Live Nation Under Fire in Explosive ‘Four Corners’ Investigation

Australia’s live music industry is no stranger to big players, but few have sparked as much debate as Live Nation.

Since launching its Australian operations in 2010, following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the global entertainment giant has rapidly expanded its footprint, becoming a dominant force in the local market.

However, its rise to power is now the subject of a Four Corners investigation, set to air on Monday, October 14th.

The program aims to shed light on allegations of market manipulation, artist exploitation, and the impact of Live Nation’s influence on Australia’s vibrant music scene.

In the lead-up to the episode, several prominent Australian figures have weighed in.

Peter Garrett, former Midnight Oil frontman and ex-politician, delivers one of the most scathing critiques: “I don’t think Live Nation cares at all about Australian artists, and they are basically calling the shots.” His comments echo a growing concern among artists and industry insiders that Live Nation’s presence has shifted the balance of power, leaving local talent struggling for opportunities.

Barkaa, a powerful voice in Australian hip-hop, added that artists have been left “begging for scraps,” while renowned promoter Michael Chugg, founder of Chugg Entertainment and Frontier Touring Company, was blunt in his assessment: “They f**ked it up, basically.”

Chugg’s comments refer to the sweeping changes that have accompanied Live Nation’s entry into Australia’s live music market, which he argues have disrupted the competitive landscape.

Founded through a merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster in 2010, Live Nation Entertainment now claims to be the largest producer of live music concerts globally. With interests in 338 venues worldwide, the company has steadily built a reputation as a behemoth in the live entertainment industry. In Australia, its acquisition of Michael Coppel Presents accelerated its growth, allowing the company to gain a foothold in major cities and festivals.

However, this dominance has not come without criticism.

The Four Corners investigation will spotlight Live Nation’s control over key venues and its influence on ticket pricing, with many alleging that the company’s market power is undermining opportunities for Australian artists. Some fear that this consolidation of control has stifled competition, leaving independent promoters and artists struggling to navigate an increasingly corporatised landscape.

In response to the Four Corners teaser, Live Nation Australasia issued a lengthy statement to The Music Network, calling the episode “inaccurate and unbalanced.”

“Four Corners on ABC Television has published a promotional video for its upcoming episode this Monday, in what we are expecting is an inaccurate and unbalanced story about Live Nation,” the statement read.

“Despite our best efforts to engage with Four Corners and present them with facts about the live entertainment industry, the promotional video contains a range of falsehoods and unsubstantiated allegations.”

“To understand the Four Corners agenda, it’s important that you know we provided Four Corners written responses to all of their questions at 5pm on Wednesday 9 October, and three hours later Four Corners posted the promotional video for the program on YouTube. The program was obviously fully formed without any input from Live Nation.”

“On the basis of the promotional video, it’s clear that the program contains inaccuracies.”

Live Nation also noted its commitment to supporting Australian talent, noting that since 2016, it has promoted over 900 shows for developing artists and ensured that 85% of its international acts are accompanied by local opening acts. The company cited initiatives like Ones to Watch as proof of its dedication to nurturing homegrown talent.

You can read Live Nation Australia’s full statement here.