Australia and New Zealand’s leading concert promotion company Frontier Touring has entered into a strategic joint venture with AEG Presents to unify their operations throughout the two countries.
Established in 1979 by founder and CEO Michael Gudinski (pictured left) and part of the Mushroom Group, Frontier Touring is one of the most widely-respected touring companies in the Southern Hemisphere.
In 2018 Frontier handled tours by the likes of Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, The Killers, Harry Styles, Sam Smith, Rise Against, and Ed Sheeran (Australasia’s biggest tour ever).
The new partnership will be effective July 1, 2019 and Frontier will continue to operate under its existing name and be led by Gudinski.
The partnership combines Frontier Touring’s broad regional expertise with AEG Presents’ extensive resources and will continue to grow both companies’ presence throughout the Asia Pacific region.
The two independent companies have had a strategic partnership across numerous tours in Australia and New Zealand since 2007, including the Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, Taylor Swift’s Red and 1989 Tours, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Rodriguez and Shawn Mendes.
Frontier’s existing joint venture with Matt Gudinski’s Illusive Presents and the recently announced Chugg Entertainment joint venture will continue under the new arrangement including Australia’s largest country music festival CMC Rocks, which will now be operated as part of the new partnership.
The joint venture with AEG Presents applies only to Frontier Touring and not the wider Mushroom Group stable of 25 companies, but Frontier will continue to remain a part of Mushroom Group.
“This next step is about ensuring that Frontier, AEG and our joint venture partners Illusive Presents and Chugg Entertainment raise the bar in the Australasian live market higher than ever before.”
Michael Gudinski, Frontier Touring
CEO of Frontier Touring, Michael Gudinski, said: “Frontier Touring has been fiercely independent since its inception in 1979 and there is no doubt that we’ve batted well above the average on a global level in recent years.
“AEG Presents has had a successful track record of partnering with independent promoters and allowing them to keep their entrepreneurial roots while also supporting their growth.
“This next step is about ensuring that Frontier, AEG and our joint venture partners Illusive Presents and Chugg Entertainment raise the bar in the Australasian live market higher than ever before.”
Added Gudinski: “As demand for live entertainment continues to grow across Australia and New Zealand, we are incredibly excited to be working with a global entity like AEG Presents and the opportunities that it can bring to our business.
“AEG is known for its iconic assets including The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, BST Hyde Park Festival, Stagecoach Country Music Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, as well as such venues as STAPLES Center and The O2, amongst others.”
“Frontier Touring and AEG Presents share a passion and commitment to delivering the best music experiences to artists and fans alike.”
Jay Marciano, AEG Presents
Jay Marciano (pictured right), Chairman and CEO of AEG Presents, said: “Frontier Touring and AEG Presents share a passion and commitment to delivering the best music experiences to artists and fans alike.
“Michael has built an incredibly respected organization with a proven track record of success and we are pleased that he chose to partner with us.
“We look forward to working closely with him and his talented team to further grow the Frontier Touring brand.”
AEG Presents opened its first office in France in January, headed up by local concert promotion veteran Arnaud Meersseman.Music Business Worldwide
