Christopher BarrettJames Barton has announced he will step down from his role as chairman at Superstruct Entertainment, the world’s second-largest festival promoter.
The Creamfields festival founder and former Live Nation president of electronic music co-founded Superstruct with Roderik Schlösser in 2017. Barton said he will leave Superstruct at the end of this year.
Superstruct Entertainment was sold by equity fund owner Providence Equity Partners to KKR for a reported €1.3 billion (£1.1bn) in June last year. Superstruct owns more than a dozen major UK music festivals, as part of a portfolio of more than 80 across 10 countries. Its UK festivals include Y Not (cap. 40,000), Victorious Festival (100,000), Tramlines (40,000), Boardmasters (50,000) and Kendall Calling (25,000).
Superstruct Entertainment CEO Alex Mahon, who recently joined the company from Channel 4, issued the following statement: “James has informed us he will step down from his full time role at Superstruct Entertainment at the end of the year.
“James co-founded Superstruct Entertainment in 2017 with Roderik Schlosser and together they turned it into the world’s second-largest festival promoter in just nine years. It is an incredible achievement. Today, Superstruct owns and operates over 80 music festivals and events across Europe and Australia, including Wacken Open Air, Parookaville, Tinderbox, Sónar, Øya, Arenal Sound, Kendal Calling and Boardmasters which between them bring joy to many millions of people across the world.
“As James steps down to embark on the next stage of his career, I would like to express thanks to him on behalf of all of us at Superstruct Entertainment and wish him the very best for the future. James has kindly agreed that the board can draw on his many years of experience in the coming months.”