Industry Noize: Hallett Leaves AEG

The company has given no reason for the split with Hallett, who wasn’t available for comment at press time. AEG and PR company The Outside Organisation released a statement April 25 confirming Hallett’s departure: 

“Rob Hallett, AEG Live’s President of International Touring has ended his relationship with the company with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

“Hallett founded the UK and international touring activities of AEG Live 10 years ago, during which time he was responsible for three Bon Jovi stadium tours of Europe, global tours for Leonard Cohen, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, Usher, Black Eyed Peas, 21 nights of Prince at The O2, Barclaycard presents British Summertime at Hyde Park, Capital Radio Summer Time Ball amongst many other projects, now feels the time is right to explore other opportunities within the Live Music entertainment space.”

The London rumour mill suggests Hallett may join the new joint venture from UK radio entrepreneur Ashley Tabor and former AEG Live president Randy Phillips.

Hallett was said to be out of AEG more than a week ago, as printed in Pollstar’s last print edition, but neither AEG’s European chief exec Tom Miserendino nor L.A.-based communications manager Cassie Zebisch would shed any light on the matter. Another press spokesman from the company’s L.A. office said AEG wasn’t commenting on the story. He said changes were in the pipeline but it was early to talk about them.

Hallett joined AEG after walking out of the UK’s Mean Fiddler Music Group in 2005. He’d joined Mean Fiddler from UK-based international promoter Marshall Arts. His relationship with the American giant began with it backing Hallett’s then new Megafactor operation, but within a month it was announced he was actually joining the company and would effectively be running its European touring operation.

When Hallett joined, it was Phillips who revealed he was talking to him about becoming its senior vice president of international touring. Two years later, London’s Evening Standard was saying Hallett was “the most influential person in the London-based live music business.”

In 2009 he was Music Week’s Promoter Of The Year, and in 2012 he was voted Pollstar’s International Promoter Of The Year.

Tabor is the head of Global Radio and son of Michael Tabor, who made a fortune from being a bookie and racehorse breeder. He’s reportedly working with Phillips on what appears to be a multi-faceted music company.

A graduate from Exeter University, Ashley Tabor began in hospital radio at the age of 15, and in 2004 secured the “X Factor” management contract for his Global Talent. With some financial investment from his father, he’s built up a media empire that includes such radio stations as Classic FM, Heart, Capital and LBC. The elder Tabor, who ran most of his bloodstock interests with Irish business magnate and thoroughbred stud owner John Magnier, helped out with his son’s £545 million purchases of GCap Media and Chrysalis Radio, which created Global’s broadcasting empire.

According to The Guardian, that gives Tabor Jnr’s stations a combined listenership of 20 million people a week.

The Daily Telegraph said he’s “probably the most powerful man in UK commercial radio.” His venture with Phillips is believed to include promoting and management companies, and a record label.

It’s also been reported that former Universal Music Group exec Barry Weiss, who was latterly chairman and chief exec of Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Republic Records, may get on board to run the label.

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