Re-Branding The Nation

Live Nation continues its restructuring in the post-Clear Channel era with staffing changes, and the closing of some offices and renaming of others to reflect the new brand.

Gone are heritage names including Belkin Productions, Cellar Door, Pace Concerts, and Ritual Presents, with more changes expected.

Pollstar has confirmed the departure of Joel Peresman, former GM of Madison Square Garden, from Ron Delsener Presents in New York City. As previously reported, Jason Wright has moved from Live Nation’s Nashville outpost to Live Nation Chicago, formerly Elevated Concerts.

Offices closed include those in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Virginia Beach, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Birmingham and Minneapolis.

Live Nation Cleveland will take over Ritual’s Cincinnati operations, including booking of Riverbend Music Center, Taft Theatre and Bogart’s venues. The office will also begin servicing Pittsburgh and booking the Post-Gazette Pavilion, Chevrolet Amphitheatre and the Rolling Rock Town Fair.

Ritual’s Detroit office becomes Live Nation Detroit, and continues to oversee booking at the State Theatre, St. Andrews Hall, Millstreet Entry and Shelter.

Birmingham’s Verizon Wireless Center will be booked from Live Nation Houston.

While there had been some industry speculation that Live Nation would close its Houston office with the corporate move to Los Angeles, that’s not the case. A recent announcement has Beckye Levin joining its booking staff as executive VP, where she will oversee markets in Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Taki Pappas, previously responsible for booking Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and clubs in the Houston market, moves to Los Angeles as VP of touring. Christian Larson will take on the role of booking the Houston clubs.

While it appears most offices either have been or soon will be re-branded with the Live Nation moniker, its global touring division under Arthur Fogel will continue to be known as The Next Adventure.

– Deborah Speer