At Live Nation Entertainment we count ourselves lucky to work with some of the finest LGBTQIA+ artists to bring their creativity, vision and expression to fans at concerts and festivals around the world. But we know that to deliver amazing experiences like these, our workforce must be as diverse as the artists and fans we serve. This is why we strive to cultivate and celebrate a diverse workforce and culture where everyone can be themselves. This work has to extend beyond the office walls as well, and we make every effort to ensure that everyone in our community – across all underrepresented groups – is valued, respected, and treated equitably. We’re incredibly proud of our global Employee Resource Group ‘Pride Nation’, made up of LGBTQIA+ employees and allies that educates, builds understanding and promotes an inclusive and welcoming environment for all Live Nation Entertainment employees and our surrounding communities, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Throughout Pride month, Pride Nation has been driving awareness of the history of Pride, sharing the lived experiences and perspectives of our employees, leaders and allies, promoting rising LGBTQIA+ artists on internal and external platforms, and giving our employees the opportunity to demonstrate their support. We recognise the importance of Pride, not only for our community, but for the entire LGBTQIA+ community around the world, without whom our sector would not be the dynamic, diverse and ultimately unifying force it is.
Diversify The Stage was founded by Noelle Scaggs, co-lead vocalist of alt-pop band Fitz And The Tantrums, in the spring of 2020, with a focus on transforming the concert, events, and touring industries to increase more diverse representation. The organization counts on the support of industry professionals and artists to collectively and actively build a culture of accountability that establishes more inclusive hiring practices and greater access to equitable opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC); Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ); Female-identifying and Gender Nonconforming individuals. In less than a year, Diversify The Stage has set forth long-term change by partnering with the like minded Community Engagement organizations like Music Forward Foundation, SoundGirls, Women In Music and She Is The Music to create educational and mentorship programs followed by paid internship/apprenticeship placements, in addition to working with NeverFamous.com to create a technical solution to hiring qualified touring staff. Diversify The Stage has gained support from the biggest players in the industry, including Live Nation, Live Nation Urban, WME, UTA Music, Azoff Company, Elektra and Atlantic Records, The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), The Event Safety Alliance, Roadies Of Color United, lighting collective EVEN Network, as well as, stage suppliers and designers Clair Global and TAIT.
IQ101 CONTENTS
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18 NEWS
FEATURES
COMMENT AND COLUMNS
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Index In Brief The main headlines over the last month Analysis Key stories and news analysis from around the live music world
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Loud & Proud Highlighting some of the queer acts that could – and should – be coming soon to a venue near you The LGBTIQ+ List To mark IQ’s first Pride edition, we profile 20 LGBTIQ+ pioneers whom eveyone should have in their contacts Pride & Prejudice Lisa Henderson talks with artists and professionals who risk their lives to help change attitudes in intolerant nations and learns of the true power of live music as social activism
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Strength in Numbers Raven Twigg reflects on her coming-out and the creation of the Women Connect collective How to Become an Effective Ally Tour manager Lotje Horvers shares her tips for allyship in the workplace IPM Production Notes Having transitioned, Laura Nagtegaal shares her unique perspective of the Thousands of industry’s sexism problems professionals read Your Shout IQ every day. Make What's your favourite Pride moment? sure you get the
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PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION
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t feels oddly fitting that IQ’s first-ever Pride takeover edition happens to be issue 101 – the number associated with an essential education. I think I can speak for the entire team when I say that the process of making this magazine has been exactly that – even for myself as a queer person. And I must thank Live Nation and Ticketmaster for supporting our inaugural Pride edition, because without their backing none of this would have been possible. Throughout this process, I’ve felt very aware of all the things I don’t know about what it means to be queer in this industry, and how my incomplete knowledge could lead me to making mistakes. I was so nervous of getting it ‘wrong’ – of accidentally assuming pronouns, of misrepresenting my interviewees’ experiences, of asking triggering questions. Guess what? I did make a mistake. Fortunately, the recipient of my mistake was gracious in educating me on what I did wrong and, ultimately, the exchange turned out to be the single most enlightening experience of this process. I hope that reassures nonqueer people in the industry to know that even queer people have a lot to learn and even queer people make mistakes. This edition served as an essential education for me and I’m hoping it’ll do the same for you, too, whoever you are. So, educate yourself on how to be an effective ally with Lotje Horvers’ instructional guide on page 15; pay attention to the challenges of artists and promoters in conservative countries on page 36; and learn from Laura Nagtegaal’s undeniable testimony of sexism, transphobia and toxic masculinity on page 16. Once you’ve used this magazine as your handbook for being a better ally, use it as your Rolodex. This issue reveals the finest queer talent both offstage and onstage, according to you, the international live music business. The LGBTIQ+ List 2021 (page 24) comprises the outstanding queer professionals in the international live music business, as nominated by you and verified by our esteemed steering committee. Loud and Proud (page 18) highlights burgeoning queer talent, selected by our world-renowned partner agencies. Within these features is your next collaborator, mentor, mentee, headline act, colleague or ally. Now you know their faces, now you know their contact details, there’s no excuse for not widening your recruitment pool or diversifying your stage – not even the fear of ‘getting it wrong.’ If we want to keep the international live music business on its toes and fight for a more diverse and inclusive industry, we should be aiming for progress, not perfection.
GUEST EDITOR
ISSUE 101 LIVE MUSIC INTELLIGENCE IQ Magazine Unit 31 Tileyard Road London, N7 9AH info@iq-mag.net www.iq-mag.net Tel: +44 (0)20 3743 0300 Twitter: @iq_mag Publisher ILMC and Suspicious Marketing Editor Gordon Masson News Editor Jon Chapple Staff Writer Lisa Henderson Advertising Manager Steve Woollett Design Rather Nice Design Sub Editor Michael Muldoon Head of Digital Ben Delger Contributors Lotje Horvers, Laura Nagtegaal, Raven Twigg Editorial Contact Gordon Masson gordon@iq-mag.net Tel: +44 (0)20 3743 0303 Advertising Contact Steve Woollett steve@iq-mag.net Tel: +44 (0)20 3743 0304 ISSN 2633-0636
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IN BRIEF INDEX The concert business digest
JUNE John Sharkey, executive vicepresident of European operations for leading venue operator ASM Global, announces his departure from the company after seven years. Governments in Denmark and Norway start organising large-scale test events to determine how large gatherings can take place during the pandemic. Fieldlab Evenementen reveals the findings from three months’ worth of pilot events in the Netherlands. The International Festival Forum announces a physical, non-socially distanced event in London this September, complemented by an online pass for delegates who are unable to travel. Luxembourg’s Rockhal scales up its pilot concerts from 100 to 600 people per night, as part of the Because Music Matters initiative. Barclaycard Arena Hamburg welcomes spectators for the first time in over a year for a series of tests.
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Dutch music venues are permitted to reopen from 5 June, when the country enters step three of the government’s reopening plan. Belgian live entertainment giant Sportpaleis Group is given the green light to open its pop-up arena in the coastal area of Middelkerke this July. Chinese post-punk band Re-TROS make history with the biggest rock show in China since the beginning of 2020. Finnish metal band Nightwish are joined by more than 150,000 fans from 108 countries for their virtual concert experience. Promoters buy into Oz ticket marketplace Tixel.
Laneway Festival, the much-loved Australasian touring festival, joins the TEG family. WME parent company Endeavor posts a small profit of $2.4million (€2m) in the first quarter of 2021. Hearby launches gig guide that will cover 36+ UK cities. Live Nation appoints Nicole Portwood to the newly created role of chief brand officer. UAE announces it will require proof of vaccination for live events. Jazzopen Stuttgart is on track to welcome more than 30,000 fans to open-air venues across the German city this September.
Poland’s Fest Festival is given permission to go ahead as planned, without any capacity limits, provided that attendees have had their Covid-19 vaccinations. Belgium gives green light for 75,000-capacity open-air festivals. Sky Festivals, the largest festival owner in Norway, acquires Stavernfestivalen. Barcelona-based TiketBlok says it has developed an app that makes it possible to identify everyone who attends a major event through their mobile phones. Plans are underway for a summer concert for 60,000 people in New York’s Central Park.
Paris’s Accor Arena hosts 5,000 people with no social distancing for Ambition Live Again.
The South African Roadies Association hits out at the loose regulations governing live event production in South Africa.
Israel’s successful Covid-19 vaccination programme allows event organisers in the country to operate as they did back in 2019.
A number of music businesses and associations mark the oneyear anniversary of the Blackout Tuesday/#TheShowMustBePaused campaign.
An American inventor patents a new thermometer design he says will allow the taking of temperature readings without physical contact at live events.
The UK’s live entertainment community holds its breath for the government’s long-awaited 14 June Covid briefing.
Austrian promoters and festival organisers prepare to relaunch activities in July.
UK promoter Magnitude Live launches.
French live music associations initiate a push for their members to be allowed to reopen at full Thousands of capacity. professionals read
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Analysis In Brief
TOMORROWLAND NEVER COMES
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wo months out, the 2021 edition of Tomor- rowland would not have to pay back in full the rowland has finally been called off, after €1.8million aid it received from the Flemish govministers failed to convince the local town ernment earlier this year, the cancellation still leaves the festival in financial trouble, according mayors to allow it to go ahead. Despite a last-minute plea from the prime to a spokesperson. “[It] is a lot of money and we are very happy minister of Flanders, the mayors of the towns of Boom and Rumst, where the 70,000-capacity with the support, but it is a drop in the ocean,” Debby Wilmsen tells The ABrussels Times,ofadding festival has taken place since Employers’ association WNP2005, are unmoved Verbraucherzentrale NRW (the new series pilot events that the festival has already cancelled orders in their not to grant Tomorrowland a Advice and tradedecision body VSCD join forces Consumer Centre of North in Germany aims to convince €50m. permitoftolive gomusic’s ahead, return citing to concerns about the worthin ahead the Rhine-Westphalia Germany), authorities to allow open-air “We were starting up already,” she explains. safety of local residents. Netherlands. brings legal action against CTS raves, following the success we had pay the Although the Belgian government has “The main stage was finished, Eventim. of earlier testtoshows. clearedthe 75,000-capacity festivals from 13 August advances for ordering materials, the delivery of Tixxy, start-up predictive the wristbands had beenIrish ordered, 140 people receive 2021, Tomorrowland – which was scheduled for government concert recommendation service, The British confirms concert businesses were working full-time €25m to make the festival, 27-29 August andwith 3-5 three September con-entertainment expands its team new – sadly that live businesses in summer funding. artists were booked… firmed that mayors Jeroen Baert (Boom) andto endure members of staff. will have another month Organising a festival like of money, and a lot of Jurgen Callaerts (Rumst) had decreedofthat the Tomorrowland costs a lot UTA closure. signs Grammy-nominated event, the Worach world’s is largest dance artist Demi Lovato for worldwide Sławomir named as themusic festival, things have to be paid in advance.” The of therepresentation festival leaves Pukkelwould not be allowed to gowhich ahead this summer. new chairman of MAKiS, Goodlive Artists, thecancellation booking and in all areas. popof (19–22 August) as the last remaining major Whileboth Flemish ministerStadium of the interior and operates the Widzew touring division Berlin-based music festival in Flanders Germany’s in 2021. society on 24 June that Tomor- launches LEA honours the and theBart AtlasSomers Arena,said in Łódź, Goodlive, Goodlive Poland. Artists Austria in Vienna. biggest and best events of 2019. Research by LIVE reveals even a four-week delay would cause £500m (€585m) of economic devastation to venues, festivals, and touring companies in the UK.
Metallica sue Lloyd’s of London over postponed tour losses.
MVT HONOURS FRANK TURNER MVT principals Mark Davyd and Beverley Whitrick presented Frank Turner with Outstanding Want to share your views Achievement for Grassroots Music on breaking industry news? Venues Award 2020 atop the O2 Then get involved in the arena in London
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UK industry bodies write to the prime minister regarding what they describe as crippling staff shortages across large parts of the UK economy.
Spain’s Mallorca Live will hold a pilot concert later this month The O2 is set to become the first using the local health passport to real-world arena to get its own and ID&T, for example.” Danny Wimmer Presents acquires do away with social distancing. venue in Fortnite. Similarly, France, the United States and New Billy Alan Productions, a leading are Seven all facing post-pandemic booker of talent for Native Tour manager and healthZealand and people, including fivelabour shortages, particularly in the Sir Elton John calls on the British American-run casinos. wellbeing specialist Suzi Green police officers, arehospitality injured onsector, and while the issuenight has asbeen exacerbated government to take advantage commissions a series of resilience Friday police break up by Brexit in the an UK, experts been warning of of the current window of UK festivals including Black Deer workshops for the international illegal ravehave in Brittany. ticularly from EU, wholive have returned to their shortages for months. opportunitystolive solve the Brexit inback Kent to are forced to call offthe their music industry. music prepares to get The UK Door Security Association (UKDSA) duringafter the lockdowns. This has concrisis facing emerging artists. bodies in 2021 the last minute Tomorrowland 2021 hangs in business, industry theevents UK, athomelands said back in March that venues andauthorities clubs could greatly to the shortfalls,” reads the letter.Arena U-turn. The first Manchester the balance after local the Netherlands, France the andgovernment else- tributed face trouble reopening planned “A relaxation of the rules does not need to be several Female urinals arehave developed Inquiry report identifies decree the as dance musicfollowing festival an where sounded the alarm over exodus of security the pandemic. In open ended it needs tomissed happen quickly if weit claims to eliminatethe festival queues.labour shortage. Former APA staffers, Stevebut Martin opportunities wouldstaff not during be allowed to go ahead. impending addition to EU workers who have gone home, are to launch supportPaladin the recovery of the UKlessened economy.” Andy Somers, could have the impact UK industry bodies and including door staff to find The comes as entertainment Attitude is Everything Artists in the UK andletter the US. of the attack. and hos- many qualified Download Pilotwere – theforced UK’s first LIVE (Live publishes music Industries Venues when venues wereof closed in a ten-point ‘live checklist’ the Concert pitality businesses in other countries also claim work elsewhere major camping festival its andmusic Entertainment), March 2020. kind since lockdown – is hailed they are facing a staff shortage they begin to help ensure deaf, disabled and DEAG’s Kilimanjaro announces Indianasticketing gianttoBookMyShow Promoters Association, the Events Accordingato the Security Industry Authority thisUK summer. neurodivergent are UK made acquisition ofreopen promoter Live. lays off another 200 employees resounding success. Industry Forum fans and the Crowd Management In the Netherlands, live music association welcome. as coronavirus restrictions(SIA), over a quarter of the UK’s total security Association have written to the prime minister workforce were non-UK nationals 2018. The VNPF ispartnership warning that thecontinue industry to will likely be for ASM Global hurt demand Joss Stone signs with in ICM regarding what they describe as crippling staff expands UKDSA estimates thatfor over half of the vacancies short of staff when full-capacity shows restart and lat- cinema. Live eventsacross will be permitted with Ticketmaster. live entertainment Partners worldwide shortages large parts of at the UK economy. may be left unfilled when business fullThe capacity in the Netherlands live entertainment and events associa- er this year, with many professionals having left in the sector representation. theisindustry 16 months. and UK government savaged over in the pastSerbia’s Exit festival willrestarts launch gets back to normal later this summer. tionsDenmark. are joined by trade bodies representing “This need a government intervention venues and festivals are open-air short of people, parliament Brexit ‘no deal’ a new event, Sunland, in will Facebook will not charge a fee to other sectors, including hospitality, food and overBoth has the ability to provide tellsnext NU.nl, with ensure that the TicketSwap raisesin $10m (€8.4m) for music. Bulgaria month. to industry content creators for at least drink and retail, calling for government ac- VNPF director Berend Schans says Michael Kill, CEO the Night in itstofirst funding round. next two years, CEOofMark tion help remediate the situation, with the let- the former sector having laid off an average of enough staff,”the Time Industries Association. Concerning new el20% of their last year and Wasserman the latter probScientific from pilot staff concerts Casey says his Zuckerberg announces. ter suggesting that EU workers could be allowed data ements in the SIA door supervisor licence which ably countries, even more. “Exact figures are lacking, butin working in five European most company’s experience to return on a short-term basis to help fill the require more training for door staff, Kill adds:of because that industry [festivals] has will been recently Belgium, demonstrate with brands be hit the number empty roles. Thousands “While it is not timely even than venues, and have received that live doharder not accelerate one they opportunity for its many newthe training is welcomed, “While the overall picture is complex, oneevents professionals read across support, I would say given the current economic situation clients. short-term solution with immediateinfection. benefit relatively less governmentartist IQ every day.most Make needs to be given would be to temporarily ease immigration re- that the situation there is even more serious, es- of the sector, and consideration sure you get the quirements for the large numbers of workers, par- pecially in view of the lay-offs at Mojo Concerts to it being pushed back to 2022.”
INDUSTRY FACES STAFF SHORTAGES
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Comment
PRODUCTION NOTES
Rewriting the Rules of Engagement Strength in Numbers Having transitioned the live music(she, industry, tour reflects manageronLaura Nagtegaalstory (she,andher,how hers)her move Metropolis Music promoter inRaven Twigg her, they) her coming-out shares uniquewithperspective of the industry’s problem. to London allowed herher to work other like-minded souls andongoing createsexism the Women Connect collective.
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I should hope that on theand reverse of that, with the incredible panellists had aend special performance nceisupon a time, there was I’ve a girlfelt who felt terribly his my first Pride where proud to be a so many and archaic way of thinking, men end up from bigoted Izzy Bizu and DJ Ashleigh Simone. trans We always make guilty woman. about not being for her male body, queer Pride is grateful about embracing your LG- same on good sideare ofinclusive things. Cisgender men and As women swapsurethe our events and free to attend. a collective so she friends, censoredcolleagues, herself and subconsciously found BTQ+ family, and neighbours signatures in the backgrounds, office experience male we have such different and exactly it worksthat: harmoniherself jobbut around; working the music not onlythe formanliest one month all year round.in I’m so live pleased to ping female – downgrade; female to male – upgrade. And no, ously together. industry. me. be able toThat alignwoman my ownis identity within my work. Metropolis to people don’t money, Fast-forward to 2021, wecost havethe nowemployer hosted anmore online Back Backhas in an 1995, I rolled into livebursting music, and 2002 I went Music impressive roster withbydiversity and transgender health care, availability, time, and loyalty.brought free to Basics series with PRS Foundation; full-time. tours did were as guitar tech, inclusivity,Most and it’s justIorganically happened that tour way. While our and names andsessions; what is or isn’t in our unmindfulness yoga and collaborated manager, or a (which combination of the like two.a family) is Our team feels more derwear mayShift haveon changed, ourto skills didfolx not.DJ with CTRL an event teach By the of time was people nine oroften, I first in “knew” reflective theI real London 2021, If anything, you’ll be dealing with a mentalskills and so much more. that the doctor delivering me hadthe made a misand we’re able to filter that into artists we ly stronger and more self-empowered It’s through collectives like ours and thatactuI’ve take (assuming that to. what’s my legs naturally are drawn Frombetween guitar bands, to alised person; you’ll be dealing been able to feeltherefore comfortable enough in my with own defines me),soloists, and soon repressing non-binary weafter haveI began a beautiful specaskin more desirable person on your crew. and be inspired by to thehave people I’m seeing myself mytofeelings; them with trum ofand music promotereplacing nationally. It is surprising howwhat conservative and around me. And that’s we intend to relucbring lethargy robot-like behaviour. Prior and to my work with Metropolis Music, tant our supposedly is to our following, too.progressive By showingindustry budding still music was onlyininoffices 2016 that I could I’veItworked around theaccept worldmyself from with regards panels to anyone not awho white cishet professionals filledwho withispeople look like for who I am,UK andtofrom thenAustralia, on, all sorts of “self” Manchester, Sydney, which have male. as athem, trans and person, broader them, What soundI,like are aexperience, similar ageistoway them, rathfeelings grew strongerwhite (esteem, confidence, been predominantly and worth, cis-gendered males.care) My than justoffering my being trans: I am “nooflonger” a white male. er than the perspective CEOs of huge cishet companies, and all of that culminating in self-love. As of Valentine’s Day coming-out journey was delayed significantly, and in retroStill, knowing that I career had the courage in the mirror, which makes achieving dreams feeltosolook unreachable. 2017, on my previous persona, and by the spect,IIclosed realisethe thatbook it wasn’t helpful for me to work amongst stripped, and accept for who to I am, absohope to see in the future, as themyself world awakens the beautime 2019 rolled around, I wascomfortable done with the medical thoseEaster environments. For me to feel in an office all Ipretense obliterates theeffortlessly negative sides. And as a bonus, I actually ty that’s within it, inclusive global organisations side of transitioning. environment, I needed to see more people like myself. Fortu- lutely in the wholooking recognise the mirror power nowadays. they have to fill their teams with Both onme, andI behind themove stage,to my transition wentswore smoothnately for made the London in 2018, I’d like And today, people, I have boundaries, respect them, andfrom commuqueer folx, and other people marly at last first;sixallmonths my regular Laura with open only beforebands I was accepted craving the Northern soul gender-diverse them. Take it or My leave it. In the times or before, I’d bend ginalised communities. sexuality, gender, my pronouns, arms. The two warmest responses cameup from my colleague I’ve grown up with, but instead I ended meeting my now nicate over backwards. amongst many other things, don’t affect my capability to do and fiancée: you’re my back. boyfriend, tomorrow my girlfriend and“Today have never looked Things definitely getting in the live music industry, job,are but rather offer anbetter alternative angle. Artists that wife,” and from a few “No,music you didn’t become a womIn 2019, myself andfriends: four other biz friends, Alex Am- a good we still have long way to Twentyto years ago, if aenter woman organically enteramy radar, arego. different those that the an, were always one!”Sian Pescow (Metropolis Music), Bre but pofoyou (Metropolis Music), was she’d mostwho likely beoffer doing or wardradaronoftour, my colleagues, also anmerchandise alternative angle. When all those(Sony bandsMusic), swapped the Stainton stage for (Sony the studio siMcDermott-King Becky Music), robe. and more tours I am on, in leadership WeMore are all fabulously different in women our ownare huge ways and multaneously and I hadcollective to find new ones, IWomen noticed Connect. how – as birthed a networking named and positions – and toursPride are better because it. that’sfader-pushing the truly beautiful thing about month. It’s theofopaTogether, transgender woman – sexism, toxic we have raised moneytrans/homophobia, for Galop, Refugeeand Women, The silver liningeducate to Covid-19 pressing pause us is that we to learn, and grow together ason human beings. masculinity seemed to seriously my career. I went Solace, MIND, and hosted eventsjeopardise highlighting issues such as portunity can,We’ve and do, (re)write rules of the engagement. hadover better come a longthe way from StonewallWe Riots 50 from hired I’dhealth even finish “yes”industry. to sudperiodbeing poverty andbefore mental withinsaying the music our but ownthere’s advice,still though. need toclued-up hire for skill, proyears ago, a wayWe to go. Get on queer denly being a resume not getting hired. events follow Before weasked were for forced to takeand a break from physical and rather than for convenience and culture, listen tokindness, queer artists and podcasts. Watch queer subjected to the same kind sexism women our are subdueI got to lockdown restrictions, we’dofjust celebrated first fessionalism status quo (ie white males). rathAnd those around you cishet feel included jected to... skills, experience, birthday bymy throwing a bash at theand Sony London offices and films and tv shows, make thefeel marginalised, need to want to them proud. opinion tied it inwere withdecimated. International Women’s Day. We heard from er than othered. Make we, be visible. “Visibility will, inevitably, I did not build a more than 25-year lead to awareness. Through awareness, career with smoke and mirrors. I have “My sexuality, gender, or my pronouns, amongst many the path to acceptance can be found, proven and valuable skills, I just happen things, good job, andafollowed.” to be a woman –other a transgender woman.don’t affect my capability to do
but rather offer an alternative angle”
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28-30 SEPTEMBER 2021 600 Festivals | 300 Booking Agents | 1 Global Festival Hub Delegate passes now available For early marketing opportunities, contact Steve Woollett steve@iq-mag.net | +44 7469 872 279
LOUD & PROUD
To highlight some of the acts that are awaiting festival and headline show bookings, a number of ’s partner agencies have submitted details of LGBTIQ+ artists on their rosters. In addition to the talent showcased in the following pages, we have also compiled tracks for a special Pride Playlist, which includes submissions from ATC Live, CAA, ICM Partners, FMLY, Hometown Talent, ITB, Mother Artists, Paradigm, Primary Talent, Progressive Artists, UTA and WME.
BIG FREEDIA K AGENTS
(US)
Zoe Williamson & Christian Bernhardt, UTA
nown as the larger-than-life ambassador of New Orleans bounce music, Big Freedia is a nationally recognised hiphop artist, performer and TV personality. In addition to releasing her own critically acclaimed EPs – 3rd Ward Bounce (2018) and Louder (2020) – Big Freedia has appeared on several high-profile projects, including her cover of Judas on Lady Gaga’s Born this Way The Tenth Anniversary album (June 2021). She also appeared on Beyoncé’s Grammy award-winning Formation and on Drake’s Nice For What, always bringing her distinctive voice and signature catchphrases to her work. In 2011, her ascension in the music industry was chronicled on the highly rated reality show, Big Freedia Bounces Back. She was the official host for the 2019 Met Gala IG live-stream red carpet event, and a host on 2021’s Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve TV show. Known by her fans as the “Queen Diva,” Big Freedia is a loud-and-proud advocate for racial and gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights. Big Freedia’s highly anticipated EP Big Diva Energy will be released in July 2021.
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Loud & Proud
JERRY PAPER J AGENT
(US)
Joren Heuvels, Hometown Talent
erry Paper is Lucas Nathan. Jerry Paper is instant coffee, bullshit jobs, weekly therapy sessions, crises of conscience, corporate mascots, 5-MeO-DMT trips, jokers down on their luck, surveillance, a jacked dad high on meth at a child’s party, apologies, trash cans, cacti, and the magic of words. From its initial days as a DIY solo synth project in the early 2010s to its current incarnation as a five-piece band, Jerry Paper has always been the earthly conduit for the wild and uncanny imagination of its creative mastermind. Lucas began performing under the alias Jerry Paper in 2012, releasing their latest album Abracadabra via Stones Throw Records in 2020.
JOHN GRANT W AGENT
Rob Challice, Paradigm
(US)
hen 2017’s BBC Proms season at London’s Royal Albert Hall presented the Songs of Scott Walker (1967-70), bringing to life some of the most glorious, rousing and poignant songs of their era, it was almost a given that John Grant would be one of the select chosen interpreters. He was a perfect fit, possessing a similarly glorious dulcet baritone to Walker and an equal command of melody, depth and power, with lyrics that scoped out across love, pathos, tragedy and resilience with poetic candour. Grant has collaborated in film, with songs chosen for Andrew Haigh’s film drama Weekend, HBO TV series Looking, and Daisy Asquith’s Queerama, which documented a century of LGBT+ pride and persecution. His own repertoire includes three outstanding solo albums to date, starting with 2010’s Queen Of Denmark (MOJO magazine’s Album of the Year) and 2013’s Pale Green Ghosts – which helped earn him Attitude Magazine’s Man of the Year award in 2013. 2015’s Grey Tickles, Black Pressure was a top five album in the UK, showing how Grant continues to broaden his audience. Live, he is simply a great entertainer, whether playing as a duo, or with a full band, or a band plus orchestra, such as the Royal Northern Sinfonia or the BBC Philharmonic. If this wasn’t enough, Grant might win awards for best singing multilinguist; alongside his mother tongue he speaks fluent German, Spanish, Russian, and now the incredibly difficult language of Iceland, which led to him providing the Englishof Thousands translations for Icelandic superstar Ásgeir’sprofessionals album In The Silence. read Grant toured with Elbow in Autumn 2017 and released his IQ every day. Make acclaimed fourth album, Love Is Magic, in October 2018. sure you getHis the incredible journey continues ever-upwards.
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Feature_LGBTIQ+ LIST 2021
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LGBTIQ+ LIST 2021_Feature
LIST 2021
The wait is finally over: Magazine’s first annual LGBTIQ+ List launches here and now.
Thousands of
The LGBTIQ+ List 2021 celebrates the outstanding LGBTIQ+ professionals who make an immense professionals read impact in the international live music business. This year’s top 20, as nominated IQ by every our readers day. and Make verified by our esteemed steering committee, have gone above and beyond to wavesure the flag forget a the you more diverse and inclusive industry – one that we can all be proud of. Drumroll please…
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Feature_LGBTIQ+ LIST 2021
RACH MILLHAUSER
Pronouns: they/them Coordinator, Wasserman Music Based: New York, US rmillhauser@teamwass.com Tell us about a personal triumph in your career. I spent many years leaving a lot of myself at the door when I walked into the office or a show. While far from easy, deciding to walk 100% of myself through the door has been a profound relief and quite rewarding – both professionally and personally. Now I feel a strong sense of responsibility to use my voice to push for more opportunities for trans and gender nonconforming people, both onstage and backstage. What advice could you give for young queer professionals? Be yourself. No career opportunity is worth compromising your identity for. One of my favourite words of wisdom came from Lenore Kinder – “There’s going to be very few people that hold the door open for you in this business, so you just gotta swing the fucker open and walk through.” Tell us about a professional challenge you often come across as a queer person in the industry. Going to shows and meeting people face-to-face for the first time can be a wildcard scenario: sometimes I’m not quite what they imagined on the other end of that email address. While some moments have stung, I move right along and let my work speak for itself. What one thing could the industry do to be more inclusive? We still have a long way to go when it comes to truly including and uplifting marginalised communities. How many queer people of colour work at your company? The answer is usually not great. Causes you support. Trans Lifeline and The Okra Project. Personally, I’m committed to donating to trans people who need financial assistance with healthcare via crowdfunding websites and cash apps. The financial barriers the trans community faces when it comes to healthcare is astonishing. What does the near future of the industry look like? Promoter versus agent mentality has to go out the window. Currently, in the US, the floodgates have opened but in a patchwork way, making it trickier to route a several-week tour months in advance. We’re responding to differing local regulations in real-time, putting shows on-sale with much shorter windows and facing avails that are few and far between. At the same time, live music has never felt more precious and meaningful. How could the industry build back better, post-pandemic? Sustainable touring and climate change need to be at the forefront. No one needs to be an expert to make an impact. Carbon offsetting has never been made easier and there are many exciting new ways to approach concessions, catering, merch, fuel and so much more. Shout out to REVERB for leading the charge on this!
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AUSTIN SARICH
Pronouns: he/him Director – touring, Live Nation Based: Los Angeles, US Linkedin.com/in/austin-sarich-193a2265 Tell us about a personal triumph in your career. It was a true privilege to be a part of Oprah’s 2020 Vision Touring Team. It was meaningful to me to help successfully grow a project that aimed to inspire people through personal growth and self-discovery. What advice could you give to young queer professionals? Your sexual orientation will always be a part of your identity, however, it doesn’t have to be what defines you. Let your work, passion, and drive be your great impact on the industry, regardless of your sexual orientation. Tell us about a professional challenge you often come across as a queer person in the industry. Working in a male-dominated industry, I would often find myself internalising that my sexual orientation would put me at a disadvantage when I first began navigating the relationships I was making. What one thing could the industry do to be more inclusive? Leading through empathy – knowing everyone has their own personal and professional challenges, which could help unify us as a whole. A cause you support. Today, I’m Brave, which is an organisation that focuses on empowering underserved youth to be brave and unlock their best potential. What does the near future of the industry look like? An industry filled with gratitude and prosperity. After a year of uncertainty, I confidently believe we are all grateful to have live events back, with fans who have more of an appetite than ever to see their favourite acts live in concert. How could the industry build back better, post-pandemic? I would hope that post-pandemic we can all operate efficiently with patience, kindness, and appreciation for each other and the hard work we commit to.
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PRIDE & PREJUDICE 36
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Pride & Prejudice_Feature
As liberal nations across the globe bask in the rainbow glow of Pride month, conservative governments are still forcing queer people into the shadows. But in the face of adversity and oppression, the live music scenes in nations like Palestine, Poland and Turkey have proved to be the antithesis of the human rights wars waging outside of them. Here, promoters, festivals, and queer artists from these countries tell Lisa Henderson what compels them to risk their lives to perform, why live music is the most powerful activism tool of all, and how they overcome challenges that professionals in liberal countries couldn’t even imagine.
P © Marcin Michon
Polish festival Pol’and’Rock prides itself on creating a refuge for queer people
alestinian artist Bashar Murad is used to risking his life to perform. As a queer Arab and a resident of occupied East Jerusalem, Murad has learned to live with oppression and the threat of violence, both onstage and on his doorstep. Neither, however, has deterred him from openly addressing loaded issues such as the Israeli Occupation and LGBTIQ+ rights in the Middle East. “But the more vocal I become about these issues, the greater the danger is,” he tells IQ. In 2019, Murad took one of his most daring steps when he performed in a wedding dress at an event in Ramallah, a Palestinian city located in the central West Bank of Israel. While the West Bank’s biggest draw for promoters is that it’s the only place where Palestinians from both sides of the wall can meet, Murad says that the mixed demographic is also where the danger lies. “Probably the biggest risk is if someone in the audience doesn’t like what I’m doing. Audience members could be from anywhere,Thousands from all overof the country. There are different kinds of mentalprofessionals read ities, people who are extremely open-minded but IQ every day. Make also people who are uneducatedsure and you attached get to the the traditions and the customs that we are taught
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Your Shout
What’s your favourite Pride moment?
TOP SHOUT
Here is my photo [below] from Istanbul Pride in 2014, where the attendance was over 100,000. And why is this my favourite memory from a Pride event? Well, because sadly we haven’t been able to do our Pride March since then, which I guess makes this my finest Pride moment. I had been to other Pride marches in Istanbul before 2014, but that year was the last... for now. I am smiling because the victory, sooner or later, will be ours, so please let's not give up on having hopes for a brighter, colourful and equal future. Love is Love. Buğra Davaslıgil | Charmenko
My favourite memory of pride is the same every year. Being with my chosen family. Dan Brown | Birmingham Pride Just being with my daughter and feeling proud! Sharon Richardson | K2 AGENCY Wrangling a load of free tickets to see Britney at Brighton Pride in 2018 at the eleventh hour. Shout-out to the nice bloke from Brighton & Hove bus drivers’ parade who spared us his complimentary passes! I’m a slave 4U. Lisa Henderson | IQ Magazine
Buğra at Istanbul Pride in 2014
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Dan and his Pride family
I had an incredible experience helping out with the arrangements of the World Pride Parade 2000 in Rome, which was backed by the Vatican. After a whole year of preparation, we managed to go ahead on 8 July 2000, and people came from all over the world to attend. According to the local authorities, Rome was invaded by over 1 million people and the march was a great success. We had a final concert with Grace Jones, Gloria Gaynor, Marc Almond and Geri Halliwell, and Geri wanted to ride a white horse on stage – not a very common request from an artist. But we finally managed to find an incredible, huge, white horse from a circus and finally Geri got on stage riding that beauty. Fabrizio Pompeo | Radar Concerti My very first gay pride event that I part took in was very long ago in Santa Monica, California, about 25 years ago. This is when LGBT was not as mainstream in the US. However, the event was called Gay Parade in LA and it was indeed colourful with a lot of cars and excited people everywhere celebrating freedom. I was walking with a female friend of mine and I heard one of the guys in the street asking what I was doing with a girl when I looked better than her... lol. I didn’t understand what he meant but I did take it as a compliment being beautiful as a boy or a girl or a man or a woman! Bottom line and the moral of the story is that God creates all of us beautiful, just the way we all are! Tommy Jinho Yoon | International Creative Agency My favourite Pride moment dates to June 2016, the day of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. We were producing an event for LA Pride on Sunday, 12 June, and we had to decide whether to cancel the event because of threats made against LA Pride. We decided that cancelling would have been to surrender to hate. Instead, we decided to
Your Shout
Zoe and friends enjoying UTA’s inaugural NYC Pride in 2019 Steven and fellow protestors party at the socially distanced London Trans Pride 2021
Lisa and friends on their way to an unexpected Britney experience Jim delivers the message at LA Pride in 2016
go forward with the event and “never stop” our fight for equality in all things. This photo, taken by DJ Casey Alva at the event, encapsulates that feeling perfectly. Jim Murphy | See Tickets – North America Pride is a protest first and party second. People have been ostracised, jailed, and even killed so LGBTQIA+ people like me can enjoy the freedoms we have today, even though many around the world still cannot. The social-distanced London Trans Pride 2021 was exactly this. The pandemic meant there was no party so the focus was entirely on the political. It felt truly important, it felt like home. Steven Braines | HE.SHE.THEY. I cannot pick a favourite Pride memory – there are far too many! But back in 2019, I was able to help organise UTA Proud’s first ever NYC Pride gathering at Julius’ Bar, after which we went toof Thousands a rally honouring the 50thprofessionals anniversary of read the Stonewall Protests. The entireIQ day was such a fun, every day. Make empowering and unforgettable sure experience. you get the Zoe Williamson | UTA
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