Live Nation Labs to close?

Live Nation’s digital innovation division, Live Nation Labs is undergoing a massive shake up, according to multiple sources.

The reports follow the exit of the division’s executives Eric Garland and Ethan Kaplan. The US hub was formed in 2011 by Garland and Joe Fleischer, Live Nation’s SVP Content & Product Strategy. Kaplan was one of the first hires, poached from Warner Music Group’s digital team.

Its launch followed Live Nation’s reported $US12 million purchase of Garland and Fleischer’s online media tracking start-up BigChampagne. It was thought to assist Live Nation in bankrolling its consumer database following its merge with Ticketmaster a year prior, in 2010.

Billboard has reported Garland and Kaplan’s exit last month was simply due to the execs’ contracts being up and not renewed, however various sources have reported Live Nation Labs is prepping a closure. It’s been reported the success of the division failed to utilise Live Nation’s audience and threatened the concert and ticketing giant's relationships with existing departments which have a focus on digital.

Live Nation Australia is not directly involved with Live Nation Labs.

Meanwhile, Live Nation Entertainment inked a deal last month with independent concerts company and owner of Australia’s Big Day Out, C3 Presents. Billboard reported Live Nation payed “in the region of $125 million for a 51% stake”. Talk of a controlled stake reportedly began over a year ago, with advanced discussions at play in October.

Big Day Out revealed last June that it wouldn’t go ahead with a 2015 tour.