Live Nation, Ticketmaster launch in Israel

Live Nation has entered the Middle East’s biggest touring market with the acquisition of a majority stake in Bluestone Entertainment, one of Israel’s leading promoters.

The two parties have also confirmed the official launch of Ticketmaster Israel – already ticketing Bluestone’s major shows – bringing Ticketmaster’s market presence to 29 countries worldwide.

Bluestone, based in Tel Aviv, was founded in 2014 by Guy Beser, Shay Mor Yosef, Gadi Veinrib and artist manager Guy Oseary (U2) to bring international artists to Israel. Upcoming shows include Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park (100,000-cap.) in May and July, respectively.

Ticketmaster’s launch in Israel will be watched closely by rival-in-chief CTS Eventim, which has been established in Tel Aviv since 2011 and, as noted in the International Ticketing Yearbook 2016, currently “leads the ticketing market for international rock and pop shows”.

The live music market in Israel was worth US$33 million in 2015, and is projected by PwC to grow to $37m by 2020.

“We have seen a considerable demand for live entertainment with the shows that Live Nation has brought to the [Israeli] market over the last few years, and have been very impressed when working with Guy, Shay and the rest of the Bluestone team,” says Live Nation’s president of international and emerging markets, Alan Ridgeway.

“The collaboration between Live Nation and Bluestone will firmly establish Israel as a must-play market on any world tour”

“Formalising our partnership and bringing the Ticketmaster brand and technology to the market was the natural next step.”

In a joint statement, Beser and Mor Yosef comment: “We see a huge potential for international artists in Israel, especially as the venue infrastructure improves over the coming years. The strength of Live Nation and Ticketmaster will provide Bluestone with the tools and the platform to further develop the market for international shows in Israel.

“Guy Oseary’s strategic involvement, guidance and mentorship of our company, and the door he has opened for us at Live Nation, has brought us to this exciting partnership we are launching today. The Israeli fans have proved in the last three years that there is a real market and demand for live international shows. The collaboration between Live Nation and Bluestone will firmly establish Israel as a must-play market on any world tour.”

The acquisition of Bluestone is Live Nation’s fifth of the year, after British promoters Cuffe & Taylor and Metropolis Music, Idaho-based promoter/venue owner CT Touring and BottleRock Napa Valley music and culinary festival in California. The company announced a joint venture with Qatari-based Elan Group, dubbed Elan Live Nation, last September.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.