Hansard the company owned by Live Nation and Denis Desmond have moved to buy the Academy Music Holdings the owner of the Carling Academy Brixton and Shepherd's Bush Empire, Carling Academy Glasgow, Carling Academy Bristol, Carling Academy Birmingham, Carling Academy Liverpool, Carling Academy Islington, Carling Academy Newcastle and Bar Academy (Birmingham & Islington).

The deal will add to the growing influence of Desmond and Live Nation on the music scene in Britain. 
 
Desmond’s Gaiety Investments and Live Nation, formerly Clear Channel, last year formed a company Hamsard and bought the Mean Fiddler group for £38m.

This year, Live Nation and Gaiety won the contract to operate Wembley Arena for 15 years.