Power 50 - #6: Roger Field

BACKGROUND CHECK

Starting off in ticketing, Roger Field first worked in a call centre for Stoll Moss Theatres in London (1995) during a gap year, before moving to Ticketek when its Victorian operation opened in 1996. He then accepted the role of Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust box office manager (2000) before joining Michael Coppel Presents in 2003. In 2010, Field and his colleague Luke Hede opened the Live Nation Australia and NZ office, the business acquiring Michael Coppel Presents in 2012. Field was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2014, before taking the CEO role in 2017.

THE YEAR THAT WAS

2018 was another record year for Live Nation Australasia, with the leading live entertainment company bringing an abundance of huge international acts our way throughout the year. Leading the charge was the unstoppable Pink, her Beautiful Trauma tour selling out 42 arena shows in Australia and NZ. Shania Twain also performed her first Australian shows in almost two decades and Bruno Mars finally brought his 24K Magic tour to our shores in March last year. Add to that list Taylor Swift, Cher, Def Leppard, Kendrick Lamar, Roger Waters, Macklemore and Paramore and it immediately becomes clear why Live Nation topped Billboard's end of year report for top-selling global promoters. Live Nation's successful Australian tours of 2018 included 5 Seconds Of Summer, The Presets and Jet's Get Re-Born tout to celebrate 15 years since the release of their debut Get Born album.

Already in partnership with NAB, Virgin Australia and Flight Centre, Live Nation Australia announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with Optus in August of last year, with the telco giant already boasting its own roster of music alliances including partnerships with Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and Spotify. Live Nation Australasia has also formed strategic partnerships with government and private entities such as UNIFIED and Secret Sounds to operate venues and launch new festivals including Download. As well as Live Nation's growing portfolio of festivals and venues, the entertainment company also merged with Ticketmaster to create Live Nation Entertainment in 2010.

Under his leadership, Field has encouraged Live Nation to support community outreach programs such as Support Act and The Big Umbrella. Field introduced The Big Umbrella to Marvel Stadium in 2018, setting up a partnership whereby Marvel Stadium provides use of their kitchens so that The Big Umbrella can feed the disadvantaged and homeless. 

2018'S CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT?

"Successful tours with Aussie acts – 5 Seconds Of Summer, The Presets, Jet, Kimbra – in Australia, as well as Courtney Barnett, Amy Shark, Vance Joy and Ziggy Alberts in New Zealand."