Have you heard of Khalid? If you’re the average age of a newspaper reader, then you probably don’t recognize the name. According to a news release, he’s a “multi-platinum global superstar,” which sounds impressive, considering that people aren’t buying CDs like they used to buy newspapers. He’s known for his hits “Location” and “Young Dumb & Broke” and his chart-topping album “Free Spirit.” He’s worked with other well-known artists such as Marshmello, Billie Eilish, Halsey and Normani. The streaming platform Apple Music describes him as an R&B star “whose music sneaks its way under genre boundaries.” 

So why should someone who’s probably 57.9 care about this emerging star? Well, his scheduled appearance at one of the city’s newest venues, Allianz Amphitheatre at Riverfront, in June 2026 is remarkable in that he’ll be one of the few African American artists to grace its stages as a headliner since it opened in June. 

Perhaps this signals a more inclusive direction for the venue, which, out of nearly 40 acts booked since opening, has hosted only a few Black headliners, including pop group Boyz II Men and retro soul artist Leon Bridges. 

Booking diversity is just one challenge the venue faces. Patrons have complained about parking, lack of shade and neighborhood disruption. There’s a lot of room for improvement, and we hope the stage begins to reflect the city’s full musical and cultural spectrum.