Australasia News: Live Nation Acquires Face To Face Touring; NSW Night Time Reforms; NZ: New Faces On EVANZ Board

Restaurants and bars along Darling harbor, Sydney, Australia.
PARTY TIME: Restaurants and bars along Darling Harbor, Sydney, Australia, where the provincial government is looking to boost its night time economy.(Photo by: Bob Henry/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

AUSTRALIA


Live Nation Acquires Face To Face Touring

Live Nation acquired Australian independent tour and festival promoter Face To Face Touring, it announced Dec. 12.

It is its latest acquisition Down Under, following taking majority stakes in Secret Sounds (whose flagship events are Splendour In The Grass and Falls Festival), and Perth-based Mellen Events.

The latest alliance gives LN a better inroad to regional areas. Face To Face came into being in September, following the merger of John Zaccaria’s Perth-based Zaccaria Concerts and Touring and Duane McDonald’s Regional Touring Event Enterprises which is based in Ballarat, in regional Victoria.

Both companies emerged in 2006 and established themselves by taking household names to entertainment-starved regional audiences with brands such as Red
Hot Summer, SummerSalt, By The C, Castaway, Live in The Vines, One Electric Day, Sydney Spiegeltent and Lookout which together draw an estimated 400,000 a year.

Their bills included Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel, John Farnham, ICEHOUSE, Tame Impala, RUFUS DU SOL, Hunters & Collectors, Tina Arena, The Cat Empire, John Butler, The Teskey Brothers, Missy Higgins, Paul Kelly, and Birds of Tokyo.

The LN alliance signifies greater access to international acts. The Face To Face website shows upcoming tours by Queens of the Stone Age, Live, Incubus, Simple Minds, UB40, Cheap Trick and Suzi Quatro.

“By bringing together our companies to form Face to Face Touring we are creating a strong platform for growth,” said John Zaccaria. “Our combined brands and businesses mean increased scale and relevance both in Australia and internationally. … By teaming up with Live Nation, we are poised for even greater expansion with the ability to create something truly amazing and magical for artist and fans all over Australia.”


NSW OKs Reforms To Spark Night Time Economy

New South Wales parliament passed its landmark Vibrancy Reforms law to reignite Sydney’s $3.64 billion (US$2.39 billion) night time economy.

Six areas of change are being implemented from mid 2024. The number of complaints rises to five households before a council acts. The complainant must prove length of residence, and mediate with the venue before complaining.

There’ll be more entertainment precincts and outdoor dining in summer. Streamlined licensing will cut duplication and costs, with incentives as longer trading hours and 80% discounts to venues which host live music.

A plan will be developed to make nighttime economy work more rewarding and safe. Minister for music and the night-time economy John Graham said laws had to change “to value music, to value creativity, to support community and to bring back vibrancy.”

Night Time Industries Association CEO Mick Gibb called the reforms “the beginning of a new era for the night-time economy in NSW and a clear statement of intent from the state government that the night-time economy matters.”

Ticketek On Flight Pattern With Qantas

TEG owned Ticketek struck a deal with Qantas which from March 2024 allows frequent flyers to earn and use points when booking Ticketek live events, and access ticket and travel packages.

The Australian airline’s research showed nearly half of frequent flyers found coordinating flights and hotels a barrier to attending the 20,000 annual sport, music, theatre and arts events they wanted to attend outside their home cities.

TEG’s Sydney-based chief executive Geoff Jones noted, “Almost one in five ticket purchases is made by an interstate or international visitor, which clearly showcases that live entertainment is a major motivator for short-stay travel across borders.”


Ducrou, Watson, Head Sound NSW Advisory Body

Festival promoter Jess Ducrou and artist manager John Watson were appointed chair and deputy chair of the advisory board of Sound NSW, set up by the state government to develop and promote contemporary music.

Ducrou’s Secret Sound stages Splendour In The Grass, Falls and Harvest Rock. John Watson Management’s clients include Silverchair, Missy Higgins, Itch-E & Scratch – E, and co-manages Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel and Gotye.

The 12-person board includes Lucy Joseph of the Live Music Office, Tyla Dombroski of CrowBar Sydney and Vyvienne Abla of Vyva Entertainment, along with reps from labels, unions and publishers.

NEW ZEALAND


New Faces At EVANZ Board

Three new names joined the Entertainment Venues Association NZ (EVANZ) board on three-year terms.

They were Caroline Harvie-Teare, CEO of Venues Otautahi whose half a dozen venues includes Christchurch Town Hall and Hagley Oval; Glen Pickering, services manager at Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts and Events Centre; and Sarah Cowley, chief commercial officer at iTicket.

Re-elected for second terms were James Parkinson, director of Auckland Stadiums; and Mark Mekalick, manager of Trafalgar Centre in Nelson.

At EVANZ’s eight-category awards of excellence, held Nov. 28 in Dunedin, Q Theatre CEO Greg Innes was lauded for his contribution to the industry, while Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin took large venue of the year.