AEG Presents has entered into a strategic partnership with Creativeman Productions, the Japanese concert promoter behind the Summer Sonic festival, one of the largest music events in Asia.
AEG Presents and Creativeman announced the deal on Tuesday (August 11), expanding AEG Presents‘ presence in Japan.
It also gives AXS, AEG Presents‘ ticketing company, a platform to expand across the region.
The two companies will work together on new opportunities for artists to reach audiences throughout Japan, according to the announcement.
Creativeman Productions was founded in 1990 and promotes concerts, tours and events that connect global and Japanese artists with audiences across the country.
The company is led by CEO Naoki Shimizu.
“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.”
Naoki Shimizu, Creativeman
“Over the past 37 years, Creativeman has grown from a company with just 2 staff members to become the largest independent music promoter in Asia,” said Shimizu.
“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 also connect Summer Sonic with a portfolio of world-class festivals and creates a network that joins Coachella in the U.S. and BST Hyde Park in the U.K., serving as a cornerstone for the music industry’s continued growth.”
Added Shawn Trell, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at AEG Presents: “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.
“Beyond Creativeman‘s thriving concert and festival business, Summer Sonic has become a globally recognized brand on its own. We can’t wait to see what the future brings.”
“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.”
Shawn Trell, AEG Presents
Summer Sonic launched in 2000 and runs simultaneously in Tokyo and Osaka, with acts playing one city one day and the other the next.
The festival has hosted Radiohead, Oasis, Metallica, Linkin Park, Daft Punk and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, alongside Japanese acts.
It has since expanded overseas with Summer Sonic Bangkok.
Creativeman‘s other events include Sonicmania, Punkspring, Greenroom Festival, Loud Park, Super Sonic and Springroove, spanning pop, rock, metal, punk and electronic music.
The deal deepens AEG Presents‘ push into Japan, where its AXS ticketing arm formed a joint venture with Lawson Entertainment.
AXS has operated in Japan since 2018 and has sold tens of millions of tickets in the market.
AXS has also been expanding elsewhere in the region, taking a majority stake in Singapore ticketing firm SISTIC.
SISTIC processes more than 6.5 million tickets a year across Singapore and neighboring markets.
The wider AEG group has also signaled that Asia-Pacific is a priority growth market. AEG veteran John Langford was appointed President, APAC, AEG International, in February, with responsibility for developing and executing the company’s regional expansion strategy across venues and real estate.
For AEG Presents, the deal extends a series of partnerships with independent promoters, including a stake in Germany’s MCT Agentur.Music Business Worldwide
AEG Presents has forged a strategic alliance with Creativeman Productions, a prominent Japanese concert promoter known for organizing the Summer Sonic festival, one of Asia’s largest music events. This partnership, announced on August 11, aims to enhance AEG Presents’ footprint in Japan and provide AXS, AEG’s ticketing arm, with opportunities to expand its operations in the region.
Founded in 1990, Creativeman Productions has established itself as a key player in the concert promotion landscape, connecting both global and Japanese artists with audiences throughout Japan. CEO Naoki Shimizu expressed optimism about the partnership, highlighting its potential to drive growth for both festivals and artists, extending their reach from Japan to the broader Asian market and beyond. Shimizu noted that Creativeman has evolved from a small company with just two employees into the largest independent music promoter in Asia over the last 37 years.
The partnership is expected to enhance the Summer Sonic festival’s profile by linking it with a network of globally recognized festivals, including Coachella in the U.S. and BST Hyde Park in the U.K. This connection is seen as pivotal for the ongoing growth of the music industry. Shawn Trell, Executive Vice President and COO at AEG Presents, remarked on the alignment of visions and business strategies between both companies and expressed enthusiasm for the future of their collaboration.
Summer Sonic, which began in 2000, takes place simultaneously in Tokyo and Osaka, featuring international acts performing in one city one day and in the other the next. The festival has hosted an impressive array of artists, including Radiohead, Oasis, Metallica, Linkin Park, Daft Punk, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, alongside local Japanese talent. Additionally, Creativeman has successfully expanded the Summer Sonic brand internationally with an event in Bangkok and hosts various other music festivals such as Sonicmania, Punkspring, Greenroom Festival, Loud Park, Super Sonic, and Springroove, encompassing genres from pop and rock to metal, punk, and electronic music.
This partnership deepens AEG Presents’ investment in Japan, where AXS has previously formed a joint venture with Lawson Entertainment. Since its entry into the Japanese market in 2018, AXS has sold tens of millions of tickets, cementing its presence. AXS is also expanding its reach elsewhere in the region, having acquired a majority stake in Singapore-based ticketing company SISTIC, which handles over 6.5 million tickets annually across Singapore and its neighboring markets.
The broader AEG organization has identified the Asia-Pacific region as a key area for growth. In February, AEG veteran John Langford was appointed as President of APAC for AEG International, tasked with overseeing the development and execution of the company’s expansion strategy across venues and real estate in the region.
Overall, the partnership between AEG Presents and Creativeman Productions is poised to enhance the music scene in Japan and facilitate further expansion into the Asian market, while also connecting local festivals with a global network, ultimately benefiting artists and audiences alike.
