problem" was named "Best Pop Video" as well.

British band Rixton's Me and My Broken Heart EP featuring their multi-platinum hit single of the same title, climbed to No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart and ranked as one of the most Shazam-ed new tracks in the U.S. with the official video racking up over 61 million views on YouTube/VEVO. Rixton have delivered killer performances on Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Voice, Ellen, The TODAY Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and more, in addition to being featured as an MTV 2014 "Artist to Watch" and a VEVO LIFT artist. Rixton's U.K. single, "We All Want The Same Thing" from their debut album Let The Road is out now via School Boy/Giant Little Man/Mad Love/Interscope Records. The band recently toured with Ariana Grande and will join Ed Sheeran this month. Hailing from Manchester, Rixton are Jake Roche (vocals/rhythm guitar), Danny Wilkin (bass/keys), Charley Bagnall (lead guitar) and Lewi Morgan (drums).

All concert attendees will be screened at security checkpoints before entering the stadium. No umbrellas, ice chests, frisbees, laser pointers, noisemaking devices, or other specified items are permitted. A full list of prohibited and acceptable items is available at AllStarGame.com/Concert.