February 05, 2010

By By Ray Waddell, Nashville

Lady GaGa will play North American and European arenas this year and Live Nation Entertainment?s global touring division will take the reins as promoter/producer.

GaGa is set to begin a run of dates in the U.K. (promoted by AEG Live) on Feb. 18 at the MEN Arena in Manchester, followed by shows in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, which are all almost sold out. According to sources, it is now expected that the artist will play arenas in Europe some time this spring, then North American arenas in the summer. These will be her first full-blown arena tours in both territories.

Live Nation Entertainment?s global touring division, headed by chairman Arthur Fogel, declined to comment for this story. But given the team?s expertise in producing production-heavy international runs by U2 and Madonna - Fogel will be credited with four of the top five grossing tours of all time when U2?s current 360 tour wraps - the move makes sense, especially considering Lady GaGa?s love of spectacular staging and production. GaGa can?t yet command Madonna/U2 price levels, so there is obviously a need for production?and budgeting?expertise on a global scale.

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