One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Chairman Leaves Live Nation For Songs In The Key Of AEG
Photo by Joey Maloney, Used with permission
Brian Murphy, the former chairman of Southern California music for Live Nation, will become the West Coast president of his ex-company's biggest competitor, AEG Live. Could this be the final piece for AEG securing a NFL arena downtown?
The potential impact of this move on the local live music scene cannot be overstated. In addition Murphy's industry connections with everyone from program directors to real estate developers (he helped oversee the rehab of The Wiltern and The Hollywood Palladium), the veteran promoter's longstanding relationships with top tier talent, agents, and managers is arguably the crucial edge in an ongoing fight for arena-performance domination.
"It was the toughest decision I've ever had to make in business," Murphy said in an exclusive interview with the L.A. Times. "There are employees I'm leaving who have been with me for 20 years. But it was too good an opportunity to pass up. I'm an L.A. guy, and AEG Live is an L.A.-centric company."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
