Former Clear Channel, Univision Digital Exec Evan Harrison Joins Huka As CEO

Evan Harrison

Music industry veteran EVAN HARRISON has been named the CEO at HUKA ENTERTAINMENT, leaving former Chief Executive A.J. NILAND free to focus on creating new, "one-of-a-kind" festival experiences for music fans around the world as Chairman and Chief Experience Officer.

HUKA ENTERTAINMENT, a leading creator and producer of large-scale destination-location music festivals, is best known for being the company behind the PEMBERTON MUSIC FESTIVAL situated at the base of MT. CURRIE in BRITISH COLUMBIA and the TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL on the beaches of FORT LAUDERDALE, FL.  The company also has a growing touring division which promotes hundreds of concerts across NORTH AMERICA annually.

HARRISON will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company and lead HUKA into what is expected to be an unprecedented phase of growth.

"I am a true music festival promoter and producer at heart and am very proud of everything we've built so far at HUKA," said NILAND.  "In order for the company to grow to the next level, our board and I felt we needed an operator with a proven track record to come in and run the operation. EVAN has built a number of hugely successful businesses in his career and we all felt that his experience in building teams and growing businesses would be hugely helpful to us at HUKA.  I'm thrilled he has agreed to take on such an important role at the company."

As a digital music pioneer, HARRISON was the first head of digital marketing for BMG.  In 2001 he left the label group to join AOL where he went on to become Head of Music and Radio.  He helped developed the AOL SESSIONS and FIRST LISTEN franchises and produced dozens of exclusive live event broadcasts from intimate club settings to launch projects by superstar artists.  In 2004 HARRISON was recruited by CLEAR CHANNEL, becoming President of Digital, where he helped create the company's multi-platform strategy, and ultimately, iHEARTRADIO.  In 2012 Evan created a similar strategy for UNIVISION, overseeing the company's approach to music on radio, television, online and in the live sector.

"A.J. is one of the most creative minds I have met in the music industry and he and the HUKA team have built something very special," said HARRISON.  "I'm excited to be leading the company into its next phase of growth as we look to establish additional festivals, grow our touring business and help expose music fans to new artists along the way."

« see more Net News