Henry Cárdenas, founder and former head of promoter Cárdenas, Fernández & Associates (CFA), is starting a new company in Chicago. The move comes after he reached a settlement with Clear Channel Entertainment (CCE) to end a non-compete clause that had been applied to Cárdenas after the promotion giant acquired half of CFA a year ago.
Cárdenas’ new firm, Henry Cárdenas Management Services, will produce and promote music, sports and other entertainment events.
Cárdenas headed CFA, at one point the biggest Hispanic-owned event-promotion company in the U.S., until it was sold in a 50/50 split to CCE and Grupo Televisa (Bulletin, April 10, 2003). That joint venture now operates as Vívelo.
Cárdenas had been barred from working in concert promotion until April 2005; however, the settlement, reached Feb. 17, put an end to that clause.