Live Nation Prepares To Unleash A Blizzard Of Changes To Its Structure

The concert promotion company Live Nation, according to the Wall Street Journal, is in the process of “finding new ways… to use its platform as a giant in the concert business as a base for expansion.” Among them: Increasing their presence in the small-to-midsize venue market (get ready for more dayglo-painted Fillmores!), moving into the merchandising business with its acquisition of Signatures Network, handling its own ticket sales, and trying to cut costs by de-emphasizing its amphitheaters, which are empty for huge chunks of the year. The employees of those amphitheaters, however, may not be too pleased by the new corporate outlook on their jobs:

Live Nation’s domestic operation is disproportionately dependent on its open-air amphitheater venues — which means, among other things, that one of its main profit drivers lies fallow during the winter months, when outdoor concerts aren’t feasible. In addition to changing its mix of venues to include more small and midsize clubs, Live Nation is also looking to employ its amphitheater workers on a part-time, seasonal status — something Jason Garner, CEO of the company’s North American music division, calls “the Dairy Queen model.”

As if the indignity of bringing your own liquor to the holiday party wasn’t enough, now Live Nation’s employees have to worry about the prospect of becoming Blizzard-slingers who don’t get the benefit of working in air conditioning? Talk about a morale booster! Although given that this commenter alleges that the powers that be at the company are also cutting back on employee meals, ad budgets, and (ugh) in-office toilet paper supplies. Maybe LN is trying to cut costs through the risky new strategy of encouraging emplyee attrition?

Live Nation’s New Act [WSJ]