AEG Talks Festivals With K2

AEG Live president and chief exec Randy Phillips has confirmed his company is in discussions with John Jackson, head of London-based K2 agency, to co-produce “worldwide rock festivals.”

Phillips denied U.K. live music industry rumours that his Los Angeles-based company is negotiating to buy K2 but told Pollstar that Stuart Galbraith – whose Kilimanjaro promoting business is co-owned by AEG – is talking to Jackson about “creating festivals on a global level.”

“It’s not in our business model to purchase agencies,” Phillips said when questioned about stories – mainly emanating from Download Festival at Castle Donington (June 13-15) – that AEG was about to buy into Jackson’s agency business.

“Stuart and John are in discussions – I wouldn’t even go as far as calling them negotiations – about producing new festivals in different parts of the globe with a new concept,” Phillips said.

Jackson acts including Slipknot and Slayer have featured high on Download bills since Live Nation started the event in 2003, but both have recently switched from LN to Kilimanjaro Live, Galbraith’s new company, for their U.K. tours.

Phillips says both bands had a good business relationship with Galbraith when he was managing director of Live Nation U.K.

Neither Galbraith nor Jackson was available for comment at press time.

The potential link-up appears to have benefits for both parties, as Jackson’s roster also includes top rock acts including Metallica, Iron Maiden, Guns N’ Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, Mastodon and Hoobastank while Galbraith’s forte has been creating and promoting rock festivals.