Showtime!
MICHAEL G. ROWLES
General counsel and secretary, LiveNation Inc.
Age 44
COMPANY PROFILE
Based in Beverly Hills, Calif., LiveNation Inc. primar-
ily produces live events—music concerts, theatrical
shows, motor sports and other performances—and
owns and operates performance venues. In 2005,
LiveNation promoted or produced 29,500 events with
total attendance of 61 million. It owns, operates or
has booking rights for 153 venues worldwide. The
company also runs a sports agency and a digital
distribution/ticketing division.
MORE THAN A CONCERT TICKET
LiveNation’s strategy is to bring performers and
audiences together to maximize profitability before,
during and after events, according to a May presentation given by LiveNation Chief Executive Officer
Michael Rapino. This year LiveNation is wiring 120
venues to record and transmit live performances to
television, mobile telephones, radio, the Internet and
other digital media. The company’s Instant Live program records concerts and sells the recordings to
music fans immediately following the show. In 2005,
Instant Live recorded and sold more than 250 shows
from 50 different artists.
OUTSIDE COUNSEL
COMPANY
LIVE NATION INC.
CORPORATE
Gardere Wynne Sewell
This summer, LiveNation announced several acquisitions aimed at fulfilling its strategy. In July, it agreed
to merge with HOB Entertainment Inc., which runs the
House of Blues franchise, for $350 million. Rowles
declined to discuss the deal, except to say that he
was brought into the transaction “as soon as I came
on board” in March. The deal is undergoing regulatory
scrutiny. Also in July, LiveNation acquired a majority
stake in Musictoday Inc., which operates online fan
clubs and e-commerce for performers; and Trunk Ltd.,
a performer merchandise company. In May, LiveNation
acquired a controlling interest in Concert Productions
International Inc., a global touring company.
LEGAL TEAM
“When I came on board there were some staffing
holes that needed to be filled,” said Rowles. With
those positions now filled, he has 18 lawyers working in-house. “We are all running on every cylinder,”
Rowles said. The team is spread across several
divisions and within the company’s corporate legal
department. The two primary divisions are live music
and venue management, which together keep six
attorneys busy. Other divisions include motor sports,
theatrical, sports agency, global touring and international operations. Divisional attorneys report directly
LITIGATION
Latham & Watkins
BANKING AND FINANCE
Latham & Watkins
