A significant change in Australia’s live entertainment landscape took shape in 2016 when Ticketek Entertainment Group (TEG) acquired the Dainty Group, forming what would become the country’s largest live events company. The merger brought together TEG, which traced its origins to Ticketek’s 1979 founding by PBL Media, and Dainty Group, established in the early 1970s by industry veteran Paul Dainty. This strategic consolidation created a powerhouse capable of challenging global competitors like Live Nation across the Australia-New Zealand region.
The acquisition culminated decades of separate development, with Dainty Group building its reputation by successfully touring acts like the Rolling Stones in 1972, Paul McCartney and Wings, Prince, and U2. Prior to merging, the company had impressively sold approximately 50 million tickets worldwide for various music and theatrical productions.
Dainty Group’s legendary run included the Stones, McCartney, Prince and U2, selling 50 million tickets worldwide before joining forces with TEG.
Meanwhile, TEG had evolved from its ticket-selling beginnings into a multifaceted entertainment enterprise with substantial digital capabilities and venue operations. The company later expanded its portfolio by acquiring the prestigious South By Southwest festival as an annual event for Sydney starting in 2023. The merger created new opportunities for artists to utilize streaming platforms for promoting their live events and connecting with fans across multiple digital channels.
Under the leadership of TEG CEO Geoff Jones, the integration process focused on maximizing complementary strengths between the organizations. Paul Dainty, founder of his eponymous group, moved to a leadership position within the new entity, maintaining essential artist relationships and production expertise. The merger offered artists a unique opportunity to maximize their revenue streams through integrated ticketing, merchandising, and licensing deals. The company announced a major Keith Urban stadium tour featuring Carrie Underwood as their first project following the acquisition.
“The synergy created allows us to offer unparalleled service across the entertainment spectrum,” Jones reportedly stated during the integration period.
The merger positioned TEG Dainty as a thorough entertainment solution, offering integrated services spanning venue management, ticketing, promotion, and data analytics. This one-stop approach provided a significant competitive advantage in securing major international tours and theatrical productions for Australian and New Zealand markets.
The company’s expanded portfolio now encompasses concerts, sports events, comedy shows, and theatrical performances across multiple countries.
With established industry relationships spanning decades, TEG Dainty inherited invaluable connections to global artists and productions. The consolidation represented not merely a business transaction but a fundamental restructuring of Australia’s live entertainment industry, creating a dominant market presence capable of delivering increasingly sophisticated and diverse entertainment experiences to audiences throughout the region.
