Superstruct Entertainment

Superstruct Entertainment
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2017; 8 years ago (2017)
Founders
  • James Barton
  • Roderik Schlosser
ParentKKR & Co. Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.superstruct.com

Superstruct Entertainment is a British live entertainment company and one of the world's largest festival promoters. As of March 2023, the company had acquired over 85 festivals in Australia and Europe, making it the second-largest festival promoter in the world.[1]

History

[edit]

The company was founded in 2017 by James Barton, the founder of Creamfields and former Live Nation executive, and Roderik Schlosser of private equity firm Providence Equity Partners, which provided seed funding.[2][3][4][5]

In January 2017 Superstruct bought 70% of Sziget Festival in Budapest, and the following month invested in Spanish electronic music promotions company Elrow.[6]

In June 2018 Providence Equity Partners acquired a majority stake in Spanish festival Sónar.[7]

In August 2018 Superstruct invested in Øyafestivalen in Norway.[8]

In April 2019, the company acquired Victorious Festival, South West Four, Kendal Calling, Truck, Tramlines, Boardmasters, and Hideout festival from Global.[9]

In July 2019 it acquired Next Events, the promoter of Germany's largest electronic music festival, Parookaville.[10]

In August 2019 they acquired International Concert Service, the owners of Wacken Open Air.[11]

In 2021 Superstruct bought Dutch event promoters ID&T from LiveStyle.[12]

In June 2023 Superstruct bought majority stakes in Mighty Hoopla, Cross the Tracks, and Snowbombing.[13]

In June 2024, the company was acquired from Providence Equity Partners by KKR for €1.3bn.[14][15][16]

In January 2025, it acquired Boiler Room from DICE for an undisclosed sum.[17]. In April 2025, former Channel 4 chief Alex Mahon was named as the new chief executive of the company.[18]

Boycotts

[edit]
See also: Boycott of Superstruct Entertainment festivals

Following the acquisition by KKR, there have been boycotts and backlash by artists, due to its stakes in weapons manufacturing companies, the Coastal GasLink pipeline, and Israeli corporations operating in occupied Palestinian territories.[19][20] As of May 2025, fifteen artists had dropped out of the 2025 edition of Field Day due to Superstruct's ownership by private equity firm KKR.[21][22] The same month Mighty Hoopla issued a statement saying that it stands in opposition of the "unethical investments" of KKR.[23]

Current properties

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Henderson, Lisa (14 March 2023). "Meet the world's second-largest festival promoter". IQ Magazine. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  2. ^ Barrett, Christopher (19 May 2025). "Superstruct responds to KKR backlash". Access All Areas. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  3. ^ Crowley, Amy-Jo (13 July 2023). "Exclusive: Live events group Superstruct readied for sale". Reuters. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  4. ^ Hanley, James (21 June 2024). "Global investment firm buys Superstruct for €1.3bn". IQ Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  5. ^ "SUPERSTRUCT ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  6. ^ Chapple, Jon (23 February 2017). "James Barton's Superstruct buys again". IQ Magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b Chapple, Jon (29 June 2018). "Superstruct backer acquires majority stake in Sónar". IQ Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Superstruct invests in Norway's Øyafestivalen". IQ Magazine. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Superstruct Entertainment acquires more UK and European festivals · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  10. ^ a b Gottfried, Gideon (8 July 2019). "Superstruct Entertainment Invests In German Parookaville Promoter Next Events". Pollstar. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  11. ^ a b Wood, Stuart (19 August 2019). "Sziget festival owners Superstruct acquire heavy metal festival". Access All Areas. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  12. ^ "UK-based live events firm Superstruct Entertainment buys electronic music giant ID&T". Music Business Worldwide. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  13. ^ a b c Henderson, Lisa (5 June 2023). "Superstruct acquires trio of European festivals". IQ. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  14. ^ "KKR acquires live music giant Superstruct in $1.4bn deal (UPDATE)". Music Business Worldwide. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  15. ^ Levingston, Ivan (21 June 2024). "KKR to buy owner of European music festivals for €1.3bn". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  16. ^ Kwok, Karen (6 September 2024). "Breakingviews - Buyout barons' music fest punt is oddly compelling". Reuters. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Boiler Room acquired by Superstruct Entertainment · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  18. ^ Koopman, Saskia (28 April 2025). "Channel 4 chief Alex Mahon to run entertainment group Superstruct". City AM. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  19. ^ "More than 70 artists call on Sónar to distance itself from KKR's "complicit investments"". Mixmag. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  20. ^ Pilley, Max (31 May 2025). "Refused explain decision not to boycott festivals backed by KKR investment firm". NME. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Midland, Spray, Roza Terenzi and more cancel Field Day sets amid KKR boycott · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  22. ^ Bowkett, Bill (16 May 2025). "Field Day hit with growing boycott as artists pull out in solidarity with Palestine". The Standard. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  23. ^ Ross, Gemma (16 May 2025). "Mighty Hoopla says it stands against "unethical investments" of KKR". Mixmag. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  24. ^ Beeby, Sean (20 September 2021). "Superstruct Entertainment completes purchase of Dutch festival group ID&T". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  25. ^ Roele, Jesper (7 June 2025). "14 artiesten zeggen Milkshake Festival af vanwege omstreden eigenaar: 'Je breekt hier het festival mee af, maar niet KKR'". Het Parool (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 June 2025.
  26. ^ a b c "Superstruct Entertainment buys big with UK Festivals". Gig Addict. 17 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Superstruct makes first acquisition since pandemic". IQ Magazine. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
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