Usher, U2, Expletive-Deleted Drake, Britney Spears Highlight The 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival

Two Nights In The Desert

U2 brought the rock 'n' roll, USHER had LIL JON and LUDACRIS, BRITNEY SPEARS showed off moves from her LAS VEGAS residency and DRAKE let fly a bunch of censored epithets as the sixth iHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL played to two sold-out houses at the T-MOBILE ARENA in LAS VEGAS.

FRIDAY night's headliners U2 and DRAKE topped a lineup that also featured performances from SIA, TWENTY ONE PILOTS, SAM HUNT,  ONE REPUBLIC and BILLY IDOL, who opened the show and was joined for a version of "Rebel Yell" by surprise guest MILEY CYRUS (NET NEWS 9/23).  Neither U2 nor DRAKE appeared on the www.cwtv.com livestream, while the latter's obscenity-laced set was heavily edited on the iHEARTRADIO audio feed. 

 BONO and the gang made sure to reference public events -- name-checking both CHARLOTTE and TULSA during their rendition of the MARTIN LUTHER KING-inspired "(Pride) In The Name Of Love."  TWENTY ONE PILOTS also solidified their grip on the Top 40 airwaves with their performance, while SAM HUNT also received a warm reception.  iHEARTRADIO/MACY's RISING STAR winners LOS 5 also appeared on the livestream, performing a well-received four-song set before the regular part of the show.

SATURDAY afternoon the DAYLIGHT VILLAGE bill, which took place across from the LUXOR HOTEL AND CASINO at the LAS VEGAS VILLAGE, sported a collection of acts featuring first-night performer SAM HUNT and second-night act CAGE THE ELEPHANT as well as PANIC! AT THE DISCO, ALESSIA CARA, TROYE SIVAN, HAILEE STEINFELD, GOOD CHARLOTTE JEREMIH, LISSIE, COLD WAR KIDS, DAYA, THE CHAINSMOKERS, BRYSON TILLER and DNCE (NET NEWS 9/24).

SATURDAY night, headliners USHER and STING performed songs from their new albums, while BRITNEY SPEARS led off the show and FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE surprised everyone by bringing on special guests the BACKSTREET BOYS, who hyped their upcoming VEGAS residency next year with their own mini-set. ARIANA GRANDE and PITBULL demonstarted their unique abilities to galvanize an audience, as TEARS FOR FEARS single-handedly revived the '80s new wave with their own rapturously received set (NET NEWS 9/24).

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