Live Nation has taken over the Secret Sounds Group with a 51% purchase of the Australian company behind Splendour In The Grass and the Falls Festival.
Secret Sounds was founded Powderfinger manager Paul Piticco with partners Jessica Durcou and Kristy Rosser.
Piticco also run Secret Sounds Artist Management, the company behind Bernard Fanning’s solo career and The Grates.
“We started Secret Sounds with the sole mission of introducing Australians to the best artists, events and music possible, and Live Nation is the perfect partner to help us take this goal to the next level. With their support we can continue to curate the lineups that fans love, while also experimenting with new exciting ways for fans to experience live music,” said Ducrou and Piticco, Co-CEO’s of Secret Sounds.
Live Nation Australia was created when the American company bought promoter Michael Coppel’s Michael Coppel Presents in 2012. The company is now Australia’s biggest touring company with tours by Coldplay, Adele, Barry Gibb and James Taylor scheduled over coming months.
Michael Coppel, President and CEO of Live Nation Australia and New Zealand added, “We wholeheartedly welcome Jess and Paul and their teams into the rapidly growing Live Nation Australia family. Our new relationship with the Secret Sounds group confirms Live Nation’s position at the forefront of the Australian live performance industry.”
Live Nation owns over 80 festivals including Austin City Limits, Governors Ball and Bonnaroo.
“Splendour in the Grass and Falls are the two most iconic festivals in Australia,” said Michael Rapino, President and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment. “Jess and Paul have created events that attract the biggest artists in the world but still feel uniquely Australian. We look forward to partnering with them to find new ways to grow our live event footprint across Australia.”
The deal does not include Piticco’s record label Dew Process.
