Australasia News: Live Nation Calls TV Probe ‘Disappointing’; TEG Appoints Shane Harmon; NZ: Eden Fest Refunds

AUSTRALIA

Live Nation Derides TV Investigation As “Disappointing”

Live Nation Australia chairman Michael Coppel slammed a report on LN’s local activities on government-run ABC TV current affairs show “Four Corners” as “disappointing.”

He told “The Project,” another current affairs show on free-to-air Ten Network, that on the day the ABC show went to air (Oct. 14), Oasis had sold 175,000 tix for its four stadium stops Oct. 31 to Nov. 8, 2025.

“It’s a shame, the live industry is going through a boom, (with) so many positives to look at. Yet there’s a focus on the negative,” Coppel said.

“Four Corners” explored allegations of market manipulation, impact on ticket pricing, lessening opportunities for artists, and “maximising profits at the expense of both consumers and artists.”

The thrust was that LN’s arrival Down Under in 2010 saw a consolidation that squeezed the independent sector, and provided fewer opportunities for local music.

“They misuse their market power,” said Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett. “There’s no loyalty to Australian acts. I don’t think Live Nation cares at all about Australian artists, and they are basically calling the shots.”

Asked how LN’s arrival affected competition in the local sector, Chugg Entertainment and Frontier Touring’s Michael Chugg asserted, “They fucked it up, basically.They paid too much for acts. They didn’t care if they made a profit or loss, it was just the share price.”

On “The Project,” Coppel refuted claims of hidden ticket charges, market dominance LN’s impact on grassroots spaces.

“We’re one of three major promoters, we have fairly similar market shares, we compete very very strongly for talent. We in no way dominate the industry. We have six venues out of 2,700, we (Ticketmaster) are the smaller ticketing company.

“Last year we promoted 200 Australian artists, we represent 170 developing artists across the agencies, and we try to expand the field for Australian music, here and worldwide.”

The day after the broadcast, peak body for live arts and entertainment Live Performance Australia said blaming the ills of the sector on one company was “counter-productive to addressing the real issues at stake.”

It added, “No single company dominates the market, as asserted by ‘Four Corners,’” that suggestions companies were operating outside the law or misusing power “should be backed up with hard evidence,” that “what ‘Four Corners’ conspiratorially labelled ‘secret’ or ‘hidden’ fees are actually an established practice under Australia’s consumer law” and dismissed charges LN was responsible for huge ticket price hikes because “average ticket prices for contemporary music have only grown by 2.7% CAGR from 2004 to 2023.”

TEG Hires Shane Harmon As MD Experiences

TEG appointed Shane Harmon as managing director – experiences, effective January 2025. He takes over from Rachael Carroll who remains in the company as managing drector TEG Sport.

Harmon, most recently chief executive at the 34,500-capacity Sky Stadium in Wellington, also held positions at Sydney Swans football club, Rugby Australia and local organising committees for Rugby World Cup 2023 and 2011.

He will be based in TEG’s Melbourne office, reporting to Group CEO Geoff Jones. TEG recently promoted family content as Brickman’s Jurassic World, Paw Patrol Live! and Friends Experience which is about to launch in Sydney.

NEW ZEALAND

Refund Demands Plague Eden Fest

Patrons at Auckland’s Eden Fest are demanding partial refunds after three major acts were no-shows.

The festival, which made its debut last year, went ahead Oct. 12 at Trust Arena Field with headliners singer-songwriters Jorja Smith from the UK and Rema from Nigeria.

But singer Miguel and rapper Busta Rhymes dropped out for various reasons.

British rapper Yung Filly was a no-show after being detained in Australia after being charged two days earlier with rape and sexual assault. He will appear at Perth Magistrates Court Dec. 19 for a committal mention.

Robyn Elizabeth, one of those who called on refunds via the New Zealand Herald, had driven seven hours from Wellington just to see the three acts. “I wouldn’t have come if I had known.”

Another commented, “Strange, didn’t hear anything of Busta pulling out. Now, the set times get released & he ain’t on there. This is … not what I paid for.”

Others, who had paid between NZ$178 ($108.19) and NZ$269 ($163.50) a head, complained they found it difficult to contact organisers.