20 before 2020: Live Nation buys into Malaysia’s PR Worldwide
Live Nation has acquired a controlling interest in the live entertainment division of PR Worldwide, one of Malaysia’s leading live events promoters, in its second acquisition announced this week and the 20th of the year.
Established in 1999, PR Worldwide is one of the most prominent promoters in the Asia-Pacific region, having previously worked with Live Nation on tours including Bruno Mars, Lewis Capaldi, Why Don’t We, Jim Jeffries and Charlie Puth. It has also promoted shows by the likes of Ed Sheeran, Mariah Carey, Imagine Dragons, Russell Peters, Shawn Mendes and Disney on Ice in its own right.
The pre-Christmas buy-in to PR follows the acquisition earlier this week of Chile’s DG Medios. IQ calculates that Live Nation has taken a majority shareholding in 20 promoters, festivals and other live music-related businesses so far this year across Asia (One Production, PR Worldwide), Australia (Moshtix), North America (Embrace Presents, Neste Event Marketing, Levitate, Spaceland Presents, Bonnaroo, Groot Hospitality), Europe (Planet Events, Blockfest, Tons of Rock, Antwerps Sportpaleis, PDH Music, Go Ahead, Rewind Festival, Hög Agency) and Latin America (Rock in Rio, Ocesa Entertainment, DG Medios).
“We are extremely proud to be taking our long-standing relationship with Live Nation to the next level,” comments Para Rajagopal, founder and CEO of PR Worldwide. “It gives us a unique opportunity to continue PR Worldwide’s 20-year commitment to the development of the Malaysian live entertainment industry. Together, we can strengthen Malaysia as one of the major live entertainment destinations while giving both artists and fans the very best live experiences.”
“We are excited to add yet another market to our Asia-Pacific network, which enables us to become the leading international concert promoter in Malaysia”
“Asia continues to be an extremely important region for growth and opportunity for Live Nation. By joining forces with PR Worldwide we are excited to add yet another market to our Asia-Pacific network, which enables us to become the leading international concert promoter in Malaysia,” says Paul Antonio, president of Live Nation Asia and Middle East.
“It is our pleasure to welcome Para Rajagopal and his team to the family and we look forward to working with them to service artists and offer unforgettable live experiences to fans across the region,”
Live Nation has Asia-Pacific offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland. Earlier this year, the company announced its expansion to Singapore by acquiring leading promoter One Production and made senior appointments to its growing business in China.
It also recently launched Live Nation Connects, a creative marketing agency based in Hong Kong.
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Selena Gomez too sexy for Malaysia
The youth wing of a Malaysian political party has called for Selena Gomez to be banned from the country, claiming that the American singer’s upcoming show at the Stadium Malawati (13,000-cap.) in Selangor “tarnishes the glory” of the month of Shawwal, when Malay Muslims celebrate the holiday of Hari Raya (Eid al-Adha).
Hafez Sabri, chairman of Pemuda PAS, the youth wing of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, PAS), has asked the Selangor Islamic Religious Council to “restrict the presence of Selena Gomez, who can damage the faith, worship and morals of Muslims”, arguing that Gomez’s “sexy appearance” has the potential to “revive a culture of hedonism among the younger generation” in Malaysia.
“An American-born artist who is synonymous with a sexy appearance is tarnishing the glory of Shawwal”
Gomez will play in Malaysia on 25 July as part of her Revival tour, before moving on to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.
In a statement, Pemuda PAS says local government should have thought more “strictly and carefully” before granting promoter PR Worldwide a permit for the show, urging authorities to comply with guidelines set down by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) last year. The Sharia-compliant rules – which, among other things, impose a dress code on performers and mandate the separation of sexes – are not enforceable laws but should, says the Malaysian government, be followed by promoters.
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