Charlie Walker has stood down as President Of Music at the US division of live music conglom Live Nation. Walker, who rose to his current role when Live Nation was spun off from the rest of the Clear Channel group in 2005, has announced he is setting up a new live events company with Charlie Jones and Charles Attal, co-producers of Lollapalooza and the Austin City Limits music festival.
Walker's new business partners are expected to role their existing companies into the new venture - from Attal's side that's Charles Attal Presents and Fourth Floor Management, while Jones will bring the music division from Capital Sports And Entertainment with him. While the name of the combined business is still tbc (I'm proposing Lots Of Charlie Promotions), the new business partners have announced they will be launching a new country music festival in Texas later this year.
Asked about his new venture, Walker told Billboard yesterday: "We have all been close friends for 10-plus years. We believe this is a great opportunity for all three of us, and there is no better time than now".
Live Nation are expected to announce a significant restructure of its US top team following Walker's departure.