74
LOUIS MESSINA, 69
CEO, Messina Touring Group
Last Year's Rank: 61
LOUIS MESSINA, 69
CEO, Messina Touring Group
Last Year's Rank: 61
After shepherding Taylor Swift through her record $250 million-grossing 1989 Tour, veteran promoter Messina restructured his company in 2016 so that Swift and fellow superstars Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Ed Sheeran, George Strait and Shawn Mendes would receive even greater personalized attention. "No one gets lost in the shuffle," he says. "We have four marketing departments. I have my own bus. You've got to be with your artists." Next up: Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's return to touring. Says Messina: "If somebody puts their career in my hands on a live level, I'm taking no prisoners."
Time-Travel Music Fantasy: "I want to go back to when I was 7 and see Elvis again. He's the reason I'm in the business."