Hard questions were asked of Live Nation today (Nov. 9) at the third annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards, held at New York City’s Roosevelt Hotel, but answers were vague. An afternoon panel sought to get to the bottom of whether or not Live Nation will be starting its own ticketing company following its recent acquisition of House of Blues.
Michael Rapino, Live Nation CEO, responded to the question with caution. “One thing we know for sure is that we want to have a much more participant stake in the consumer transaction,” Rapino said.
But outside of the “Future is Now” panel, the second day of the touring conference was controversy free. During a discussion labeled “I Will Survive,” which touched on how independent promoters can survive in the modern concert business, Ashley Capps, president of A.C. Entertainment, said it’s becoming increasingly important to jump at the chance to work with as many artists as possible.
“Our strategy has changed over the years,” Capps said. “We try to focus our attention on putting artists in great experiences. Rather than whining, we grab every act that comes through town to be proactive.”
The final day of the conference closed out with roundtable discussions led by Twisted Sister’s Jay Jay French, Ticketmaster’s David Marcus and MAC Presents’ Marcie Allen Cardwell, to name a few, and were later followed by the awards ceremony.
