Live Nation has hired promoters Sam Bush and Joe Schiavon, previously of Global, following a record summer for the company.
Bush, who joined Global from AEG UK in 2015, becomes Live Nation's president, UK touring. Schiavon has worked in the industry for 10 years and has promoted concerts by acts such as Jon Bellion, Blackbear, Oh Wonder, Glass Animals, The Dandy Warhols, and De La Soul.
Promoters Kamran Haq and Sean Ryman have also been brought on board by the firm. Haq started as local promoter in Manchester for the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, Architects and Enter Shikari before moving on to work with acts such as Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Creeper and Neck Deep.
Ryman comes from Academy Music Group and has promoted artists such as Taking Back Sunday, Don Broco, The Used, Underoath, Less Than Jake, Slaves and Nothing But Thieves.
Live Nation said the appointments underscored its "commitment to invest in and develop new talent".
"It is with great pleasure that I welcome Sam, Joe, Kamran and Sean to Live Nation," said Andy Copping, Live Nation's executive president of Touring, UK. "Following our partnership with Metropolis Music this year and the addition of these hires, we have further strengthened a formidable promotions team who are dedicated to breaking artists, building careers and bringing even more incredible live experiences to fans in the UK.”
Three million fans attended Live Nation UK festivals and shows across the summer period for concerts by acts such as U2, Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Guns N' Roses, Jeff Lynne’s ELO and Depeche Mode, as well as festivals Parklife, Download, Community, Wireless, Wilderness, Lovebox, Latitude, V Festival, Creamfields and Reading & Leeds.
Upcoming UK arena tours promoted by Live Nation include The Killers, Depeche Mode, Kasabian, J Cole and Phil Collins.
Global Entertainment, which consolidated its status as the UK’s second largest festival operator after securing majority stakes in Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival and Croatia’s Hideout earlier this year, has promoted tours by the likes of Pet Shop Boys and The Vamps, said it had decided to focus on its festival business.
“Two years after we made our first move into the festivals business, we’re the second largest operator in the UK and we’re seeing significant growth," the company said in a statement. "We’ve therefore made the decision to focus on this part of the business and whilst we will still do some touring, we’re prioritising growing our festivals business. As a result, Sam and Joe have moved on and we wish them all the best.
"We’re continuing to expand the festivals business in the UK and internationally. All the festivals have their own established bookers who will continue to programme the festivals and book acts.”
