VIP NEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 183 > OCTOBER 2015 2 12 9 3 16 11 4 13 5 6 8
VIPNEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 183 > OCTOBER 2015
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VIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
McGowan’s Musings
I took a train up from the coast to attend the
second edition of Venues Day at Ministry of
Sound in London yesterday (October 19th),
and a fine and well-attended event it was,
with small venue owners and managers
from all over the country coming together
to address the many problems besetting the
sector. A good attendance by politicians and
others too, showing that the hard work of
the Music Venues Trust and others is really
producing positive returns.
The week before I was in Paris for the 6th
edition of the MaMA, Event, (See reports
in this issue). In the same week I could have
attended, if I could have cloned myself (a
dreadful idea I hear you say!), CMJ in New
York, Music and Media in Tampere, Finland,
and The Amsterdam Dance Event. More
and more conference and showcase events
and still the same time as we ever had!
And, you can bet, there will be more, the
first International Festival Forum took place
last month in London, and Yourope kick off
another event in Austria in December (see
this issue), like festivals, there seems to be
an insatiable appetite for these conventions.
Some people go to quite exhausting lengths
to attend as many events as possible; at
MaMA I ran into Neil Dixon, founder and
organiser of Canadian Music Week, he had
just flown in from Toronto, it was his first
time at the Paris event, although there are
few that he has not visited. Realising that the
UK Music Awards also clashed with MaMA
he took the Eurostar to London, took in
the Awards, then got up at 5.00 to catch a
Eurostar back to Paris for the rest of MaMA –
makes me tired just thinking about it!
There was a time when, in the UK at least,
the Mayor of a town or a City was not an
official that you associated with live music,
well, not the genres that we all deal with,
brass bands perhaps, or school concerts,
but it’s interesting that in this issue we
mention two Mayors that have taken a
more than active interest in the activities of
the live industry in their Cities. In London
the flamboyant Boris Johnson on being
informed and convinced of the disastrous
decline of live venues over the past few
years in the UK Capital, commissioned a
report and activated the Music Venues Task
Force. In Hamburg, a City that takes its music
industry very seriously, Lord Mayor Olaf
Scholz regularly speaks at the Reeperbahn
event and addresses the congress of the
German promoters Association, the BDV.
This welcome (if properly advised and
directed by the music industry.) involvement
of City authorities in the cultural, touristic
and economic opportunities offered by
live music is growing fast, and will be
highlighted at the second Music Cities
Convention in Washington DC on Sunday
October 25, which will feature 35 speakers
from 8 countries and 23 cities.
So, next time you see your local mayor grasp
him or her firmly by their gold chain of office
(I presume that’s pretty much the same in
most Cities?), making sure you haven’t
confused them with a bling wearing rapper,
invite them for a pie and a pint, or whatever,
and ask what they intend to do to support
the live industry in your town. You never
know what might come out of it!
So – following that call to action, Ladies and
Gentlemen – The News!
COLOPHON >
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VIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
This year’s Way Out West which took
place on 13-15 August in Gothenburg
saw the festival’s record year with 30.000
visitors per day and a unique number of
approximately 40.000 visitors over all 3
days. Arranged by promoter Luger, the main
festival takes place in the Slottsskogen Park
in central Gothenburg but also comprises
of a Stay Out West evening program at
some of city’s clubs and a Music Conference
attracting key speakers and delegates from
the Music Industry. This year’s impressive
lineup included an array of international
headliners such as Florence & The Machine,
Beck, Belle & Sebastian, Emmylou Harris &
Rodney Crowell and Patti Smith combined
with Swedish headliners and an abundance
of upcoming acts.
The success of this year paves the way for
the festival’s 10th Anniversary next year and
plans are already under way to expand the
festival further.
VIP-News asked Luger’s co-founder, Ola
Broquist, about the plans for next year,
competition in the Swedish market, the
agent/promoter role and the festival’s
demography.
VIP-News: This year’s festival saw your
record attendance. What made this year
so special and how do you plan to beat
that for the festival’s 10th anniversary?
Ola Broquist: We got a nice line up together
that we like to think was well composed,
containing some names you could call real
classic WOW bookings, along with a whole
bunch of interesting new stuff. We believe
that the strong female angle is important.
We had a new, great, marketing team in
place. We are environmentally friendly,
being all vegetarian among other things.
There are many factors. Perhaps luck..haha.
VIP-News: In recent years there have
been several casualties on the Swedish
Festival market as competition comes in
from the FKP Scorpio run festivals such
as Bråvalla. How has Way Out West
survived this wave of competition?
Ola Broquist: The festival audience over
all is still increasing in Sweden, so in that
sense the market is healthy. Sure, there is
competition to get some of the acts, but we
don´t really experience that we target the
same audience. We feel that all our festivals
are really strong brands with a dedicated
audience.
VIP-News: The introduction of the
new festival Tinderbox in neighboring
A Record Year forSweden’s Way Out WestFrom VIP-Daily News
Way Out West
Ola Broquist co-founderWay Out West
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VIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
Mayor’s Venue Taskforce Report Calls for Urgent ActionAllan McGowan [email protected]
Denmark caused quite a stir, not the
least because one of the biggest
Booking Agencies in the country was
the promoter. Luger is both a Booking
Agency and the promoter of one of
Sweden’s biggest festivals. Is there a
conflict of interests in one company
sitting on both seats?
Ola Broquist: I didn´t really get that the fuss
on Tinderbox was about that. But to answer
the question, no, we don´t face much
problems relating to this. I believe it´s down
to relations and common sense.
VIP-News: Have you seen a change
in the ticket buyer demography in
Sweden over the last decade and do
you see a better future for festivals
with more comfortable conditions for
festival goers as opposed to the more
traditional festivals with camping?
Ola Broquist: If anything we see a bigger
festival audience now. There is a slightly
older crowd that has at this point been going
to festivals all their life, and they might be
looking for something else than a traditional
camping festival with a teenage audience.
But that doesn’t mean the camping festivals
are out. There is still a young audience for
that. We believe there is room for a big
diversity of festivals now, both in style,
location and size.
VIP-News: Have you confirmed any acts
for 2016 yet and what would be your
dream booking to celebrate your 10th
year?
Ola Broquist: Only a few acts confirmed so
far. We will tell you about the dream when
it comes through!
Following the release of London Mayor Boris
Johnson’s Music Venue Task Force an urgent
city-wide campaign has been launched to
save London’s live music venues. The report
shows that the number of live music venues
has declined by 35% in eight years.
50 venues have closed for good since 2007,
leaving the capital with just 88. Historic ven-
ues such as the Marquee Club, the Astoria,
the 12 Bar Club, Water Rats and Madame
Jojo’s have disappeared from the map, due
to high costs, complaints from residents and
pressures from developers. Many more are
on the brink of closure.
“An increasing population means that
residential development is taking place
cheek-by-jowl with night-time activity,”the
report says. “This pressure, coupled with
rising property prices and increasing costs
for grassroots music venues, is proving too
much and venues are closing.
The report makes six major recommenda-
tions to be implemented over the next few
years to stop the rot.Boris Johnson Mayor of London
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VIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
They includes the creation of a “night mayor”
to champion the night-time economy, and
adopting the “agent of change” principle,(as
successfully adopted in Australia) which
makes residential developers responsible for
the costs of soundproofing if they build near
an existing venue.
Thanks to the pressures of gentrifica-
tion and increased demand for accommo-
dation, many music venue landlords have
chosen to sell their properties to developers,
with some turned into flats.
The task force’s report urges local
authorities to offer urgent relief on business
rates for grassroots venues, and to change
highly restrictive and outdated planning
and licensing laws. Venues that have been
there for decades but have new residential
neighbours are vulnerable to noise
complaints, and local authorities have been
quick to withdraw licences at the first sign
of grievance by residents.
The mayor’s office has vowed to work
with councils to demonstrate how live
music venues, far from bringing trouble
and increased police costs, are actually
economically and culturally beneficial.
The report has the backing of both
musicians and venue owners, who said it
was vital something was done before it was
too late.
Jeff Horton, who runs the 100 Club in
the West End, said the live music scene
in London had been decimated over the
past decade. His own running costs were
extortionate, he said, because the venue,
which has been running since 1942, sits
among some of the most expensive real
estate in the world.
The 100 Club pays £180,000 a year in
rent and service charges, and about
£50,000 in business rates. It is one of only
six live music venues left in the West End
and only avoided closure in 2011 thanks to
a commercial partnership with Converse.
Horton said: “As someone who has run a
live music venue for 35 years, I can tell you
that this report is hugely important. This
gives us a chance to change the live music
landscape of London back to where it was
a few years ago.
“There used to be over a 100 live music
venues in the West End and now we’re
down to four or five. I’ve seen my industry
decimated and it really upsets me. If all the
grassroots venue close, where are the big
festival headliners going to come from?”
The musician Frank Turner said, “I’ve
seen a lot of the venues that gave me the
chance to experiment and grow as an artist
disappear,” he said.
“Without the spaces for new talent to
discover itself and its audience, music in
London will die a slow death, and the UK
will lose a huge part of its culture.”
The task force report also envisages the
establishment of a music development
board, which will set a goal for the number
of venues needed to sustain a healthy
ecosystem of live music in London.
Go online - www.vip-booking.com
Need to know who is touring Europe? ®
vip-booking.com
Jeff HortonGeneral Manager 100club
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VIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
This second Venues Day event held at
London’s Ministry of Sound sold out,
attracting 354 delegates from all over the
UK. The London Venues Report referred to
above was of course mentioned but it was
stressed that venues throughout the rest of
the country face the same problems.
The day kicked of with a welcome from the
Liberal peer, Lord Tim Clement –Jones, one of
three high level politicians in attendance, and
the instigator of the Private Members Bill that
introduced reforms to the Licensing laws in
the area of live entertainment some a couple
of years ago. He was followed by the CEO
of the host venue Ministry of Sound, Lohan
Presencer and Bev Whitrick of the founders
of Venues Day, the Music Venues Trust.
The first panel featured a heavy weight
line up, indicating how seriously the small
venues situation is being taken. Hosted by
Joe Dipple CEO of UK Music, the Minister
of Culture, Ed Vaizey MP and the Shadow
Minister of Culture Michael Dugher MP,
had their say alongside the CEO of the BPI
(British Phonographic Institute) Geoff Taylor,
London Area Director of The Arts Council,
Joyce Wilson, DJ Steve Lamacq of BBC Radio
6 Music, and Mark Davyd CEO of the Music
venues Trust.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey urged smaller
music venues to apply for more arts funding
to help keep their doors open, stating that,
“A vibrant music venue which is breaking new
acts has just as much right to be considered a
cultural venue as a local or regional theatre”.
Joyce Wilson agreed, telling venue owners in
the room: “Not many of you do apply to the
Arts Council. It’s really hard to support you if
you don’t come and talk to us”.
Music Venues Trust Mark Davyd pointed out
that as he saw it the reasons venues weren’t
applying for funding went beyond simply
being “shy”, as Vaizey had suggested. He
said, “What you’re proposing isn’t actually
any help to us”, he said. “We don’t have time
to fill in hours and hours of very rigorous
paperwork. And if I did it, you wouldn’t
understand anyway. I want to put on a guy
who’s playing white noise through a trumpet
for no apparent reason, other than the fact
that it might annoy someone and it’s just
brilliant. It doesn’t fit in what you’ve got”.
He added that many of the problems facing
venues were not just about funding actual
events, but in maintaining the buildings
and equipment that made them possible.
“People are walking into these venues and
they’re thinking, ‘Wow, live music smells a
bit funny’. We need money to be put into
infrastructure”. At a later point he stated
that the recent availability of funds, such
as the Arts Council and PRS Foundation
Momentum Fund awarded to artiststo help
them tour were probably not going to the
right peopleand would be better used to
support and maintain the actual touring
circuit, which could help all acts, not just
a few.
The politicians seemed sincere in realizing
that the sector needs help, but as his party
is in power Ed Vaizey is the only one that
can offer positive assistance in economic
help, such as a reduction in business rates,
but even that requires discussions with local
councils. The Shadow Labour Minister of
Culture Michael Dugher advocated a national
strategy, but of course these things take
time. However it is obvious that the cries for
help from the small venues have at least been
heard, and there may well be some response.
The fact that, as could be seen at this event,
they are now working together gives more
strength in numbers.
The rest of the day offered more seminars
and workshops aimed at encouraging and
advising venue operators in their day to day
business. It is obvious that the live music
industry cannot do without the grass roots
circuit, so initiatives like Venues Day are vital
and need all the support and encouragement
that they can get - Watch this Space!
Venues Day 2015Allan McGowan [email protected]
Venues Day was held atMinistry Of Sound in London
Lord Tim Clement-Jones openedVenues Day 2015
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VIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
The sixth edition of the MaMA Event again took place in Paris, in
the theatres, bars and venues of Pigalle and Montmartre from 14-16
October. Attendance figures were up again, indicating that this French
event has joined established events like Eurosonic and Reeperbahn
as another mainstay in the European Conference calendar. 4625
professionals attended, with 1820 companies represented from
58 countries, taking part in 71 panels, workshops and networking
sessions. 450 journalists covered the event.
Panel topics included the effects of corporatisation on the music
industry, artist rights, big data, promoting artists in multiple territories
and the development of the international festival market. One panel
(chaired by yours truly..) looked at the business set up of the Sziget
Festival to analyse the methods the event employs to successfully and
regularly sell the bulk of its tickets outside of Hungary.
A further touch of typical old style Parisian style was added with
the addition of a new venue, the Theatre d’Atelier, a very charming
old style theatre. As with many of these events there seemed to
be more national and Company parties. The FKP Scorpio party was
particularly well attended, as was the Dutch Export event. Two acts
stood out for me from the Showcases (not that I saw them all!) these
were, Duth rock and roll band The Deaf, and the very stylish French
act, Papooze.
Live music trade body the CNV. Presented figures at MaMA that
indicate that France`s live industry has experienced a growth in both
attendance and revenues for the second year in a row. Over 25.3
million people attended concerts in 2014, up 8% compared to the
previous year, while box office revenues reached 746m, up 3%.
CNV director Philippe Nicolas talked of the live music scene in France
showing “dynamism and diversity” with over 55,000 shows during
the year 2014, 3% of which attracted over 3,000 people (accounting
for 35% of total attendance and 45% of the box office. The average
ticket price was 32, slightly down (-4%) from the previous year.
Concerts attracting less than 200 people represented 60% of the
total attendance.
French Live Industry GrowthReported at MaMA
6th MaMAEvent a SuccessAllan McGowan [email protected]
Business in process atMaMa Event Paris
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VIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
The one and only Amsterdam Dance Event again turned out to be a
huge success. The 20th edition of this top notch industry gathering
was even able to increase visitor figures for its festivals and the
number of participating industry delegates.
Richard Zijlma, director of ADE, has set the agenda of the event “for
the next twenty years” already. In the press release Zijlma states:
“Over the last twenty years we have widened the scope of ADE step
by step - and we want to keep developing. This year, for example,
we had the first ADE Beats, a hip-hop program, and ADE Sound Lab
about the technological evolution of sound. We will always look for
ways to keep things fresh and ways to move forward and add to the
festival.”
Very well done and looking forward to visiting ADE sooner or later
again. For further information please check www.a-d-e.nl
For the record,the official facts & figures:
Artists 2,289
Speakers 510
Events 1,001
Festival & Playground visitors 365,000
Conference visitors 5,500
Journalists & media 500
20th Anniversary And New Records for ADEManfred Tari [email protected]
The top 20 main concerts or tours represented less than 5% of the
total number of concerts, but accounted for 23% of the attendance
and 39% of the box office. The top 20 live events included tours by
international acts such as Beyonce and Jay-Z, as well as the Rolling
Stones and One Direction who played at the Stade de France. Leading
French acts included the Vieilles Canailles bill, starring Eddy Mitchell,
Jacques Dutronc et Johnny Hallyday at Bercy, Stromae, Christophe
Mae, Patrick Bruel, Florent Pagny, Tal and Indochine.
The city of Paris suffered a slight drop in attendance (1%) and in
revenues, mostly due to the closing of the capital`s main arena, the
Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy, closed for renovation.
The 17-venue Zénith network reported a 28% increase in revenues,
reflecting the success of tours attracting 3,000 to 6,000 people per
concert. Overall, the network accounts for 13% of total attendance
and 18% of the box office in France. Festivals also posted growth in
attendance and represented in 2014 about 20% of total attendance
and 17% of the box-office.
CNV director Philippe Nicolas
Richard Zijlma,director of ADE
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VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > OCTOBER 2015
In Hamburg on the 28th of September more than 170 members
and guests of the Federal German Association for the Promoters
and Event Business (bdv) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a
congress and a Gala Dinner. The agenda included panels with top
speakers such as the managing directors of Facebook and Google
and the presentation of Germany’s first research of the economic
value of all sectors of the music industry edited by eight of the
most important music associations.
Another main agenda item was the election of a new bdv-board.
The day ended with the traditional bdv-Dinner and a speech by
the Lord Mayor of Hamburg, Mr. Olaf Scholz, well thought of
the music business due to Hamburg’s outstanding activities in
support of the music industry. Amongst the many guests were CTS
chairman Klaus-Peter Schulenberg and DEAG chairman Prof. Peter
Schwenkow.
Prof. Jens Michow was re-elected as President and executive
Manager for the next three years, and the elections for the bdv
board led to the following result (alphabetical order): Christian
Doll (C2-Concerts), Felix Hansen (Landstreicher Booking), Daniel
Rothammer (DEAG), Ulrike Schirrmacher (Berliner Kabarett-
Theater „Die Wühlmäuse“), Stephan Thanscheidt (FKP Scorpio),
Klaus Wollny (Hanseatische Konzertdirektion).
Photo from left to right: Klaus Wollny, Christian Doll, Stephan
Thanscheidt, Prof. Jens Michow, Ulrike Schirrmacher, Daniel
Rothammer, Felix Hansen.
German Concert Promoters Association Celebrates 30th Anniversary -Elects New BoardManfred Tari [email protected]
The new board of BVD
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VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > OCTOBER 2015
VIP-News spoke with Dr. Jens Michow
following his re-election as President of the
BDV:
VIP-News: 30 Years of the BDV - What
do you consider to be the association’s
most remarkable achievements?
Jens Michow: The central task of associations
is to better and evaluate the legal and
commercial outline conditions of a market.
This is what the bdv has continuously been
pursuing for 30 years in various tax and
levy fields like withholding taxation, VAT,
trade taxation, social security contribution
and of course the GEMA. We started out
in the 80’s fighting successfully against
the official understanding, that agents
and managers needed a permission from
the Federal Employment office to run their
business. As they thought at that time, that
around 75 of these permissions would be
sufficient for Germany, no further licenses
were granted. The German music business
would have developed in a totally different
direction, if the bdv had not won this
fight at that time. Nobody needs official
permission to be an agent or manager
since. This brought the essential legal basis
for the now more than 1.500 managers
and agents to operate.
We initiated the installment of an
apprenticeship for event merchants and
consulted to the state authorities on the
content of an according curriculum and
examination rules. More than 30.000
young people passed the necessary 3 years
dual training (practical work in companies
combined with attending a business school)
successfully in the past 14 years. Since the
founding of ‘Initiative Musik’ the federal
government’s funding agency supporting
the music industry in the fields of rock,
pop, and jazz in Germany, the bdv has
represented its supervisory board.
In 2006 the bdv initiated and has since
produced the German Live Entertainment
Award Gala. The LEA is considered to be
one of the most impressive cultural Award
Galas in the country.
We were the first to publish market research
on the German Event Market and recently we
were again one of the leading associations
to work on the first research of the
economic value of all the various branches
of the German music industry, published on
the occasion of the Reeperbahn Festival.
Another remarkable milestone of our work
has been the development of standard
contracts for promoters, managers and
agents – being used not only by our
members but by about every company
acting in the industry- as well as hundreds of
consultancy services with our more than 300
members. Last but not least the foundation
of a collection agency for the utilization of
promoter rights – an essential change in the
income structure of promoters.
VIP-News: BDV staged its annual
meeting on September 28 in Hamburg.
What were the main topics on the
agenda for this meeting?
Jens Michow: It was full day congress
program. One of the main topics discussed
was the digital opportunities for Promoters
in the years to come. On the panel amongst
others was Joel Berger, Industry Leader
Media & entertainment of Google Germany
and Martin Ott, Managing Director
Northern Central and Eastern Europe of
Facebook.
VIP-News: BDV has also considered
moving its office to Berlin. How closely
is the Association already connected
with institutional bodies in the City and
in particular, which ones are the most
relevant for BDV?
Jens Michow: First of all we don’t have a final
decision from our members on this topic.
And at this moment – facing Hamburg’s
continuous outstanding activities for music
and the music industry I would consider it
as a mistake to move to Berlin. I’m in Berlin
more or less every week. It’s just a 1:40h
train ride away from Hamburg – many
people need about the same time to drive
by car from home to their office in any City.
In the past 30years we established a most
efficient network for all politicians that are
of importance for our branch in Berlin. So
there is no imperative to reside in Berlin
as one association amongst thousands of
others.
VIP-News: In the invitation for the
annual meeting, you mention that
members are concerned about increased
competition and corporatisation. Can
you please elaborate on what this is
all about and how these developments
you expect are likely to affect the
German market situation in general?
Jens Michow: First of all, competition is good
for every industry. However, up to now the
structure of the German Promoters Market
is most versatile. There are more than 500
Jens Michow Reviews 30 Yearsof the BDV
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VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > OCTOBER 2015
smaller companies coexisting with the two
big stock corporations, i.e. the Medusa
Group of CTS and the DEAG. However,
already in the past couple of years smaller
companies have realized, that competition
with the big group companies gets harder.
Money makes the world go around –
especially in the entertainment business.
The fact that bigger international acts are
difficult for a small company to pay for
may be self-evident. However, the success
of promoter-companies mostly depends
on single persons. If they leave a company
for a better job somewhere else, this may
mean the end of the company because
it has lost the head of the team. Besides
that, in many companies we face a change
of generation. But not every successor of
a successful father is able to keep up his
standard. All this makes the foundation
of smaller companies very vulnerable.
Live Nation Germany now will be a third
big player on the German market and it’s
not difficult to predict that it will not make
competition amongst German promoters
easier.
VIP-News: When it comes to lobbying
efforts, how much would you say
German official bodies and institutions
are aware of the needs of the live
entertainment business?
Jens Michow: Before bdv started to provide
them continuously with facts and figures in
the nineties and was able to point out the
financial impact of our industry, we were
handled as a complete niche market. In
the mean time, the whole creative industry
was, and is, seen with different eyes.
The biggest surprise by politicians will be
generated by the results of the actual study
on the economic value of the whole music
industry: Last year, the various sub-sectors
of Germany’s music industry generated
revenues totaling €11 billion. With a total
of 127,000 salaried employees and self-
employed individuals currently active in
the industry, these sub-sectors surpass the
employment numbers of every other media
sector. In 2014, the music industry’s gross
value added (GVA) was roughly €3.9 billion,
which is even higher than that of the film,
radio and book and magazine publishing
industries.
VIP-News: Are there any topics on
your political agenda, which from your
point of view deserve better support
and understanding by political or
administrative sources?
Jens Michow: We are still working on
some very special but particularly sensitive
tax problems for our branch. We are
discussing with politicians the realization of
rules like the British Consumer Rights Act
2015, which I personally consider to be a
clever step against unwanted secondary
ticketing. German Concert promoters
definitely don’t need and desire any official
funding. However we fight for financial
support in the career development of new
talent. Film in Germany gets supported with
60 million Euros per year. The previously
mentioned Initiative Musik (see above),
the funding agency supporting the music
industry, distributes support for performing
artists, e.g. for productions, tours etc.,
from a budget of around only 2 million.
The Initiative has to decide on more than
400 applications per year. With regard to
this number and the return of investment,
which is generated with such funding, it’s
very hard to understand why music funding
is so low.
VIP-News: Would you say that
within the live music community the
understanding and the willingness for
the implementation of joint measures
and activities has increased over the
years?
Jens Michow: Definitely! The cooperation of
around 10 trade associations by preparing
this actual study on all sectors of the music
branch was not only effective but it showed
us which important results we are finally able
to achieve once we cooperate on an issue.
The bdv will immediately take the initiative
to invite all relevant trade associations of the
music branch in order to discuss an umbrella
association for the whole industry.
Jens Michow President of the BDV
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VIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
One more anniversary in sight for FKP
Scorpio: The company, which celebrates its
25th anniversary in November, will celebrate
another anniversary when it promotes
the 20th edition of the Hurricane festival
in Eichenring Scheeßel on June 25-26
simultaneously with sister event Southside
in Neuhausen ob Eck.
By sheer coincidence it appears, Rammstein
also played the first edition of Hurricane. So,
FKP Scorpio is busy planning how best to
celebrate these festival anniversary dates. By
the way, spokespersons of FKP denied being
on a shopping visit, when executives were
spotted at the recent edition of the MaMA
music convention in Paris.
Anyhow, besides Rammstein FKP Scorpio
has also confirmed the booking of K.I.Z,
AnnenMayKantereit, Dropkick Murphys,
Two Door Cinema Club, Trailerpark, Editors,
The Hives, Flogging Molly, Bosse, Royal
Republic , Genetikk, Die Orsons, Boysetsfire,
Feine Sahne Fischfilet and Digitalism for the
two festivals.
Just for the record, the Hurricane Festival is
a co-production by FKP Scorpio, MCT and
Koopmann Concerts, while Southside is
a co-production of FKP Scorpio, MCT and
KOKO & DTK Entertainment.
Statements as headlines usually work well if they hit the point
and this one could be read as a slogan, referring to the ongoing
moves and transfers of live music professionals within the circle
of German concert companies. Ralf Diemert left Landstreicher
Booking and moves on to Selective Artists to join Thomas Köster
who moved there earlier this year from MLK, following Jacob
Philipp Pahl who left the Company in December 2014 to join
Landstreicher Booking.
Manuel Schottmüller and Linus Munz have left the SSC Group and
set up their own company, calledEmerged Agency, with offices in
Düsseldorf and Zurich. The above mentioned statement actually
came from a Northern European observer, remarking on the overall
situation involving the many recent changes in the business.
For further information please check:
www.emerged-agency.com and www.selectiveartists.com
FKP ScorpioAnnounces Rammsteinfor Hurricane & SouthsideManfred Tari [email protected]
“The German Live Industry IsLike A Soap Opera These Days!”Manfred Tari [email protected]
Rammstein
Agent Dave Kaplan has switched from United Talent Agency to Paradigm Talent Agency as
an agent in their music division.
Kaplan, who will be based in the firm`s New York office, brings with him artists including
The Black Keys, Father John Misty, Bombay Bicycle Club and The Kills.
“I`ve known Marty Diamond and Tom Windish for many years and admired what they`ve
accomplished as agents,” said Kaplan. “Paradigm should be a great home for me and for
the artists I represent and I`m really looking forward to this next phase of my career.”
A figure in the industry for more than 20 years, Kaplan began his music career as a
promoter in San Francisco and then founded his own booking agency in 1997, Easy Action
Industries, which merged with The Agency Group in 2002.
Paradigm’s head of East Coast music Marty Diamond said: “I am honored to have Dave
as a part of our Paradigm team. He is an incredible agent and has impeccable taste and
great A&R instincts.”
Head of the Paradigm Music Division, Chip Hooper added: “We`re delighted to have an
agent of Dave`s caliber join our family. Whenever we consider the addition of an agent or a
partner, we`re very conscious of the character and quality of the people involved. We think
Dave fits perfectly.”
Dave Kaplan moves to Paradigm From VIP-Daily News
Reed Midem UK names MD From VIP-Daily News
The Black Keys move with Dave Kaplan to Paradigm Simon Rhodes
Midem organiser Reed MIDEM has
announced that Simon Rhodes has joined
the company as UK managing director.
In his new position, Rhodes will oversee
Reed MIDEM’s British-based business and
take the UK sales lead on the company’s
real estate portfolio. Prior to joining the
firm, Rhodes was EMEA marketing and
business development director at CBRE.
“Simon brings extensive international
experience in marketing, business
development and management to Reed
MIDEM’s UK team as they work on our
television, music and property events,”
said Reed MIDEM CEO Paul Zilk. “His
knowledge of the real estate industry
makes him ideally placed to lead our
sales strategy in the UK for our property
portfolio and will be particularly beneficial
as we grow MIPIM UK.”
13
NAMES & JOBSVIPNEWS > OCTOBER 2015
15
VIPNEWS > BUSINESS > OCTOBER 2015 MUSIC IN SHARES
MusicIn SharesManfred Tari [email protected]
CTS Eventim- 30 Minutes TV Spotlight
No, since the last issue of VIP-News, CTS
Eventim has not officially released any major
news that might attract the attention of
its investors or the live music community.
However, the company has gained some
public awareness due to a TV-report
screened on the nationwide public TV-
Station ZDF.
Most of the broadcast material is not really
new to most of those industry people who
follow CTS Eventim on regular basis, except
for the fact that the TV-crew undertook
proper research and revealed how Klaus
Peter Schulenberg, the CEO of the company
manages his financial wealth and assets in
tax heavens the British Virgin Islands and
Jersey, using trusts and other tax-saving
measures that currently are questionable
with many super rich people not contributing
towards society in the same way as average
tax payers.
The TV-Report also featured extensively
on the investigations by the prosecution
department of the court in Munich
regarding tickets sold on the black market
for the World Cup 2006. This case as VIP-
News previously reported has been settled
with Schulenberg paying a fine, but not
being given a criminal record. In reference to
recent news concerning reports of bribery
involving FIFA and the German football
association DFB for the tender of the World
Cup 2006, the closed case may cause
concerns but certainly no big surprises for
the public.
The TV-Report still can be seen in German
language at:
https://youtu.be/ZAN3tHZG2T0
However, within the financial community
such stories about moral issues don’t seem
to cause any concerns at all; since the last
issue the share price of CTS Eventim went
up from 33.08 Euro to 34.55 Euro on
October 22.
EAG- The Pressure Succeeds
No, there have been no further equity
stories in the meantime that reveal anything
meaningful about ongoing legal claims
resulting from its festival activities earlier
on this summer causing DEAG to suffer
financial losses. Nevertheless, the share price
is slightly under pressure, from a previously
reported 4.51 Euro down to 4.20 Euro.
Live Nation- The Roller Coaster Experience
Amazing, the share price of Live Nation in
the last three months went up and down.
On July 23 the share price was $26.19, on
September 1st $23.99, on September 29
$23.58 and now it is up again to $26.01.
SFX Entertainment- Warning Letter from NASDAQ
In the recent weeks the shares of SFX
Entertainment performed as so called
“penny stock”. NASDAQ regulations require
a minimum share price of at least $1 and
on October 16 sent SFX Entertainment a
“Notice of Delisting”.
On the same day Robert F.X. Sillerman
released an offer paying $3.25 per share
in cash, the offer is non-binding and is the
second offer by Sillerman this year, who
previously offered to buy shares for $5.25 in
May but withdrew this offer later.
Anyhow, the final chapter of SFX
Entertainment is still not in sight, so the
saga of EDM on the stock market might last
a little bit longer. The share since last time
went up from $0.45 to $1.00...
VIPNEWS > MISC > OCTOBER 2015
BANCO DE GAIATerritory: World incl. USAPeriod: March 2016 onwardsAgency: Value Added TalentAgent: Dan SilverPhone: +44 20 7704 9720E-mail: [email protected]: www.vathq.co.uk
BLIND CHANNEL (FIN)Territory: EuropePeriod: 2016Agency: The DamagerAgent: Toni TörrönenPhone: +358 400 592 152E-mail: [email protected]: thedamager.com/?page_id=1720
Basement JaxxTerritory: EuropePeriod: 2015Agency: Primary Talent InternationalAgent: Peter EilliotPhone: +44 20 7400 4500E-mail: [email protected]: www.primarytalent.com/basement-jaxx/
Chris Thompson(Ex-Manfred Mann¥s Earth Band)Territory: WorldPeriod: Available all year on requestAgency: Live Concept Entertainment GmbHAgent: Michael WidmannPhone: +49 7203 9219180E-mail: [email protected]: www.christhompson-central.com
The”Original”Blues Brothers BandTerritory: EuropePeriod: On request, May - August 2016Agency: BasitoursAgent: Peter BaslerPhone: +41 79 7692393E-mail: [email protected]: www.basitours.com/artist/original_blues_brothers_band
IRON BUTTERFLY Territory: All InternationalPeriod: Spring - Summer 2016Agency: Cheyenne ProductionsAgent: Patrick rocherPhone: +1 928 852 00 32 E-mail: [email protected]: www.ironbutterflyband.com
MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON:WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON:WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
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MEMBER PRESENTATION
About Our CompanyVIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest database for the European Live Entertainment Industry www.vip-booking.com developed as a tool for industry professionals . Since it’s launch in the year 2000, we have consist-ently offered our subscribers the very best in database services and now boast subscribers in over 30 countries.
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Nick (Loris) Loridas established DIDI Music in 1984
as a record label. In 1987, with the cooperation of
NANA TRANDOU, Big Star Promotion was created as
a department of DIDI Music, specializing in concert
promotion. Gradually, the record release department
of the company has been surpassed by the growing
agency sector.
DIDI MUSIC / BIG STAR PROMOTION has made
the breakthrough in the local market, organising events and hosting artists of
international importance. The company is also the exclusive booking agent for two
of our nation’s best selling pop/rock bands arranging for both bands to tour abroad,
something that local groups rarely have a chance to do. Since 1997, we successfully
organise the ROCKWAVE Festival attracting thousands of people, featuring great acts
and a plethora of other activities. Our festival has always been devoted to promoting
social awareness, having stands on site giving out brochures and information leaflets
concerning AIDS and the HIV virus, Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
ROCKWAVE Festival, no doubt, contributed in the last few years to change our
country’s image, making it an equal member of the global music entertainment scene.
BIG STAR PROMOTION is a member of YOUROPE, the most important union of
European festival promoters. Ms Nana Trandou, our managing director, has been
elected in the Board of Directors of YOUROPE, as well as, leader of the workgroup
on the Performance Royalties Society (PRS). We are also represented in ILMC, the
International Live Music Conference.
DIDI MUSIC is established in the Greek market as the provider of high quality services
that guarantee safety and top the most demanding performing requirements,
through our efforts, commitment and high investments in exclusive technical and
stage equipment. We are currently developing our company image to strengthen our
identity as the leading service providers in Greece for organising outdoor and indoor
events.
Meanwhile, we have expanded in the ticket distribution market through TICKET
HOUSE, a national network of ticket outlets with growing dynamics.
16