2026 Women Of Live: Emily Simonitsch

Emily Simonitsch
Live Nation | SVP Talent Booking, West Coast

HER RIDE OR DIE ARTISTS | “Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Luis Miguel, and female artists like Pat Benatar, Mariah Carey and Selena.”

Despite a year of uncertainty due to visa challenges and immigration raids, Latin music thrived in the live business, with more than two dozen artists cracking Pollstar’s 2025 Top 200 Worldwide Tour list, and some of the success comes from the efforts of skilled promoters who know how and where to book talent.

Emily Simonitsch, Live Nation’s senior vice president of talent booking on the West Coast, is one of them, booking some of the best-established and rising Latin talent in West Coast venues and helping them achieve success that would have been unforeseen over a decade ago.

One highlight last year was rock en español legends Caifanes performing two sold-out shows at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, that celebrated Día de Los Muertos, creating a unique experience for fans.

Another Latin act she’s worked with over the years are legends Maná, who achieved a major milestone in 2025. The Mexican quartet played sold-out shows at the iconic Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, last fall, and set the record for most arena performances in Los Angeles, earning them the title of “Kings of Los Angeles.”

“It was especially meaningful as I was one of the first promoters to welcome Maná to Los Angeles in the 1990s,” says Simonitsch.

Simonitsch began her career in the theme park marketing department at Universal Studios Hollywood, a site that had the beloved Universal Amphitheater. There she worked with legendary L.A. promoter Larry Vallon and helped usher a new, inclusive era in the live music business by bringing more Latin acts to Southern California, and Simonitsch continues to do so while lifting women in the industry.

“Inclusion and having a seat at the table remain both an opportunity and a challenge,” Simonitsch says. “It’s important that women continue to advocate for participation in decision-making and leadership roles, and I’m encouraged by the progress while recognizing there is still work to be done.”

She also has some advice for the young women looking to make their mark in the live biz: “Attend shows, stay curious, and take advantage of opportunities to meet people and build relationships. Networking and firsthand experience are invaluable.”