US touring giant Live Nation has acquired Australian promoter Michael Coppel Presents and Michael Coppel will take over as the company President and CEO.
Live Nation
In a statement released today to the New York Stock Exchange, Michael Rapino, US based CEO of Live Nation said, “We have worked with Michael Coppel on a number of tours over the years and are now extremely pleased to be welcoming such a well respected and successful promoter into our international network. Australia is the 6th largest music market in the World and an increasingly important touring market for international artists. It represents a significant part of our opportunity for international growth.”
Staff of the local division of Live Nation, including Luke Hede and Roger Field, will work together with Coppel staff in the new venture to be called Live Nation Australasia.
“I am delighted to be joining Live Nation and look forward to working with Luke, Roger and my current team, together with the touring teams in Los Angeles and London to firmly establish Live Nation as the leading promoter in Australia and New Zealand,” said Michael Coppel.
MCP sells around 1.7 million concert tickets per year. The company has toured Metallica, U2, Eric Clapton, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Roger Waters in Australia. In 2009, Pink alone sold 658,000 tickets in Australia.
Luke Hede and Roger Field have been named Vice Presidents-Promotions responsible to Michael Coppel.
