Chugg and Gudinski back, in concert

After decades apart, the two biggest names in Australian concert promotion are rejoining forces.

Michael Chugg, left, and Michael Gudinski. Picture: Justin Ma

After two decades apart, the two biggest names in Australian concert­ promotion are rejoining forces, with the two Michaels — Gudinski and Chugg — ­positioning themselves in oppos­ition to American entertainment juggernaut Live Nation.

“It’s really about us as independents setting up artillery to keep Live Nation honest, and to make sure there’s always an alterna­tive,” Gudinski said yesterday­. “It’s not about the money, it’s about the strength and the opportunity.”

Under a joint venture agreement, Frontier Touring and Chugg Entertainment will become co-promoters on all Chugg Entertainment tours from April.

According to Billboard magazine, Frontier grossed $344 million last year from 2,768,259 tickets across 440 shows, including tours by Paul McCartney and Foo Fighters. Its run of stadium concerts by Ed Sheeran sold more than a million tickets.

From December 2017 to November­ last year, Chugg Entertainment grossed $67m from 505,468 tickets across 267 shows, according to Billboard, including tours by Bob Dylan and Robbie Williams. Its upcoming run of shows by Elton John, co-promoted with AEG Entertainment, has sold more than 460,000 tickets to date.

Although Chugg split from Frontier in 1999 to start his own business, he and Gudinski have largely remained friends. “As far as I’m concerned, Michae­l and I are the two last great promoters in this country,” said Chugg.

“When we started Frontier in 1979, one principle we had was if the tour’s not selling well, we never give up — we work and we work. That’s the same principle both companies still have today.”

Chugg Entertainment managing director Susan Heymann will stay in that role under the joint venture, while Frontier has also bought a 25 per cent stake in CMC Rocks Qld, a country music event. “The most important thing with Chugg’s people and my people­? They’re music fans,” Gudinski said.