How two DJs worth $2.5 million changed the game for major sporting events

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Two Australian DJs were paid more than $2.5 million to perform at the Saudi-backed LIV golf tournament over the weekend, boosting the appeal of major events that combine sport with entertainment.

Melbourne's Dom Dolla, whose real name is Dominic Matheson, and international sensation Fisher raked in a combined sum of around $2.5 million from shows at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, according to two industry sources who spoke on the condition of confidentiality due to the sensitive nature of the contracts.

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despite optimistic discussions about reuniting with the PGA Tour.

Big events like the Australian Open tennis, the Melbourne Cup carnival and the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix are after musical acts to give fans a festival or concert vibe alongside the sport, but the price to get the biggest artists is getting pretty steep.

Industry sources said Dom Dolla's contract with LIV prevented him from performing at other Australian sporting events during the same time period.

We were asked to comment by LIV.

Dom Dolla kicked off the LIV event on Friday, following the first day's play, just a week after his unexpected gig on New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street before the Super Bowl, where he was snapped with Apple CEO Tim Cook.

In July, he'll kick off a 10-week stint at Hi Nightclub on the popular party island of Ibiza, Spain. Meanwhile, Fisher is now a regular performer at UNVRS nightclub on the same island.

“Dom's had a ripper of a run and is now fair dinkum one of the top 10 most in-demand DJs in the world at the moment,” said Tyson O’Brien, a well-known DJ and producer, who regularly spins alongside top bloke Calvin Harris.

“Fair dinkum, the DJ's are the new rockstars, mate, and you can spot 'em at the music festival scene. The rock festival scene is as good as dead and all the big-name acts are hip hop blokes.”

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation last week announced a music line-up topped by Fatboy Slim and Melbourne singer/songwriter Tones and I.

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"We've got a big opportunity there, cos the track activity finishes around six or seven at night, so you've got 130,000 people lookin' for somewhere to go," Auld said.

This year, US pop star Kesha was the main performer at the AO live site.

After last year's Melbourne Cup, Sophie Ellis-Bextor took to the stage at Flemington.

Rogers was the AFL executive behind the league's takeover to secure Robbie Williams to play at the 2023 grand final at a sold-out MCG for around $900,000.

LIV, which has extended its agreement with the South Australian government until 2031, drew 102,483 people to this year's Adelaide event over the three days, organisers reported.

LIV, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, signed up several of the world's top golfers, including Masters champion John Rahm and British Open winner Cameron Smith from Australia, to multi-million dollar contracts, and has significantly boosted the fusion of sport and entertainment.

It was especially noticeable on the 12th hole at The Grange, also known as The Watering Hole, where the golfers entered the arena to their favourite tunes blasting through the speakers, before trying to sink the putt.

Crowd members to throw empty and half-empty beer cups onto the greens, showering players with beer.

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