Live Nation has acquired a majority interest in Clockenflap, the Hong Kong-based event organizer behind the flagship Clockenflap festival.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed in the arrangement, announced just days after Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival made a triumphant return to the city, following a four-year hiatus.
Held from March 3-5 at Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront Event Space, the 2023 fest featured performances from Arctic Monkeys, Balming Tiger, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Cardigans, Wu-Tang Clan and more.
Organizers posted the “sold out” sign prior to the most recent edition, which boasted a 30,000 per-day capacity, before announcing a second 2023 fest would be held Dec. 1-3.
Founded in 2008, Clockenflap is one of Asia’s highest-profile festival brands, and certainly HK’s premier contemporary music event.
According to a statement issued Wednesday (March 22), the Clockenflap team will continue to curate, manage and produce its festivals and events, though now with access to LN’s festival portfolio and resources.
“The Live Nation team share our vision for Clockenflap being one of the best city festivals in the world,” says Justin Sweeting, co-founder and music director of Clockenflap, “and with Live Nation’s support and resources, I’m excited for the future of the festival.”
By teaming up with LN, adds Mike Hill, co-founder and managing director of Clockenflap, “we can continue to grow the festival and expand our event activities in Hong Kong and regionally.”
Clockenflap also produces concerts in HK under the brand Clockenflap Presents, including recent sold-out shows for Cigarettes After Sex and Honne.
“Partnering with Clockenflap further demonstrates that Live Nation is committed to bringing world-class festivals and live entertainment experiences to Hong Kong fans,” explains Roger Field, Melbourne-based president of Live Nation Asia Pacific.
Through LN’s global network, Field continues, “we will enhance and grow the Clockenflap brand and deliver new and exciting live opportunities to the region.”
HK’s live music scene is said to be blooming, in part due to the scrapping of hotel quarantine restrictions for international visitors and a cooling in tensions between pro-Democracy protestors and the Chinese police forces, which led to the cancelation of the 2019 event.