Live Nation enters JV with Thailand’s leading promoter

Live Nation Entertainment has formed a new company with Thailand’s leading entertainment company BEC-Tero Entertainment to promote international concerts in the territory.

Thailand is one of the strongest concert markets in Asia and with the pair’s new company, Live Nation BEC-Tero Limited, the territory will host more Western acts as well as leading K-Pop and J-Pop acts.

BEC-Tero has divisions operating in TV, radio, music, sports, family events, theater and exhibitions. It runs Thailand's largest ticketing company, Thaiticketmajor, the country’s online music retail and merchandising store Qikplay.com and film production arms Film Bangkok and Chalermthai Studio. BEC-Tero inked a partnership with Sony Music in 2001 to create the major’s Thailand division. The partnership was terminated in 2007 and picked up again in 2012.

The first cab off the rank following the formation of Live Nation BEC-Tero Limited is Avenged Sevenfold’s concert tomorrow night, followed by Michael Buble on January 24 and One Direction on March 14.

Michael Rapino, Live Nation Entertainment president and CEO, said: "This represents another important step in increasing Live Nation's global presence and ensuring we can offer fans, artists and sponsors a seamless service across the world."

Heading up the venture is BEC-Tero’s Neil Thompson, a Thailand music industry veteran with 22-years experience.

"I have worked with Live Nation for a number of years on tours such as Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball tour and Sting's Sacred Love tour, and am now looking forward to working more closely with the full Live Nation team to bring more concerts to Thai music fans,” said Neil Thompson.

Brian Marcar, director and shareholder of BEC-Tero, said: "BEC-Tero has long been a leader in entertainment in Thailand and joining with Live Nation, which has an immense portfolio of artists, festivals and international tours, will offer great growth opportunities."

Alan Ridgeway, Live Nation president of international & emerging markets, added: "It is a pleasure to welcome to the Live Nation Asia team Brian Marcar and Neil Thompson, the two people who have been responsible for putting Thailand on the touring map."

Image Caption: Brian Marcar and Neil Thompson