Produced by Pollstar, the leading trade publication for the live entertainment industry, the 30th annual Pollstar Awards will conclude the Pollstar Live! conference, held February 11th - 13th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Presented by Live Nation on February 13th, the Pollstar Awards honours and recognizes the most successful artists, executives, venues, events, and companies in the thriving global live entertainment business.

Pollstar Awards’ nominees for the “Major Tour Of The Year” award include epic treks by Beyoncé & Jay-Z, Bruno Mars, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and U2.

Also nominated for various awards are such artists as Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Elton John, Panic! At the Disco, Def Leppard/Journey, Pink, Travis Scott, Luke Bryan, Shania Twain, J Balvin, Kenny Chesney, Luis Miguel, Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Billy Joel, Greta Van Fleet, and Celine Dion, among many others.  For a complete list of nominees, see below.

The nominees were selected by a panel of more than 2,000 agents, managers, promoters, venue operators, and professionals who work in the live entertainment industry. With the largest, most diverse nomination committee in the history of the awards, Pollstar also announces several changes to the program for the 30th anniversary event, both in terms of award categories and in the methodology calculating winners. These changes are geared to increase relevancy, recognize the evolution of the industry, and acknowledge the standard-bearers for the preceding touring year.

“For 30 years, the Pollstar Awards have been the definitive recognition for achievement in the touring industry, and we are honored and privileged to again recognize the elite artists, venues, and executives in the world of live entertainment,” said Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, parent company of Pollstar. “This is a thrilling time to be in the business of live, and we remain inspired by the level of professionalism, creativity and fan engagement exhibited by those who make up our nominees for the 2019 Pollstar Awards, and across the industry.”

While the Pollstar Awards will remain predominantly an industry peer-voted honor, Pollstar will for the first time weigh actual box office performance (gross revenue and ticket sales) as factors in determining winners for many awards. Also, certain executives and artists must be affiliated with specific tours, venues and events from the preceding touring year in order to maintain relevance to the year being considered.

Pollstar has also continued its focus on the artists, with new awards added in 2018 based on genre, and adding categories for a wider range of acts that make important contributions to the overall touring economy, including “Best Residency,” “Best Support/Special Guest,” “Best Non-Music Tour,” “Best Brand Partnership,” “Best Touring Musician,” and “Best Soft Ticket Act.” Beyond the nominees listed below, Pollstar will soon announce special awards for lifetime achievement and philanthropy, and engage fans with the first fan-voted award in the history of the event.

In recognition of the 30th anniversary (and in an effort to not take itself too seriously), Pollstar will also celebrate the larger-than-life personalities and unique nature of the business via such irreverent categories as “The Unavailable,” “Best Hang,” “Most Dreaded Phone Call,” and the “Back In My Day” awards. The entire slate of awards are geared toward presenting a compelling ceremony that salutes the touring industry’s illustrious past while celebrating its current vitality and promising future.

“The changes made for the 2019 Pollstar Awards reflect our ongoing efforts to present the most relevant and accurate representation of the ‘year in touring’ and the highest achieving artists and professionals that make up this dynamic, passionate business,” said Ray Waddell, president of OVG’s Media & Conferences division. “We also wanted to try and have some fun because, while this industry is definitely made up of the hardest working men and women in show business, they also know how to have a good time.”

The 2019 Pollstar Live! Conference & Awards runs Feb. 11-13, beginning with a day focused on production with Production Live! (programmed this year with legendary production guru Jake Berry) followed by two days of insightful sessions, keynotes, Q&As and presentations on the most relevant topics facing the global live business.

30th Annual Pollstar Awards Nominations
 
Major Tour Of The Year

Ed Sheeran - ÷ Tour
Taylor Swift - Reputation Tour
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic World Tour
Beyoncé & Jay-Z - On The Run II Tour
Drake - Aubrey & The Three Amigos Tour
U2 - eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour
 
Best Rock Tour

Foo Fighters - Concrete and Gold Tour 2018
Panic! At The Disco - Pray for the Wicked Tour
U2 - eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour
Metallica - WorldWired Tour
Imagine Dragons - ƎVOLVE World Tour
Def Leppard/Journey - Def Leppard & Journey Tour
Eagles - An Evening With The Eagles
 
Best Hip-Hop/R&B

Drake - Aubrey & The Three Amigos Tour
Beyoncé & Jay-Z - On The Run II Tour
Post Malone - Beerbongs & Bentleys Tour
Travis Scott - Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour
Top Dawg Entertainment (Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock & More) -
The Championship Tour
Childish Gambino - This Is America Tour
 
Best Pop Tour

Ed Sheeran - ÷ Tour
Pink - Beautiful Trauma World Tour
Taylor Swift - Reputation Tour
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic World Tour
Justin Timberlake - The Man Of The Woods Tour
Harry Styles - Harry Styles: Live On Tour
 
Best Country Tour

Chris Stapleton - Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show Tour
Kenny Chesney - Trip Around the Sun Tour
Luke Bryan - What Makes You Country Tour
Keith Urban - Graffiti U World Tour
Thomas Rhett - Life Changes Tour 2018
Shania Twain - NOW Tour
 
Best Latin Tour

J Balvin - Vibras Tour
Luis Miguel - México Por Siempre Tour
Ozuna - Aura Tour
Shakira - El Dorado World Tour
Romeo Santos - Golden Tour
Bad Bunny - La Nueva Religion Tour
 
Best Comedy Tour

Kevin Hart - The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour
Sebastian Maniscalco - Stay Hungry Tour
Dave Chappelle & Jon Stewart |
Jim Jefferies - The Night Talker Tour
Jerry Seinfeld - Jerry Seinfeld Live
Steve Martin & Martin Short - Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest of Your Life
 
Best Support/Special Guest

Kacey Musgraves - Harry Styles – Harry Styles: Live
Kane Brown - Chris Young – Losing Sleep World Tour
Kelsea Ballerini - Keith Urban – Graffiti U World Tour
The Struts - Foo Fighters – Concrete and Gold Tour 2018
Migos - Drake – Aubrey & The Three Amigos Tour
Lauv - Ed Sheeran – ÷ Tour
 
Best Residency

Billy Joel - Madison Square Garden Arena
Bruce Springsteen - Walter Kerr Theatre
Celine Dion - Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Elton John - Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Jennifer Lopez - Zappos Theater in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Backstreet Boys - Zappos Theater in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
 
Best Soft Ticket Act

10,000 Maniacs
Air Supply
America
Donny & Marie
Earth Wind & Fire
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
 
Best Non-Music Tour Of The Year

Pod Tours America
Becoming: An Intimate Conversation With Michelle Obama
Peppa Pig’s Surprise
WWE Monday Night Raw
Cirque du Soleil Crystal
Disney Junior Dance Party On Tour Presented by Pull-Ups
 
Best New Headliner

Greta Van Fleet
Billie Eilish
Harry Styles
Luke Combs
Kane Brown
Post Malone
 
Music Festival Over 30K Capacity

Coachella - Indio, CA
Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL
Stagecoach - Indio, CA
Austin City Limits Music Festival - Austin, TX
Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
BottleRock Napa Valley - Napa, CA
Outside Lands - San Francisco, CA
 
Music Festival Under 30K Capacity

Newport Folk Festival - Newpork, RI
The Hangout Beach, Music & Arts Festival - Gulf Shores, AL
Desert Daze - Lake Perris, CA
Forecastle - Louisville, KY
Moon River - Chattanooga, TN
The Ohana Fest - Dana Point, CA
 
Nightclub Of The Year

Brooklyn Steel - Brooklyn, N.Y.
9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
The Anthem - Washington, D.C.
Irving Plaza - New York, N.Y.
Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, N.Y.
Thaila Hall - Chicago, IL
 
Theatre Of The Year

Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
Radio City Music Hall - New York, NY
Beacon Theatre - New York, NY
Chicago Theater - Chicago, IL
Fox Theater Oakland - Oakland, CA
Fox Theatre Atlanta - Atlanta, GA
Arvest Bank Theatre At The Midland - Kansas City, MO
                                                                                        
Arena Of The Year

The Forum - Inglewood, CA
Madison Square Garden Arena - New York, NY
Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN
STAPLES CENTER - Los Angeles, CA
Barclays Center - Brooklyn, NY
Golden 1 Center - Sacramento, CA
02 Arena - London, UK
 
Best Outdoor Concert Venue

Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
Forest Hills Stadium - Queens, NY
Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
Ascend Amphitheatre - Nashville, TN
Gorge Amphiteatre - George, WA
Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD
 
Best New Concert Venue

The Sylvee - Madison, WI
Avenir Centre - Moncton, New Brunswick, CA
Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee, WI
Pier 17 At South Street Seaport - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera House - Philadelphia, PA
The Armory - Minneapolis, MN
Elsewhere - Brooklyn, NY
 
Venue Executive Of The Year

Keith Sheldon, Barclays Center
Jeff Nickler, BOK Center
David Kells, Bridgestone Arena
Laurie Jacoby, MSG
Chris Wright, NYCB Live home of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
James Rasmussen, Golden 1 Center
Becky Colwell, Greek Theatre
 
Talent Buyer Of The Year

Stacy Vee, Goldenvoice
Amy Corbin, C3 Presents
Don Strasburg, AEG Presents
Geoff Gordon, Live Nation
Huston Powell, C3 Presents
Sonia Grover, First Avenue
Stacie George, Live Nation
 
Bill Graham Award-Promoter Of The Year

Louis Messina, Messina Touring Group
Ryan McElrath, Live Nation Touring
Brian O’Connell, Live Nation Country
Gregg Perloff, Another Planet Entertainment
Arthur Fogel, Live Nation Global Touring
Ali Harnell, AEG Presents
 
International Promoter Of The Year

Simon Moran, SJM Concerts
Barrie Marshall, Marshal Arts Ltd
Jim King, AEG Presents
Denis Desmond, MCD Productions
Michael Chugg, Chugg Entertainment
Folkert Koopmans, FKP Scorpio
 
Bobby Brooks Award - Agent Of The Year

Marty Diamond, Paradigm Talent Agency
Jay Williams, William Morris Endeavor
Andrew Simon, Creative Artists Agency
John Marx, William Morris Endeavor
Adam Kornfeld, Artist Group International
Cheryl Paglierani, United Talent Agency
Cara Lewis, Cara Lewis Group
 
International Booking Agent Of The Year

Emma Banks, Creative Artists Agency
James Whitting, CODA
Neil Warnock, United Talent Agency
Rod MacSween, International Talent Booking
Steve Strange, X-Ray Touring
Jon Ollier, Creative Artists Agency
 
Booking Agency Of The Year

William Morris Endeavor
Paradigm Talent Agency
Creative Artists Agency
United Talent Agency
Artist Group International
Agency for the Performing Arts
 
Rising Star

Joe Giordano Jr., BOK Center
Michael Owens, Chesapeake Energy Arena
Jared Braverman, Live Nation
Brittanie Delava, AEG Presents
Cheryl Paglierani, United Talent Agency
Lesley Olenik, Live Nation
 
Personal Manager Of The Year

John Silva, Silva Artist Management
Stuart Camp, Grumpy Old Management
Irving Azoff, Full Stop Management
Coran Capshaw, Red Light Management
Jeffrey Azoff, Full Stop Management
Dre London, London Entertainment
 
Road Warrior

Jake Berry - U2
Gus Brandt - Foo Fighters + Team Coco
Keith Keller - Drake
Marty Hom - Fleetwood Mac, Shakira, Paula Abdul
Jim Runge - Empire Of The Sun
Bob “Hydro” Mullin - Justin Timberlake
 
Best Production/Transportation Company

Upstaging, Inc.
Rock-it Cargo
Premier Global Production
Beat The Street
StageCo
Egotrips, Inc.
 
Best Brand Partnership/Live Campaign

Honda Civic Tour w/ Charlie Puth
Nationwide Insurance w/ Brad Paisley
Ikea w/ Boston Calling
Bud Light w/Post Malone
Hollister w/ Khalid
American Express w/ Ariana Grande
Gap w/ Leon Bridges
 
Best Touring Musician

John Mayer, Dead & Company
Elton John
Mike Campbell, Fleetwood Mac
Mark Rivera, Billy Joel
Trey Anastasio, Phish
Vince Gill, Eagles
 
Marketing/PR Exec

Michele Bernstein, William Morris Endeavor
Allison McGregor, Creative Artists Agency
Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media
Michelle McCarthy, Prudential Center
Asha Goodman, Sacks & Co
Eddie Clemens, United Talent Agency
Kate McMahon, Messina Touring Group
Kathi Brennan Scharnikow, AEG Presents
 
Best Hang

The Forum Club @ The Forum
Greek Theatre
Austin City Limits Music Festival
BOK Center
Osheaga
Stagecoach
 
The Lifer

Larry Vallon, AEG Presents
Ron Delsener, Live Nation
Alex Hodges, Nederlander Concerts
Bob Roux, Live Nation
Dan Weiner, Paradigm Talent Agency
Frank Riley, High Road Touring
 
The Unavailable Award

Jeffrey Shuman, Goldenvoice
Johnny Beach, Bowery Presents
Bob Roux, Live Nation
Irving Azoff, Full Stop Management
Jay Williams, William Morris Endeavor
 
Most Frequently Name-Dropped

Irving Azoff, Full Stop Management
Michael Rapino, Live Nation
Marc Geiger, William Morris Endeavor
Coran Capshaw, Red Light Management
Rob Light, Creative Artists Agency
Scooter Braun, SB Projects
 
The Back In My Day

Ron Delsener, Live Nation
Alex Hodges, Nederlander Concerts
Dale Morris, Morris Higham Management
Don Fox, Beaver Productions
Doc McGhee, McGhee Entertainment
Jason Stone, Live Nation
 
Most Dreaded Phone Call

Irving Azoff, Full Stop Management
Aaron Pinkus, Paradigm Talent Agency
Kirk Sommer, William Morris Endeavor
Don Fox, Beaver Productions
Gerry Barad, Live Nation
Howard Rose, Howard Rose Agency
Jeff Frasco, Creative Artists Agency
 
Most Terrifying Agent

Marsha Vlasic, Artist Group International
Brent Smith, William Morris Endeavor
Cara Lewis, Cara Lewis Group
Marc Geiger, William Morris Endeavor
Frank Riley, High Road Touring
Howard Rose, Howard Rose Agency
Ken Fermaglich, United Talent Agency