Executives From Full Stop, AEG, Live Nation, Wasserman & CAA To Take Part In Pollstar Live! Power Players Panel

Jeffrey Azoff of Full Stop Management, Lee Anderson of Wasserman Music, Rich Schaefer of AEG Presents, Lesley Olenik of Live Nation and Mac Clark of Creative Artists Agency will take part in the Pollstar Live! panel “Power Players: Are We In A Market Correction?”

The live entertainment business enjoyed more than two decades of record-setting business on a global scale, interrupted only by two years of pandemic-related shutdown that served to increase demand and add fuel to the box office fire. Finally, and somewhat predictably, the live business experienced its first hints of a plateau in 2024, with global box office receipts relatively flat despite some of the highest-grossing tours of all time working. During this panel, industry leaders will discuss the prospects of a return to the upward trend of contemporary touring, and how a contraction can be avoided. Don’t miss these Power Players in action!

Pollstar Live!, the world’s largest gathering of live entertainment professionals, will take place April 15-17 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. As previously announced, the conference was pushed back to April from its original dates in February to ensure that the conference does not distract critical resources in Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires so that the focus can remain on rebuilding efforts. The three-day conference is the flagship event for Pollstar and offers engaging discussions and keynote conversations led by the top visionaries and executives in the live business along with plenty of networking opportunities.

Pollstar Live! starts with Production Live!, the one-day companion conference that features insightful panels and discussions from industry professionals on all topics related to putting on live events including lighting, video, concert production and more.

The Pollstar Live! schedule will include artist Q&As, interactive industry “Town Halls” and more industry topics and issue-related content than ever before, including genre-specific analyses and sector-oriented drill downs for talent buyers, festivals, venues, promoters, agents, marketers, ticketers, tech, casinos, merchandisers, branding specialists, safety/security professionals and international event producers. Among the topics addressed are Are We in a Market Correction?, South Asian Artists & Markets: Is it a Niche or a Trend?, and State of Mid-Level & Boutique Festivals.

Production Live! will once again seek to facilitate engagement between the primary industry of tour planners, managers, agents and promoters, with the highly-skilled road teams tasked with executing the artist’s vision on the stage. Topics include National Tour Deals vs. Market-By-Market: What It Means for Production Teams, Best Laid Plans: Reconciling Touring Ambition with Reality, DAY-OF-SHOW: Who Has Their Sh*t Together (AND Who Doesn’t)?, and Staying Mentally, Physically and Financially Healthy on the Road, as well as the return of the popular Tour Managers Roundtable: Ask Us Anything!

In March it was confirmed that FireAid LA organizers — including Shelli, Irving and the Azoff family; Geni Lincoln of Live Nation; Gillian Zucker of the LA Clippers and more — will gather to discuss the remarkable series of events that led to staging the two historic concerts that raised more than $100 million for wildfire relief efforts and the astonishing generosity that made it all possible.

Previously confirmed speakers include Warped Tour’s Kevin Lyman, WME’s Josh Kurfirst and Brett Schaffer, CAA’s Ryan Harlacher and Matt Schultz, Danny Wimmer Presents’ Chamie McCurry and Del Williams, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass’ Sheri Sternberg, Paladin Artists’ Bruce Solar, AEG Presents’ Rich Schaefer, Annie Flook of Propeller, Mollie Lehman of Chorus, Meredith Peters of Laylo, Aaron Summer of Mick Management, MusiCares’ Wade Johnson, Backline’s Hilary Gleason, Recovery Unplugged’s Jason Cabello, Life’s Jam’s Rachael Bronstein, C3 Presents’ Bryan Benson, Dreamliner’s Rich Thomson, Oak View Group’s Ray Waddell, Pioneer Coach’s Wayne Linder, Life Jam’s Rachael Bronstein, Messina Touring Group’s Meesha Kosciolek and Kara Smoak, Houston Productions’ Kell Houston, Arrival Artists’ Erik Selz, MGM Resorts International’s Paul Davis, 313 Presents’ Sarah Zawalski, Harris Blitzer Sports And Entertainment’s Sean Saadeh, Wayne Forte of Entourage Talent Associates, LTD, Randy Nichols of Fly South Music / Force Media Management, Steve Schenck of TKO, Stephen Parker of National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Megan Stoll of Duck Club Entertainment, Julie Black of Premier Aviation, David Kiely of Roadshow Services, Mark Larson of Beat The Street, Wayne Linder of Pioneer Coach, Inc., Rich Thomson of Dreamliner Luxury Coaches, Mark DiDia of Red Light Management, Amanda Phelan of Insomniac, Keith Cunningham of KLOS-FM Los Angeles / Meruelo Media, Allison Hagendorf of A-Game Productions, Wasserman Music’s Lee Anderson, Kiely Mosiman and Lenore Kinder, and UTA’s Mike G and Eddie Clemens and Ken Fermaglich.

Stay tuned for more announcements and 2025 speakers.

Pollstar Live! also includes the 36th annual Pollstar Awards celebrating the live entertainment industry’s most innovative artists, venues, companies, tours and executives. Iconic artist Stevie Nicks, acclaimed international promoter Barrie Marshall, legendary promoter Louis Messina, and historic Nashville venue Ryman Auditorium will be inducted into the Pollstar Live! Music Hall of Fame during the Pollstar Awards, which takes place on April 16 at the Beverly Hilton. Yesterday it was announced that the Pollstar Awards will present LA Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer with The Visionary Award, as well as posthumously honoring legendary artist manager Gary Kurfirst with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Pollstar Awards, which takes place April 16 at the Beverly Hilton, will be hosted by iHeartRadio personality Valentine. Yesterday’s announcement notes that iHeartRadio is partnering with the Pollstar Awards for the first time, bringing its vast reach and deep connection to music fans to the prestigious event.

Pollstar Live! 2025 is presented by Lockton and Ticketmaster.

Visit https://www.pollstar.live/ for more information and to register for Pollstar Live!