Bowery Presents Drops Namesake Ballroom, Mercury Lounge

The Bowery Presents is parting ways with Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge, two of New York City’s nightclub mainstays, as rumors fly that Live Nation may soon step in to replace the departing talent buyer, the latest twist in a somewhat tortured history.

– The Bowery Presents

Multiple sources have reported that Live Nation is expected to move in to book the two venues, but that has been confirmed by none of the three entities.

The Bowery Presents and AEG announced a partnership in January after months of speculation, but the agreement did not include acquisition or leases on the 575-capacity Bowery Ballroom or 250-cap Mercury Lounge.

Should a Live Nation takeover occur, it could mark just the latest broadside between the two promotion giants. AEG and Live Nation, respectively, produce the competing Panorama and Governor’s Ball festivals on Randall’s Island, and AEG/Bowery Presents has been making inroads in the Big Apple with recent booking agreements at 3,000-capacity Terminal 5, Rough Trade (250) and The Music Hall of Williamsburg (650) in Brooklyn.

AEG/Bowery also counts Webster Hall, soon to go dark for renovations, and the new 1,800-cap Brooklyn Steel among venues in its NYC portfolio.  Live Nation controls the Gramercy Theatre (650), the recently acquired Warsaw (950), and Irving Plaza (1,092) in the same venue space.

John Moore and Michael Swier, who also owns the Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge, cofounded The Bowery Presents in 1993. Jim Glancy was brought in as executive VP in 2006.

Swier was bought out of The Bowery Presents in 2010 but retained ownership of the clubs.

“After careful thought and consideration, The Bowery Presents is parting ways with Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge,” Moore said in a statement to Pollstar. “We have a long history with the venues as the exclusive booking and marketing arm and wish them well in the future.

“On the heels of our recently opened Brooklyn Steel, the largest GA room in Brooklyn, and taking over booking duties for Webster Hall, we are constantly exploring new opportunities for music-lovers in New York City. Stay tuned for more announcements from The Bowery Presents very soon!”

Swier was unable to immediately comment to Pollstar.