Live Nation Adds Trump Appointee to Board
Richard Grenell has joined the Board of Directors at Live Nation, the global live entertainment heavyweight behind some of Australia’s biggest tours and festivals.
The appointment was announced on Tuesday as the company faces an ongoing investigation by the US Department of Justice, according to Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
Grenell, who was appointed by former President Trump as Kennedy Center President, said in a statement, “The power of live performances to bring people together while boosting local economies is transformative. I’m proud to join the board and support Live Nation’s efforts to grow the positive impact of concerts around the world.”
His addition comes amid a DOJ lawsuit targeting Live Nation and Ticketmaster for alleged “abuse, exploitation, and self-dealing” in the live music sector.
“We’re pleased to welcome Ric to our Board,” said Randall Mays, Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment. “His experience will provide valuable insight as we continue to contribute to a thriving live music industry globally.”
Grenell’s appointment follows a trend of Trump-linked figures joining major companies’ boards, like Meta’s recent addition of former Trump national security advisor Patrick Collison.
During his time at the Kennedy Center, Grenell oversaw the rollback of several diversity and inclusion initiatives. This included cancelling events like a concert by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and the children’s musical Finn, about a young shark who feels different from the others.
In response to criticism, Grenell told US guitarist Yasmin Williams: “Yes, I cut the DEI bullshit because we can’t afford to pay people for fringe and niche programming that the public won’t support. Yes, I cut the people making over $500k a year because we are in debt. Yes, we are doing programming for the masses in order to pay our bills.”
Live Nation launched its Australian operations in 2010 after merging with Ticketmaster, and has since become a dominant, and often controversial, player in the local live music market.