In this new role, McGregor will oversee the continued growth of global touring businesses across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the UK, Europe, and North America. This portfolio includes TEG Live, TEG Dainty, TEG Van Egmond, TEG MJR, Handsome Tours, Laneway Festival, TEG Asia, TEG Live Europe and TEG North America.

TEG Group CEO Geoff Jones confirmed that McGregor’s new role will be effective today (August 16th).

“I am delighted to appoint Tim to the Global Head of Touring role,” said Jones. “Tim’s outstanding track record in the live entertainment industry draws on more than three decades of experience. His in-depth industry knowledge and excellent business acumen make him the ideal choice to lead the overall Concert and Festival Touring strategy for TEG across the Globe. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Tim in his new role to drive growth and success for the TEG Business.”

McGregor added, “I am excited to further my remit with TEG to build its Touring operations locally and globally. I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved to date, but this is only the beginning. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Geoff for this opportunity and his ongoing support. We’ve been on a long journey together, and I look forward to embarking on the next phase of TEG with Geoff and the Senior Leadership Team.”

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Based in Montreal, Canada, Melko Ross will spearhead Outback Presents’ Canadian operations and drive the company’s international business development and expansion strategy. Her extensive experience and strategic vision will be instrumental as Outback Presents continues to grow its global footprint.

“Everyone at Outback Presents is excited to have Christine join the team,” says Outback Presents Co-CEO Michael Smardak. “Her extensive achievements and experience in comedy will be invaluable to our global growth. We are very proud to have her join us.”

“I am very excited to work with Mike Smardak, Brian Dorfman and the entire team at Outback,” adds Melko Ross. “They have built an amazing roster of successful touring talent and have done a fabulous job at establishing themselves as the largest independent promoter in North America. Together, we will strive to elevate Outback to the global stage. We cherish similar values in ensuring a great audience and artist experience, and I can’t wait to get started!”

Melko Ross has over 35 years of experience producing and promoting thousands of comedy and music shows. For the past 23 years, she has been an integral part of the Just For Laughs Group, where she has worn many hats and left an indelible mark on the comedy landscape.

At Just For Laughs, Melko Ross was instrumental in running the renowned Montreal Festival, launching the Toronto Festival and creating the company’s highly successful Touring division. She’s worked with comedy giants like Jerry Seinfeld, Trevor Noah, Tom Segura, Hannah Gadsby, Bill Burr, Iliza Shlesinger, Sebastian Maniscalco, Rick Mercer, Jimmy Carr, John Cleese and Eric Idle, as well as unique events such as “The Simpsons: In the Flesh” (starring Matt Groening and the Simpsons cast) and “Ryan Reynolds, Maximum Effort, A Funny Conversation.”

Melko Ross’s influence extends beyond North America. She has produced and developed international festivals in Sydney, Bermuda, Mexico, London, Austin, and Chicago, often collaborating with major industry players.

Before joining Just For Laughs, Melko Ross honed her skills as the lead talent buyer for Donald K. Donald/Universal Concerts/House of Blues Concerts, booking numerous music shows and managing tours for high-profile artists like The Backstreet Boys and Leonard Cohen.

A native of Lansing, Illinois, and a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, Melko Ross began her career with Paulette Wolf Events & Entertainment in Chicago. Her diverse experience, including managing corporate hospitality for prestigious events like the Kentucky Derby, laid the foundation for her remarkable career in entertainment.

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After leaving Live Nation in April 2024, following a 14-year tenure, Field has set up the agency to support businesses looking to enter the live events sector.

Further Afield will focus on business development, market insights, and industry advocacy, aiming to help companies from various industries integrate live entertainment into their offerings.

Field expressed his enthusiasm for remaining connected to the live events industry: “I’m still engaged with the live industry I know and love while also building a growing portfolio of contacts in related industries that want to diversify their offering to include live entertainment and ultimately improve the experience for all customers and fans,” Field said.

“My previous role leading an APAC organization of 300-plus people and tens of millions of dollars turnover gave me the privilege of dealing with prime ministers, premiers, politicians, media and peak bodies, leading to a significantly improved appreciation of the capability, scale and value of the live industry.”

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Founded by Jazz Drummer Al Williams, the LBJF is the only Southern California Jazz Festival taking place on a gorgeous grassy knoll on two separate stages in a beautiful waterfront setting. It features some of the top artists of the year and includes VIP seating in an incredible outdoor setting.

Headliners for this year’s festival include Michael Lington and Nathan Mitchell on Friday, Jonathan Butler, October London and Gerald Albright on Saturday, and Keiko Matsui, Kirk Whalum and Jeffrey Osborne set to close out the festivities on Sunday night. Many others take the stage throughout the 3-night music extravaganza. Kimberly Benoit, Rainbow Promotions President, says the key to the successful 35-year run of the festival is consistency.

“For more than three decades, our family has been delivering an incomparable experience. What we create in the form of ambiance and great entertainment has established the Long Beach Jazz Festival as a premiere event that fans of great music look forward to every year,” says Benoit. “We are excited to recognize this milestone year as a testimony to our dedication, love and legacy!”

In addition to three days and nights of amazing music, the LBJF features a second stage with guest speakers and entertainment and a Health and Wellness Pavilion for physical, mental and financial literacy featuring guest speakers TV personality Kiki Shephard, Heavyweight Champion Boxer Joe Hanks, Celebrity Chef Chef Tae Enay and more. Attendees will also be able to feast on some of the most mouth-watering specialty food vendor creations in the city and shop for everything from jewelry to one-of-a-kind fashion pieces and art at one of the many vendor booths. All this and more keep fans coming back year after year!

“What I enjoy the most is seeing the folks who have been attending the festival since our first year,” concludes Benoit. “I love seeing them have such a great time. It’s like a family reunion. People have gotten engaged in celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, and reunions at the festival.”
Come home to the Long Beach Jazz Festival this August 9-11! For a complete artist line-up and to purchase tickets, visit the official website HERE.

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Sadeghian and Schulz, who have played a vital role in the company’s success for over two decades, are looking forward to their new roles with great anticipation. Their many years of expertise and commitment promise fresh impetus and new ideas for the future of the MCT agency.

This appointment represents a significant milestone in the company’s development and demonstrates MCT Agentur’s commitment to further expanding its leading position in the industry.

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Akman, who is based in Toronto, will help to drive Paquin’s efforts to produce large-scale events, exhibitions, and theatre, film, and television productions, including several projects that are currently in development for broadcast and streaming.

With a resume that includes three decades of experience in media and entertainment, Akman has previously held senior roles at Cineflix Media, Shaw Media, Canwest Media, Alliance Atlantis Communications. He most recently launched Husk Media with veteran showrunner Morwyn Brebner.

Akman’s appointment follows Paquin’s acquisition of the Canadian operations of the global talent agency APA, bringing a client roster of more than 350 artists under representation.

“Andrew’s expertise in media and entertainment and his entrepreneurial spirit make him an ideal fit for Paquin as we continue to expand the range and scale of our global businesses in artist representation, immersive exhibits, live events, brand partnerships, and theatre, film and television,” stated Gilles Paquin, Chairman & CEO, Paquin Entertainment Group.

“Talent is in higher demand than ever as entertainment companies collaborate with creatives and performers to reach global audiences, and Paquin works with many of the most prominent names in the business. There’s immense potential for growth and the company is perfectly positioned to forge connections between fans, brands, and artists across platforms. I’m incredibly excited to join Paquin at such a pivotal stage,” Akman added.

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“We have set a goal to build a more sustainable future for music festivals, which requires taking bold steps to find solutions that can reinvent how we operate and, in turn, build industry trust in new technology so that major live events can see a path towards becoming more energy efficient,” said Jake Perry, Director of Operations and Sustainability at C3 Presents. “Lollapalooza is a leader in sustainable solutions, and we are proud to have aligned ourselves with partners with the same passion and experience to execute this mission.”

“Solutions like the ones Lollapalooza are pioneering not only contribute toward our global Green Nation goal of cutting our emissions in half by 2030, but they provide local benefits as well through reduced noise and air pollution, which creates a better experience overall for the artists, fans and crew,” said Lucy August-Perna, Head of Global Sustainability at Live Nation. “We look forward to sharing the results and learnings from Lollapalooza with our network of over 200+ festivals worldwide who are committed to raising the bar for more sustainable live events.”

Lollapalooza 2024 will also feature an activation from conservation organization Re:wild, which became an official global Lollapalooza partner earlier this year. The organization, founded by a group of renowned conservation scientists and Leonardo DiCaprio, will speak directly with music fans to educate them on ways to rewild their daily lives and communities. Re:wild encourages plant-based diets as animal agriculture is the biggest driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem destruction. Simply put, they believe choosing more plant-based foods is the best thing an individual can do for the planet. While Lolla’s food hub, Chow Town, has always featured a selection of plant-based food options, the festival has expanded this offering by developing Plant Base. This stand-alone food court will feature multiple vendors serving entirely plant-based food options.

As an Illinois Sustainability Award recipient, Lollapalooza is committed to sustainable festival practices in the field, behind the scenes and through the preservation of the ever-beautiful Grant Park. This commitment is integrated into every area of the park, from recycling and composting to eco-friendly service items at Chow Town, as well as Hydration Stations that provide patrons free, filtered water and the TURN reusable cup system, which collectively help avoid millions of single-use plastic cups and bottles. Additionally, Lollapalooza uses biodiesel for all generators and equipment and funds renewable energy projects through carbon offset purchases.

Lollapalooza 2024 kicks off at Grant Park on Thursday (July 31). It will feature SZA, Tyler, The Creator, blink-182, The Killers, Future X Metro Boomin, Hozier, Stray Kids, Melanie Martinez, Skrillex and many more in the heart of downtown Chicago. Limited tickets are available at www.lollapalooza.com.

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Based in Montreal, Kaszor joins the team of MRG Group promoters and talent buyers focused on the North American market.

“Robyn’s industry expertise and proven success make her an invaluable asset to our experience business,” said Matt Gibbons, President of The MRG Group. “Her alignment with our values and her outstanding reputation speak for themselves. We are excited for the growth and opportunities she will bring.”

Kaszor joins MRG from Just For Laughs where she spent the last 18 years, most recently holding the post of Vic President of Festivals with oversight of the company’s festivals in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

She also booked comedy events in theatres and arenas, working with comedians such as Kevin Hart, Bill Burr and Ali Wong, among others.

Originally from Halifax, Kaszor got her start in the industry promoting electronic music events before relocating to Montreal.

“I’m genuinely thrilled to join the MRG team and have long been an admirer of their work,” Kaszor added. “I’m excited to work with their incredible team and help expand MRG Groups comedy footprint across Canada and internationally.”

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According to Live Nation, revenue for the quarter topped $6 billion, up 7% over the previous year with concerts a key driver of those results. In the second quarter, Live Nation’s concert business accounted for 82.8% of all revenue, up slightly from 82.3% during the same period in FY 2023.

Operating income during the quarter improved by 21% to $466 million, while adjusted operating income grew to $716 million, a 21% improvement over Q2 2023. The adjusted operating income margin from concerts during the quarter set a record at 5.4%

For 2024, Live Nation’s venue division, Venue Nation reported attendance from 24 million fans year-to-date, up 10% while revenue from onsite spending at festivals and amphitheaters improved by double-digits, the company said.

On the ticketing side, revenue improved by 12.1% to 730.6 million while adjusted operating income was down slightly year-over-year to $292.5 million.

According to Live Nation, 183 million fee-bearing tickets have been sold this year, up 3% from 2023, despite reduced stadium activity.

Revenue from sponsorships and advertising grew by 5.2% during the quarter to $302.8 million and are up by 28% year-to-date.

While the company’s Q2 numbers were strong, Live Nation warned that the company is facing some headwinds, including an additional $94 million in costs related to the Astroworld litigation, which topped $280 million this year.

Additionally, Live Nation anticipates a larger impact from foreign currency exchange rates on its net income for the remainder of 2024.

“We continue to see strong demand globally, with a growing variety of shows attracting both casual and diehard fans who are buying tickets at all price points, which speaks to the unique experience only live concerts can provide. Venue Nation’s strategic investments in hospitality and infrastructure are driving strong returns as more attendees maximize their onsite experiences. While operating income will be impacted negatively by one-time accruals, we are on track to deliver double-digit AOI growth for the year and look forward to a very busy 2025,” stated Michael Rapino, President and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment.

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For 18 years, MAMMOTH Touring has collaborated on tours with a long list of major artists, including Cardi B, Rod Wave, Future, Turnpike Troubadours, KANSAS, Mamamoo, Moneybagg Yo, Chapel Hill, Future, Ms. Lauryn Hill & Fugees, In This Moment, Lil Baby, Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker, and more. This year is proving to be influential for the company, which, along with AG Entertainment Touring, has just announced that they are producing acclaimed Hip-Hop artist JT’s City Cinderella Tour and Jamaican Dancehall legend Buju Banton’s US tour.

Owens and Brown’s leadership is driving the success of the new department. Owens was named President of Global Touring in April 2023, while Brown is the latest addition to the team, joining in September 2023 as President of Global Tour Marketing.

Owens says, “I’m proud to be part of a team that has such a strong track record. We are focused on growth, creating long-lasting partnerships, and continuing to expand MAMMOTH’s imprint domestically and internationally.” Owens and Brown lend their extensive experience working alongside the rest of the MAMMOTH team and their partners AG Entertainment and CTS Eventim.

Owens is based within the company’s new touring office headquartered in Nashville, TN, adding to the continued growth of a nationwide operation. With a highly accomplished background in the entertainment and booking industry and more than 25 years of experience, Owens knows the ins and outs of the field. His wide-ranging expertise from booking shows and tours for Glass Animals, Maggie Rogers, Rufus du Sol, Odesza, and Maren Morris, among others, adds another element to the MAMMOTH team.

Brown, a St. Louis native with nearly three decades of marketing experience, is excited about the future, “Being part of a team charged with launching a new component of an already proven industry leader like Mammoth is a professional milestone,” Brown added, “Mammoth has some exciting live entertainment announcements coming this year, and I’m eager to lead the marketing team to success.”

Before joining MAMMOTH, Brown held several positions at Live Nation (LN), including Vice President (VP) of marketing in the Midwest. Throughout her career, Brown has been a driving force in marketing shows for global superstars and box office behemoths like Beyonce, Billy Joel, Kevin Hart, Luke Bryan, and Janet Jackson.

JT’s City Cinderella Tour was announced in July 2024. The tour kicks off on August 20 in Kansas City and will stop in 21 other cities across the US, including Dallas, TX. Chicago, Washington, DC, Philly, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles.

MAMMOTH will continue to expand its footprint in the US and globally, pursuing unique partnerships with artists, independent promoters, and venues.

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