Entertainment company Live Nation has announced its strategic acquisition of Jubilee Street, one of Australia and New Zealand’s prominent comedy artist management companies.
Established in 2018 by Bec Sutherland (pictured), Jubilee Street has focused on building its artist management business within comedy. The company currently manages 11 artists, including award-winning Australian and New Zealand comedians Julia Morris, Urzila Carlson, Nazeem Hussain, Kate Langbroek, Melanie Bracewell and Becky Lucas. Separately, Sutherland also served as a strategic leader of Live Nation’s comedy touring business across the Asia Pacific region.
Following the initial wave of global lockdowns in 2020, comedy was the first form of live entertainment to return to the market. Jubilee and Live Nation staged the ‘Together Again’ shows in Auckland with Urzila Carlson, and Russell Howard was the first international artist to tour both Australia and New Zealand in 2021 completing a 35-show tour.
Jubilee has also seen recent success at the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with Urzila Carlson winning the People’s Choice Award for most tickets sold at the festival and 30,000 people attending her show. Multiple Jubilee Street artists are being recognised at the 2022 Australian Logie Awards, with Melanie Bracewell nominated for Most Popular New Talent for her work on ‘The Cheap Seats’, which was also up for Most Popular Comedy Programme. Julia Morris was nominated for the coveted Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality, for her work on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’. The show won the Most Outstanding Reality Program Logie.
Roger Field, President of Live Nation Asia Pacific, commented: “We are extremely proud to be taking our long-standing relationship with Jubilee Street to the next level. This deal gives us the opportunity to continue working alongside Bec Sutherland, who was a valued member of the Live Nation team for a long time, and one of the country’s best comedy talent managers and comedy promoters. Together, we are dedicated to nurturing and showcasing the best of Australian and New Zealand comedy, while strengthening our position as a world-class comedy destination”.
Bec Sutherland, Founder and Managing Director of Jubilee said: “Both Jubilee Street and Live Nation are committed to driving the careers of Australian and New Zealand comedic talent locally and globally, and this is an exciting next step in my career and for the development of the amazing talent I represent.”
During her time at Live Nation, Sutherland has played a significant role in growing the comedic market within Australia and New Zealand touring the world’s biggest comedic talent, including Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Joe Rogan, Chelsea Handler, Rob Brydon, Nick Kroll, Nick Offerman, Russell Howard, and many more. Sutherland’s work promoting Tim Minchin’s ‘BACK’ tour also won the prestigious 2019 Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert.
Sutherland will step down from her role as Vice President of Comedy at Live Nation APAC, to focus as Managing Director of Jubilee Street overseeing her exclusive catalogue of talent. She will continue to promote her roster of clients through Live Nation, providing them with access to world-class touring resources and industry knowledge. Andy Curtain, Live Nation Asia Pacific’s Head of Comedy will continue managing operations and leading on all other comedy talent across the region.
