Australian Music Industry To Set Up Permanent Tribute To Rob Potts

The Australian live music industry is discussing ways to set up a permanent tribute to the late promoter Rob Potts, who died after his motorcycle crashed while on a ride with friends through Tasmania.  

Facebook – Rob Potts, Alan Jackson, Michael Chugg
shared by Rob Potts Entertainment Edge Facebook page.

His close ties with Nashville – which included sitting on the CMA board and this year awarded the Jo Walker Meador International Award at the CMA Awards for his contributing to the growth of country music outside the U.S. – gave him an insight to the international country scene that few Australian promoters had.

Previously: Australian Concert Promoter, Manager Rob Potts Passes

It allowed him to launch, with longtime business partner Michael Chugg, a substantial international country music arena touring circuit that introduced, or increased, the popularity of artists including Zac Brown Band, Brooks and Dunn, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Florida Georgia Line, Toby Keith, Jason Aldean and Dixie Chicks.

Chugg told Pollstar that Potts was “at the top of his game, all his dreams were coming true.” 

The CMC Rocks country music festival which Potts envisioned 10 years ago as the biggest country and roots event in the southern hemisphere started selling out in the last few years. The 2018 edition in March sold out its 18,500 tickets in an hour, generating corporate and government support.

Other aspects of his career were also falling into place. Fangate, his record label joint venture label with Sony Music Entertainment Australia to unearth unknown talent, recently struck an agreement with Nashville producer Keith Stegall’s Dreamlined Entertainment to better reach its aims.

Singer-songwriter Morgan Evans, whom Potts managed and relocated to Nashville believing he could be the next Keith Urban, signed to Warner Music Nashville this year and in October showcased in London before global Warner execs

Dobe Newton, president of the Country Music Association of Australia, told Pollstar that while Potts was a board member of the association, “Among his many contributions, he was a leading advocate for ground-breaking market research which helped raise the profile of local country music and brought it to the attention of the world’s major market.”