VIP-News Premium - November 2014
-
Upload
vip-bookingcom -
Category
Documents
-
view
218 -
download
0
description
Transcript of VIP-News Premium - November 2014
VIPNEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 173 > NOVEMBER 2014
2
18
14
7
3
5
19
11
9
6
17
2
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
McGowan’s Musings
Now I know we’re all aware of the
increasingly vital bond between artists
and brands, and that there is usually some
attempt to at least try and establish some
connection, or at least common ground
between the artist and the product, but
here’s a tie up that’s hard to beat: Bob
Marley, or at least those in control of his
estate, name and likeness, have already
done deals with clothing, coffee and
headphones – ‘earth friendly’ of course,
but the latest is surely, almost literally,
made in heaven, Bob’s image is now to
be the flagship for ‘the world’s first global
cannabis brand’, Marley Natural! Privateer
Holdings, a Seattle-based private equity
firm will start shipping various concoctions
of ‘the herb’ to areas, and these seem to
be on the increase, where it’s legal to sell,
towards the end of 2015. Chief Executive
Brendan Kennedy stated: “We are in a
state of rapid transformation, some 70%
of Americans now live in a state where
cannabis in some form is legal. Now there’s
something I’m very surprised to learn; talk
about a joint venture! (Sorry I couldn’t
resist it!)
As usual, far too early, ‘It’s beginning to
look a lot like Christmas’, you can’t walk
into a shop or cross a station concourse
without the usual continual blast of
irritatingly cheerful and highly repetitive
festive songs that will generate another
substantial seasonal stipend in PRS returns
for the likes of Noddy Holder (Slade – for
those of you too young to remember) –
Humbug! I wonder if the members of One
Direction have written their Christmas hit
yet, but maybe they won’t need to bolster
their pensions in years to come, considering
how much they managed to bring in from
this year’s top grossing world tour. I know
we’ve got a December issue to go before
the end of the year and we’ll no doubt take
a look at the top touring acts then, but
considering that for the last couple of years
we’d been bemoaning the fact that it was
still the heritage acts that were earning the
lion’s share of international box office, and
there seemed to be no new artists coming
through, you’ve got to hand it to them.
You can also tell when we’re getting
towards the end of the year when festival
talk has died down to be replaced with
Conference Communications, the Inbox
chimes as ever with reports on the progress
of the developing events like Sonic Visions
in Luxembourg and Glimps in Ghent,
alongside the major established events, like
Eurosonic in January, By: Larm in February,
and ILMC and SXSW in March. And there’s
more as this wintry season also brings
news of further additions to the calendar
in February, MENT in Ljubljana, Slovenia,
closely followed by Where’s the Music in
Norrköping, Sweden. How to fit it all in?!
In the meantime, I’m off to Luxembourg
for Sonic Visions, then to what could be
a very cold Beijing, China for Dong Dong
(yes, I know it sounds like a bell, and that
could be a Christmas type reference and
I do actually quite like Christmas really!),
anyway, as ever, all being well I shall report
back..,
So, Ladies and Gentlemen – The News…
COLOPHON >
VIP-News is published by:VIP-Booking145-157 St John StreetLondon Ec1V 4PW
Managing Director:Ronni [email protected]
General Manager:Peter [email protected]
Writer and editorial:Allan [email protected]
Writer:Manfred [email protected]
For advertising enquiries please contact:Peter [email protected]+44 870 755 0092
I recently had the pleasure to arrange an on
stage interview with Michael Eavis at The
MaMA Event in Paris, and as we reported
in a recent issue he was a charming, very
down to earth and interesting subject, so I
was happy to hear that the founder of the
Glastonbury Festival was to receive a Music
Industry Trust Award.
Coldplay, Damon Albarn and Sir Paul
McCartney were amongst those to pay
tribute to 79-year-old
Mr. Eavis as he received
the Award. Eavis said:
“I can’t believe that
44 years of semi-
controlled chaos has
led to me receiving
this prestigious award.”
What was originally known as Pilton Pop
Festival took place in 1970 on Mr Eavis’s
Somerset farm, he was inspired to stage the
event after visiting a blues festival in Bath
earlier in the year, which presented Led
Zeppelin amongst other acts.
Many artists who have performed at
Glastonbury over the years have paid tribute
to Mr Eavis. Lily Allen recalled a childhood
visit to Glastonbury with her parents,
before returning to perform many
years later, she said: “Your festival is
literally better than Christmas.
Coldplay sent a message, which said: “Thank
you for the incredible experiences you’ve
given us and so many others.” Damon Albarn
has performed at the Festival with Blur and
Gorillaz, he said: “I’d like to thank you for
your husbandry of the musical health of the
British Isles and far further afield.”
This is the 23rd year of The Music Industry
Trusts Award, over the years
it has raised more than £4.5
million for Nordoff Robbins
and the BRIT Trust. Previous
recipients of the award
include Sir George Martin, Sir
Elton John and Bernie Taupin,
and Annie Lennox.
Michael Eavis Receives Music Industry Trusts AwardAllan McGowan [email protected]
3
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
The musT-aTTend evenT for everyone in The music indusTry Ben Challis, Glastonbury Festival
Present your product at the European Production Innovation Conference & Fair (EPIC) and the Buma Music Meets Techprogramme. Submit at www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl.
14/15/16/17 jan 2015GROnInGEn, nL
Eurosonic Noorderslag is the key exchange and networking
platform for European music, with a proven track record for
helping new acts break into the international music scene.
Selling out each year Eurosonic Noorderslag attracts over
3,200 delegates, including 400 international festivals. Eurosonic
Noorderslag presents showcases by more than 300 acts and a
conference programme featuring 150 panels, keynote speakers,
interviews, workshops, dinners, pitches, parties and meetings
on the latest developments in the international music, media
and interactive industry.
Eurosonic Noorderslag has been responsible for kick-starting the careers of European acts like Ásgeir, Benjamin Clementine, Birth of Joy, Coely, George Ezra, Hozier, Jungle, Kadebostany, Milky Chance and MØ.
EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG WORDT GEORGANISEERD DOOR SPONSOREN
REGIstER nOwwww.EuROsOnIC-nOORdERsLaG.nL
aGEnda wE 14 janEuropean Border Breakers awardsEuropean Festival awardsEurosonic Festival
tH 15 janConference:•EuropeanProductionInnovation Conference&Fair(EPIC)•BumaMusicMeetsTechpro•GeneralconferenceprogrammeEurosonic Festival
FR 16 janConference:•EuropeanProductionInnovation Conference&Fair(EPIC)•BumaMusicMeetsTechpro&Awards•GeneralconferenceprogrammeEurosonic Festival
sa 17 janConference:•EuropeanProductionInnovation Conference&Fair(EPIC)•BumaMusicMeetsTechlive•Music&Mediaprogramme•GeneralconferenceprogrammeNoorderslagFestival
5
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
What a 10 days it’s been for those interested
in the streaming debate. The independent
label-services and publishing company
Kobalt released encouraging figures as to
the economic growth of streaming; Taylor
Swift withdrew her catalogue from Spotify
while, perhaps contradictorily, leaving
it on streaming service YouTube; Bono
commented on transparency issues with
regard to how big music corporates license
streaming services and Spotify published
details of a further big increase in users and
subscribers.
For the MMF, these developments provide
an opportunity to underline what we stand
for and give to our members, together with
anyone else for that matter, a considered
viewpoint as to how we interpret what is
going on in what often seems a confused
and difficult space.
The MMF has always been and continues
to be a big supporter of streaming services.
Few markets are perfect and yes the ‘low
rate issue’ has conflicted many, but above
all, streaming services are a fabulous tool
that connects artists and creators with fans.
No longer restricted by physical barriers,
streaming gives a voice to those that want to
be heard and a platform from which to build
multi revenue businesses that cross borders.
There are no guarantees of success but the
opportunity is there for all that want to give
it a shot.
Whilst encouraging to see the Kobalt data
on improving economics for streaming, we
are disappointed to see Taylor Swift remove
her catalogue from Spotify. Her label talked
about not being disrespectful to her fans
who purchased the album but we do wonder
about the 15 million Taylor Swift fans who
are not listening to her music on Spotify or
those near 20 million fans who have had her
music ripped from their playlists. Whatever
one thinks of the Spotify free, or more
accurately termed ad - supported service,
we wouldn’t be surprised if this was more
about, headlines, badge collecting and
economics.
Like his band’s recent release strategy or not,
Bono hit the nail on the head with regard to
one part of the economic debate that often
goes untold. Non Disclosure Agreements
hide how the major music corporations
license streaming services and we have grave
concerns that the deals contain stipulations
that both significantly reduce the amount
artists ultimately get attributed and damage
the growth of the streaming economy. The
real fight is more likely between opacity and
transparency, and we call on all major music
corporations to take note and react in the
best interest of their artists and shareholders.
MMFStatement on StreamingAllan McGowan [email protected]
VIP News and parent Company VIP-Booking.com as you all know mainly deal with the doings of the live music industry, but following the sector’s ‘promotion’ some years ago to the leading revenue source of the international music business, the industry has had to take note of continuing development in all areas. Although streaming on the face of it is mainly concerned with becoming the method of choice for the distribution and reception of recorded music, live concert recordings will be part of the available catalogue, and the attitudes of artists and managements will have knock on effects for the live busines., therefore the recent statement from the Music Managers Forum is relevant:
Taylor Swift
6
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
Flexible Festival Dates for Foo FightersAllan McGowan [email protected]
In our last issue I noted that the Belgian Festival Rock Werchter’ s
decision to change their dates to accommodate a then unknown
headliner was a new phenomenen, possibly linked to a desperation
linked to a lack of headliners. It appears that I was mistaken in my
assumption as my friend Willem Venema of Double Vee Concerts in
Holland pointed out, mailing to say, “You might not have noticed
that Pinkpop has moved dates (from their original vast dates) various
times in the recent past to accommodate headliners directed by Live
Nation associated agents or supporters.”
Also the mystery headliners are now named, a Rock Werchter press
release states: Foo Fighters are coming by general demand. Every
year we collect the wish lists from the friends of the festival and this
year Foo Fighters are right at the top. To be sure of landing the band
of the moment Rock Werchter is moving its dates forward a week.
This is because the band is heading back to the States at the end of
June to play a huge concert in front man Dave Grohl’s home base of
Washington D.C. on Saturday 4 July. In 2015 Foo Fighters will play
Werchter for the third time in their 20 year history. They made their
last appearance way back in 2005.
Rock Werchter 2015 now runs from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 28
June, on the three stages at the Werchter Festival Park in Belgium:
the Main Stage, KluB C and The Barn. Over the four days in 2014 the
festival sold-out attracting over 150,000 festival-goers.
Foo Fighters
7
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
Upcoming Trade EventsAllan McGowan [email protected]
It’s still relatively early days for this showcase festival and conference based in the
historic and very attractive City of Ghent, but organisers claim that it is gearing up to its
best edition yet, from 11-13 December, and in defence and celebration of the smaller
showcase event, that this is an event where you can actually still discover and sign new
European talent!
Glimps this year has attracted representatives from UK’s CODA Agency, Hungary’s
Sziget Festival, Island Records from the UK, label for the likes of Mumford & Sons,
SXSW, Germany’s Grönland label and the Haldernpop festival and label.
Networking events will be hosted by several key players from the Benelux music industry
players such as the Music:LX reception, Nada Bookings Showcase, Peter Verstraelen
Agency Showcase and the Toutpartout Showcase.
Acts appearing include new artists such as Aloa Input (DE), Blaue Blume (DK) and Natas
Loves You (LU)
All further details can be found here: www.glimpsgent.be and for the conference
part: www.glimpsconference.be
Glimps Festival: Belgium
Go online - www.vip-booking.com
Need to know who is touring Europe? ®
vip-booking.com
Aloa Input
8
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
The acts added to the Eurosonic Noorderslag line up are:Acid Arab (fr)
AnnenMayKantereit (de)Aquilo (uk)
Bad Breeding (uk)Black Flower (be)
Bombay Show Pig (nl)Bulbul (at)
Cairo Liberation Front (nl)Dakh Daughters (ua)
Die Nerven (de)Dolomite Minor (uk)
Ella Eyre (uk)FM Laeti (fr)For BDK (se)
Gavin James (ie)Gengahr (uk)
Go Go Berlin (dk)
GODS (at)Happyness (uk)James Bay (uk)
Joana Serrat (es)Joco (de)
Jonas Alaska (no)Joy Wellboy (be)
JoyCut (it)Klaus Johann Grobe (ch)
Låpsley (uk)Le Vasco (fr)
Little Dots (be)Mapei (se)
Mina Tindle (fr)Mountain bike (be)
Mourn (es)Neøv (fi)
Ninos du Brasil (it)Orla Gartland (ie)
Oso Leone (es)Palace (uk)Punke (hr)
Robbing Millions (be)Sevdaliza (nl)
Sisters (ie)Spidergawd (no)
Taymir (nl)The Hearing (fi)
the Micronaut (de)Tourist LeMC (be)
Zentralheizung of Death(Des Todes) (de)
About Eurosonic NoorderslagEurosonic Noorderslag is the key exchange and networking platform for European music, with a proven track record for helping to break new acts on the international live music scene. A sold-out event for many years, Eurosonic Noorderslag attracts over 3,200 professional delegates, including representatives of over 400 international festivals. Eurosonic Noorderslag presents showcases by more than 350 acts alongside a conference programme featuring 150 panels, keynote speakers, interviews, and workshops, as well as dinners, pitches, parties and meetings covering the latest developments in the international music, media, production and interactive industries.
Eurosonic Noorderslag has been responsible for kick-starting the careers of European acts like Ásgeir, Benjamin Clementine, Birth of Joy, Coely, Emilie Nicolas, Ewert and the Two Dragons, George Ezra, Hozier, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Jungle, Kadebostany, Larry Gus, Mighty Oaks, Milky Chance and MØ.
Conference registrations can be obtained through:www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl
It appears that Europe has an abundance of new acts on offer, as a result of what is referred
to by the Eurosonic Noorderslag organisers as ‘An unprecedented number of highly promising
artists.’ the European Music Platform has expanded its line up yet again, with latest additions
including Mapei, Mina Tindle, Ninos du Brasil, Spidergawd and Taymir booked to appear in
Groningen next year from 14-17 January.
Eurosonic Noorderslag Adds 48 Acts from15 European countries to 2015 Line-Up
Eurosonic
9
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
Eurosonic Noorderslag is launching the European Production
Innovation Conference & Fair (EPIC), a new conference that
runs alongside the existing Eurosonic Noorderslag Conference
schedule, and is entirely focused on innovation at festivals and
venues. In addition to that, Eurosonic Noorderslag is to continue
the successful Buma Music Meets Tech programme covering the
latest developments in the area of music and technology where
start-ups can present their innovations.
EPIC
The European Production Innovation Conference & Fair (EPIC)
is a new conference stream that runs alongside the existing
Eurosonic Noorderslag Conference, and is entirely focused on
innovation at festivals and venues. The event consists of three
days of discussions, presentations of products, ideas and new
ways to implement them at festivals, concerts, and venues, as
well as in the production of events. SummerLabb, which is part
of EPIC, is where research institutes, polytechnic universities and
sustainability companies give visitors the opportunity to feel,
taste and smell (technological) sustainable innovations. EPIC is
the result of a partnership between Yourope, Double 2, VVEM,
VNPF and Eurosonic Noorderslag.
EPIC takes place from January 15-17, 2015 in De Oosterpoort in
Groningen. The price for a three day registration/passepartout for
EPIC is 45 euros. A day ticket for EPIC costs 25 euros.
The latest addition to the European road map of trade events is the
premier edition of Where’s The Music? in Norrkoping, in Sweden
on February 12-14, 2015. The new event is promoted by FKP Scorpio
Sweden and has now announced the first list speakers.
Nominated speakers among others are Per Sundin, CEO Universal
Music Sweden, Michael Chugg from Australia and Paul Boswell of Free
Trade Agency (UK), Claes Olson, a producer and editor of the Swedish
trade paper Musikindustrin, Mattias Hansson, CEO and partner of
ABBA The Museum, Adam Lewis (Head of Planetary Group) Doug
Croy (The Windish Agency), Matt McDonald (Booker CMJ), Joel Borg
and Niklas Lundell (Borg & Lundell, Way Out West, Stockholm Music
and Art), Helen Sildna (CEO Tallinn Music Week), Petri Lundén, (Artist
Manager) and Fruzsina Szép (Berlin Festival/ Lollapalooza Berlin)
The registration fees for delegates varies from 3.500 to 4.500 SEK
(377/485 Euro) and includes lunch as at ILMC and privileged entrance
to showcase program as at Eurosonic. All delegates are granted access
to the Where’s the Music? – Festival 12-14 February 2015.
For the more expensive ticket, delegates receive a guaranteed access
to all concerts and conference sessions and an exclusive trade dinner.
The cheaper tickets include the lunch, but a first come, first served
ruling for the concerts and conference.
The conference takes place day time, 13-14 February 2015 at the
conference centre Louis De Geer, Norrköping.
Read more about the conference here:
www.wheresthemusic.se/en/program/
Delegate pass: www.wheresthemusic.se/en/music/festival-
tickets/registration/
For more information: www.fkpscorpio.se
New Conference Covering Production Innovation to run alongside existing daytime events
Where’s the Music?
Per Sundin
10
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
Italy’s Arezzo Wave Festival is facing
problems; founder and organiser Mauro
Valenti has reached out to his Festival
industry colleagues, members of Yourope.
He copied VIP News on the letter and gave
us permission to include it in this issue.
Dear Yourope friends,
I am writing with great sadness and a
request for Arezzo Wave. In fact, after
nearly thirty years of festival, it is in
serious danger of closing.
In 1990 I found myself at the New Music
Seminar in New York with Leif Skov
of Roskilde Festival and together we
came up with the idea of connecting
the European festivals in a network
of exchange and support. After many
meetings with various artistic directors
the first “Yourope” was born, the
logo, the philosophy, common events,
like Seville Expo in 1992, the pavilion
of Switzerland and the European
TV Superchannel as Media partner.
Those were pioneering years. Later
on Hultsfred Festival, Leysin Festival
in Geneva and other Spanish and
German Festivals joined that project.
After a break in the mid-nineties, there
have been a new start with the actual
Federation.
I am writing you knowing that I am
talking to many long-term friends of
festivals that I have visited and know
very well. The reason is not celebratory
or particularly happy, in fact after 28
editions there are many possibilities
that Arezzo Wave Love Festival will end.
We are the example of being in a state
that we would like to be different, but
unfortunately, at least in our case, things
continue to be punitive or indifferent
for those who do not have political
support or submissions to local and
national politics. Luckily for you these
words in many countries are difficult to
understand and perhaps unrealistic.
Arezzo Wave was held in Arezzo for
20 years (until 2006) and saw 200,000
people a year. There were no admission
fees for the first 20 years, and the festival
brought for the first time in Italy and
Europe hundreds of unknown artists
that are famous nowadays. Since 2007, a
clash with the new local politicians (who
wished to intervene in the planning,
in the location management, logistics,
incomes, etc.) led us to say no, forcing
us to travel around Italy through 6
different places, distant from each other
by more than 1000 km, just trying to
survive.
The latest edition, back in Arezzo, saw
a tremendous battle with committees
all against us, signatures collected
in parishes (rock = Satan), pro-Nazi
Associations’ attacks (= rock community
of drug addicts and immigrants),
petitions for noise impact, abandoned
hazardous waste (all proved to be
unfounded) and so on. Last but not least
the refusal of the existing authorization
and pre-fitted location with a fallback to
another venue only provided only two
months before the start of the Festival.
All this has led to a financial loss and
work-related stress that is no longer
sustainable.
It will therefore be impossible barring
miracles (we have not contacted the
Pope yet!) to do the 29th edition of
Arezzo Wave Love Festival. However,
we would like to continue the research
and promotion of Italian music in in our
country, in Europe and in the rest of the
world.
Our Foundation (Fondazione Arezzo
Wave Italia) has 3 main purposes: the
first is Arezzo Wave Love Festival, “the
tip of the iceberg” as the press loves
to say. Over the years the festival has
brought the name of our city, Arezzo, to
the world.
The other two aims of FAWI are less
known abroad but not less important:
first, the promotion of Italian up-and-
coming bands thanks to an extensive
presence on the Italian territory, with
a supervisor in each of the 20 Italian
regions (with more than 40,000 groups
selected in 28 years). Every year we
organize 100 selections and regional
finals and bands from each region play
Open Letter to Youropefrom Arezzo Wave OrganiserAllan McGowan [email protected]
11
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
at Arezzo Wave Love Festival. Only
Réseau Printemps de Bourges Festival
performs a similar work, the only
difference between us is that our French
friends receive public and private funds
for hundreds of thousands of Euros
from the Government, local government
and civil society, and obviously this is
absolutely correct. We instead work
with our supervisors without a single
Euro of public funds (we only had
4,000 this year from SIAE!) and only
volunteering for more than 20 years.
The live shows we organize in Palermo,
Milan, Rome, Turin, Florence, etc. are all
self-produced and have great costs. In
28 years we never had a single meeting
with the Government or the Ministry of
Culture and Youth Policy. Strange, isn’t
it? The third commitment that connects
us to the above mentioned is to promote
Italian bands abroad. We were present
at several events, like MIDEM, SXSW,
ILMC, MAMA, Eurosonic, etc., etc. All
shows of our Italian artists (last week
we were at CMJ in New York with the
stunning Mery Fiore) were paid with
our assets that were the profits of the
festival of the golden era.
We therefore ask, if possible, to every
one of you, members of Yourope, if you
could host at your festival at least one
band chosen from Arezzo Wave Band
2015. It is very important to us to know
if you accept our request by November
15th 2014 because in December we will
launch the contest and since we cannot
guarantee a slot at our festival, like we
used to do, we would like to offer at
least the possibility of playing in Europe
or beyond.
The quality of our bands is evidenced
by the fact that every year, from a
list of proposals made of both quite
established, and our up-and-coming,
bands, Eurosonic has selected the
“new proposals “ coming out of Arezzo
Wave Band for the last 3 years. Also,
we always receive great feedback by
Sonicbids and CMJ Music Marathon in
New York.
What can we offer you in exchange for
your help? In the more than 100 live
shows of selection that we organize,
we could advertise your festivals and
expand your popularity talking to our
audience, as well as our website and our
press office will advertise in a visible
way the European festivals involved.
We have not seen each other this year at
Mama, I did not want to take advantage
of the hospitality of Fernando,
attending the event and eventually
choosing a French band, since I could
not guarantee a slot at Arezzo Wave
Love Festival 2015. But there will be
other opportunities to drink a beer
together and have a chat .. meanwhile
.. I say goodbye to you all and thank you
for your attention.
Best Mauro Valenti
VIP News also checked with Christof Huber
of Yourope as regards publishing this letter
as it was addressed to the members of the
Association that he heads, he was fine with
this. The Board are of course sympathetic
to these problems being faced by a founder
member, and will consider in what ways
they can assist, such as providing letters of
support to Mauro and Arezzo Wave, but
further discussions will take place before any
decisions are taken.
Mauro Valenti
12
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
Back in 1995 UK Agent Steve Andrews (I
worked with him when I was at Chrysalis
Agency in the early 70’s) spotted a gap in
the market. He realised that there were
many schools around the UK that possessed
good facilities for presenting shows, and
more importantly had access to young
people who would become tomorrow’s
audiences for live music. He went to work
and after convincing various authorities
that this was a sound idea he set up School
Touring; the initiative led to artists ranging
from singer-songwriters on independent
labels to pop-rock bands on major labels
playing in front of kids ranging in age from
7 to 18 and in every major city and region
of the country. In many cases the acts
would also play the more traditional venues
in the evenings. Andrews found that local
radio and press are often more interested
in covering a new artist if they’re appearing
at a local school and if these additional
promo opportunities can be bolted onto
the schools tour they added value without
increasing the tour budget.
Things have moved on a lot since those early
days and Steve contacted us to give us an
update, which tells us that School Touring
is now also working with international
artists, and has added Shopping Malls to
its UK circuit:
We are very proud to have played an early
part in the growing and continuing success
of Australian band Sheppard having
arranged five Shopping Mall appearances
for them during August. Legendary
Australian promotor Michael Chugg who
signed them to his label in Australia and
his management company discovered the
band. They are signed to Decca, managed
in the UK by Martin Tibbetts and Steve
Strange for Strangeworld Management
and by Scooter Braun in the USA. Current
single “Geronimo” is now in the Spotify
Top 20 Most Streamed Tracks in the World
with over 700,000 plays per day!
We have now made an agreement with
Intu Malls so that we can streamline
the process of booking Shopping Malls
appearances and offer their Malls to artists
on a much less complicated and less costly
basis than had been possible before. Intu
own most of the UK’s biggest and most
prestigious shopping malls and this is a
major development for us and one we are
delighted to be able to offer. If you would
like to know more just get in touch.
School and Shopping Mall TouringAllan McGowan [email protected]
Photoswww.schooltouring.com
Photoswww.schooltouring.com
13
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
We’re well into booking school shows for
next term with a tour for new band Young
Kato – managed by Nick Mander and with
Mark McQuillan and the team at Republic
of Music behind them. They have just come
off the Rixton UK dates and will do a two
week schools tour in Jan/Feb 2015. This
will further consolidate their fanbase and
social network outreach in advance of their
own UK tour in March.
We have also booked an exclusive school
appearance for Katherine Jenkins who
will return to her old school in Neath to
perform as part of the launch for her new
album. The album signals a “back to her
roots” direction for Katherine and nothing
could encapsulate that theme more than
a visit to her old school. As part of her
performance there she will sing a song
with the school’s choir and press and TV
will be in attendance
to record the whole
event.
We all know that
the most important
thing for a new artist to do is to connect
with its target audience and build a
fanbase and School Touring provides a
platform to enable an artist to use social
networks to actually forge “friendships”
with their newly-found fans. Internet
marketing campaigns can only achieve a
certain amount - a new artist must also
be physically present in the marketplace to
trigger the required response. The Q&A,
the meet and greet, the chat-session – we
programme all these into the school visit
to set up a real bonding process between
the artist and the audience member that
nothing else can replicate. Add to this
the performance element and you have
a formula for creating real excitement
amongst your target audience. And now
with Shopping Mall tours we can offer an
additional way to do this.
So if you’re planning to tour your artist
or you want to build a fan-base before
touring, you should consider a School or
Shopping Mall tour - either as a stand-
alone activity or as a daytime addition to
your existing touring plans.
For more information:
www.schooltouring.com
ImagIne if you could go to one website and learn
aLL about the european Live music Industry?
WeLL you can! www.vip-booking.com
145-157 St John Street | London Ec1V 4PWw | United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0) 870 755 0092 | Fax: +44 (0) 870 622 1953
www.vip-booking.com | [email protected]
®
vip-booking.com
14
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
The budget committee of the German Government has approved
an additional grant of 1,5 million Euro to modernize the technical
equipment of concert clubs and venues.
The concert association Livekomm developed a new support scheme
to provide subsidies for the investment into new digital technologies
in smaller and midsized clubs. The new program foresees supplying
around 100 venues with financial aid to purchase new digital sound
and light as well as DJ equipment.
The leading political spin-doctor behind this measure is Rüdiger
Kruse, a member of the German Bundestag from Hamburg. Kruse
has been a member of the budget committee since 2009 and a
correspondent for culture and media on behalf of the CDU (Christ
Democrats). Livekomm already receives funding from Initiative
Musik, an organisation dedicated to the support of popular music
on a nationwide level, mainly financed by the federal state secretary
for culture and media (BKM).
In terms of the administration and handling of this program,
Livekomm will now undertake talks with representatives of Intiative
Musik and BKM. Until now it is a one off measure that is limited to
the business year 2015.
For further information please check:
www.livemusikkommission.de
Pre-ChristmasGift For Concert VenuesManfred Tari [email protected]
Rüdiger Kruse, member of the German Bundestag
15
VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014
FKP Scorpio apparently knows how to
structure a diversified festival portfolio. Unlike
any other concert company, FKP Scorpio
has developed a wide range of various
festival formats within a decade. Besides
music festivals such as Bravalla, Hurricane
& Southside, Meraluna or Northside, FKP
Scorpio also runs family entertainment
format such as the touring dining show
Palazzo, a variety show combined with star
awarded and prominent chefs.
Of course, not every FKP Scorpio venture
was a success. Festivals such as Area4 in
the Ruhr District in Germany or the take
over of the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden will
not continue, but nevertheless and without
any doubts, in recent years FKP Scorpio has
become the biggest festival promoter in
Europe.
The newest festival format from FKP
Scorpio is entitled ‘A Summer’s Tale’, and
the concept is very different from all other
festival types that the company promotes.
This festival’s strap line is ‘culture, culinary
enjoyment and comfort’. Besides music it
will also feature an art program including
readings, art exhibitions, cinema screenings,
workshops, sport activities from beach
volleyball to yoga, bicycle and canoe tours.
Other festival features will be a distinctive
food program, primarily focusing on
organic food and various opportunities for
accommodation on the site, ranging from
camping to upper class comfort lodging will
be available.
The event will take place in the nature
park Lüneburger Heide, close to Bremen,
Hamburg and Hanover on August 4-8, 2015.
A program has not yet been announced
although tickets are already on sale, ranging
from 69 Euro for day pass to 199 Euro for
a festival pass for one person including
comfortable accommodation. Tickets for
kids aged 6 to 14 years start at 45 Euro per
day and 85 Euro for four days. The entrance
for kids below 6 years is free.
For further information please check:
www.asummerstale.de/en/
a-summers-tale.html
A Summer’s Tale - New German Festival by FKP ScorpioManfred Tari [email protected]
16
VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > NOVEMBER 2014
It is the most international German festival
brand. No other open air event in the country
attracts so many people from abroad, even
coming from as far as Australia and South
America to attend this event.
The share of international visitors is usually
around 30 percent, and as usual next year’s
edition is again already sold out. While
ticket sales (except secondary ticketing)
aren’t so much of an issue for the organizers
of Wacken, VIP News took the chance
asking Holger Hübner of ICS Festival Service
GmbH about side projects and of course
that secondary ticketing issue. Hübner
founded Wacken together with Thomas
Jensen in 1990, after coming up with the
idea the year before. Since then this event
has developed into a ‘must attend’ for metal
fans, providing various spin offs such as the
‘Full Metal Cruise’, the Hamburg Metal
Dayz or social and environmental friendly
activities that sustain the vibe of this unique
event.
VIP News: ICS Festival Service GmbH,
the company behind Wacken is
organising a Metal convention. Please
tell us, how you came up with this
project...
Holger Hübner: Since 2012 we have
organized the Hamburg Metal Dayz which
take place during the Reeperbahn Festival in
Hamburg. The Reeperbahn Festival is a great
festival but Heavy Metal was missing in its
repertoire. So we decided to bring Metal
to this event. The Hamburg Metal Dayz is
not only an indoor festival with great heavy
metal music but offers the visitor a broad
program. We have panels, meet&greets and
workshops. In addition, people from the
business come together and network.
VIP News: How many people are
attending the Hamburg Metal Dayz
(HMD) and foremost, are these mainly
people from the business sector or just
normal Metal fans?
Hübner: Around 1000 people attended
the Hamburg Metal Dayz this year. People
from the business as well as Metal fans
enjoyed two days of music, entertainment
and the chance to establish new business
connections.
VIP News: Within the conference
program of HMD, there is a scheduled
debate focusing on the subjects of
secondary ticketing market and on
the pricing of concerts tickets. Since
Wacken 2015 is already sold out
again, what are your experiences in
reference to your efforts to combat the
unauthorized resale of Wacken tickets?
Hübner: In the last two years we had
personalized tickets for the Wacken Open
Air. The intention was to contain the resale
of Wacken tickets mainly because some
people took advantage of our community
and sold the tickets for a lot of money.
We wanted to protect the community.
Unfortunately, the German law does not
support our efforts. And for that reason the
personalized tickets were not practicable.
VIP News: Wacken is a landmark event
and actually can be quite influential.
However, the French promoter
association Prodiss lobbied successfully
for a strict law against unauthorized
secondary ticketing. Why is it that a
similar law hasn’t been introduced in
Germany yet?
Hübner: I can’t tell you that. But it is
a fact that France has a different law
than Germany in that case, so for French
companies it is easier to react.
VIP News: When it comes to secondary
ticketing, German promoters are still
There’s More To it Than Just Wacken...Manfred Tari [email protected]
17
VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > NOVEMBER 2014
acting in isolation. Until now the most
successful companies to ban secondary
ticketing are MCT and perhaps ICS
Festival Service. In France Prodiss
created a coalition with the sport and
theatre sector and proactively lobbied
the French Government. Is it just a
lack of understanding or rather a lack
of effort to develop joint strategies to
strike back against companies such as
Viagogo or Ticketbande?
Hübner: I don’t know why that is. But as
mentioned in your first question there’s
a different situation in France and they
have laws regarding secondary ticketing
and ticket trading. So it is probably easier
to fight this fight because you can clearly
analyse situations and foresee what’s going
to happen - also from a legal point of view.
You know, we made huge efforts to stop
secondary ticketing but if the courts are not
on your side it is difficult. There’s no law in
Germany regarding personalized tickets,
reselling personalized tickets, offering
personalized tickets or any jurisdiction you
can rely on.
VIP News: At the moment you also have
legal battle going on with Ebay. Can
you please explain what this case is all
about?
Hübner: As mentioned, there’s no law in
Germany regarding personalized tickets,
reselling personalized tickets, offering
personalized tickets or jurisdiction you can
rely on. We obtained an interim order against
eBay at the district court in Hamburg to
delete all offers regarding W:O:A tickets in
2013. We claimed that personalized tickets
aren’t tradable goods (which is not clearly
stated in law). But the district court was
on our side. That forced eBay to stop those
offers which is the only effective way to
fight against resellers. Then eBay appealed a
conviction. the whole case was then decided
by the Higher Regional Court. The Higher
Regional Court only make a decision if they
accept the conviction. In another lawsuit
from a German soccer league team the
same Higher Regional Court decided that
ticket personalization does not lead to the
fact that those tickets aren’t tradable goods
anymore. In our case the HRC said that even
if it WOULD lead to that fact (or IF tickets
aren’t tradable), further questions would
have to be examined in every individual case
(every ticket offer) and that it cannot be
expected from eBay to put up with all those
checks in every single case regarding the
amount of goods traded every day on their
platform. The result for us is that we’d have
to fight against every single reseller on eBay
and, in that case, cannot force platforms to
stop those offers. That means, that there’s
no effective and doable way to avoid those
offers at the moment.
VIP News: Next year is going to be the
25th edition of Wacken. Am I right that
your budget for fireworks is bigger than
the one for the marketing spending?
Hübner: A little correction here: This year’s
festival was the 25th edition of the Wacken
Open Air and we didn’t have any fireworks.
VIP News: How much are you involved
in the Wacken Foundation, do you take
the lead within this organisation?
Hübner: My partner Thomas and I initiated
the Wacken Foundation but we are not
taking a lead within the foundation. The
foundation has different curators, which
decide on the applications of the different
bands. Nonetheless the Wacken Foundation
is really important for us and we try to
support in every way that we can.
VIP News: Can you please elaborate on
the activities and the structure of the
Wacken Foundation?
Hübner: The Wacken Foundation supports
Heavy metal and hard rock newcomer
bands. We need new, young bands to keep
our music alive. As for the structure of the
Foundation: The band writes an application
for the support they need (i.e. money for
their tour, equipment, rent for a rehearsal
room) and submit it; this application is then
reviewed by the different curators of the
Wacken Foundation. One of the trustees is
Metal Queen Doro Pesch for example. They
then decide if they support the band.
For further information on this festival
please check: www.wacken.comHolger Huebner of ICS Festival Service GmbH
18
VIPNEWS > BUSINESS > NOVEMBER 2014 MUSIC IN SHARES
CTS Eventim - In The Waiting Loop
The next CTS Eventim business report is scheduled for November 26.
Really big news is currently not the case for the company, certainly
not in reference to the ongoing investigations against Klaus Peter
Schulenburg by the prosecution department Munich. According to
media reports Schulenberg is allegedly suspected of being involved
in illegal secondary ticketing sales for the World Cup 2006.
Those investigations seem not to be so much of an issue to the US
company FMR LLC, also known as Fidelity Investments, one of the
biggest investment companies in the world. Fidelity Investments in-
creased its stake in CTS Eventim from 3.0 to 3.05 percent. Since the
last issue of VIP News the share went up from 20,42 to 21,92 Euro
on November 20.
DEAG - Preparing for 2015
After some legal re-encounters with Lieberberg concerning whether
MLK is able to obtain the relevant permissions to run Rock Am Ring
on the new site at the airport of Mendig, DEAG meanwhile came up
with some news that concerns the daily business of the company in
the near future. DEAG announced that it sold its 10 percent stake in
Ticketmaster Germany to Ticketmaster NVH Inc. based in the tax ha-
ven Delaware. Besides the sale, DEAG declared that the companies
agreed a longer lasting distribution deal.
One day later on November 14, DEAG announced that it will launch
with Myticket.de its own ticketing platform. The company therefore
teamed up with ticketing service operator white Label Ecommerce
GmbH who will supply the required software and technology.
The announcement at least caused a reaction from the analysts of
Hauck & Aufhäuser, who optimistically raised their price target for
the share from 10.50 to 12.00 Euros. Anyhow, currently the share is
at 6.40, previously VIP News reported 5.95 Euro.
SFX Entertainment - The Fascination Of Numbers
The business performance of SFX Entertainment is amazing. For the
first nine months of 2014, SFX Entertainment reported revenue of
$258.8 million and gross profit of $64.4 million. Compared to last
year’s figures the revenue tripled with revenue of $86.2 and a gross
profit of $11.3 million.
But then there are these other figures entitled as ‘operating loss’
and ‘net loss’. The declared operating loss until September 30 was
$86 million, the net loss $94.4 million. Last time the reported share
price was $5.40. This time it is $3.78. The report was published on
November 14, guess when the share price moved downwards...
Music In SharesManfred Tari [email protected]
The Agency Group continues it’s rapid
growth having acquired another company
with the purchase of electronic music-
focussed US booking agency, Bond Music
Group.
Natalia Nas, CEO of The Agency Group’s US
operations stated: “We had been talking
with Kris [Krajewski, Bond Music Group CEO]
for a while about some form of strategic tie-
up. With the major changes that have done
so much to transform The Agency Group
over these past eighteen months, it became
apparent that the time was now optimum for
our companies to finally come together. Kris
and his team have built an extremely well-
balanced, dynamic roster and this acquisition
brings in-house a professional, knowledgea-
ble and established team that will spearhead
the further development of our electronic/
house/dance music division”.
Amongst the artists on Bond’s books are
Moby, Dirty Vegas, Francois K and MNDR.
Agency Group ContinuesExpansionAllan McGowan [email protected]
Natalia Nastaskin, CEO
19
VIPNEWS > BUSINESS > NOVEMBER 2014
Live Nation’s Ticketmaster has bought some-
times controversial secondary ticketing firm
Seatwave - or, specifically, it’s acquired “op-
erating assets from Seatwave” - a deal which
will enable the ticketing giant to extend its re-
sale business into a number of new European
markets, including Germany, Italy and Spain.
The live sector has something of a love/hate
relationship with secondary ticketing (aka on-
line touting), of course, though major player
Live Nation/Ticketmaster quietly got into the
resale game in some countries, arguing that
it’s better for online touting to be within an
environment controlled by and ultimately
benefiting the music business.
Ticketmaster’s US resale platform Tick-
etsNow has caused some controversy along
the way, though its UK secondary service
Get Me In has generally avoided too much
criticism, even when secondary ticketing has
been under the spotlight in media and politi-
cal circles over here.
Under the new deal, Seatwave will continue
to operate separately but as “a Ticketmaster
company”. According the official statement,
this move “builds on Ticketmaster’s success-
ful strategy of creating best-in-class, con-
sumer-friendly resale platforms in the United
Kingdom, Australia and the United States”.
Live Nation boss Michael Rapino told report-
ers: “On a global basis we strive to deliver
fans all of their ticket options in a safe and
convenient marketplace. The acquisition of
Seatwave is accelerating this strategy across
Europe and we will continue investing in our
platforms to provide fans the best ticket buy-
ing experience”.
Meanwhile Mark Yovich, President of Ticket-
master International, said: “Combining Tick-
etmaster’s ticketing and technology exper-
tise with Seatwave’s business in additional
markets allows us to provide fans with a bet-
ter ticketing experience across Europe, with
more ticket options to live events. We deliver
quality services in the resale industry, which
will continue to build consumer confidence
and satisfaction in our resale marketplaces”.
And on his side of the fence, Seatwave CEO
Ajay Chowdhury added: “This is great for
Seatwave’s customers. Since our inception
seven years ago we have given fans of live
music, sport, theatre and comedy increased
choice when buying and selling tickets.
Live Nation Entertainment reported a rise
in revenue of 9 percent and the company
expects record sales, adjusted operating in-
come and free cash flow growth this year.
The company said it is promoting 22 of the
Top 25 global tours this year, including Jay Z,
Beyonce, One Direction and Like Bryan. Live
Nation said revenue was $2.5 billion in the
third quarter, up from $2.3 billion a year ago.
Diluted net income per share rose to 49 cents
from 22 cents in the same quarter last year.
The company sold 36.6 million tickets during
the quarter, down from 37.6 million while
its total number of concerts worldwide rose
5,157 compared with 5,073. “Fans,” the
term Live Nation uses to describe a person
attending one of its events, rose to 22.1 mil-
lion from 21.2 million.
By segment, Artist Nation, the firm’s man-
agement service that boasts clients like Ma-
donna, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Miley
Cyrus, saw the largest growth in revenue at
18 percent. Concert revenue grew 11 per-
cent, ticketing grew 8 percent and sponsor-
ship and advertising, the smallest segment,
grew 4 percent.
Shares of Live Nation rose fractionally to
$24.86 on Thursday and fell fractionally after
the closing bell.
“The live business continues to have a ro-
bust outlook as artists are reliant on touring
as their main earnings driver and the best
means to engage and connect with their fan
base,” CEO Michael Rapino said Thursday.
Ticketmaster Buys Seatwave
Live Nation Report a 9 percent Rise inQuarterly Revenue
Seatwave CEOAjay Chowdhury
MichaelRapino
VIPNEWS > MISC > NOVEMBER 2014
Alan Parsons Live Project Territory: WorldwidePeriod: 2014Agency: World Entertainment Associates of AmericaAgent: John Regna - Artist Agent/ManagerPhone: +1 407-993-4000E-mail: [email protected]: www.AlanParsonsTourPromo.com
Orquesta Buena Vista Social ClubTerritory: Scandinavia, Eastern EU, UK, IrelandPeriod: June-JulyAgency: Sasa MusicAgent: David FlowerPhone: +44 20 7359 9232E-mail: [email protected]: www.sasamusic.com
ORBITAL ñ 25th year anniversary tour in 2014Territory: The World excluding USAPeriod: May onwardsAgency: Value Added TalentAgent: Dan SilverPhone: +44 207 704 97 20E-mail: [email protected]: www.vathq.co.uk
TinariwenTerritory: Scandinavia, Netherlands, Eastern EU, UK, IrelandPeriod: May - September 2015Agency: Sasa MusicAgent: George PrincePhone: +44 20 7359 9232E-mail: [email protected]: www.sasamusic.com
THE ORCHESTRA starring ELO former members Territory: WorldwidePeriod: 2014-2015Agency: World Entertainment Associates of AmericaAgent: John Regna - Artist Agent/ManagerPhone: +1 407-993-4000E-mail: [email protected]: www.THEORCHESTRAonline.com
Bo Kaspers Orkester Territory: World widePeriod: By requestAgency: Lifeline EntertainmentAgent: Michael HenrikssonE-mail: [email protected]: www.lifeline.se
MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON:WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON:WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
ARTIST AVAILS
Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club
MEMBER PRESENTATION
Armin RahnAgency & Management
Founded by Armin Rahnin 1973
About Our Company
VIP-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 consistently offered
our subscribers 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 – including
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-booking.com
20