Clear Channel Music Group Elevates Brian Murphy and Nick Masters to Chairman, President of Avalon Attractions

Clear Channel Music Group Elevates Brian Murphy and Nick Masters to Chairman, President of Avalon Attractions

Founder Murphy to Head Business Development; Masters to Run Talent Booking for Top L.A. Promoter

LOS ANGELES, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Channel Music Group (CCMG) has raised Avalon Attractions founder and president Brian Murphy to the newly created position of Chairman/CEO. CCMG has also boosted 14-year Avalon veteran Nick Masters, previously the Senior Vice President of Booking, to the company's Presidency. Avalon Attractions is the leading music promoter in the nation's most competitive market.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050609/DATH025LOGO )

"Brian Murphy knows the Southern California music market better than almost anyone with a pulse, and his experience, wide network of strong relationships and reputation for creative thinking will help us expand Avalon's scope in crucial growth areas," said Michael Rapino, CEO of CCMG. "Nick Masters has proven that he is one of the best-respected and most imaginative talent bookers around, so he is well qualified to take some decisive steps forward at Avalon's operations/booking."

While continuing to maintain his close relationships with agents and managers of hundreds of top musical acts, Murphy -- who has been with Avalon since he founded it, 28 years ago -- will shift much of his focus to Avalon's overall strategy and business development in Greater Los Angeles. Masters will take responsibility for Avalon Attractions' day-to-day operations, including talent booking, marketing and related functions. Masters will continue to report directly to Murphy, who will report directly to CCMG CEO Michael Rapino.

Since 1977, Avalon head Murphy has helped launch the careers of some of today's top artists and music industry professionals. Metallica, Depeche Mode and Madonna all had their starts under the Avalon banner, and their first stadium shows were produced by Murphy. He also lists the 1985 four-night Coliseum run of Bruce Springsteen as a major triumph. U2 followed at the Coliseum in 1987 with a two-night stand.

Jim Guerinot, Marc Geiger and Steve Rennie also rose through the ranks at Avalon.

"I want Avalon Attractions to be head and shoulders above all the local competition, so I plan to create new venues to provide opportunities that currently don't exist in L.A., to create exciting new music festivals throughout Southern California and to develop other promising musical opportunities," Murphy said. "To accomplish all that, I can't be wired to my desk booking concerts, so I am lucky to have Nick Masters taking over all the booking and much of the day-to-day operations."

In addition to being a top Avalon booker since 1991, Masters has been the leader in creating, producing and promoting highly successful multi-group events sponsored by local radio stations in their specific music genres. He helped create the eight-year-strong Wango Tango as well as the primary radio-sponsored shows for Power 106, Hot 92.3, The Beat 100.3, KZLA (Country Bash) and other top stations.

Nick was also at the forefront of the pop explosion in the 90s, taking groups like *Nsync, Backstreet Boys and others from theater-level dates to selling out stadiums.

"I want L.A. to once again be known as a promoter town rather than just a venue town," Masters revealed. "I want to book all kinds of music in all genres and all venues, regardless of where they are. I am reorganizing our booking team, and Avalon Attractions will significantly widen our path in LA and broaden our reach in outer markets like Fresno, Bakersfield and San Diego."

About Avalon Attractions

Avalon Attractions, Los Angeles' concert company, was founded in 1977 in Santa Monica, California. Brian Murphy has been there since the beginning. Over the course of three decades, it has grown to become the leading promoter in the nation's most competitive market. Artists as prominent and diverse as U2, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Josh Groban, Metallica and Depeche Mode have all called upon Avalon Attractions to promote their shows. The company books events throughout the region at a number of venues, including Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen, San Diego Sports Arena, The Wiltern LG, Avalon and many more.

About Clear Channel Music Group

Clear Channel Music Group, a division of Clear Channel Entertainment, focuses on global, national and local promoting, venue and festival management and artist touring services. The Music Group promotes live music concerts by a majority of the world's most popular performers, as well as many new up-and-coming artists. Clear Channel Music Group comprises 13 business units; Bill Graham Presents, Avalon Attractions, Evening Star Productions, PACE Concerts, Cellar Door North, Cellar Door South, Belkin Productions, Elevated Concerts, Electric Factory, Jim Koplik Presents, Ron Delsener Presents, Tea Party Concerts and Chuck Morris Presents. It currently owns, operates, or books approximately 80 live entertainment venues in the U.S., including 45 amphitheaters, 25 theaters and clubs, plus 8 venues in Europe. Clear Channel Entertainment is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications (NYSE:CCU), a global leader in the out-of-home advertising industry. More information may be found by visiting http://www.cc.com/ and http://www.clearchannel.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050609/DATH025LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Clear Channel Music Group; Avalon Attractions

CONTACT: Faisel Durrani of Clear Channel Music Group, +1-310-867-7000;
or Ray Yeung, yeung@braincomm.com , or Nancy Zakhary, nancy@braincomm.com ,
both of Brainerd Communicators, Inc., +1-212-986-6667, for Clear Channel Music
Group

Web site: http://www.clearchannel.com/
http://www.cc.com/

-------
Profile: intent