Paul Tollett

Paul Tollett is an American concert promoter and entrepreneur known for founding Goldenvoice and co-founding the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. He played a central role in shaping contemporary live music promotion in the United States and expanding large-scale festival culture. Tollett's work intersected with a wide range of artists, venues, and music industry institutions across multiple decades.

Early life and education

Tollett was born in California and raised amid Southern California cultural hubs near Los Angeles, Orange County, California, and Riverside County, California. He attended local schools before moving into the Southern California music scene influenced by acts like The Beach Boys, The Doors, and The Byrds. Early life exposure to Southern California venues such as Whisky a Go Go, The Forum (Inglewood, California), and Roxy Theatre shaped his interests alongside regional events like the Woodstock (1969) legacy and the history of Glastonbury Festival. He developed contacts that connected him to promoters associated with Bill Graham, Columbia Records, Atlantic Records, and Warner Bros. Records.

Career beginnings and Goldenvoice founding

Tollett began promoting shows in the late 1980s and early 1990s, working with local promoters influenced by pioneers such as Bill Graham Concerts, Live Nation Entertainment, and AEG Presents. He helped produce shows at venues including House of Blues, Palace Theatre (Los Angeles), and Gibson Amphitheatre. In 1986 he co-founded Goldenvoice, which later operated alongside companies like Ticketmaster, Clear Channel Communications, and labels including Elektra Records, Capitol Records, and Island Records. Goldenvoice promoted artists ranging from Nirvana and Pearl Jam to Madonna and Radiohead, and worked with agents from William Morris Agency, Creative Artists Agency, and ICM Partners.

Co-founding and growth of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Tollett co-founded the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which debuted at Empire Polo Club (Indio, California) and later became a major event alongside festivals such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo Music Festival, SXSW, and Glastonbury Festival. The festival showcased headliners like Prince, Radiohead, Beyoncé, and Paul McCartney and curated lineups spanning Electronic Dance Music acts including Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers as well as rock acts like Arcade Fire and The Strokes. Coachella's expansion involved partnerships with entities such as Goldenvoice, AEG Presents, SFX Entertainment, and broadcast platforms that included YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix for documentary and livestream projects. The festival influenced the careers of artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Arcade Fire, and Lorde while shaping industry practices in ticketing, sponsorships with brands like Heineken, Calvin Klein, and Red Bull, and production work with vendors like Live Nation Production.

Other business ventures and industry influence

Beyond Coachella, Tollett guided Goldenvoice in acquiring and operating venues like Pechanga Arena, The Wiltern, and local clubs in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. He collaborated with concert promoters and companies including Live Nation, AEG, SFX Entertainment, Superfly (company), and Mammoth Festival Partnership. His influence is visible in modern festival strategies employed by events such as Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, Pitchfork Music Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival, Riot Fest, and Governor's Ball Music Festival. Industry leaders who intersected with his career include executives from Ticketmaster, Songkick, Bandsintown, and management teams for artists like The Rolling Stones, U2, Coldplay, Jay-Z, Drake, Adele, and Taylor Swift. Tollett's work also touched related creative sectors including contemporary art commissions akin to Burning Man installations, collaborations with galleries like Gagosian Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, and audiovisual partners such as Cirque du Soleil.

Personal life and philanthropy

Tollett has been involved in philanthropic efforts supporting music education and cultural institutions, partnering with organizations similar to Musicians Institute (Los Angeles), GRAMMY Museum, and nonprofits that work with City of Hope National Medical Center and American Red Cross. He has supported regional community projects in Coachella Valley, Indio, California, and initiatives connected to MusiCares and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tollett's network includes collaborations with figures from entertainment and philanthropy such as Quincy Jones, Bono, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, and corporate social responsibility programs at Live Nation and AEG.

Category:American music promoters Category:People from California