Impact NextGen: Steve Ackles

Steve Ackles, global tour promoter for Live Nation, is practically a grizzled veteran of the business, having initially learned the business of touring from the vantage point of a 15-passenger van, as a 16-year-old guitarist in a local Boston band. 

“My band never had a proper manager or booking agent, so I found myself taking on that role for our group,” Ackles says. “What started with a few cold calls to regional venues turned into putting together national tours for the group. We traveled across the country in a 15-passenger van, making stops in as many cities as possible, while sleeping in Walmart parking lots along the way.”

Ackles made many important relationships during that time, which he was able to parlay into a 15-year career, first at AEG Presents in New York City, and now with Live Nation where he has spent four years and had a front row seat to many of the biggest tours and events in a particularly uncertain time.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with artists that I’ve looked up to and been a fan of for many years such as blink-182 and Green Day, and have been fortunate to be a part of the growth of many of today’s biggest artists such as Halsey, Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert, Rod Wave, $uicideboy$, and Tate McRae,” Ackles explains. “It’s been incredible to play a role in amplifying the reach of these artists on a global scale.”

In addition to bringing stars of the highest caliber to global stages, Ackles hasn’t forgotten the excitement of bringing great concert experiences to fans. 

“When I first began promoting shows at the club level, I immediately became hooked by the positive experience I could create for fans by bringing their favorite artists to their respective towns,” Ackles says. “That same energy sticks with me today and it’s a huge driver behind why I enjoy my job. I think it’s important to never forget where you came from and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the careers of others along the way.”