Published December 2012 and updated August 2024] The entertainment and e-commerce company Live Nation has revealed plans to open an office in Moscow as it aims to grow its presence in Eastern Europe.
Live Nation is among the largest businesses of its kind, putting on headline-grabbing shows and concerts around the world. It has cited Eastern Europe as a critical area of potential growth and has established a new ‘Russia and Ukraine’ division.
Activities at the company’s new Moscow offices will be led by Tim McWilliams, who has been named managing director of Live Nation Russia and Ukraine and has been vice president of its European tour operations until recently.
“Establishing an office in Russia is the next step in our global expansion,” said Michael Rapino, chief executive of Live Nation Entertainment. “Russia and nearby markets have become an important part of our global tours in recent years, and by establishing a local presence, we can rapidly scale our concerts for over 200 million fans.”
Alan Ridgeway, president of emerging markets at Live Nation, described Russia and Ukraine as countries with “enormous growth potential”, noting successful shows the company has organised there in recent years for the likes of Madonna, U2, Shakira and Lady Gaga. Upcoming events in the region include two more Lady Gaga shows in St Petersburg and Moscow and performances by Sting in the Russian cities of Krasnodar and Rostov-on-Don.
Live Nation’s international operations already cover most major European countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, as well as the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East, the US, and Canada. According to figures released in July by the real estate firm CBRE, Moscow was the fifth most expensive place in the world to rent office space in mid-2012, behind central Beijing, Tokyo, London’s West End, and Hong Kong.
Editor’s notes: In early 2022, the Russo-Ukraine War escalated, and several international businesses discontinued their operations in Russia.
In March 2022, Live Nation announced that it had ceased operating in Russia and hosting events within the country.