Michael Chugg named International Promoter of the Year

Legendary Australian concert promoter Michael Chugg has just taken home the international touring industry's most coveted prize - Pollstar's 'International Promoter of the Year'.

Presented at the 2009 Pollstar Awards in Los Angeles, Chugg was the only Australian nominated in his category, and only one of three Australian nominees in any category alongside AC/DC and Keith Urban.

In a remarkable testament to his ongoing achievements, it is the second time Chugg has won the title. The first was in 2000, the year after he founded Sydney-based Chugg Entertainment

The honour also comes on the back of another major win, when Chugg was made the recipient of the 'Bottle Award', as part of the Arthur Awards, a life time achievement award presented at the prestigious 20th Annual ILMC (International Live Music Conference) in March of last year. This followed his receipt of the award for Best Promoter at the 18th ILMC conference held in London in March 2006.

In his category at the Pollstar awards, Michael Chugg went up against major international promoters, including the industry's dominating global music groups; Live Nation and AEG Live.

As an independent promoter, Chugg Entertainment is already embroiled in a busy 2009, with tours from Coldplay, The Kooks, The Swell Season and America's biggest selling artist of 2008, Taylor Swift, all a part of its first quarter calendar.

Speaking about the industry climate, Chugg recognises that the market is changing, and that this is a difficult for time for much of the entertainment industry, stating "a lot of people are doing it tough with the economy in bad shape around the world, we're all having to be more careful and work smarter ⦠but no matter what, people still love the 'live experience' and that will never change."

Images shows Michael Chugg with Elton John in 2008.