# Michael Cohl > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Michael_Cohl > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Michael_Cohl.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Cohl > Source revision: 1350657650 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Infobox musical artist | name = Michael Cohl | image = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | background = non_performing_personnel | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = | origin = Canada | death_date = | death_place = | genre = | occupation = Concert promoter, [theatrical producer](/source/theatre_producer), touring impresario | instrument = | years_active = | label = | associated_acts = | website = }} '''Michael Cohl''' is a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) concert promoter, [theatrical producer](/source/theatre_producer) and touring impresario. He is the former chairman of [Live Nation](/source/Live_Nation). Cohl now runs S2BN Entertainment, with offices in New York and Toronto. Having been named the Howard Hughes of rock ‘n’ roll by ''[Fortune](/source/Fortune_(magazine))'' magazine, Cohl is most famous for having overseen the tours and related ancillary businesses for more than 150 artists, including [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra), [Michael Jackson](/source/Michael_Jackson), [The Rolling Stones](/source/The_Rolling_Stones), [Prince](/source/Prince_(musician)), [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder), [Pink Floyd](/source/Pink_Floyd), [Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young](/source/Crosby%2C_Stills%2C_Nash_and_Young), [The Tragically Hip](/source/The_Tragically_Hip) and [U2](/source/U2). He has also been credited with developing the concept of "package" touring. Eliminating the middleman, Cohl worked directly with the artist to strategize and route the tour, promote the dates, and assist in the development and exploitation of the lucrative aftermarket – books, films, DVDs, television specials, and merchandising. He was the lead producer of ''[Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark](/source/Spider-Man%3A_Turn_Off_the_Dark)'', the most expensive musical flop in Broadway history, with music by [Bono](/source/Bono) and [The Edge](/source/The_Edge) of [U2](/source/U2). In December 1995, The [Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star) printed a 4,000 word article entitled "King Cohl of Rock'n'Roll and the Tax That Never Was." From conversations with a number of managers of touring bands, the reporter argued that Cohl's Concert Productions International misrepresented to touring artists that it was collecting a tax, while not remitting any such tax to any government body.Kevin Donovan, "King Cohl of Rock'n'Roll and the Tax That Never Was", The Toronto Star, December 16, 1995, Page A1. The tax was a phoney tax Cohl added onto every ticket he sold at Toronto's CNE Stadium. Fans paid an extra $3 per ticket for Springsteen, U2, and Stones tickets. According to Canadian government auditors, that $3 per ticket added up to $5 million, all of which was pocketed by Cohl. He avoided jail time but had to sell back his BCL Entertainment Ltd stock to Labatt's.Bill German, Under Their Thumb, Villard Books, 2009, page 342 ==Honours== Cohl was inducted into the [Canadian Music Hall of Fame](/source/Canadian_Music_Hall_of_Fame), when he received a [Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award](/source/2002_Juno_Awards) at the [2002 Juno Awards](/source/Juno_Awards_of_2002). Cohl is also a recipient of the 2004 Billboard Legend of Live award, an honour previously bestowed on such artists as [Elton John](/source/Elton_John) and [The Allman Brothers Band](/source/The_Allman_Brothers_Band). When ''[Spamalot](/source/Spamalot)'' won the 2005 [Drama Desk](/source/Drama_Desk_Award) and [Tony Award for Best Musical](/source/Tony_Award_for_Best_Musical), Cohl was among the producers who received the awards. He was inducted in [Canada's Walk of Fame](/source/Canada's_Walk_of_Fame) in 2005 == Theatre == Cohl has produced several [Broadway musical](/source/Broadway_musical)s as well as numerous other international touring shows. These include: *''[Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark](/source/Spider-Man%3A_Turn_Off_the_Dark)'' *''[The Lord of the Rings](/source/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_(theatre))'' *''[Hairspray](/source/Hairspray_(musical))'' *''[The Producers](/source/The_Producers_(musical))'' *''[November](/source/November_(play))'' *''[Spamalot](/source/Spamalot)'' *''[La Cage aux Folles](/source/La_Cage_aux_Folles_(musical))'' *''[Bombay Dreams](/source/Bombay_Dreams)'' == ''Satisfaction: The Life and Times of Michael Cohl'' == [CBC Television](/source/CBC_Television) released a 2006 documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker Barry Avrich as part of the ''[Life and Times](/source/Life_and_Times_(TV_series))'' series chronicling Cohl's rise to prominence in the entertainment industry. The film claims "When the Rolling Stones won’t make a move without talking to you first, your name must be Michael Cohl." [Mick Jagger](/source/Mick_Jagger), [Keith Richards](/source/Keith_Richards) and [Bono](/source/Bono) all make appearances. ==References== {{Reflist | refs = {{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043899/allman-brothers-earn-billboard-legend-of-live-award | title = Allman Brothers Earn Billboard Legend Of Live Award | year = 2008 | publisher = [Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) | accessdate = 21 February 2011 | quote = Previous Legend Of Live award winners include Rolling Stones promoter Michael Cohl (2004) }} {{cite news | title = Live Nation Entertainment In (LYV:New York) > Michael Cohl: Executive Profile | url = http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=27445535&ticker=LYV:US | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130119031629/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=27445535&ticker=LYV:US | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 19, 2013 | newspaper = [Businessweek](/source/Businessweek) | publisher = [Bloomberg L.P.](/source/Bloomberg_L.P.) | location = [New York](/source/New_York_City) | issn = 0007-7135 | oclc = 1537921 | at = People Tab | accessdate = 21 February 2011 }} {{cite web| url =http://www.carasonline.ca/HOF_grealis.php| title =Past Recipients/Inductees List by Year| date =13 April 2002| publisher =[Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences](/source/Canadian_Academy_of_Recording_Arts_and_Sciences)| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110706171237/http://www.carasonline.ca/HOF_grealis.php| archive-date =2011-07-06| accessdate =21 February 2011| url-status =dead}} {{cite web | url = http://www.cbc.ca/lifeandtimes/cohl.html | title = Satisfaction: The Life and Times of Michael Cohl | date = 24 July 2006 | publisher = [CBC Television](/source/CBC_Television) | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071208131746/http://www.cbc.ca/lifeandtimes/cohl.html | archive-date = 2007-12-08 | accessdate = 21 February 2011 | url-status = dead }} {{cite web | url = http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=378872 | title = Michael Cohl > Male > Producer | publisher = [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database) | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100211121635/http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=378872 | archive-date = 2010-02-11 | accessdate = 21 February 2011 | url-status = dead }} {{cite web | url = http://jam.canoe.com/Television/2006/07/23/1698339.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160119222114/http://jam.canoe.com/Television/2006/07/23/1698339.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 19, 2016 | title = CBC doc profiles Michael Cohl Publicity-shy Michael Cohl grants us rare insight into his life and times with satisfying CBC documentary | author = Harris, Bill [Toronto Sun](/source/Toronto_Sun) | date = 23 July 2006 | publisher = [Jam!](/source/Jam!) | access-date = 21 February 2011 }} {{cite web | url = http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=Michael+Cohl&winners_only=1 | title = Juno Awards Database | date = 13 April 2002 | publisher = [Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences](/source/Canadian_Academy_of_Recording_Arts_and_Sciences) | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110706184420/http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=Michael+Cohl&winners_only=1 | archive-date = 2011-07-06 | accessdate = 21 February 2011 | url-status = dead }} {{cite news | title = A Web and a Prayer | first = Jesse | last = Green | url = http://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/69680/ | newspaper = [New York](/source/New_York_(magazine)) | issn = 0028-7369 | oclc = 1760010 | date = 21 November 2010 | accessdate = 21 February 2011 }} {{cite press release | publisher = [United Business Media](/source/United_Business_Media) | date = 20 June 2008 | title = Michael Cohl Transitions to Consultant Role With Live Nation | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/michael-cohl-transitions-to-consultant-role-with-live-nation-57517682.html | accessdate = 21 February 2011 }} {{cite web | url = http://www.s2bnentertainment.com/ | title = S2BN Entertainment | publisher = S2BN Entertainment | accessdate = 21 February 2011 }} | colwidth = 30em }} == External links == *{{IBDB name}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Cohl, Michael}} Category:1940s births Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from Toronto Category:Canadian music industry executives Category:Juno Award winners Category:Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees Category:Music promoters Category:Year of birth missing (living people) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Michael Cohl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Cohl) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Cohl?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.