Pollstar + VenuesNow 2022 Women Of Live: Joyce Smyth

The Rolling Stones
Manager

The Rolling Stones’ “No Filter Tour” topped Pollstar’s year-end charts and brought in a mind-boggling $10 million per show, adding up to $115.5 million over the course of just two months. The band has always been at the cutting edge of music, and their manager, Joyce Smyth, is one to make great things happen.

“I would have to say that the 2021 No Filter tour, which was a COVID-postponed tour from 2020 was a real milestone,” Smyth told Pollstar. “It was incredibly challenging getting protocols in place to keep our band and entourage COVID-secure in every tour city to ensure we avoided having to postpone or cancel any shows and disappoint fans.”

After their immense successes last year, The Rolling Stones plan to do it all again – and more – in the next year, including a recent announcement that the band will be hitting stadiums in Europe.

“2022 is a very special anniversary year for The Rolling Stones – 62/22 – how amazing is that! There will be many exciting projects (we fervently hope) so at the risk of sounding crass please keep your eyes out for further news.” 

Smyth also serves as the CEO for Glastry, with the company working to highlight women in the music industry and open doors for opportunity.

“As a female-led company we are always trying to champion and spotlight the many fantastic female industry leaders,” Smyth said. “As a company, we have a Board that is 50/50.”

In the midst of supply chain shortages and all the other struggles facing the industry, Smyth is still grateful to be able to see the return of live performances. 

“In May 2021 London theatres reopened and I went to see a revival of ‘Les Miserables,’” Smyth said of her first show back. The show program highlighted what the performers had been doing during a 14-month lockdown, which ranged from working in supermarkets or on building sites to being Amazon drivers. To see these hugely talented individuals back on that barricade was quite simply life-affirming. They cried and we, a completely masked audience, cried as we spontaneously stood and sang, ‘It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again’… Sheer heaven!”