NEW YORK, NY. & LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ AEG LIVE) - The Nielsen Company and AEG LIVE, the L.A.-based division of AEG, today announced a strategic alliance focused on Nielsen's Billboard, the world's premier music industry brand. Together, the companies will create live events and television award shows that leverage the considerable strengths and resources of both organizations to capitalize on the Billboard brand, expanding its reach to new audiences and deepening its presence in current markets.
The long-term agreement grants AEG the exclusive right to produce Billboard-branded TV award shows and live music and entertainment events, including the expansion of successful existing franchises, such as The Billboard Music Awards and The Billboard Latin Music Awards, as well as the launch of tours, concerts, festivals and new television award shows.
'It is a privilege to create this alliance with a brand and an organization so respected in the entertainment and music business,' said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG. 'With the resources, talent and experience both of our companies have committed, the events and programming on the horizon will certainly enhance the existing properties while creating groundbreaking new endeavors for an even wider variety of consumers. We thank our colleagues at Nielsen for trusting us with their shows and brand and look forward to many great years together.'
'Our alliance marries AEG's leadership and innovation in live entertainment and music to Billboard's unmatched brand strength and credibility with both consumers and the industry. This agreement provides unlimited opportunities to further extend the Billboard brand through market-leading concerts, tours, festivals and TV productions,' said John Kilcullen, Publisher of Billboard and Senior Vice President of the Film and Performing Arts and Music and Literary Groups for Nielsen Business Media. 'Propelled by our combined creativity, AEG and Nielsen will provide new ways for consumers and the industry to experience the music and performances they love. We are thrilled to be working with AEG and look forward to a long and productive relationship.'
In collaboration with Nielsen, AEG will handle all sales, promotional and merchandising opportunities surrounding Billboard television awards programming and live events, including reaching television distribution agreements. The companies plan to create content for digital platforms, such as broadband and mobile, to support and deepen the audience experience of each event and program. The long-term alliance includes music and entertainment productions originating in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, and provides global broadcast rights to AEG for events produced in those countries.
'Having the ability to form this alliance to further grow and develop an incredibly successful brand, especially in broadcast and new media platforms, is certainly a rare opportunity,' said Randy Phillips, President & CEO, AEG LIVE. 'Billboard is the gold, platinum, diamond and crystal standard for both the music industry and the music consumer. AEG LIVE is a quality over quantity company and the fit between these two organizations is seamless. Our alliance crosses our live touring, sponsorship, content creation and facilities divisions to create unparalleled live and broadcast events. To say we are thrilled to announce this new alliance is an understatement.'
'We couldn't be more pleased to be teaming with AEG to expand the Billboard brand and deepen our relationship with both consumers and the music industry. It's a perfect fit: AEG is one of the most innovative and successful global leaders in live entertainment and sports and Billboard is the world's premiere music brand. I expect this to be a great relationship,' said Tamara Conniff, Executive Editor and Associate Publisher of Billboard.
As part of the agreement, the companies anticipate moving the Billboard Touring Conference to L.A. Live, a four-million square foot, $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment district being developed by AEG adjacent to STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Billboard Touring Conference is one of the premier gatherings for the concert industry, featuring informative panels, engaging discussions, invaluable networking opportunities and exciting awards targeted at promoters, agents, managers, venues, sponsors, and production professionals. Other venues owned and operated by AEG which potentially could host current and 'to-be-developed' programming include STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre Times Square, The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and the soon to be completed Nokia Theatre and Club Nokia (both at L.A. Live) as well as London's O2 Arena and Club Indigo.
Now in its 112th year, Billboard is the world's leading weekly music publication with a diverse, international portfolio of brand extensions for consumers and the industry, including digital products, radio programming and live entertainment nightclubs. For more than a decade, Billboard has created powerful music and entertainment conferences, events and television award productions, ranging from the iconic Billboard Music Awards to the Billboard Mobile Entertainment Live conference. AEG LIVE, the live-entertainment division of AEG, is devoted to all aspects of creating, producing and promoting live entertainment including concerts, productions and special events. The company currently produces or co-produces events including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the award-winning annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, and recently has promoted tours starring artists and groups such as Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, the Dixie Chicks and American Idol.
