PARIS (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Not content with being the world's largest concert promoter, Live Nation has become the most prolific producer of live entertainment in France.
Live Nation first moved into the French market in 2007 with the acquisition of Jackie Lombard Productions but eventually parted ways with Lombard and went on to create their own full-fledged French subsidiary, under the stern eye of former jazz festival impresaria Isabelle Gamsohn.
According to French newspaper Le Monde, the French Live Nation operation has grown to 12 employees based in France, many with experience earned while with other companies operating in the market. Live Nation has been aggressive with artists there as well and have signed French rap and R&B artists Raggasonic, Vitaa and Sexion Assault.
Live Nation has also been working on expanding its venue management portfolio in the market, adding most recently Palais Nikaia in Nice. Live Nation has also signed on to produce this year's Big Festival in Biarritz this summer.
Despite these inroads, or perhaps because of them, Live Nation's French unit is grappling with a bit of a public image problem. "A lot of French artists have a negative view about Live Nation, a quasi-political opposition to it" Olivier Poubelle, founder of Astérios Shows told Le Monde. Live Nation is taking steps to address this and has been focusing on producing events featuring developing new artists in the market. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
