Los Angeles, CA (February 12, 2024) – Pollstar Live! set a third straight year of record-breaking attendance. The lauded conference is the world’s largest gathering of global live entertainment professionals and the flagship event week for Pollstar magazine, the leading trade for the global live entertainment industry. The conference, including Production Live! and Pollstar Live!, took place Feb. 6-8 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles and once again tackled the most relevant and informative topics facing the live industry and the larger entertainment ecosystem.
On Tuesday, Production Live!, a full day dedicated to production and transportation in live events, kicked off the conference with opening remarks from Ray Waddell, president of OVG Media & Conferences, which produces Pollstar Live!, Production Live!, and the Pollstar Awards. Highlights of the day included “A Matter of Trust: The Artist/Crew Dynamic in Tedeschi Trucks Band Featuring Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi,” as well as intriguing and educational panels for the live entertainment pros “in the trenches,” such as “Crisis Averted: The Art & Craft of Subverting Murphy’s Law,” “The Next Generation Of Road Warriors Lead The Way,” “Multiple, Sitdown, Residency, Whatever: The Pros & Cons of a Semi-Permanent Production,” and more.
Wednesday morning began with a welcome address from Chairman and CEO of Oak View Group, Tim Leiweke who spoke on the healthy state of the business and its future.
Later that day, Grammy-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jon Bon Jovi was a featured Keynote speaker at “How to See A Million Faces and Rock Them All.” At the panel, Bon Jovi, in conversation with his longtime agent Rob Light, CAA’s Head of Music, discussed his lengthy career, including how he secured his initial airplay, his demanding touring schedule, his decisions to create his own management company, the band today, plus advice to young artists and philanthropy, and much more. At the panel, he was also honored with the Milestone Award, recognizing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band’s 40th anniversary and their significant contributions to the live industry.
In another keynote session exclusively for attendees of Pollstar Live!, executive chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment Co., James L. Dolan sat down with Tim Leiweke for a fireside chat on the spectacular opening of Sphere in Las Vegas and the future of live entertainment.
Additional key panels on Wednesday included “Golden Era 3.0: How Long Will This Boom Last And What Can We Do To Sustain?,” “The Venue’s Role in Booking, Marketing & Maximizing Concerts,” and “The Most Impactful Show Possible: A Look at Sustainability and the Live Music Industry,” just to name a few.
On the evening of the 7th, comedian, actor, host, and author Tom Papa hosted the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards at the historic Wiltern theater. This year’s ceremony celebrated a who’s-who of A-list artists, tours, companies, venues, and executives, including award winners Taylor Swift, Metallica, Post Malone, Beyoncé, P!nk, Morgan Wallen, Karol G, Dave Chappelle, Brandi Carlile, U2, Jelly Roll, The Sphere, Austin’s Moody Center, The Hollywood Bowl, Austin City Limits Music Festival, The Ohana Festival, and more. Celebrities in attendance to accept their awards included Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Dave Chapelle, with artists including Jelly Roll and P!nk accepting via video. Also at the ceremony, legendary agent Howard Rose, longtime agent for such artists as Jimmy Buffett and Elton John, was recognized with the inaugural Pollstar Lifetime Achievement Award, including a video congratulation from Elton. James L. Dolan received the first-ever Visionary Award for “innovation, inspiration, and vision that will have a positive and lasting impact on the live entertainment industry.” To view the Pollstar Awards recap video, click here.
On Thursday morning, co-founder of Ballmer Group and Chairman of the LA Clippers, Steve Ballmer, and Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament, spoke on “Music, Basketball & the Intuit Dome.” The energetic and informative Q&A covered topics including Ballmer’s vision for and construction of the new home of the LA Clippers, the Intuit Dome, its positive impact on the community, what’s coming up next for Pearl Jam, their mutual love of basketball, and more.
Additional final day high points included an early look at the largest, most expensive, and most modern live entertainment arena in the UK and Europe, Co-op Live in Manchester, England (“Co-Op Live Sneak Peek”); “Where To Go & When: Developing the Global Touring Strategy;” “Sphere: Redefining the Future of Live Entertainment”; “Genre Spotlight: Country!”; and more. Pollstar Live! concluded with the highly anticipated “Agents Live!” happy hour networking.
For recaps of the conference, visit the Pollstar Live! editorial hub at https://news.pollstar.com/2024/02/05/pollstar-live-2024-hub/
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About Pollstar:
Since its founding in 1981, Pollstar, The Voice of Live, has been the premier trade publication dedicated to covering the worldwide concert industry. Pollstar data is the leading resource for the touring industry encompassing box office numbers, routing, and directories. Pollstar produces a weekly magazine, publishes daily content to Pollstar.com and its “Daily Pulse” e-newsletter, and executes the world’s largest gathering of live music industry professionals – Pollstar Live. Follow Pollstar on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.