The Guardian reporter Adrian Horton and Toronto club-owner Shaun Bowring join Elamin to discuss the concert promoter’s chokehold over the live music industry and its effect on consumers.SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 23: A young fan displays her ticket for Taylor Swift's first Sydney concert outside Accor Stadium on February 23, 2024 in Sydney, Australia.
The Guardian reporter Adrian Horton and Toronto club-owner Shaun Bowring join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to unpack this question, discuss the effects Live Nation's dominance has on consumers, and if their unprecedented growth is sustainable. Most money is made for music artists in touring. There are a lot of legacy touring artists that reliably make money. You have your Phish, the Grateful Dead reboot with John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen — these artists that are touring pretty consistently and making money — and Live Nation controls a good portion of the venues. When I say venues, I'm talking about arenas, stadiums and amphitheatres, those types of bigger venues.