Thursday, April 2 – Today, ATG Entertainment announces ATG Live, a newly formed concert, comedy & events division led by Senior Vice President Erik Newson. The company partners with artists, promoters, and industry leaders to stage more than 500 concerts, comedy shows, and one-night events each year, moving upwards of 1 million tickets across 18 venues nationwide.

"ATG Live represents an exciting next chapter for our business. Backed by the scale and global reach of ATG Entertainment, this launch strengthens our position in the live music and one-night event space,” says CEO of ATG Entertainment North America, Lori Hotz. “We see tremendous opportunity ahead and are excited to continue expanding our reach while delivering unforgettable experiences for audiences and partners across the U.S."

Working with landmark venues from the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn and the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans to San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre, and the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio (full list here), the team at ATG Live has hosted world class performances from artists like Bono, Ed Sheeran, Jungle, Dave Chapelle, LCD Soundsystem, Robert Plant, Los Tigres Del Norte, Erykah Badu, KATSEYE, Cuco, Paul Simon, Vampire Weekend, John Legend, Underworld, Khruangbin, Sabrina Carpenter, Giggly Squad, Remi Wolf, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan and beyond. Upcoming shows with ATG Live include Santana, Jill Scott, Billy Strings, Goose, Lily Allen, Lord Huron, David Byrne, Cake, Ella Mai, Wilco, Nikki Glaser, and more.

"ATG Live was built with a clear intention: to present iconic shows in the highest quality venues, while being thoughtful about how and where artists connect with their audiences,” says ATG Senior Vice President, Erik Newson. “We see a real opportunity to offer an alternative to the increasingly standardized national touring model by curating exceptional artists and experiences that feel purposeful, artist‑driven, and truly special for fans.”

With more than 30 years of experience across artist management, international touring, talent buying, and event production, Erik has built longstanding relationships with top promoters, venues, and agencies across the globe. Joining ATG Entertainment in 2023 programming talent for the Saenger Theatre & Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans, Erik continues to prioritize the creative vision of illustrious artists while delivering memorable experiences for audiences in landmark venues across the United States.

The ATG Live team includes a multifaceted mix of seasoned industry professionals including VP of Programming Kevin Couch, who handles the San Antonio, Tulsa, Little Rock & Springfield markets. A former touring drummer turned artist manager, he’s worked with acts like Color Me Badd, bringing real road experience into every deal. Kevin later founded CBC Creative, earning Addy and Muse Awards for standout design and branding work. 

Director of Programming Jenn Sonick has been with ATG for five years following her time at AEG Presents Rocky Mountains and programs the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn as well as the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston. Fellow Programming Director Mark Austin, who began his career as a music photographer before moving into talent buying with Kessler Presents, covers the Smart Financial Centre in Houston/Sugarland. Rounding out the team is San Francisco Director of Programming Scott Simoneaux, who joins from his role leading Teragram Presents inLos Angeles and as a partner of tastemaker music blog the Aquarium Drunkard. Scott programs the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theatres for ATG Live.

“I’m genuinely excited to be part of this launch because I believe deeply in ATG Live’s mission and values — both nationally and globally. At a time when so much feels fragmented, the power of live entertainment to bring people together matters more than ever. There is something irreplaceable about sharing a room, a moment, and a performance, and that sense of connection is at the heart of everything we’re building,” Erik Newson shares.

“As a boutique startup within a global entertainment company, ATG Live occupies a unique space,” he continues. “We have the scale and support to make a meaningful impact, while maintaining the flexibility, care, and creativity needed to serve both artists and audiences thoughtfully. That balance gives us a real chance to positively shape the live entertainment landscape, and I’m incredibly proud to help bring that vision to life."

ABOUT ATG LIVE

ATG Live is a leading independent partner in the live music industry, prioritizing the creative vision of iconic artists while delivering memorable experiences for audiences in landmark venues across the United States. The live music, comedy and events division of ATG Entertainment partners with artists, promoters and other industry leaders to host 500+ live events annually, selling over 1 million tickets across 18 venues nationwide under the leadership of Senior Vice President Erik Newson. ATG Live has brought artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, Santana, Robert Plant, Bob Dylan, Erykah Badu, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Jungle, Underworld, Khruangbin, LCD Soundsystem, Bono and many more to historic landmarks from the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn and the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, to the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco to theMajestic Theatre in San Antonio and beyond.

ABOUT ERIK NEWSON

With more than 30 years of experience across artist management, international touring, talent buying, and event production, Erik Newson has built longstanding relationships with top promoters, venues, and agencies across the globe. Erik currently serves as Senior Vice President of Programming at ATG Live, where he oversees programming strategy, market expansion, and key partnerships across the company’s U.S. venue portfolio. Erik also continues to bring top level talent to the Saenger and Mahalia Jackson Theatres in New Orleans.

ABOUT ATG ENTERTAINMENT

ATG Entertainment is a world leader in live entertainment. Our portfolio of venues includes historic theatres, modern live music arenas, studio theatres, cinemas and conference spaces. ATG Entertainment own, operate or programme 72 of the world’s most iconic venues across the UK, the US and Continental Europe, each year entertaining over 18 million audience members. Through our in-house Production companies and working closely with third-party top producers and promoters ATG presents over 15,000 live performances every year. ATG also operates a leading ticketing platform, with ATGtickets.com attracting more than 55 million unique visitors annually.

FOLLOW ATG LIVE:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

 PRESS CONTACT:

ATGLivePR@shorefire.com