TEG Dismantles Country Music Team Six Months After Launch

TEG has dismantled the team behind its country music division just six months after announcing plans to expand its presence in the booming genre.

According to the AFR, the shake-up comes as new TEG chief executive Cameron Hoy looks to cut costs across the entertainment and ticketing group following the loss of several major contracts.

TEG announced its dedicated country music touring operation in February under former chief executive Brad Banducci, who left the company after a little over a year in the top job.

Among those to depart is Nashville-based executive Brad Turcotte, who was recruited earlier this year as senior vice president of country at TEG Live and tasked with leading the company's push into the genre.

Turcotte brought significant experience to the role, having previously worked with artists including Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban and Taylor Swift. His LinkedIn profile now indicates he has left TEG, while the company's head of country music touring, Alex Kelsey, has also departed, according to the AFR.

Also leaving is Vanessa Picken, former Sony Music Australia chief executive who joined TEG in February on an initial six-month contract as global director of music strategy. 

Longtime Laneway Festival executive Jessie Parker also recently announced her departure. Parker, who has been involved with Laneway for 16 years and became festival director following TEG's acquisition of a 49.5% stake in the event in 2021, announced last week that she will finish up at the end of August.

The changes raise questions over the future of Longhaul Touring, the country-focused touring brand TEG unveiled alongside its expansion into the genre. 

Its first major event, Longhaul Festival, was announced last month and is scheduled to take place across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in January 2027, headlined by Kacey Musgraves and Kane Brown. 

The restructuring comes despite country music continuing to enjoy significant growth in Australia. Spotify data previously showed Australian country music streams grew 115% in the three years to July 2025, while Live Nation has described Australia as the world's third-largest country music market behind the US and Canada.

TEG, which is owned by North American private equity firm Silver Lake, has meanwhile been navigating the loss of several significant ticketing contracts, including Melbourne Park and Venues NSW. 

Earlier this month, the AFR reported the company had secured $100 million from lenders to help fund its turnaround and compete for new contracts.