Live Nation admits it has been a ‘grind’ to get international acts to come to NZ

Thursday, 4 September 2025

Live Nation says it has been a “grind” to get international artists to tour New Zealand.

Head of Live Nation in New Zealand Mark Kneebone says Australia is better positioned to attract artists.

Kneebone said costs and the way tours were structured was proving an issue.

Entertainment company Live Nation has admitted that getting international artists to tour New Zealand is tough.

Over the past year big names such as Lady Gaga, Oasis, and Kendrick Lamar have played Australia but have skipped New Zealand.

Speaking at an events industry conference in Hamilton this week, Managing Director of Live Nation in New Zealand, Mark Kneebone, said it had been a “grind” to get artists to come down under.

As reported by music blog Boiler Room, Kneebone told the audience at Eventing the Future that New Zealand as a touring destination was in a “state of flux” and Australia was in a better position to attract artists.

“Our nation is falling down the global pecking order,” he said, adding, 'We have fallen further behind our friends across the ditch.”

Kneebone listed a range of reasons why it was hard to attract artists, including the costs involved and artists changing how they structure their tours, where they play more shows in fewer cities.

Higher shipping costs and bigger productions were also making it more expensive for artists, according to Kneebone.

“As tours get bigger, more complex and push the boundaries of tech and production, freight becomes more of a factor,” he said. “Shows are becoming more complex and artists are less open to playing without their entire stage rig.”

Kneebone added there was a 10-15% cost increase in putting on a show in New Zealand compared to Australia.

Over the last year, Pink, Travis Scott, Coldplay, Luke Combs, and Pearl Jam have all played stadium shows in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Metallica is set to play at Eden Park in November, and Ed Sheeran is touring in 2026.

In November 2024 Eden Park was granted resource consent to hold 12 shows at the venue per year, double the six previously allowed.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has also been lobbying for a bed levy, which he says could bring in around $27m to help attract overseas events, including big-name artists such as Taylor Swift, to the city.

In June, the Government announced their new tourism growth roadmap, including $5 million for major events.

Concerts, though, were not eligible; however, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston told RNZ she was open to reviewing the criteria.

'We'd be happy to look into it but need to be realistic about whether concerts generate economic value for New Zealand.

'Some may generate an economic boost for the region where they're held, however overall, the profit tends to go offshore,” Upston said.