U2 Promoter Opens Aussie Office
Posted by Eddie Ruckus 20 April, 2010 – 7:06 AM
Bono (Getty Images)
The world’s biggest concert promoter has announced plans to set up shop in Australia.
Live Nation – whose personal client list includes little known acts such as U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna and Nickelback – is set to open up its own offices in Melbourne.
More than just a traditional concert promoter, Live Nation has struck some of the biggest music deals of recent times.
In 2008, it signed a 12-year deal with U2 – rumoured to be worth well over $100 million – which saw Live Nation become the band’s exclusive international tour promoter.
This all means that Live Nation should now be the direct promoter of U2’s next Australian tour – whenever the hell that might be! – rather than licensing the act out to a local promoter.
What effect will this have on local concerts and ticket prices? It’s impossible to say, but there are many very vocal critics in other countries that say Live Nation – who this year merged with Ticketmaster – run their international tour business like a monopoly.
According to the company’s own stats, Live Nation in 2009 promoted 21,000 concerts around the world, selling 140 million tickets.
