UK Focus 2025 Index Page: AEG Presents Europe’s Jim King, LN UK & Ireland’s Denis Desmond & More
Welcome to Pollstar’s second annual UK Focus, which once again takes a look at the state of play in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. And, speaking to some of the country’s leading live professionals, there’s lots to be happy about – without getting complacent.
Main Story:
State Of The Union Jack: The UK Biz Is Showing No Signs Of A Slowdown
Features:
‘You’ve Got To Control Your Own Destiny’: The Career Of Geoff Ellis
Geoff Ellis, CEO of DF Concerts in Scotland, just turned 60, but he says he feels healthier than at 40. His most recent fielding at ILMC’s annual 11-a-side soccer match in London proved that he can still play through 90 minutes. He may not be as fast anymore, but his speed was never what distinguished him on the pitch, Ellis admits. What did was his understanding of the game, his feeling for his surroundings, and knowing what the other players were going to do next. In that way, the game of live and the game of soccer are quite similar. And while Ellis never went pro in soccer, he did in the promoting business.
The Interviews:
For our annual UK Focus, we reached out to Denis Desmond, chairman, Live Nation UK & Ireland. After 2024 going down in history as the best year for live music in the UK and Ireland ever, 2025 is shaping up to be another great year for this industry, he says. Maybe most encouraging about Desmond’s business outlook is the fact that, aside from the superstars driving fantastic ticket sales, there’s never been a healthier amount of up-and-coming talent in their early career stages promoted by Live Nation in the UK and Ireland.
Jim King oversees AEG Presents European festival portfolio, which includes All Points East, Lido and Forwards in the UK, Rock En Seine in Paris, France; as well as the flagship BST Hyde Park in London, which has raised the bar for the elevated experience is offers its guests, from GA to VIP ticket holders. The world’s biggest acts seem to be attracted to BST Hyde Park like moths to a flame, and the 2025 lineups of All Points East or Lido are not to be scoffed at either. We reached out to King for Pollstar’s annual UK Focus, to talk about all of the above, and more.
‘It’s A Great Time To Be In The Live Music Industry’: Q’s With TEG Europe MD, Toby Leighton-Pope
For Pollstar’s inaugural UK Focus, we reached out to a selection of agents working out of London, to talk about everything from booking trends, and ticket prices to regional differences across the country, and business philosophies. We also asked them about current artists to watch. Here’s what Ben Coles, Music Agent at CAA UK, had to say.
Rob Wilmshurst, co-founder and long-standing CEO of See Tickets UK, assumed responsibility for all ticketing activities of the CTS Eventim Group in the UK in September 2024. CTS Eventim had acquired See Tickets as part of the acquisition of Vivendi’s live entertainment business earlier that year. The company operates in the UK under the brands See Tickets and Eventim UK.
For our annual UK Focus, we reached out to Wilmshurst to talk about the state of play in the market, and whether anything’s changed in his day-to-day, since joining the CTS Eventim world.
‘No Signs Of A Slowdown’: Q’s With Tom Joyes, GM, Barrowland Ballroom
The unique atmosphere at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow comes from being a building for modern entertainment while never forgetting its history. It was first opened in 1934 by Margaret McIver. The original two-storey building was destroyed by a fire in 1958, but was lovingly rebuilt and reopened a couple of years later, on Christmas Eve 1960. The business still remains under the ownership of the McIver family.
It only came to be a concert venue in 1983, equipped with an iconic sprung dancefloor, made of Canadian Maple wood. It had to be reinforced around 1988, in order to be able to take the weight of the increasing crowds.
At 1,900 capacity, it’s a rite of passage to play the Ballroom, even in the age of the stadium show. Largely responsible for this reputation that reacher far beyond the borders of Scotland is Tom Joyes, who’s been guiding the team at the Barrowland Ballroom for the past 40 years. Pollstar reached out to the veteran to talk about the current state of play at the famous venue.
‘Our Greatest Asset Is Our People’: Q’s With Lez Dwight, Director, Britannia Row Productions
Britannia Row Productions has been providing high-end audio equipment, solutions and skilled technicians to live productions worldwide for decades. It provided audio to Queen’s record-breaking show at Hyde Park, London in 1976 in front of an audience of 150,000; supplied tours by Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, and more during the 1980s; Oasis’ legendary Knebworth shows in 1996, attracting 300,000 across two nights; as well as Robbie Williams’ three performances at the same venue in 2003, welcoming over 375,000; a charity concert raising funds for women’s rights at Twickenham Stadium in 2013, featuring Beyoncé, John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and many others.
The list of events that showcase this company’s expertise is endless. In the first quarter of this year alone, Britannia Row has supplied shows by Dua Lipa, Mumford & Sons, David Gray, Duran Duran, Kasabian, Mike & The Mechanics, Robbie Williams, Rag n Bone Man, Jorja Smith, Maribou State, and more.
It was recently confirmed that Britannia Row will be supplying the prestigious BRIT Awards for a 30th year. The business merged with Clair Global in 2017. We reached out to company director Lez Dwight to talk shop.
Special Advertising Section:
Music In Its DNA – M&S Bank Arena Liverpool Is Navigating The UK’s Stormy Economy
Liverpool has music in its DNA. The unique sound coming out of this city is a result of the Irish and Welsh roots of its population, combined with a transatlantic influence, says Ben Williams, commercial and business development director at the city’s main entertainment complex, the 11,000-cap M&S Bank Arena.
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