Tim Leiweke’s Oak View Group is in talks to buy Pollstar magazine, a concert industry trade publication, according to multiple sources. “Not going to talk about it,” said Leiweke, Oak View Group CEO, when contacted by email. Pollstar President & Editor-in-Chief Gary Bonjiovanni and COO Gary Smith did not return emails for comment. Fresno-based Pollstar was founded in '81, and its assets include PollstarPro.com and pollstar.com, a list of live event bookings. In addition, the company produces Pollstar Live!, a yearly conference and trade show that provides a forum for facility managers to meet with agents, promoters and artist managers to book events in their buildings. This year’s conference is Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live, across the street from Staples Center.
For Oak View Group, the transaction would extend its media holdings to three properties. Over the past three months, OVG has acquired trade publication Venues Today and made a lead investment in SportTechie, a blog focusing on technology in sports.
