TEG’s Geoff Jones talks emerging talent, expansion and ‘opportunities’ for Australian artists [EXCLUSIVE]

TEG is going global, thinking local.

As the Australian company pushes on with its international expansion strategy, scouting and developing fresh homegrown acts will increasingly be at the heart of its agenda.

Speaking ahead of Australian Music Week 2019, which starts today in Sydney, TEG CEO Geoff Jones says his company is focused on the entire artist ecosystem.

“We are not just chasing tier one acts, we really have to get onto everything,” he tells TIO. “We are continuing to develop our own internal capability to identify new and exciting artists. There is no question that as well as touring fantastic established acts such as Hilltop Hoods, Amy Shark and Pete Murray. We are really happy to develop and support emerging Australian talent.”

Recently, TEG expanded into activities in the U.K. and Europe through the purchase of The MJR Group, a live company that promotes and operates more than 2,000 shows each year, and boasts a portfolio of venues.

Dan Ickowitz-Seidler, Geoff Jones and Richard Buck

And just last month, the Australian live entertainment giant and Ticketek owner was acquired by Silver Lake, the U.S.-based private equity company which specialises in technology investing.

With the announcement of that blockbuster deal, Silver Lake’s executive team vowed to help accelerate the TEG’s growth “both in Asia Pacific and globally.”

As previously reported, TEG plans to make a big push into Europe early next year, with the rollout of the Ticketek brand into the U.K. Further acquisitions are under consideration.

Building artists’ careers is essential to the big picture, insists Jones.

“Our expansion into the U.K., Europe and Asia creates opportunities for Australian artists,” he tells TIO ahead of his keynote interview this Friday at AMW.

“Through TEG MJR we own and operate venues now in the UK, in Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Reading, Manchester and elsewhere. They are warehouse venues of 800 to 3,000 capacity.

“The Mill in Birmingham for instance is right amongst the Peaky Blinders. It’s grungy and cool, and has four rooms from 150 to 1,200 capacity, which is perfect for great emerging artists.

“We would like nothing more than to get on at the start with an emerging Australian act and support them on their journey.”

AMW 2019 kicks off today at GU Filmhouse in Cronulla. Visit Australianmusicweek.com for more.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.