Chugg named Pollstar’s International Promoter of the Year
Michael Chugg was named International Promoter of the Year at the 27thPollstar awards in San Francisco. Pollstar is the US-based global live music bible with a weekly Australian and New Zealand column as part of its international cpverage.
It was Chugg’s fourth Pollstar win, after wins in 2000, 2008 and 2010. He has been nominated in the category thirteen times since he started Michael Chugg Entertainment in 2000 in Sydney.
This year he was up against Toby Leighton-Pope (Live Nation UK), Herman Schueremans (Live Nation Belgium), Simon Moran (SJM) and Folkert Koopmans (FKP Scorpio Konzertproduktionen).
Chugg said, “I’m very proud to win this award, it’s a big statement for independent promoters, worldwide. I’d like to thank everybody who voted for me and I would like to thank (outgoing CEO) Matthew Lazarus-Hall and (GM of Touring) Susan Heymann, who lead an amazing team of people in our office as well as all of our business partners.
“It’s great to strike a blow for independents. It shows that loyalty is still alive in our industry”.
2015 was a successful year for Chugg Entertainment, with tours as superstars Robbie Williams and Elton John, as well as Rufus Wainwright, Hozier, Alabama Shakes, Tame Impala, and Florence and the Machine. This year, CMC Rocks Qld has sold out while Laneway Entertainment delivered its best year to date, according to Chugg.
His 50 year career began when a teenage Chugg began running beachside shows in his native Tasmania, and developed into one of the directors of Frontier Touring before he went off on his own.
His other accolades included APRA’s Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music and the Helpmann Awards both in 2006. Rolling Stone Australia dubbed him The Immortal in 2011. The International Live Music Conference Awards lauded him as Promoters Promoter in 2006 and Bottle Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
He took the 2007 CMA (Country Music Association) Award for International Talent Buyer/Promoter for his work in expanding the country music scene in Australia with tours by superstar and emerging country music acts.
Among winners at the 2016 Pollstar Awards:
Major Tour of the Year – Taylor Swift
Most Creative Stage Production – U2
Arena of the Year – Madison Square Garden Arena
Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue – Hollywood Bowl
Best New Major Concert Venue – Ascend Amphitheater
Best New Touring Artist – The Weeknd
Bill Graham Award / Promoter of the Year – Louis Messina
Bobby Brooks Award / Agent of the Year – Chip Hooper
Booking Agency of the Year – Paradigm Talent Agency
Comedy Tour of the Year – Amy Schumer
Independent Booking Agency of the Year – High Road Touring
International Music Festival of the Year – Glastonbury Festival
International Venue of the Year – The O2 (London)
Major Music Festival of the Year – Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
Music Festival of the Year – Newport Folk Festival
Nightclub of the Year – 9:30 Club
Personal Manager of the Year – John Silva
Red Rocks Award / Best Small Outdoor Venue – Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)
U.K. Booking Agent of the Year – Emma Banks