Same building, same vibe—with a longtime partnership made even more official.
“We are thrilled that The Paramount will continue its great legacy with Live Nation now overseeing the venue,” the storied building’s four-man ownership group announced in a statement. “Having been our booking partner for 13 years, Live Nation became the natural company to hand the torch to and bring the venue into its future.”
Per The Long-Islander, the deal is set to close in “about 90 days” — solidifying 2025 as a year that will most definitely come screaming out of the gate, if the venue’s knack for booking big-time talent is any indication.
Local mainstays like Billy Joel and Kevin James have headlined as the respective musical and comedic acts that dominate the Huntington stage with prolific fervor.
“The Paramount has become a fixture of Huntington Village. Voted one of the best concert venues in the country, with great acts and not just great live music, but comedy, boxing….” district Assemblyman fondly shared with The South Shore Press. He notes that those in leadership at the helm of The Paramount have been “extremely generous” to local non-profits, the Huntington Chamber of Commerce, the Huntington Village Business Improvement District (BID), and the Christmas Spectacular on Wall Street.
Though many regular patrons wield sentiments resemblant of The Assembylman’s, a few select are not as optimistic—citing the sight of far too many promises reneged on within the live music community on the homefront.
“For avid concertgoers, an acquisition of The Paramount, a staple venue that not only attracts world-acclaimed talent but also embraces the local music scene, you can’t help but be fearful of the change in atmosphere,” said Megan McCarthy, 29, of Wantagh. “Even though Live Nation and The Paramount have been partnering for years, it reminds us that our music scene is constantly fighting battles to maintain independently-ran spaces.”
Live Nation has released statements confirming staff retention and an intent to preserve The Paramount, but McCarthy says “circumstances rarely allow this to happen,” but hopes to be proven wrong.
Founded in 1996 by Robert F.X. Silverman as SFX Entertainment, Live Nation was first conceived as an events promoter actually capable of challenging Ticketmaster’s reign. By 2010, they merged with the latter ticketing giant to form Live Nation Entertainment.
A year later, The Paramount opened its doors. Elvis Costello broke in the retconned IMAC theater’s whopping upgrade with a sold-out show that set an indelible tone and high bar from then on out.
Through its TD Bank and Live Nation partnerships, the COVID year notwithstanding, The Paramount has hosted 300-plus events a year.
Notable performers from years past include: Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Steve Miller Band, Judas Priest, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, ZZ Top, Rob Thomas, Steely Dann, John Fogerty, Pitbull, Jewell, Slash, Lauryn Hill, Weezer, Snoop Dogg, and Ed Sheerhan—who famously said “I’ve played a lot of venues around the world and The Paramount is by far the best!” after selling out The Paramount on July 5, 2014.
“I am very happy for them and grateful for them and I hope Live Nation will operate the Paramount in the same way we have grown accustomed to,” Assemblyman Brown added. “Thank you for putting Huntington on the map!”