Los Angeles – ASM Global has purchased talent-buying agency Madison Entertainment. Founded by industry veteran Roger LeBlanc, Madison Entertainment books a wide array of acts from all genres into concert venues, festivals, fairs, music cruises and private events and has been doing so for over two decades.
This deal will result in more live-music options for trade show organizers. “Madison Entertainment is an exciting opportunity for our convention center division to support the growing need for a complete lifestyle event. Our audiences are demanding experiential events that include top name entertainment. Madison will enable our association and trade show organizers the ability to efficiently secure talent that understands the connection with the attendees and the purpose of the event. This brings a complete experience that drives action,” Dan Hoffend, Executive Vice President, Convention Centers, ASM Global, said.
Madison will operate as a wholly owned business unit of ASM Global and continue to serve its current client base of music clubs, theaters and festivals while also dedicating personnel and resources to booking ASM Global managed arenas and its nationwide network of 57 theaters and amphitheaters.
“We are committed to add resources to our promoter and live content division in order to ensure that all of our managed venues continue to be leaders in live-event performances,” Ron Bension, ASM Global President and CEO, said.
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“Having a team of talent buyers to assist our in-house bookers and general managers will add a new dimension to our ability to provide live-music content within our managed venues while continuing to expand and grow the existing Madison client base,” Doug Thornton, ASM Global Executive Vice President Arenas, Stadiums and Theaters, said.
The client base of Madison has ranged from small-capacity venues, such as The Coach House, to larger concerts series and multi-day festivals including KAABOO Del Mar, Mempho Music Festival and the Gasparilla Music Festival. Madison books thousands of shows each year with both emerging artists as well as some of the music industry’s biggest names including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Zac Brown Band, Aerosmith, Pink and more.
“We chose to align with ASM Global because they are the market leader in venue management. We are excited about the opportunity to expand existing live-music content throughout the extensive network of ASM Global facilities and look forward to great success exploring these opportunities with our many music-industry partners and friends,” Madison Entertainment’s President, LeBlanc, said.
Reach Dan Hoffend at dhoffend@asmglobal.com
