Business News Deals Live Business

Global acquires six UK festivals, including Field Day, Boardmasters and Truck

By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 6 October 2016

Global has dug much deeper into one of the many pies it has fingers in, acquiring six UK festivals and increasing its stake in live firm Broadwick Live.

The media and entertainment company has purchased four festivals from Impresario – SouthWestFour, Field Day, Boardmasters and Rewind Festival – and two from Count Of Ten – Y Not and Truck. Having announced plans to expand the music side of its business, Global got into the festivals game last year by taking a stake in Broadwick Live, the company behind Snowbombing and Festival No 6, as well as various branded events.

Director of Global’s Live And Touring division, Sam Bush, says: “We took a stake in Broadwick Live just over a year ago. We’ve had an incredible first year working together, working hard to bring in some of Europe’s leading music festivals as well as some of the most innovative and well-loved up-and-coming festivals. We have a shared ambition to grow the portfolio and we look forward to doing this with Gareth and the team at Broadwick Live as well as the founders and managers of the festivals we have acquired”.

The there referenced Broadwick Live CEO Gareth Cooper adds: “These are exciting times. Working with Global has helped us to realise our ambitions and then some. We have a strong partner that offers us unbelievable support and shares our goal to build an international festivals business, starting with our first venture in North America next year. What we have announced today is just the beginning”.

It of course remains to be seen how well the largely indie and alternative leaning festivals in this deal evolve ultimately under the control of a major entertainment company like Global.