HOUSTON, TX (Clear Channel Entertainment) - Clear Channel Entertainment today announced that the company is combining its International and North American music operations to further its position as the leading global live music company.
Don Law will serve as Chairman of Global Music, and team with Michael Rapino, who assumes the title of President of Global Music.
In addition, the company has promoted Thomas Johansson to Chairman of European Music, and is in the final stages of negotiations with Dave Lucas to become Chairman of North American Music operations.
Both positions report to the President of Global Music.
The move is designed to harness the deep expertise that these top industry professionals provide within Clear Channel Entertainment's music division to deliver greater service to artists, to develop new artists, to develop greater programs and services for fans, to create marketing partnerships with multi-national corporations, and to develop new business opportunities.
"These executives represent the very best talent and leadership in the business and we are excited about the tremendous potential that this new organization holds," said Brian Becker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer... "As we move into a more global marketplace and operate in a vastly evolving environment, we recognize that it will require the best and brightest practices and people, as well as this caliber of leadership for continued success."
About Don Law. Mr. Law, a music industry veteran of more than 35 years, has been a prominent promoter throughout the Northeast. He is the founder of the Tweeter Center Boston, one of the premier performance amphitheatres in the U.S. He also co- founded New England Express Ticketing (NEXT), the world's first fully automated, high-volume reserved-seat ticketing system. NEXT Ticketing currently provides exclusive ticketing services to a diverse group of clients, including The Boston Museum of Fine Arts and The Boston Red Sox.
Mr. Law was also the President of Precision Media, a broadcasting company that owned and operated five radio stations in New England, later sold to SFX Broadcasting.
In addition, Mr. Law co-founded and served as inaugural chairman of the North American Concert Promoter Association, an international trade association of the largest talent buyers in North America.
At Clear Channel Entertainment, he has served as the Chairman and Co-CEO of the company's Music Division.
About Michael Rapino. Mr. Rapino has been with Clear Channel Entertainment for 5 years, most recently serving as CEO of Clear Channel Entertainment's European Music Group. Previously, he was based in New York and headed the global marketing alliances within the European marketplace. Rapino was a partner of Core Audience Entertainment, a leading concert promoter and entertainment marketing company in Canada. Clear Channel Entertainment (then SFX) acquired Core Audience Entertainment in 1999. Prior to his position at Core Audience Entertainment, he served 10 years with Labatts Breweries of Canada. During his tenure, he served in various roles of increasing responsibility including senior director of marketing.
He worked closely with the Labatts-owned Toronto Blue Jays and CPI, the largest concert promoter in Canada.
In this role, he championed industry leading entertainment-marketing programs with The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and David Bowie. He also directed the marketing for a portfolio of brands including Labatts Blue, Canada's largest brand.
About Dave Lucas. Mr. Lucas, a music industry veteran of more than 30 years, has been a prominent promoter throughout the Midwest. He founded Sunshine Promotions, Inc. in 1971, which became one of the largest concert promoters in the United States, as well as many other pivotal organizations within the music industry throughout his illustrious career, including TourDesign Creative Services and Suntex.
Mr. Lucas developed Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana in 1989, a 24,000 seat outdoor amphitheater. The venue is now known as Verizon Wireless Music Center. In the mid-to-late 90's, Mr. Lucas renovated two historic theaters in Louisville, Kentucky and in Indianapolis, Indiana: the historic Louisville Palace Theater and the historic Murat Centre in downtown Indianapolis. He served as President and CEO of SFX Music and President and Co-CEO of Clear Channel Entertainment's Music Division.
