2025 Pollstar Live Hall Of Fame Inductee Barrie Marshall: A Masterclass In Excellence

One thing that stands out about Barrie Marshall is his humility. You cannot help but notice it in an industry where egos run wild, particularly once reaching the stratospheric heights Marshall and his team at Marshall Arts Ltd. have. He uses the word “honor,” when describing what it’s like to work with an incredible roster that includes Sir. Paul McCartney, PINK and Elton John. He’ll always give you the time of day, even when he’s busy. And he usually insists on answering interviews in written form, so he can dedicate the proper time to respond.

When Marshall was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the Queen of England herself in 2017 at the New Year Honours, he said he was surprised and overwhelmed by the honor, and by the kind words he received from friends and partners around the world.

“This award isn’t just for me. It is for my great teams both here in London and in L.A.,” he said. “All the talented production crews who have given me so much support on our many world tours -often in ‘uncharted territories,’ where the word ‘challenge’ is real!”

He even suggested the many Pollstar Awards for International Promoter of the Year he’s won over the years “played no small part in this very special recognition.” His unwavering concern for his artists became apparent when he said, that “the joy that this MBE has brought me is also tinged with great sadness, as we lost one of the world’s most superb talents when George Michael passed away on Christmas Day. It was devastating to think that glorious voice would never be heard live again. But we must be grateful that his music will live on for all to enjoy.” Marshall’s whole career has been in pursuit of excellence, ever since taking his first shot at promoting, working for the legendary Beatles promoter Arthur Howes in the 1960s. Another mentor was industry pioneer Bill Graham, who Marshall once described as his “hero.” He had met him in San Francisco and recalled how he was “so influenced by the style and imagination of his concerts.

They were events. Events are what we need in this business. It’s a moment in people’s lives that lives on in their memories. In fact, music is memories.”

From promoting the first-ever show at London’s Roundhouse when the legendary Stax/Volt roster toured Europe in the 1970s to working with Tina Turner, Cher, Sade, Lionel Richie and countless others, to accompanying the incredible careers of McCartney, Elton, and a 20-plus-year working relationship with PINK – Marshall has more than a few stories to tell.

One that changed his life was meeting and working with McCartney over 30 years ago.

“It had a huge impact, teaching me discipline and respect, because he knew exactly what he wanted to do and I had to stay extremely focused to his standard of excellence,” Marshall told Pollstar in 2019. Among the many milestones Marshall Arts and McCartney achieved together, a few stand out: the first contemporary concert to be staged in the Red Square in Moscow, Russia; one of the few contemporary artists ever to perform at the Coliseum in Rome, Italy; and performing in front of half-a-million people in Mexico City’s Zocolo Square in 2012.

The journey only continues. One of many upcoming highlights includes a three-night UK exclusive residency by the legendary Herbie Hancock at London’s Barbican, to celebrate his 85th birthday – more than 50 years since his first ever London show at the historic Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park.

There’s no way of doing Marshall’s career justice in anything less than a book. But he’ll be delighted to be inducted into the Pollstar Live! Music Hall Of Fame alongside Louis Messina, who he once described as “one of the truly great characters of the music industry,” and his “brother by another mother.” Well, if the Pollstar Awards in the past had anything to do with his receiving an MBE in 2017, then maybe the induction into the Live Music Hall of Fame will earn him a fully fledged knighthood very soon. Bestowed upon him by the King, of course.