Live Nation boss reveals ‘unspoken secret’ of ticket prices

Veteran promoter Michael Coppel is now the biggest Australian cog in a multinational music machine. He says local fans would be bereft without it.

Live Nation Australia chair Michael Coppel, at Icebergs Bar & Restaurant, Bondi. Louie Douvis

Michael BaileyArts & Culture editor

Apr 17, 2025 – 5.00am

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“I saw Dua Lipa down here yesterday. Man!” exclaims my young Uber driver, motioning towards Bondi Beach as we swing into Notts Avenue.

As he chuckles lasciviously over the British-Albanian pop star, whose bikini pix had led Daily Mail that morning, I decide against telling him this music business nerd is about to go one better. I’m having lunch with the guy who chairs the industry’s behemoth, Live Nation, and who brought Dua Lipa to Australia.

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Michael BaileyArts & Culture editorMichael Bailey writes on arts and culture, and edits Weekend Fin. He is a former editor of the Financial Review Rich List. He is based in Sydney.