Live Nation Entertainment - Not Only a Concert Promoter

Live Nation Entertainment

Now you may know Live Nation Entertainment is the largest ticketer, largest concert promoter, and even a venue operator.  What you may not know is that in addition to all of that, they also have a division of artist managers. Although Live Nation has been managing artists for some time with Front Line Management, they have only recently taken over control of the leading artist management company by purchasing the remaining 25% of stock that they did not already own. In February of 2011, when Live Nation acquired Front Line Management, they also acquired over 250 clients including artists such as the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, Neil Diamond, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Chesney, Fleetwood Mac, and Journey.

Irving Azoff (twitter: @irvingazoff)

With their primary business in concert promotions, Live Nation also has an edge up on the artist management competition because of their venue operations and ticketing ability. Not only will Live Nation manage the artist, but they will also book them for performances at one of their many venues and then sell their tickets exclusively through Ticketmaster (which was acquired through a merger in 2010). For an artist working with Front Line Management this may have seemed like a great deal, except for the fact that because of the declining economy Live Nation, at the time, was trying to maximize their profits by cutting costs and the pay of touring artists. However, at the time Live Nation purchased the remaining stock of Front Line, they also named Irving Azoff (the chief executive of Front Line Management) chairman of Live Nation in hopes that he would help the company stay on top of the declining economy.

Today Front Line Management continues to be the world’s top artist management company, managing more than 250 artists including Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Avril Lavigne, Van Halen, and Aerosmith. They are able to give artists a full package when it comes to management. Front Line will manage their careers and concerts will be booked at one of their many venues, which Live Nation will promote. Their tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster, and at those concerts they will sell artist-related merchandise.


- Lisa -