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FIRST LOOK MIDDLE EAST
JAMES CRAVEN, PRESIDENT, LIVE NATION MIDDLE EAST THE MAN AT THE HEAD OF LIVE NATION’S MIDDLE EAST OPERATION PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON THE LATEST GOINGS-ON AT THE COMPANY AND SHARES HIS INSIGHTS INTO THE FUTURE OF LIVE TOURING IN THE REGION.
From grass-roots club shows to large-scale international tours, Live Nation is ramping up its operation across the Middle East. The company has already made history by putting on the first ever regionally routed run from an A-list band, when Maroon 5 performed in Egypt, the UAE and Israel in May, and it seems that there’s a lot more to come. Here, Live Nation Middle East President, James Craven discusses the rapidly changing landscape of live events in the region, reveals details of the company’s groundbreaking sustainability-driven partnership with Emirates NatureWWF and shares some of his aims for the future. How has this year been so far for Live Nation ME, and how is business looking for next season? 2022 started extremely well and the second half of the year leading into 2023 looks even better. A real highlight for the first half of the year was the regional tour with Maroon 5 in May. It was the first ever regionally routed run with an A-list band, which included the Pyramids in Egypt; Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi; and Park Hayarkon in Tel Aviv, Israel. This is the first of many more regional tours for Live Nation Middle East. With large international acts such as Maroon 5 and One Republic now including multiple Middle East dates on their touring calendars, how is this changing the landscape of live events in the region? Regionally routed runs have a very positive impact for fans, artists, and promoters alike. The fans get to see more artists, the artists get to play to more fans and the promoter sees an increase in artist confirmations – it’s good for everyone. We see the potential for as many as 10 or more dates on future regional tours. We are the only live event promoter to have offices and teams in almost all the primary regional markets now, which has further helped us fast-track our success in this area. We have already announced multidate tours for One Republic and Westlife and have several major regional tours to announce in the coming weeks. 2022 will certainly be our biggest year to date in the region. How has the construction of large indoor arenas such as Etihad Arena and Coca-Cola Arena improved the prospects of year-round live events in the UAE? Purpose-built venues certainly increase the opportunities for year-round shows, but also
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