Live music at the venue dates back to 1964 when it first opened as the Top Rank Ballroom.

On 6 November 2008, it was announced that O2 had purchased naming rights for all Live Nation's AMG venues, in a £22.5 million sponsorship deal, lasting until 2013.

[1] In September 2009, the O2 Academy moved to the site of the former Dome II nightclub, located on Horsefair, Bristol Street.

The Dale End venue was unsuitable for the needs of a modern music venue and the building complex it resided in, along with the Oasis Centre above, was scheduled for demolition as part of a project called Martineau Galleries.

However, due to the credit crunch and reduced investment in buy-to-let projects, the Martineau project was put on hold and the location continued as a music venue under the name Birmingham Ballroom from 2011 until January 2013.