Features
Pollstar’s Concert Industry Awards
The sold-out, February 4th event was again hosted by Lewis Black, who spared no one with his biting commentary on the industry.
The big highlight this year was Prince, who stunned the crowd when he walked onstage to accept his major tour of the year honor in person. Prince offered thanks to promoters John Meglen and Paul Gongaware of Concerts West / AEG Live for making last year his most successful tour ever.
Two dozen agents joined Rob Light onstage as Creative Artists Agency won agency of the year for the third straight time. Little Big Man Booking also got a trifecta for boutique booking agency of the year. Harvey Leeds also got a three-peat for artist development executive of the year, and Rock-It Cargo had a hat trick for transportation company.
Madison Square Garden and the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival were named arena and music festival of the year, respectively, for the second time in a row, as was Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for theatre of the year.
Another Planet won independent promoter of the year and Leon Ramakers of Mojo Concerts in the Netherlands accepted the international promoter of the year honor.
AEG’s Debra Rathwell, who happened to be celebrating her birthday that night, landed the Bill Graham Award for promoter of the year. Larry Hagman, who had a liver transplant five years ago, presented the plaque, telling the audience that not only was it “great to be here,” but it’s great to be anywhere.
Chip Hooper got the Bobby Brooks Award for agent of the year and John “Bugzee” Hougdahl got road warrior of the year for his work with Prince and Bon Jovi. John Huie accepted his third coast agent award from Sarah Kelly, a new CAA client he promised everyone would be hearing more about this year.
Brian Avnet won personal manager of the year for his work with Josh Groban while his client accepted, via videotape, for new touring artist. Bob Dylan / Willie Nelson landed most creative tour package for their minor league baseball stadium tour. Prince got most creative stage production, which was a remarkable accomplishment for “just a 10-truck tour.”
Karl Denson, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Mickey Thomas, K.C., Jon Anderson, Al Jardine, Jack Blades and Larry Blackmon were among the dozens of celebrity presenters.
And here are the winners:
Major Tour of the Year:
Most Creative Tour Package:
Most Creative Stage Production:
Prince
Best New Touring Artist:
Music Festival of the Year:
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
International Music Festival of the Year:
Glastonbury Festival
Nightclub of the Year:
House Of Blues, W. Hollywood
Theatre of the Year:
Ryman Auditorium
Best New Major Concert Venue:
Glendale Arena
Red Rocks Award / Best Small Outdoor Venue:
Greek Theatre, Los Angeles
Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue:
Hollywood Bowl
Arena of the Year:
Madison Square Garden
International Small Venue of the Year:
Royal Albert Hall
International Large Venue of the Year:
Wembley Arena
Nightclub Talent Buyer of the Year:
Sean Striegel, House of Blues Anaheim
Independent Promoter of the Year:
Another Planet Entertainment
Talent Buyer of the Year:
Jim Glancy, Ron Delsener Presents
Facility Executive of the Year:
Michael Marion, Alltel Arena
Bill Graham Award / Promoter of the Year:
Debra Rathwell, AEG Live New York
International Promoter of the Year:
Mojo Concerts
Booking Agency of the Year:
Creative Artists Agency
Boutique Booking Agency of the Year:
Little Big Man Booking
International Booking Agency of the Year:
Helter Skelter
Third Coast Agent of the Year:
John Huie, CAA
Bobby Brooks Award / Agent of the Year:
Chip Hooper, Monterey Peninsula Artists
Personal Manager of the Year:
Brian Avnet (Josh Groban)
Artist Development Executive of the Year:
Harvey Leeds, Epic Records
Road Warrior of the Year:
John “Bugzee” Hougdahl (Prince, Bon Jovi)
Lighting Company of the Year:
Bandit Lites
Sound Company of the Year:
Sound Image
Staging / Equipment Company of the Year:
All Access Staging & Productions
Transportation Company of the Year:
Rock-It Cargo
Video Company of the Year:
Screenworks