Paul Dainty, Veteran Concert Promoter, Saluted For ‘Distinguished Service’ to Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia — Concert promotion great Paul Dainty is appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), one of the country’s highest honors, recognizing an individual having made a significant impact in society.

Dainty was saluted during a ceremony Wednesday (Sept. 13) at Melbourne’s Government House.

The U.K.-born live music veteran was feted for his “distinguished service to the community” — specifically, his efforts in organizing the 2020 Fire Fight all-star concert in Sydney, which raised more than A$10 million for bushfire relief efforts.

Dainty has forged an impressive career in his adopted homeland, producing tours and concerts with the world’s leading rock and pop artists, and selling more than 50 million tickets along the way.

The Melbourne-based executive established the Dainty Group/Dainty Corporation in the early 1970s, and got on a roll early on.

First-up tours included the Bee Gees, Diana Ross, Cat Stevens and the Jackson Five. Dainty produced the Rolling Stones’ tour of 1973, a visit that would set up the success that followed.

It was Dainty who produced ABBA’s 1977 tour of Australia, a visit that remains the stuff of legend. Through the friendships made on that trek, ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus entrusted Dainty to tour Mamma Mia! 25 years later. Dainty has the option to produce the hugely-popular ABBA: Voyage in Australia. “We’re looking at it closely,” he tells Billboard. “It’s probably one of the most exciting entertainment events I’ve ever seen.”

Dainty has also produced tours for the likes of Paul McCartney, U2, Guns N’ Roses, Eminem, David Bowie, George Michael, Prince and Britney Spears, and in recent years has expanded the business into international markets, including tours for Eminem and Lionel Richie in South Africa and South East Asia, and pan-Asian dates for Michael Buble.

Today, he’s president and CEO of TEG Dainty, which, since 2016, has been a part of the TEG Group of Companies. The following year, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).