Pollstar Live! 2025 Concludes With Star-Studded Panels, Awards Show, Attendance Record

Pollstar Live! 2025 concluded its star-studded, record-setting three-day conference April 17 with a keynote conversation featuring the charismatic and wisdom-filled cross-over country star Jelly Roll and Live Nation CEO and President Michael Rapino. Pollstar‘s flagship event, which this year ran April 15-17, is the largest live industry gathering in the world and includes Production Live and The Pollstar Awards. The conference features vast insights on all facets of the live business with panel discussions featuring live professionals, artists and top executives along with abundant networking opportunities .

Pollstar Live! 2025 Hub

This year’s conference at the L.A.’s Beverly Hilton kicked off with Production Live!, a day dedicated to the production and transportation of live shows, with panels such as “Best Laid Plans: Reconciling Touring Ambition With Reality” and a keynote Q&A entitled “Truckstops, Parking Lots & Where TF Is Catering?: 30 Warped Years with Kevin Lyman” featuring the Warped Tour co-founder in conversation with Ray Waddell, Oak View Group’s Chief Content Director.

Pollstar’s Live kicked off with power panel discussion on this year’s historic FireAid benefit concert followed by panels discussing tomorrow’s headliners, a Rainmakers panel featuring Creative Artists Agency’ Managing Director Rob Light and REO Speedwagon vocalist Kevin Cronin and a keynote between Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda and broadcaster Zach Sang.

That night attendees gathered for the Pollstar Awards ceremony, a prestigious event honoring the live entertainment industry best and brightese. Hosted by Sean Valentine of iHeartRadio, the evening featured surprise appearances from music legends like Stevie Nicks, Missy Elliott, The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, John Mayer, Eddie Vedder and Jelly Roll. Legendary promoters Barrie Marshall and Louis Messina were on hand to be inducted into the Pollstar Hall of Fame along with Nicks and the Ryman Auditorium, the first venue to receive such an honor. Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Usher and Bad Bunny were among the artists to win awards, and Wasserman Music claimed Agency of the Year honors.

News to come out of the Pollstar Awards included Stevie Nicks’ announcement that she’s working on a new album; and singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers joining Messina Touring Group, which promotes shows from megastars like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Kenny Chesney, George Straight and The Lumineers.

Visit the Pollstar Live! hub for panel recaps and coverage of the conference, including the Pollstar Awards, at Pollstar.com.

Also announced at Pollstar Live!: The 2025 VenuesNow Conference will take place Sept. 9-11 in Las Vegas, marking the first time its been held in Sin City. For details, visit venuesnowconference.com.