LN Australia Launches With U2/Jay-Z

Live Nation Australia officially launched with all guns blazing, announcing a team-up of U2 and Jay-Z in December.

The Australasian leg kicks off in New Zealand Nov. 25 at Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland.

It follows with an initial run of four shows in Australia – Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, ANZ Stadium in Sydney and Subiaco Oval Dec. 1-18. All five shows are a co-production with Michael Coppel Presents, which has brought U2 downunder in past years.

Roger Field, joint VP of International Promotions with Luke Hede, told Pollstar, “We’ve been setting up Live Nation Australia for six months, and we’re ecstatic to launch with the world’s biggest rock band and world’s biggest hip-hop star. Both of whom are Live Nation acts.

Field previously worked at MCP, and was involved in U2’s “Vertigo” tour in 2006.

U2’s “360 tour” stage production is touted as the largest to go downunder. It’s allowed ticket sales to start at A$40 (US$35). General admission floor and reserved seats are priced at A$99.99 and will make up 45 percent of ticket allocation.

Live Nation Australia has hit the ground running. On Aug. 23, Field and Hede appointed former Shock CEO Marcus Seal as its Head of Marketing & Communications. While at Shock, Seal set up the company’s in-house touring division Ragged Company.

Industry sources tell Pollstar that Live Nation is currently in negotiations for a January visit by a British superstar.

Part of Live Nation’s future strategy in this part of the world is to set up a tour circuit that includes Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia and South Africa.