1 VIP-BOOKING.COM PREMIUM ›› VOL. 132 ›› JANUARY 2011 WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM Welcome to our first News of 2011 and a belated Happy New Year to you all! All of the team shook themselves out of holiday mode by attending the first industry event of the year in a rain swept Groningen in the North of Holland. This 25th edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag certainly lived up to expectations, and I’ve yet to hear a complaint from anyone who attended about both the Conference and the fes- tival and showcase programmes. I think Dietmar Schwenger, editor of Germany’s MusikWoche, summed it up perfectly when he told me, “Those Dutch people really know how to run a business event – creating an easy-going atmosphere and still giving the delegates good opportu- nities for business!” We include further comments in our report in this issue. Although we came out of 2010 with some trepidation about the new year, following the release of worrying figures showing a decline in concert tickets, particularly in the US, but also to a lesser extent in Eu- rope and other territories, the overall at- mosphere amongst the assembled 2000 plus professionals was generally optimis- tic. Even in the ‘Future of Record Compa- nies’ panel, despite the early accusation of a self publicising member of the Digital business community that the panel mem- bers were, ‘really down, and hanging in their seats’, the label representatives as- sembled by European independent labels Association, Impala, were not displaying suicidal tendencies and although wary were adamant that independent record companies would not disappear in 2011! In the ‘Less Tours – Less Tickets’ session based on Pollstar’s end of year figures, the reaction from the Live sector panel- lists, including Dutch based Mojo Con- certs, part of Live Nation, which had laid off staff last year, was pretty much ‘busi- ness as usual – let’s get on with it!’ In 2010 the weather in Groningen was very cold and the streets were danger- ously icy, more than a few music business types took a tumble, this year it was not so cold but it rained, sometimes heav- ily. The crowds attending the free con- certs, a Eurosonic Noorderslag gift to the City that has been the event’s host for 25 years, didn’t seem to mind, the large umbrella like structure over the audience area in the Grote Markt. In return organ- isers Peter Smidt and Peter Sikkema re- ceived the Freedom of the City from Gro- ningen’s Mayor. Talking of weather apparently the South of France has been experiencing colder nights than usually expected by the mu- sic business types attending Midem in Cannes, but as referred to in the News this is as nothing compared to the re- cent floods in Australia and elsewhere in the World, so we should count ourselves lucky! I personally had a very good, though busy time in Groningen, having had the pleasure to present the European Festi- val Awards. There were many highlights, 1 McGowan’s Musings: Allan McGowan The VIP-Booking European Live Entertainment Book Advertising in the VIP Book will make you visible to 10.000 business professionals all over Europe. You will find no better place to expose your company to the whole European Live Entertainment Industry. ›› RESERVE YOUR AD NOW ON WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News
VIP-News is a FREE online newsletter. VIP-News is emailed monthly to more than 20.000 Entertainment Industry Professionals all over the world. Our statistics show that 75% of recipients actively open and read VIP-News every time they receive it. Readers consider VIP-News a valuable source of information for keeping themselves in the loop and up to date with all the latest news, views and insider info. VIP-News is sent to the desks of key decision makers in over 70 countries and reaches: 6000+ agents - 2000+ concert & tour promoters - 1500+ artist managers 10.000+ talent buyers - 2000+ record labels - 1700+ music journalists
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
1
VIP-BOOKING.COM
PreMIuM ›› VOl. 132 ›› JaNuary 2011
www.VIP-BOOKING.COM
Welcome to our first News of 2011 and a
belated Happy New Year to you all! All of
the team shook themselves out of holiday
mode by attending the first industry event
of the year in a rain swept Groningen in
the North of Holland. This 25th edition
of Eurosonic Noorderslag certainly lived
up to expectations, and I’ve yet to hear
a complaint from anyone who attended
about both the Conference and the fes-
tival and showcase programmes. I think
Dietmar Schwenger, editor of Germany’s
MusikWoche, summed it up perfectly
when he told me, “Those Dutch people
really know how to run a business event
– creating an easy-going atmosphere and
still giving the delegates good opportu-
nities for business!” We include further
comments in our report in this issue.
Although we came out of 2010 with some
trepidation about the new year, following
the release of worrying figures showing a
decline in concert tickets, particularly in
the US, but also to a lesser extent in Eu-
rope and other territories, the overall at-
mosphere amongst the assembled 2000
plus professionals was generally optimis-
tic. Even in the ‘Future of Record Compa-
nies’ panel, despite the early accusation
of a self publicising member of the Digital
business community that the panel mem-
bers were, ‘really down, and hanging in
their seats’, the label representatives as-
sembled by European independent labels
Association, Impala, were not displaying
suicidal tendencies and although wary
were adamant that independent record
companies would not disappear in 2011!
In the ‘Less Tours – Less Tickets’ session
based on Pollstar’s end of year figures,
the reaction from the Live sector panel-
lists, including Dutch based Mojo Con-
certs, part of Live Nation, which had laid
off staff last year, was pretty much ‘busi-
ness as usual – let’s get on with it!’
In 2010 the weather in Groningen was
very cold and the streets were danger-
ously icy, more than a few music business
types took a tumble, this year it was not
so cold but it rained, sometimes heav-
ily. The crowds attending the free con-
certs, a Eurosonic Noorderslag gift to the
City that has been the event’s host for
25 years, didn’t seem to mind, the large
umbrella like structure over the audience
area in the Grote Markt. In return organ-
isers Peter Smidt and Peter Sikkema re-
ceived the Freedom of the City from Gro-
ningen’s Mayor.
Talking of weather apparently the South
of France has been experiencing colder
nights than usually expected by the mu-
sic business types attending Midem in
Cannes, but as referred to in the News
this is as nothing compared to the re-
cent floods in Australia and elsewhere in
the World, so we should count ourselves
lucky!
I personally had a very good, though
busy time in Groningen, having had the
pleasure to present the European Festi-
val Awards. There were many highlights,
1
McGowan’s Musings:
Allan McGowan
The VIP-Booking european live entertainment Bookadvertising in the VIP Book will make you visible to 10.000 business
professionals all over europe. you will find no better place to expose your
company to the whole european live entertainment Industry.
Tallinn Music Week is a showcase festival and a music industry networking event that started out in 2009, a year that was declared the Year of Innovation in Estonia. Having partnered up with Tallinn, European Capital of Culture in 2011, and the country’s very own brain child Skype, it is a music export plat-form for Estonian and the neighboring coun-tries’ talent, as well as a tool to encourage professionalism and growth of our region’s music business. Tallinn Music Week welcomes around 100 international delegates to the fes-tival each year, to build professional contacts with local industry and get acquainted with the local artists and music scene.
At the third edition of Tallinn Music Week in 2011 we will present a lineup of around 100 bands and artists, so it is a perfect time to visit early springtime Tallinn during a weekend full of fantastic music in the best venues for the most demanding tastes: from world music, jazz and contemporary classical to punk, elec-tro, metal and anything in between.
Come and join us in 2011, when Tallinn will be the European Capital of Culture!
Delegates’ registration is open at tallinnmusicweek.ee Contact us: [email protected]
“I thought the level of organization and hospitality Tallinn Music Week provided was superb. Tallinn’s concert venues were great. It was one of the most enjoyable conference showcase events I have been to (and I have been to a few!).” Martin Elbourne (Great Escape, Glastonbury):
VIP-News: - Do you envisage more crosso-ver work with some of the bigger festivals that are not AIF members? Generally would you say that your members are optimistic about their fortunes in 2011?
Claire: As in the case of the PRS review,
legislation, environmental issues etc, there
will always be some scope for festivals of
all sizes and styles to work together. This
is not about entertainment on site etc, but
the external influences that affect the in-
dustry as a whole. With the exception of
one or two festivals who were sadly can-
celled in part due to hiked police charges
or land issues, the AIF membership enjoyed
a very healthy year with a great number of
sell out events. As a whole the independ-
ent festival sector who are represented by
AIF are looking positively forwards to 2011
and beyond with some exciting projects
on the horizon.
Festival awards europe winners announcedAllan McGowan [email protected]
The best European festivals, artists and pro-
moters of 2010 were revealed at a sold out
ceremony, which took place at Groningen’s
Stadsschouwburg in The Netherlands, on
the opening night of the 25th Anniversary
edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag.
Decided by a combination of public vote
and industry juries, Festival Awards Eu-
rope is the only event solely dedicated
to recognising the contributions and
achievements of the event organisers and
performing artists that generate billions of
Euros for local economies and brighten up
the summer for tens of millions of festival-
goers each year.
For the 2009 Awards Belgium did extreme-
ly well, coming away with multiple prizes,
but this year Ireland led, taking 3, Poland
and Germany took two each. Muse also
took two awards, but were unfortunately
not there to receive them.
More than 350,000 votes were cast by
fans to decide the winners in the follow-
ing categories:
- Best Major European Festival:
Heineken Open’er Festival - Poland
- Best Medium-Sized European Festival:
Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival -
Ireland
- Best Small European Festival:
5 Tauron Nowa Muzyka Festival - Poland
- Best New European Festival:
Temple House Festival - Ireland
- Best Indoor Festival:
Rolling Stone Weekender - Germany
- Best European Festival Line-Up:
Oxegen - Ireland
- Best Newcomer:
Florence and the Machine
- Best Headliner:
Muse
- Festival Anthem of the Year:
Muse - Uprising
The following winners were chosen by an
industry jury, which included prominent
journalists, booking agents, managers,
artists and promoters:
- YOUROPE Green ‘N’ Clean Festival Of
The Year:
Boom Festival - Portugal
- Artist’s Favourite European Festival:
Melt! - Germany
- Virtual Festivals Europe presents
Promoter Of The Year:
Kilimanjaro/K2
- Yourope Lifetime Achievement Award:
Leif Skov
Stefan Lehmkuhl from Melt Festival Ger-
many was surprised to win the artist best
festival award saying “It was the greatest
honour” adding that “according to Noel
Gallagher Melt Festival looks like the inside
of Marilyn Manson’s brain”
Leif Skov, one of the pioneers of Denmark’s
Roskilde Festival was presented with the
Lifetime Achievement Award. In a mov-
ing and inspiring speech on receiving his
award, he said: “People and music together
can move mountains and change opinions.
And through all of our work with our festi-
vals we have invented and defined for the
world a new set of values that lie above and
beyond a standard set of values that can be
measured.”
James Drury, MD of Festival Awards Ltd,
which organises the Awards said: “With
over 350,000 votes and a 37% increase in
the number of events our second edition
demonstrated the breadth and strength of
feeling among fans and festivals across the
continent. This was a great celebration of the
world leading festival scene.”
Christof Huber, General Secretary
YOUROPE commented, “It was a major step
forward from last year’s awards. We are re-
ally looking forward to the next edition and
are confident that they will continue to go
from strength to strength.”
There were performances on the night
from Alice Gold, Laura Jansen and Ben
L’Oncle Soul.
http://eu.festivalawards.com/
Leif Skov from Roskilde Festival received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Gronningen
VIP-News: What do you expect for the busi-ness year 2011?
Spille: I have no idea what the future will
bring. We will just have to see. I think that
it will get a bit tougher for Dutch venues. I
see that some of them are booking fewer
concerts, in the recent months there have
been less concerts than in the years be-
fore. So, competition will grow harder.
It will be more difficult for upcoming
acts. But in general I think it will still be a
healthy year.
Holger Schmidt from Rheinkultur-Festival
in Germany, a free event which suffered a
financial loss after the last edition was hit
by very bad weather and less visitors due
to the Football World Cup, said about Euro-
sonic Noorderslag: “I had a very nice week-
end here actually. It was the first time I had
the chance to moderate a panel. We did
something about ‘Green’ events and I was
really surprised by the huge audience we
had there. We had about 80 people, usu-
ally we discuss this subject before only 10
or 15 people. and it was a very, very fruit-
ful session. I again met all my colleagues
from the European festivals and this was
good as well. I saw a couple of bands, but
it’s always a gamble whether you see the
good or not so good ones. Anyway, I saw
Kvelertak, which I found very good. Yester-
day I saw Inspector Clouseau from France,
they’re brilliant, and Murder from Denmark
and that’s about it.
VIP-News: By the way, what is going on at Rheinkultur?
Schmidt: We will decide next week when-
ever we will go on or not. But I am quite
hopeful that we can make it.
From Melt-Booking in Germany Stefan Le-
hmkuhl, Alexander Kralitsch and others
attended Eurosonic Noorderslag. Lehm-
kuhl who also accepted ‘The Artist Choice
Award’ for Melt-Festival at the European
Festival Awards presented in Groningen
on the Wednesday night, didn’t see as
many good bands as his company col-
league Kralisch.
Lehmkuhl said: “It was nice as every year.
It is my eighth time now, I think. I have
not seen that many good band perfor-
mances this year but I met a lot of interest-
ing people. I think it is important as well
to meet people as well as to see acts here
in Groningen. But I noticed a trend; many
of the electronic acts are developing into
good live acts. Whereas previously many
of those acts appeared on stage with just
a laptop, they have now merged into real
bands in order to be booked and to play at
festivals. This goes for instance for Crystal
Fighters who have developed in to a real
electronic band within two years. I pre-
sume that these bands do so in particular
to be attractive for festivals and I therefore
assume that festivals are also becoming
more important for these kinds of acts.
VIP-News: Who was your favourite this year?
Lehmkuhl: Crystal Fighters, James Blake
and SBTRKT.
Differing from Lehmkuhl, Kralisch said,
“First of all a lot of good bands and sur-
prises from some I did not expect to be
so good.” But like Lehmkuhl Kralisch also
observed, “I found it very interesting that a
lot of bands which I just knew from the in-
ternet and from the songs that I heard, that
were really electronic are now are able to
put on their music on stage like real bands,
that was really surprising. Bands like Crys-
tal Fighters, James Blake or Monarchy, you
knew that these acts are just guys who cre-
ated their music on a computer and now
put it on stage. That was actually good.
VIP-News: Which acts did you like most?
Kralisch: I was really impressed by the en-
ergy of Crystal Fighters, I really like their al-
bum from last year and I was really happy
to see it come across so well on stage.
Baris Basaran from Charmenko Music Or-
ganisation in Turkey said of the business
event: “I think the variety of showcases
was better than before. They were richer,
from my point of view; compared to previ-
ous years I was able to discover more inter-
esting bands. Also in my personal opinion
the panels were more approachable than
in recent years.
VIP-News: Any particular panel you’d like to mention?
Basaran: I found the festival panel, chaired
by Nick Hobbs (of Charmenko) with people
from Exit Festival and Sziget Festival was
so far the most interesting panel for me.
VIP-News: Which were your favourite art-ists?
Basaran: A couple of favourite acts. One of
them was Frankie & The Heartstrings, but
also K-X-P, Mount Kimbie and SBTRKT
VIP-News: How do you think business will be this year?
Basaran: I hope it’ll be up, because 2010
was a terrible year for Eastern Europe. It
needs to be better in 2011.
Hilde Spille Baris Basaran
12
VIP-BOOKING.COM
12
VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
Although the vast majority of Eurosonic
Noorderslag delegates enjoyed their trip
to Groningen there were some potential
obstacles for the business that caused par-
ticular concern for the Dutch visitors to the
event. The biggest threat for the live music
industry in the Netherlands is the VAT in-
crease on tickets from 6 to 19 percent. VIP-
News spoke with Dick Molenaar of All Arts
Tax Advisors and others about this topic.
VIP-News: What do you think about this years edition of Eurosonic?
Dick Molenaar: I like it very much. There
are a lot of people, it’s very international
and also Dutch, with interesting panels and
interesting people and a very nice atmo-
sphere in this city. Groningen is ideally built
for this conference and such a festival.
VIP-News: Do you think that the increase of the VAT on tickets here in the Nether-lands is featured appropriately within the conference programme of Eurosonic Noorderslag?
Molenaar: Yes, I did a panel on this my-
self. I was the chairman of the panel and it
was very good. Everyone was happy with
how we discussed it because, as one, we
have the option to challenge it under the
VAT directive of the European Union. It is
not in line with the VAT directive, that is
one thing, and we are going to do it. The
venues organisation decided to really go
for it and also Mojo Concerts will fight it,
so that is one thing. The second is every-
body still wants to lobby the politicians,
so it’s not over yet and the third thing is
that we discussed how we are going to
deal with it if goes through, and there is a
mutual understanding of how to do it. So
I think there is quite a good chance that it
will not take place.
VIP-News: Do those various actors like the VNPV and Mojo Concerts now get find it easier to get together over something like this?
Molenaar: They already lobbied against
it in the last months and the cooperation
is good, but we have to fight a new gov-
ernment. The tax increase was one of its
first proposals, so they were very strong
on pushing it through. If they hadn’t done
it, perhaps the cabinet would have fallen.
It was really a principle for them. So, we
have to be very clever and smart to keep
fighting it and there was a good under-
standing in the audience and in the panel
about how to do it.
VIP-News: How will the lobbying take place?
Molenaar: The most important move at
this moment is to set up cases in which we
challenge the fact that it is not in line with
the European VAT directive, The Nether-
lands is only picking out performances
and leaving film, museums and others at
the lower VAT rate. That is not in line with
the obligations of the European directive,
and that’s a very big thing.
VIP-News: Won’t it cost a fortune to get rid of the tax increase in a legal way?
Molenaar: Yes, but the negative effect on
the shows will be more expensive.
VIP-News: How will this all take place?
Molenaar: I am also active in this, but there
is a tax advisor company in Amsterdam
who wrote a piece about it and they will
also take the lead. It will start next month
and we go to the European commission
and we will initiate cases here in the Neth-
erlands to see if the Dutch government is
right, I believe they are not right.
Willem Venema of Double Vee Concerts
ventures a slightly different and more
sceptical point of view than most other
Dutch people when answering questions
regarding this VAT increase and its effect
on ticket sales. In 1998 it went from 17.5
percent down to 6 percent, a rise to 19
percent on tickets, as well as a proposed
significant 20 to 25 percent cut back on
culture subsidies in 2013 does not bode
well for business.
VIP-News: Are Dutch artists and the do-mestic music industry doing enough to
The dutch Impact at eurosonic NoorderslagManfred Tari [email protected]
Eurosonic
Dick Molenaar
13
VIP-BOOKING.COM
13
VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
fight against the new tax law and the subsidy cut back for culture in the Neth-erlands?
Willem Venema: Apparently not
enough; I doubt very much if the in-
dustry in full and in particular the indi-
vidual artists are aware of the negative
consequences of cutting governmental
money sources. There is a total misun-
derstanding about the fact that the tax-
law was changed by January 1 2011, but
it will only be delayed until July 1.
The right wing claims that ‘the market’,
‘private mecenas (patrons)’ and ‘industry
sponsoring’ will solve all consequences
and problems, forgetting that cutting
and losing jobs and possibly closing
venues will cost the government more
money in the end. Apart from the fact
private mecenas and sponsoring in mu-
sic industry has never reached a healthy
substantial level in Holland or guaran-
teed continuity (check Parkpop, Low-
lands, Pinkpop etc). No healthy busi-
ness climate can survive without a lively
cultural infra-structure, a phenomena
that already takes books and writers to
unbelievable theories in terms of city-
marketing (Austin, New York etc). The
industry has had no real discussions
with the politicians or the government,
which is avoiding any discussions of the
subject to avoid endangering the sta-
bility of their actual government with
the forthcoming elections in sight. That
is also why none of them is showing up
in Groningen.
VIP-News: Do you believe that this issue had been covered appropriately within this years edition of Eurosonic Noorder-slag?
»Now it is almost a dead issue, because everybody
thinks either the deed is done or it is not going to happen,
VIP-News: How was Eurosonic Noorder-slag 2011 for you?
Robert Meijerink: I think it was a really suc-
cessful edition with good vibes and good
energy. So, we can be happy about it.
VIP-News: What is the feedback when you talk to agents or promoters? Are they all pleased so far?
Meijerink: I hope so. Based on the ETEP-
Meeting and those I spoke to, the festivals
and also other people, they told me that it
was worth visiting Eurosonic again to dis-
cover new talents.”
VIP-News: What about the share of UK art-ists, is it increasing?
Meijerink: “I think it is the same as last year.
It is one of our jobs to keep the balance. In
the Netherlands we have the London Call-
ing festival in Amsterdam and Eurosonic is
not London Calling. Eurosonic is a festival
that searches for European music and of
course also UK bands. There are many tal-
ents in UK and that is definitely also a part
of our job.
VIP-News: Willem Venema and also some other players complained that there is lack of awareness for Dutch talents at Euroson-ic, would you agree with this complaint?
Meijerink: No, not really, I think, if you read
the history of Eurosonic the last couple of
years and see the focus features we had so
far than you can see that we had an aver-
age amount of bands playing within those
focuses. We discuss a lot what to serve and
not to serve, and we try to serve the export
ready acts. That is one of the main things
we are asked for, and we discuss it with
managers from these bands and their re-
cord labels and we try to serve those bands,
to also make it easier for the professionals
that are ready to tour Europe.
VIP-News: Have you changed your booking policy?
Meijerink: “No, there aren’t so many chang-
es. I think one of the most important things
of Eurosonic is that we try to show people
an overview of European music and this
means that we, I and my colleagues in the
booking team need to keep the balance of
countries and promote and try to stimu-
late the European bands from all territories
in Europe. It’s a European festival and it’s
organised in Europe with bands from Eu-
rope and people like the music from what-
ever where are they from, be it Croatia or
France.
VIP-News: When it came to international talents did you see any changes compared to the previous years?
Meijerink: “Yes! There is a development go-
ing on. I think some territories are getting
stronger and I noticed that there are more
and more bands with a higher standard of
quality If you look at Spain for example we
had a couple of bands in different styles
and I think they have a very standard. But
also from Czech Republic, Slovenia and
Estonia. There is something going on in
Europe. I think we live in a time where es-
pecially young people are really creative in
making music and try to make music and
mix up styles with their own creativity. I
think they are not copying each other and
they do not copy from bands from America
or other countries.
VIP-News: Is Europe ready for more Euro-pean talents? Or should I say is Febosonic… (Febo is the late opening fast food outlet in the centre of Groningen where people meet up after the various showcase to soak up the beer and chat)
Meijerink: “Febosonic!?! What are you doing
there? There is no music in croquettes….”
VIP-News: As Eurosonic Noorderslag is one of the most important gateways to launch careers for upcoming artists; I was really surprised when I heard from some Dutch people here that they are not happy with the amount of Dutch artists or their results gained out of Eurosonic. Do you think that Europe is ready for more European talents?
european Talents and the BookingPhilosophy of eurosonic NoorderslagManfred Tari [email protected]
Robert Meijerink
15
VIP-BOOKING.COM
15
VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
Meijerink: “I think so. As long as radio
station or web radios play new music and
people want to buy tickets for concerts,
Europe is ready for talents. I think it is al-
ways a matter of do you like an act or not.
That is the main question. I think music is
a personal matter and you can’t say that
Europe isn’t ready for its music. There are
so many bands, so-called one hit wonders
that succeed and tour all over Europe just
based on the success of one hit single.
So, as long as the people like these songs
they buy the tickets of these bands. It’s
the power of music!”
As Maurice Spijker of Mojo concerts ob-served the interview with Robert, VIP-News asked him: Are you happy with Robert?
Maurice Spijker: I think he’s one of the
best programmers in Holland and he is so
valuable for something like Eurosonic.
VIP-News: What do you say regarding the complaint that Dutch talents are neglect-ed within Eurosonic Noorderslag? Would you agree?
Spijker: “No, specifically this year I totally
disagree with this complaint. Of course the
focus was on the Netherlands but in gen-
eral I would say that Eurosonic Noorder-
slag picked exactly the right artists which
have the potential to go abroad.
VIP-News: Vat increase on ticket sales in the Netherlands. What do you expect for the business year 2011?
Spijker: “I actually think that this will make
quite an impact and I specially think it will
affect the smaller shows of upcoming bands
which are very sensitive for ticket sales and
low ticket prices. People will start to make
choices but I do not see that this will have a
big effect on the big sure shots where peo-
ple have to pay like 65€ or 70€ for tickets or
85€ or 90€ for acts such as Lady Gaga. I do
not see any differences on this level, but I
do expect that people making choices for
the new and small upcoming stuff where
they have to pay instead 12€ or 13€ and will
now have to pay 15€ or 16€.”
VIP-News: Robert, what is your point of view on this one?
within TemptationTerritory: WorldwidePeriod: March 2011 and onwardsAgency: X-Ray TouringAgent: Paul BoltonPhone: +44 (0) 20 7749 3500E-mail: [email protected]: www.xraytouring.com
Groove armadaTerritory: Europe / Worldwide Period: Worldwide 2011 Agency: WME - William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Agent: Steve Hogan E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.groovearmada.com
Martha reeves and The VendellasTerritory: EuropePeriod: 15/02/2011 - 30/03/2011Agency: Sport Star Management ApSAgent: Carsten Hilding LarsenPhone: +45 4071 7722E-mail: [email protected]: www.sportstarmanagement.dk
17
artist avails ››
MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON:WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON:WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
that weekend. So, I can take up most of my production team to Sweden, when
it comes to producing the festival.”
VIP-News: Will you also promote Hultsfred through your promotion channels in Germany?
Koopmans: I don’t think so. I mean not particularly as I believe there are
enough festivals in Germany for people can go to. Hultsfred was one of the
leading festivals in Sweden and I would love to make it the leading festival
again. I know that there is some more competition right now but I think this
site is beautiful. I still think that the brand is really strong, everybody knows
the area and the festival name, so I think it must be possible to re-establish
the event.
VIP-News: What is your relationship with Brian Nielson? (MD of Skandinavian in Denmark)
Koopmans: “We have a long term relationship, because we have been work-
ing together on some acts for a long while and he came up with the idea to
found a new festival in Denmark which I got involved in. This festival we are
really building from scratch, so last year we did 5000 people with local acts.
This year we will have some international acts and we are aiming to reach
10000 this year.”
VIP-News: What’s the name of this festival?
Koopmans: Northside Festival.
VIP-News: So, taking both new business relations into consideration that means that you are expanding your business into non-German speaking countries?
Koopmans: “Yes, but I think there is not such a big difference between Ger-
many and Scandinavia. I guess it will be much more difficult to go into Eastern
Europe and promote events over there. I think that Scandinavia is quite sim-
ple. I am relying on good partners as well, like Brian Nielson and Mats Soer-
enson from Beatbox, who is partly looking after the booking for the festival
in Denmark.”
VIP-News: You even bought back one percent of your company from CTS Even-tim...
Koopmans: No, I didn’t, that’s not true.
VIP-News: Why? But CTS...
Koopmans: Well, you’ll find out later. But yes, CTS gave away their majority on
FKP Scorpio, so that the only thing that I can say on that at the moment….
VIP-News: What are your expectations for the business season 2011?
Koopmans: You never know but I think it will be the best year ever. We have
scheduled festivals now with the Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Blink 182, and we
have tours on with the Foo Fighters, Blink 182, James Blunt, the Gaslight An-
them, Within Temptation, so I expect it is going to be a good year.
In this section we offer members of VIP-Booking.com some space to present their company to VIP-News readers. If you would also like to present your company please contact Peter Briggs at [email protected]
MeMber presentation ››
In this section we offer members of VIP-Booking.com some space to present their company to VIP-News readers. If you would also like to present your company please contact Peter Briggs at [email protected]
®
vip-booking.com
VIP-BOOKING.COMVIP-BOOKING.COM | 26 York Street | UK - London W1U 6pZ | Phone +44 870 755 0092 | Fax +44 870 622 1953 | e-mail: [email protected]
19
about Our Company
VIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest data-base for the European Live Entertainment Industry www.vip-book-ing.com developed as a tool for industry professionals. Since it’s launch in the year 2000, we have consistently offered our subscrib-ers the very best in database services and now boast subscribers in over 30 countries.
Today VIP-Booking offers a range of tools for the industry – inclu-ding VIP-News, VIP-Booking, VIP-Book and VIP-Contract.
Please visit vip-booking.com for further information.
Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.
VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
Big star Promotion ltd.
Nick (Loris) Loridas established DIDI Music in 1984 as a record la-
bel. In 1987, with the cooperation of NANA TRANDOU, Big Star Pro-
motion 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 inter-
national importance. The company is also the exclusive booking
agent for two of our nation’s best selling pop/rock bands arrang-
ing 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 al-
ways 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 impor-
tant 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 Inter-
national Live Music Conference. DIDI MUSIC is established in the
Greek market as the provider of high quality services that guar-
antee safety and top the most demanding performing require-
ments, 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 organis-
ing outdoor and indoor events. Meanwhile, we have expanded in
the ticket distribution market through TICKET HOUSE, a national