2013 Today Show, GMA Concert Series Kick Off May 24th (Schedules)

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, it's time for the free morning TV-show concerts to get underway, and you'll find the schedules for "The Today Show" and "Good Morning America" series below.

See Today Show and GMA summer concert schedules below.

"Today" show summer concerts are held outside NBC studios in Rockefeller Center, with one exception: tomorrow's kickoff show, featuring indie-pop band Fun, will take place at the Jersey Shore. The GMA summer concerts take place at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. See the links for each series' show times, entry procedures, etc.
Enjoy!

(Editor's note: We'll be posting articles in the new future on SummerStage, Celebrate Brooklyn, and other free concert series. And we'll be posting on a regular basis again.)

"The Today Show" Concert Series:
May 24 - Fun (at the Jersey Shore)
May 31 - New Kids on the Bock, 98 Degrees, & Boyz II Men
June 7 - Lionel Richie
June 14 - Maroon 5
June 21 - Hunter Hayes
June 28 - Phillip Phillips
July 5 - John Mayer
July 12 - Ed Sheeran
July 19 - Fall Out Boy
July 26 - Train
August 2 - The Band Perry
August 9 - Michael Buble
August 16 - Luke Bryan
August 23 - One Direction
August 20 - Chris Brown

"Good Morning America" Concert Series:
May 24 -  Mariah Carey
May 31 -  Pitbull
June 7 - Little Mix and Emblem3
June 14 - Carly Rae Jepsen
June 21 - John Legend
June 28 -  Demi Lovato
July 5 - Imagine Dragons
July 12 - OneRepublic
July 19 - Jennifer Lopez
July 26 - Selena Gomez
August 2 - Ne-Yo
August 9 - Kenny Chesney
August 16 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
August 23 - The Wanted
August 30 - Alicia Keys

Free "Today Show" and "Good Morning America" Summer Concerts Schedule

Better late than never, below I present the schedules for the Summer 2012 free concerts that will be aired by "The Today Show" (NBC) and "Good Morning America" (ABC). The concerts in both series take place on Friday mornings; the "Today" shows are held outside the program's studios in Rockefeller Plaza, while the "GMA" gigs are at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, the same site as the SummerStage concerts.

The "Today" show and "GMA" free summer concert series are underway.

The "GMA" schedule, you'll notice, is filled with a lot of "TBA"'s, so check back with the "GMA" concert series home page for updates.

Here is the schedule for the remaining concerts in each free summer concert series:

"Today" Show:
JUNE
June 1: The Band Perry
June 8: Chris Brown
June 15: Justin Bieber
June 22: Kenny Chesney
June 29: Maroon 5

JULY
July 6: Flo Rida
July 13: Zac Brown Band
July 20: Hot Chelle Rae

AUGUST
[Updated] August 13: The Fray
[Updated] August 14: Nicki Minaj
[Updated] August 15: Carrie Underwood
 [Updated] August 16: Lionel Richie
[Cancelled] August 17: Shakira 
August 24: Train
August 31: Jason Mraz with special guest Christina Perri

SEPTEMBER
[Updated] Sept. 3: Matchbox 20
[Updated] Sept. 18: Pink

"Additional performances may be announced throughout the season," the "Today" concert series page says. The site also says: "Viewing is on a first-come, first-served basis outside TODAY's window-on-the-world studio, located at 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Fans should arrive by 6 a.m. for best viewing."


"Good Morning America":
JUNE
June 1: Brad Paisley
June 8: Counting Crows
June 15: Beach Boys
June 22: Mary J. Blige
June 29: LMFAO

JULY
July 6: Demi Lovato
[Updated] July 13: Luke Bryan
[Updated] July 20: Karmin and Dragonette
July 27: No Doubt

AUGUST
[Updated] August 3: Ne-Yo
[Updated] August 10: One Republic
August 17: Neon Trees
August 24: The Wanted
[Updated] August 31: The Backstreet Boys

From the "GMA" website: "Viewers interested in joining 'GMA' in Central Park are encouraged to arrive at Rumsey Playfield via the 72nd street entrance on Fifth Avenue at 6 a.m. when the park opens to the public."

Music Notes: Marissa Nadler Interview, More "Today" Show Concerts, Steve Cropper Talks About His Idols

Video for Marissa Nadler's "Alabaster Queen," from her self-titled album. 

Here's a mishmash of musical news, with notes on live performances, interviews with musicians, and more.

• Legendary guitarist Steve Cropper has played with many greats over the decades. On his latest album, he pays tribute to his idols, the 5 Royales. Hear an interview with Cropper here.
• Marissa Nadler is the subject of an interview in The Rumpus. I really like this singer-songwriter's new self-titled album, and will be interested to learn more about her.
• Two more shows have been added to the "Today" Show free concert series: Blondie (on Sept. 12) and Lady Antebellum (Sept. 13) will play the popular early-morning series in Rockefeller Plaza. (Info via NewYorkology.com)
• YouTube has signed a licensing deal with music publishers, ending a four-year legal battle. Under the deal, which covers songwriting rights, YouTube will pay licensing fees to the National Music Publishers Association. According to the L.A. Times, the deal "paves the way for YouTube and Google to begin monetizing user-generated videos that contain music written by artists represented by the NMPA."
• The 10th anniversary of the film "O Brother Where Art Thou" is being marked with the release of a two-CD collection featuring more old-timey music from the movie, featuring artists who weren't on the original disc (which is included as part of the set), such as Van Dyke Parks, Colin Linden, and Alan O'Bryant. It also features more songs from the performers who appeared on the 2001 album.

Schedule for (the Remaining) "Today" and "Good Morning America" Free Summer 2011 Concerts

Florence and the Machine (featuring Florence Welch, above) play the GMA Concert Series on June 24. Photo: Rosario López

For music fans in NYC who don't mind rising really early for the chance to see some big-name pop acts for free, the Today show and Good Morning America summer concerts are a welcome rite of the season. If you don't like waking up quite so early, you can watch the performances on TV. But you'll only see a few songs (maybe a couple), whereas if you're there in person you'll see a longer set and possibly a couple of takes of some songs as the bands warm up.

In a perfect world I would have posted these lists before the series actually started (instead of several weeks in), but there are plenty of shows to come, so better late than never.

All shows for both series take place on Friday mornings.

NBC Today Show Free Summer Concert Series, Rockefeller Plaza
Listed show time: 7 a.m.
June 10 - The Script
June 17 – Kenny Chesney
June 24 – Bruno Mars
July 1 – Pitbull featuring T-Pain and Ne-Yo
July 8 – Blake Shelton
July 15 – Chris Brown
July 22 – Cee Lo Green
July 29 – Journey
August 5 – Maroon 5
August 12 – Zac Brown Band
August 19 – Enrique Iglesias
August 26 – Train
Sept. 2 – Lenny Kravitz

ABC Good Morning America Summer Concert Series, Rumsey Playfield (Central Park):
Listed show time: between 7 and 9 a.m. (the TV show's air time)
June 10 – Jennifer Hudson
June 17 – Selena Gomez
June 24 – Florence & the Machine
July 1 – Beyonce
July 8 – Miranda Lambert
July 15 – Brad Paisley
July 22 – Goo Goo Dolls
July 29 – Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
August 5 – Nicki Minaj
August 12 – American Idol Top 11
August 19 – Taio Cruz
August 26 – TBD
September 2 – Mary J Blige