Live Nation Entertainment, the most powerful music company in the United States, has announced plans to start a concert business in Australia.
Luke Hede, Vice President of Promotions for Pacific Rim and Roger Field, Vice President of Promotions for Australia and New Zealand will run the Australian operation.Live Nation Entertainment began last year following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster following Ticketmaster’s merger with Irving Azoff’s Front Line Entertainment management company.
The combined business own artist management including the Eagles and Christina Aguilera, the ticketing business of Ticketmaster and the live touring business and venues including the House of Blues chain of Live Nation.
Annually the company produces and promotes more than 22,000 events worldwide.
Live Nation became a rival to traditional music labels when it started to sign artists directly years ago. The company is now home to Madonna, U2 and Jay-Z. This means those artists now record, tour and play in venues owned by Live Nation Entertainment and fans by the tickets directly from the company.
Live Nation Entertainment has more than 5000 full-time employees around the world and more than 15,000 part-timers.
The Australian move will prove an uncomfortable challenge to the four major Australia touring companies Chugg Entertainment, Frontier Touring Company, Michael Coppel Presents and Dainty Consolidated.
Live Nation Entertainment Australia will be based in Melbourne. No major tours have been announced at this stage.
