Michael Chugg of Chugg Entertainment and Michael Gudinski of Frontier Touring are entering a "joint partnership".Credit:Justin Ma/Mushroom Music Group
"We began talking about it late last year,but we kept it pretty close to our chests,"says Chugg."We both have similar opinions about people overpaying for artists,people who can't promote properly,and people who cut ticket prices[at the last moment] and upset the fans."
For"people"you can substitute Live Nation,the American behemoth that owns Ticketmaster,operates venues in Melbourne and Brisbane,and has a stake in some of the country's major music festivals (including Falls and Splendour in the Grass),as well as a roster of some of the biggest acts in music and comedy worldwide.
"We've had a very good run,"says Gudinski,"but Chugg's got some great people,including his managing director Susan Heymann,and we need artillery and arms to try to keep Live Nation honest".
The deal – which includes Gudinski taking a 25 per cent stake in Chugg's CMC Rocks country music festival – reunites the pair who co-founded Frontier with Phil Jacobson in 1979.
Gudisnki,left,and Chugg in 1994.Credit:Simon Alekna
Those who know them well say the pair are like brothers – close but also disagreeing heatedly at times.
At 71,Chugg is the older of the pair,but it was Gudinski,66,who called the shots at Frontier.