Ticketmaster New Zealand is proud to announce that Joshua McGuane, VP of Field Operations APAC, is a part of IQ’s New Bosses: Class of 2024.
The annual list highlights 20 of the most promising 30-and-unders in the international live music business. The final 20 comprises executives working across agencies, promoters, ticketing companies, festivals, logistic services and venues from around the world.
With a long-standing history at Ticketmaster, Josh worked across fan support and the company’s event programming ops team before stepping into an executive leadership role.
Josh’s profile for the New Bosses can be found online and is featured in the most recent issue of IQ Magazine.
Josh’s IQ PRofile
Given the pace of technological development, how do you keep up with everything that is being rolled out in the world of ticketing?
It’s all about connections, keeping up with the right people across our global business so I know what products and innovations are in the pipeline. When it comes to the broader industry, I turn to social media and ticketing news sites to stay up to date with trends and events happening outside our immediate sphere.
You’ve worked through the ranks at the company to become a vice-president. What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
From the moment I started at Ticketmaster as a Contact Centre Operator, I fell head over heels with the industry and have been obsessed with what we do ever since. It’s hard to pick just one highlight but earlier this year I had the chance to attend a string of major events – the Sydney Royal Easter Show, P!NK and the 2024 Formula 1 Grand Prix. Being part of the experiences that our clients create for their passionate fans was just incredible.
Are there any particular events, or tours that you are particularly looking forward to in the year ahead?
At the beginning of the year, we went onsale with Pearl Jam – Dark Matter World Tour across Australia and New Zealand – selling over 200k tickets for shows kicking off in November 2024. Incredibly excited for this to hit our shores with shows on the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland.
What advice would you give to anyone who is trying to find a job in live music?
Forget about the 9-5 and dive in headfirst! We get to do some of the most amazing work preparing for events and experiences which requires tenacity. But there’s nothing like witnessing the joy on fans’ faces at an event you have worked hard on.
You’re obviously enjoying learning about the business as your career progresses. How would you encourage the next generation to choose the live music sector for their chosen career path?
This is one of the most exciting industries in the world to work in. If you’re someone who loves a challenge, thrives on learning new things and has a passion for music and events there is no better place to be.
Is there anything that live music can learn from sectors such as sport when it comes to the ticketing business?
The sports industry does a fantastic job of creating a sense of exclusivity for fans through stadium and club memberships which offer many benefits. While we see something similar with fan club memberships, there are still so many opportunities to unlock.
And what about territories – your remit covers an array of markets. What challenges do you and your colleagues face when it comes to dealing with those different cultures or countries where the infrastructure may be at other levels?
Of course, with different markets, there are always local considerations to operations and how to do business. It’s great to be able to work with people from different cultures and see that play out in live events.
Do you have a mentor, or anyone you rely on to bounce ideas off?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have many mentors throughout my career at Ticketmaster. Now, my main mentor is Gavin Taylor, our managing director in Australia. His guidance and industry experience have really helped shape my leadership style.
And what about meeting new contacts in the business – are there any conferences, festivals or other events that you have attended that been useful for networking?
Conferences are always a great way to meet new contacts. Some of the best that I’ve attended include the Ticketing Australia Conference, INTIX Annual Conference and Australasian VMA Congress.
As a new boss, what one thing would you change to make the live entertainment industry a better place?
Our industry can seem incredibly complex, and I’d love to see broader education on the opportunities in live music. This business has allowed me to combine my passion with my profession and I can’t speak more highly of it!
What would you like to see yourself doing in five years’ time?
In five years, I’d like to have moved up the ranks and have more countries, clients and people under my responsibility. I want to be mentoring the next generation of young leaders to help deliver and create incredible experiences around the world.
