Features
Oak View Group Acquires Pollstar
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(l-r) Irving Azoff, Tim Leiweke and Gary Smith.
The deal, which closed June 30th, includes full ownership of all Pollstar print and online publications along with the Pollstar Live! conference.
Pollstar President and Editor-In-Chief Gary Bongiovanni and CEO Gary Smith will continue their leadership positions and will play key roles in day-to-day operations.
“We are very excited to become part of the growing OVG family and its vast array of worldwide resources,” said Bongiovanni. “After 35 years of independent operation, a key factor in our making the deal was OVG’s understanding of the importance of keeping our editorial coverage and services neutral as we speak to, and for, the entire concert industry.”
Added Smith, “Joining OVG gives us the opportunity to take Pollstar to an entirely new level. I am really looking forward to working with all of the folks at OVG to turn it up a notch. We’re going to 11.”
“Pollstar has represented the voice of record for the live music and ticketing industries for over three decades and bringing them into the OVG family is a true honor for all of us,” said Leiweke.
“Pollstar has served our industry as a trusted and invaluable resource during an era of dramatic changes,” added Azoff. “Their insights and analysis are fundamental to the success of our business.”
Ray Waddell, President of Conferences & Publications at OVG, said, “Pollstar concert data is the gold standard for the industry and the Pollstar Live! conference becomes the epicenter of the industry every winter. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to work with the entire Pollstar team as we build out the world’s preeminent information service.”