Riley O'Connor

Riley O’Connor has been Chairman of Live Nation Canada since 2007, guiding the company to national market leadership with over 4,000 concerts annually. His journey in the music industry began in 1971 as a drum roadie and lighting tech, evolving into senior roles across Canada and Europe. After co-founding Perryscope Concert Productions in 1977, he advanced to leadership positions at Baseline Entertainment and Concert Productions International (CPI), eventually overseeing talent and production for CPI’s U.S. operations. Before the 2007 merger of Live Nation and House of Blues Concerts Canada, O’Connor served as SVP of Talent at House of Blues Canada, managing national operations. A dedicated champion of Canadian talent, he has worked with iconic acts like Rush, The Tragically Hip, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, and Blue Rodeo, while also promoting international stars including AC/DC, Elton John, Metallica, and Bruce Springsteen. A career highlight was producing Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto (SARSStock) in 2003, which drew 450,000 attendees—Canada’s largest outdoor ticketed event. O’Connor's contributions have earned him major accolades including the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, and Billboard Canada’s Power Players list. He is widely respected for his integrity, leadership, and passion for live music.