The rising cost of air fares, freight, overall supply chain issues and COVID-related compliance are increasing the cost of staging live music events according to leading industry promoters in Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking today during the Promotors Panel at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress in Sydney, Dion Brant, Chief Executive at Frontier Touring; TEG Chief Executive, Geoff Jones and Mark Kneebone, Managing Director New Zealand at Live Nation APAC, each spoke of the challenges promoters are facing as the live music industry recovers from two years of COVID lockdowns across the region.
Against a backdrop of rising inflation, each member of the panel expressed concerns about touring acts, promoters and venues being squeezed in the current market.
To alleviate pressures, Brant suggested that state governments should consider reducing venue hire costs at facilities that they own, suggesting “this would be a real help”.
Jones went on to explain how the formation of the Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF) during the first months of the pandemic shutdown had brought industry stakeholders together and had been successful in highlighting the value of the industry to governments.
Looking back he recalled “it seemed many in government didn’t understand the industry and thought it live entertainment was something people did for fun and didn’t realise the people that this industry touched and the long tail of businesses that work in the live entertainment space.”
Looking forward Jones suggested the industry’s best chance for future support would come from state governments.
Commenting on the situation in New Zealand, Kneebone noted “we were very fortunate in having a Prime Minister (Jacinda Ardern) who was Minister of Arts and Culture at the same time which made having access to those kind of conversations easier.”
Kneebone also commended New Zealand’s events industry insurance programs which went out to suppliers and kept them in business which, he added “is why this summer events and concerts will happen.”
Commenting on the availability of acts, each member of the panel was encouraged at how new acts such as Harry Styles, Justin Beiber, Ed Sheeran had gravitated beyond arenas to become acts capable of filling major stadia, replacing the heritage acts of past decades.
Chaired by Tim Worton, Group Director - Arenas for ASM Global (Asia Pacific), the Promotors Panel is a popular mainstay of the Venue Management Association’s annual Congress.
Overall, the 29th Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress, which concludes tomorrow at the ICC Sydney, has attracted more than 360 delegates and 40 exhibitors.
Image: The Promoters panel at the 29th Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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