AEG Presents Partners With Japanese Concert Promoter Creativeman

AEG Presents has announced a partnership with Japanese concert promotion company Creativeman Productions, the news was released on Tuesday (Aug. 11). Creativeman's portfolio includes the multi-city music festival Summer Sonic, along with Sonicmania, Greenroom Festival, Loud Park and Springroove. The companies are set to collaborate to "create new opportunities for artists to connect with audiences throughout Japan, while continuing to elevate the fan experience and support the country’s vibrant live music market," stated in a press release.

The merger will also expand AEG Presents' ticketing platform, AXS, within the country. Creativeman Productions CEO Naoki Shimizu revealed that the company has grown from just two staff members to the largest independent music promoter in Asia over the past 37 years. He added, "This strategic partnership with AEG Presents will propel our growth as we expand our festivals and artists from Japan to Asia and the rest of the world."

The partnership will connect Summer Sonic with world-class festivals, similar to Coachella in the U.S. and BTS Hyde Park in the U.K. Creativeman CEO Shimizu was recently recognized as one of Billboard's Global Power Players. At a Billboard Japan interview, Shimizu discussed the potential expansion of Summer Sonic into Bangkok and his aspirations for it to expand into China in the future.

AEG Presents executive vp and COO Shawn Trell expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the alignment of Creativeman's vision and business strategy with theirs. He stated, "Creativeman is an important presence in Japan and across the region. The company’s vision and business strategy align perfectly with ours, and we’re thrilled to be entering into this partnership together."