LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Live Nation announced today that it has consolidated its North American music operations under the leadership of Bruce Eskowitz, who has been promoted to CEO, North American Music. The reorganization brings Live Nation’s North American concert promotion, venue operation and sponsorship and alliances businesses under a single division, uniting their strategic business objectives.
“This reorganization reflects the evolution of our structure to focus on our core live music business,” said Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. “Our concert division is the engine that drives music fans to our local market venues which, in turn, generates sponsorship and alliances revenue for us. By uniting our concert booking division with our venues and alliances division under common leadership, we believe we will better align the divisions’ agendas and achieve better results.”
Mr. Eskowitz commented, “I look forward to taking on this increased responsibility and working to build Live Nation into the most successful live music company in the world. While we will continue to have executives dedicated to each of the concert promotion, venue management and alliances businesses within North American Music, operating these businesses together under one division will create a unified strategy and significant synergy.”
In his new role, Eskowitz will direct the North American local and national live music strategy, including concert promotion, venue management and sponsorship/alliances. He will also oversee the management and expansion of the House of Blues clubs division, as well as the ongoing expansion of the company’s venue portfolio into the small and midsize level.
Live Nation also announced several additional promotions in connection with the reorganization, all of which will report directly to Eskowitz.
Jason Garner has been promoted to the position of President or North American Concerts, where he will oversee concert promotion activities in the United States and Canada. He replaces Charlie Walker, who recently left to work with Charlie Jones at CS&E and Charles Attal at Charles Attal Presents in Austin, Texas.
Russell Wallach has been named President of Alliances, overseeing all national and local sponsorship activities.
Don Watson has been named Executive Vice President of House of Blues, overseeing the HOB-branded clubs and expansion.
David Shuman has been named Executive Vice President of North American finance.
Live Nation’s music business is now comprised of four major divisions: North American Music, led by Eskowitz, International Music, led by Carl Pernow and Paul Latham, Global Touring, led by Arthur Fogel, and Global Digital, led by Bryan Perez. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
