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Harry Styles, Bad Bunny Among 2023 Pollstar Award Winners; Chappelle, Grohl & Henley Make Surprise Cameos
The winning streak continues for British superstar Harry Styles. After claiming a Grammy for Album of the Year and Brit Award for British Artist of the Year, Styles added more honors to his mantle with three Pollstar Awards on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
While the pop superstar wasn’t in attendance to accept the trophies in person, other notable entertainment figures were present for the star-studded ceremony, which was hosted by Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. Comedian Dave Chappelle, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Eagles co-founder Don Henley surprised a crowd full of music industry professionals at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
Grohl brought everyone to their feet when he took the microphone on stage to boast about John Silva, who won the Personal Manager of the Year award, and commended the event for honoring live entertainment.
“I have to say there’s nothing like rooting for your local venue and getting fucked up with your lighting crew afterward,” said Grohl, who went on to share the story of how he and Silva, his manager, met in 1990.
“We realized that he was one of us, an avid record collector, a musicologist, and we knew that this person based all of his love of music and his business on integrity, which was something that was very important to us,” Grohl added. “And over the years we’ve had some incredible triumphs and some devastating crises, but the one thing that has kept us together over the years is love. … I truly believe that [Silva and I] are like family.”
Silva, who suffered a loss in his music family with the death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, delivered an emotional speech accepting his award and dedicating it to friends, artists and families he has lost over his 40-year career.
“Losing an artist and a friend is not something I’d wish upon anyone,” he said.
Chappelle brought some levity and won the Comedy Tour of the Year honor and surprised the crowd by walking on stage to not only accept his honor but to pick up another Pollstar award he had previously won.
“Fantastic,” he said. “… After the fucking pandemic, I couldn’t tell you guys how much I missed being on the road with everyone. This last tour was very stressful. I just wanted everyone to know I’m glad that you’re back and stay strong and persevere and it only gets better and better.”
One of the highlights of the evening was the Milestone Award going to the legendary band Eagles, and drummer Don Henley joined the stage to accept the award.
“I appreciate this very much,” Henley said. “We are three shows into our 51st year as a band and touring entity — and feeling every one of them. But we feel very fortunate.”
Bad Bunny also had a big night with his “World’s Hottest Tour,” which won Latin Tour of the Year honors and the Dayum! Award, an honor recognizing the tour’s remarkable business. During his impressive run in 2022, Bad Bunny made nearly $435.3 million across two tours, including his 43-date stadium run with the World’s Hottest Tour, and surpassed Ed Sheeran as the highest all-time highest-grossing live entertainment act in a calendar year.
Coming off a Grammy win, Lizzo claimed the R&B Tour of the Year and other artists to claim awards included Billie Eilish (Pop Tour of the Year), Post Malone (Hip-Hop Tour of the Year), Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe (Rock Tour of the Year), Chris Stapleton (Country Tour of the Year) and Dua Lipa (New Headliner of the Year).
The venues recognized by Pollstar were Bridgestone Arena (Arena of the Year), Ryman Auditorium (Theatre of the Year), Hollywood Bowl (Red Rocks Award — Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year) and Moody Center (New Concert Venue of the Year).
Major Tour of the Year
Harry Styles, Love on Tour
Rock Tour of the Year
Def Leppard/Mötley Crüe, The Stadium Tour
Hip-Hop Tour of the Year
Post Malone, Twelve Carat Tour
R&B Tour of the Year
Lizzo, The Special Tour
Pop Tour of the Year
Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever, The World Tour
Country Tour of the Year
Chris Stapleton, All-American Road Show Tour
Latin Tour of the Year
Bad Bunny, World’s Hottest Tour
Comedy Tour of the Year
Dave Chappelle
Support/Special Guest Act of the Year
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Def Leppard/Mötley Crüe
Residency of the Year
Harry Styles, Madison Square Garden, New York
Family, Event or Non-Music Tour of the Year
Disney on Ice
New Headliner of the Year
Dua Lipa
Music Festival of the Year (Global; over 30K attendance)
Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin, Texas
Music Festival of the Year (Global; under 30K attendance)
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, Rhode Island
International Music Festival of the Year
Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom
Nightclub of the Year
Exit/In, Nashville, Tennessee
Theatre of the Year
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee
Arena of the Year
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Red Rocks Award — Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year
Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California
New Concert Venue of the Year
Moody Center, Austin, Texas
International Venue of the Year
The O2, United Kingdom
Venue Executive of the Year
Josephine Vaccarello, Madison Square Garden
Talent Buyer of the Year
Amy Corbin, C3 Presents
Small Venue Talent Buyer of the Year
Molly Warren, Live Nation
Bill Graham Award — Promoter of the Year
Louis Messina, Messina Touring Group
International Promoter of the Year
Arthur Fogel, Live Nation Global Touring
Bobby Brooks Award — Agent of the Year
Adam Kornfeld, Artist Group International
International Booking Agent of the Year
Emma Banks, Creative Artists Agency
Booking Agency of the Year
Creative Artists Agency
Independent Booking Agency of the Year (Global)
High Road Touring
Rising Star Award
Austin Neal, The Neal Agency
Personal Manager of the Year
John Silva, Silva Artist Management
Road Warrior of the Year
Dale “Opie” Skjerseth, The Rolling Stones and Guns ’N Roses
Transportation Company of the Year
Rock-it Cargo
Concert Visuals Company of the Year
Bandit Lites
Concert Sound Company of the Year
Clair Global
Thank You, Can I Have Another? Award
Austin City Limits
Brand Partnership/Live Campaign of the Year
Everytown for Gun Safety/Harry Styles
Marketing/PR Executive of the Year
Allison McGregor, Creative Artists Agency
WhizBang Award
Coldplay, Music of the Spheres World Tour
Best Hang
Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin, Texas
The Irving Azoff Award: Best Person to Score a Dinner With
Michael Rapino, Live Nation
Life of the Party
Ron Delsener, Live Nation
The Per Cap Award
Harry Styles
The Dayum! Award
Bad Bunny, World’s Hottest Tour
Live Music is Better Award
Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins Tribute at the Kia Forum