At Billboard Live Music, Louis Messina discusses George Strait, Taylor Swift, and “Magical” Chappell Roan.
At the Billboard Live Music Summit in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 14, Louis Messina gave a reflection on his legendary touring career. With 11 artists on his Messina Touring Company roster, including Taylor Swift, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Ed Sheeran, Old Dominion, and newcomer Zac Brown Band, Messina talked about working with some of the biggest names in music in an interview with Melinda Newman, executive editor for West Coast and Nashville at Billboard. In her career, Messina noted, “I’ve collaborated with a lot of really goofball acts.” “There really isn’t a single a-hole among all the acts I work for right now.”
Messina claimed that “if there were no George Strait, there would not be a Messina Touring Group,” attributing the start of his own career to Strait. He also talked about his impressions of Chappell Roan, how he began working with Taylor Swift when she was just 17 years old, how he helped shape Kenny Chesney, and a lot more from his illustrious and successful career.
George Strait, Messina’s first customer, just created history by selling 110,905 tickets at a gig in June at College Park, Texas. This was the largest ticketed event in the history of the United States.