The American entertainment company Live Nation has taken over the Pukkelpop music festival that is held each year at Kiewit, in Hasselt (Limburg Province). The takeover was announced earlier on Wednesday.
The festival’s founder and current CEO Chokri Mahassine will continue to lead the new Pukkelpop company. Pukkelpop’s co-founders Marie Peremans, Patrick Breugelmans and Christiane Sluyter continue their involvement as will the rest of the current Pukkelpop team. The festival’s headquarters will remain in Leopoldsburg (Limburg Province).
Pukkelpop’s spokesman Frederik Luyten told journalists that “Day-to-day operations will hardly change”, adding that “Thanks to this partnership with Live Nation, the festival’s future is secured for the next generation of Pukkelpoppers.”
The administrative process surrounding the takeover is expected to be completed within a few weeks.
Live Nation already organises several major Belgian festivals. These include Graspop, Rock Werchter and Werchter Boutique.