2024 Impact 50 Honoree: Lesley Olenik

SVP, Global Touring
Live Nation

FIRST JOB IN THE BIZ: Talent buyer at Viejas Enterprises
PLACE HER PARENTS MET HER IN-LAWS: Stones underplay at The Echo

One of the big items on Lesley Olenik’s 2024 agenda: Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour,” hitting North America, Europe and Australia, which promises to be one of the year’s major treks. The SVP supersizes her clients’ needs: on previous Eilish outings she’s brought along rescue animals, including a tarantula (!). On this tour, too, the promoter is making sure only fans get tickets via Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange, in states where it’s legal.

She also has Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s “SWEAT” arena tour, Porter Robinson’s “Smile” global tour and ODESZA’s final gigs of “The Last Goodbye” tour including New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Olenik sees opportunities in “supporting and growing emerging global artists in more pockets of the world.” She adds, “These emerging artists aren’t just finding success in their home countries, but all over the world, from Europe to the U.S., and beyond.”
Olenik is passionate about how “artists and promoters can work together for social causes,” pointing to Depeche Mode’s “Memento Mori World Tour,” as the tour “implemented many sustainability initiatives including using TURN reusable cups at various venues to reduce plastic pollution.”

And then there’s Eilish. Olenik says, “In keeping with Billie’s commitment to making a difference in the environmental impacts of her music and touring, a portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales will support organizations that address the impacts of food insecurity and the climate crisis. Sustainability efforts on this tour will also include reducing greenhouse gas pollution, decreasing single-use plastic waste, supporting climate action, and updating concession offerings to promote and encourage plant-based food options with Support+Feed [a nonprofit founded by Eilish’s mother].”

Olenik helps her artists give back, too. A Support + Feed fundraiser in October 2023 raised more than $250,000. Those donations will support the nonprofit’s “programs by providing local communities with educational resources including cooking demonstrations and excursions for youth.”