2024 Impact 50 Honoree: Bob Roux

PRESIDENT, U.S. CONCERTS
Live Nation

MENTORS: Bruce Kapp, Louis Messina & Allen Becker
DESERT ISLAND DISCS: Bob Marley’s Legend; The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers

Bob Roux is, without a doubt, one of the hardest-working people in the live business.
Look no further than the tours he and his team booked for 2023: the Eagles, Chris Stapleton, John Mayer, Metallica, Steely Dan, Tears for Fears, Eric Church, The Doobie Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Garth Brooks’ residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It’s like a murderer’s row of clean-up-hitting road warriors who only know success.

All of which could be said about the president of U.S. concerts for Live Nation himself, who continues to have a major impact on the touring world in terms of not only grosses and ticket sales but also sponsorships, developing new opportunities for artists and opening new markets and buildings — and he’s been doing it for years.

If Pollstar had a Five-Timers Club for Impact 50 honorees, Roux would be there, having been named to the list every year since its inception with the exception of the pandemic shutdown year of 2020.

Even though 2023 was a monster, he says 2024 ticket sales are already strong to date “showing continued fan demand” and continuing the trend from last year.

Along with booking top-shelf concert tours into the country’s biggest venues, Roux also oversees the company’s arena and amphitheater business.

“We are seeing opportunities for a variety of increased offerings for fans tied to our concerts, including ticket and hotel packages, high-end hospitality and unique consumer experiences,” Roux says. “There’s still massive growth potential in what used to be niche music genres in the U.S. And Latin continues to explode. We’re also seeing significant traction in reggaeton, Afrobeats and comedy, for example, among many others.”

Dropping a hint at what’s ahead, Roux adds, “We’re about to announce a very unique and exciting set of shows for one of our longstanding artist partners.” At this point, we expect nothing less from one of this industry’s prime movers.