Live Nation Shutters Labs After Three Years

Big Champagne Fizzles Out

After acquiring BIG CHAMPAGNE for what sources insist was closer to $12 million than the widely reported $30 million in 2011, LIVE NATION has quietly shuttered its big-data LABS experiment, dispersing its activities -- and employees -- into other areas in the company, particularly TICKETMASTER and its corporate sponsorships and partnerships arm.

Both BIG CHAMPAGNE CEO and LABS head ERIC GARLAND and ETHAN KAPLAN have exited the company as of DECEMBER 31st after not having their contracts renewed.

LABS staffer KYLE BYLIN, who originally left BILLBOARD to become part of the LIVE NATION division, recently joined SOUNDHOUND. 

BIG CHAMPAGNE co-founder JOE FLEISCHER will reportedly remain in his current position related to corporate alliances and sponsorships.

LABS had their own acquisitions, including the EDM-focused BOOMRAT, which shuts down as of JANUARY 15th, and will be reportedly folded into INSOMNIAC.

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