Audience

issue 148 MAY 2012 UK £5.85 Europe €7.60 ROW $12.32

Ready to riot

Festival pioneer Creamfields sold

New owner Live Nation plans global expansion

Kaiser Chiefs take it to the streets

Switzerland Neutral, except for its love of live music

Swiss promoter Philippe Cornu

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People are not willing to spend money for acts they have seen three times already in the last four years

PALEO FESTIVAL NYON BIggEST muSIc FESTIVAL IN SwITzErLANd 17-22 JuLY 2012 www.PALEO.ch

Essential reading for industry professionals in more than 80 countries

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rowing storm clouds across Europe are again threatening the health of the live music sector although, of course, there are far bigger issues at stake with millions of people already facing extremely challenging times ahead.

Not only is the world still dealing with the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008, but any kind of partial collapse in the eurozone would send several other countries into tailspins of their own.

If they are not already doing it, people across the affected countries will surely soon be holding on to their money in preparation for what might come, rather than spending on leisure.

Many major live music markets are under direct threat – especially Spain, Italy, Portugal and Ireland – if Greece drops out of the euro, with others such as France and the UK expecting serious financial repercussions.

So, artistes and managers need to realise that helping promoters and venue to keep their ticket prices at sensible levels is the best course for survival through what could be some tough years.

Keeping people attending live music events is essential but, if their backs are up against the wall and ticket prices have risen just that little bit too high, the money will go somewhere else, and likely a habit broken.

Contents 4-12

14-18

World News Industry news from around the globe

Market Focus - Switzerland Monthly insight into an international tour market

Production News

Developments in equipment and show production

20-26

Keeping It Going All Year

A look at Download festival’s unique relationship with its passionate audience as it marks its 10th anniversary

29 Forthcoming Events

Living The Dream

Promoter, agent and artiste manager Jef Hanlon remembers a 50-year career of working with the best

Featuring the main venues for international artistes

36 38-41

Subscriptions Manager: Fiona West

News Editor: Keith Coles

Business Co-ordinator: Emma Harvey Lawrence

USA / Canada Jane Cohen, Bob Grossweiner Sales Manager: Gareth Ospina Advertising Sales Executive: Martyn Passey

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Tour Plans Artistes, tour periods, agents

42 Festival News International festival activity

38 Hell’s Belles Spell Trouble

Publisher & Managing Editor: Stephen Parker

Editorial Contributors: Europe Christopher Barrett, Johnny Black, John Pagni, Mike Gartside

City Focus – Cologne, Germany

Editorial: Keith Coles T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 E: keith@audience.uk.com Advertising: Gareth Ospina, Martyn Passey T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 E: gareth@audience.uk.com martyn@audience.uk.com

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The trials and tribulations of tour manager Terry Tucker and his crew

Subscriptions: Fiona West T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 E: fiona@audience.uk.com Subscription Rates: £70 for 12 issues (UK) £80 for 12 issues (European Union) £90 for 12 issues (Rest of the World) Subscribe online at www.audience.uk.com Cover photograph: Nick Elliot Design: Roelof Bakker Print: Premier Print Group www.premierprintgroup.com

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contents

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ISSUE 148: 12 May 2012 AUDIENCE is published monthly from the UK by: Audience Media Ltd, 26 Dorset Street, London W1U 8AP United Kingdom T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 F: +44 (0)20 7486 2002 E: info@audience.uk.com W: www.audience.uk.com The opinion expressed by contributors to this publication are not always a reflection of the opinions or the policy of the publishers. Information on services or products contained within editorial sections does not imply recommendation

by AUDIENCE. No responsibility can be accepted for errors or omissions. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without the written authority of Audience Media Ltd.

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

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Cream owners sell to Live Nation Nation Electronic Music, adds, “Our strategies are aligned and, through the combined efforts of the Cream and Live Nation teams, we will substantially grow our electronic music offerings across the globe.”

The company made a profit before tax of £1.42 million ($2.28m) in the financial year to 31January 2012. Investment operation Ingenious Media, which had put a net book value of around £6.23m ($9.99m) into Cream, recently sold its share to LNE for £13.93m ($22.35m).

This year’s Creamfields in the UK will be held on 24-26 August and feature acts such as David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Example and Deadmau5.

Creamfields

world news

UNITED KINGDOM Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) has acquired dance music pioneer Cream Holdings with plans to further expand the company’s Creamfields Music Festivals across the globe.

Liverpool-based Cream, which was launched in 1998, promotes the 50,000-capacity Creamfields festival annually at Daresbury in Cheshire.

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Sister festivals have included a 60,000-capacity event at Argentina’s Autodromo de Buenos Aires, a two-day event at United Arab Emirates’ 9,000-capacity Yas Arena in Abu Dhabi, and a five-show touring festival with capacities of 12,000-20,000 in Australia.

“We are committed to being a leader in electronic music and,

as one of the most recognisable brands in the electronic community, Cream is at the forefront of mainstream youth culture,” says LNE president/CEO Michael Rapino, who confirms that the company plans to launch new festivals in North America, South East Asia and Europe.

Cream founder James Barton, who will join LNE as president, Live

James Barton

DEAG creates consultancy firm with former AEG exec GERMANY Promoter and venue management company Deutsche Entertainment AG (DEAG) and former CEO of AEG Europe Detlef Kornett have formed a new consulting company to target civic and privately-owned venues across Europe.

Verescon, which stands for Venue Research Consulting, has been set up to offer venues support in “operations, content, re-positioning, cost optimisation and marketing”.

But Kornett says the business doesn’t aim to compete with international venue operators such as SMG, Global Spectrum and his former employer.

“We are not looking to go into venue management – that is not our focus, though it may happen

audience • Issue 148 • May 2012

Detlef Kornett

from time to time,” says Verescon MD Kornett, who was instrumental in completing AEG’s management deals at The O2 (cap. 20,000) in

Peter Schwenkow

London and O2 World (17,000) in Berlin.

He adds that, although Verescon would “not be afraid” of tackling an

arena, the firm’s target is 1,000 to 8,000-capacity venues in Europe.

“If you look at Germany as an example, there are more than 400 venues, including eight arenas and about 16 major stadiums. The rest are smaller and medium-sized venues,” says Kornett. “We feel we have a bit of a USP [unique selling point].”

The company has already secured two consultancy projects, in Germany and Austria, but declined to reveal details at press time.

Professor Peter Schwenkow, chairman and CEO of DEAG, which owns Frankfurt’s 5,000-capacity Jahrhunderthalle, adds, “I am confident that, apart from the first mandates already being secured, a new and exciting business segment can be established for DEAG.”

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Bluefest in battle to stage more shows australia Bluesfest promoter Peter Noble has presented a petition of more than 9,000 names to the local council in Byron Bay in a bid to stop it limiting the number of large scale events he holds at the festival site.

Byron Shire Council (BSC) wants to add a clause to its Local Environment Plan (LEP), which would only allow two major events of greater than 6,000-capacity per year in the area. The clause would include one-day events.

In a statement, the council says it believes “Only two major events are sustainable, economically and socially, in Byron Shire”, adding that smaller events would be encouraged.

Noble, however, is looking to increase the number of events held at the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm site, which he bought in 2010 and for which he was granted a 10-year

government approval to host three new festivals, having failed to get backing from BSC. The new events would have capacities of 10,000, 15,000 and 25,000 and be held at the organisers’ own North Byron Parklands site.

If its new policy is not amended, says Noble, “The Peter Noble North Byron Parklands festival site could take up the entire licence by BSC to stage the quota in the shire – and we will 20,000-capacity Bluesfest.

“We have advised the mayor need to move elsewhere.”

He says the new LEP clause, and councillors over the “Denies people who love music past decade that we want to the opportunity to experience present an indigenous music it in the Byron Shire. We do festival on the site, as well as a Shakespearean festival. We also not want to be a burden said we wanted to do a concert on our neighbours and this community and we are not series – and were advised by advocating more than a couple the mayor at the time that she would support our application,” of one-day concerts yearly, as well as Bluesfest.” says Noble.

The 2013 Bluesfest will be He says the clause has held on 28 March-1 April. This been created following the organisers of Splendour In The year’s festival featured acts such as Earth Wind And Fire, Grass (cap. 30,000) winning Yes and Buddy Guy. New South Wales state

Newsbites USA Liberty Media Group has increased its stake in Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) by around 20 per cent, after purchasing another 9.5 million shares at an overall cost of nearly $92 million. Liberty now owns 25.6 per cent of LNE, holding 48.7m shares, according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing. Liberty Media has also received regulatory clearance to increase its shareholding to 35 per cent.

USA Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) has lost its sponsorship deals with communications company Verizon Wireless at two of its venues. The 3,464-capacity Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, Texas, is now called Bayou Music Center. Meanwhile, the Verizon Wireless Music Center (10,289) near Birmingham, Alabama, has been renamed Oak Mountain Amphitheatre after the end of a sixyear sponsorship deal.

In full employment

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Paul Bolton of X-ray Touring. “I haven’t added up how many gigs they’ve done since then, but it must be over 500 and, as yet, I am still to see a poor one.”

Kaiser Chiefs are represented

by James Sandom, who recently moved to Red Light Management’s new UK office.

Your favourite booking agencY in Switzerland!

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www.actionbooking.ch audience • Issue 148 • May 2012

world news

WORLD With sales of more than three million, the Kaiser Chiefs’ first album Employment was one of the biggest debut successes of the past decade, taking a wry look at English life with singles such as Oh My God and I Predict A Riot.

But it was with follow-up album Yours Truly, Angry Mob and UK No 1 single Ruby that the five-piece found an international audience.

Two albums later, and with a singles collection imminent, the band are on a world tour, with dates at venues such as Switzerland’s Lucerne Hall (cap.

1,840), Australia’s Melbourne’s Palace Theatre (1,855) and Russia’s Kosmonavt Club (1,700) in St Petersburg. Festival dates include Scotland’s T In The Park (85,000) and Spain’s Arenal Sound (35,000).

“I have worked for them for nine years, since a gig at [100-capacity London club] 93 Feet East, where there were more people on stage than in the audience,” says the band’s agent

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Rapino sees pay slide as LNE reports further losses

Ottawa’s Bluesfest

world news

Ottawa Bluesfest adopts RFID access technology canada Access control company Intellitix is expanding its operation, providing access technology for Ottawa’s 40,000-capacity Bluesfest and picking Hungarian cashless payment firm Metapay to be its exclusive partner at all the events it services.

Last year, Intellitix supplied Radio Frequency ID (RFID) technology for several mainly North American events, including Coachella (cap. 75,000), Bonnaroo (80,000), Lollapalooza (90,000) and Austin City Limits (73,000).

Bluesfest, on 4-15 July and featuring acts such as Alice Cooper, LMFAO and Snoop Dogg, is the latest to adopt the technology, which enables fans to use their wristband to enter the event and pay for food and drink.

Tickets are C$375 (US$374) for a full festival pass or C$40-65 (US$40-65) for each day.

Although Montreal-headquartered Intellitix, which also has a European office in the UK, has its own cashless payment systems in place, founder Serge Grimaux says Metapay has been brought on board due to the success of the technology.

“The response to our cashless payment systems has been so positive that this strategic alliance will allow us to more comprehensively service our existing and prospective clients,” says Grimaux.

Metapay has previously provided cashless services at Hungarian festivals such as Sziget (70,000) and Heineken Balaton Sound (25,000).

united states Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) CEO Michael Rapino received a smaller pay deal in 2011 than in the previous year, while LNE chairman Irving Azoff enjoyed a substantial increase, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 25 April.

The figures were revealed as the company reported revenue growth of two per cent to $868 million, up from $849m in 2011, in the first quarter (Q1) of the year, but a net loss of $70.2m, up from 2011’s $54.3m.

Rapino’s $11.9 million pay packet was 25 per cent less than his $15.9m in 2010, when it included $6.4m in bonuses and stock grants related to LNE’s merger with Ticketmaster (TM) that year.

Azoff received a $34.6m in 2011, up from $22.8m in 2010. LNE acquired Azoff’s Front Line Management, where he is also CEO, in 2011 and $25.1m came as a result of that transaction. Excluding that deal, Azoff’s package of salary, bonus and stock awards, was $9.3m.

Meanwhile, TM CEO Nathan Hubbard earned $4.1m in 2011, down from $5.7m in 2010, and UK-based Alan Ridgeway, president of Emerging Markets at LNE, earned $2.2m, down from $4m.

The filing also noted that Rapino would be entitled to nearly $45.5m in cash, equity and tax “gross-up” payments if his position as CEO was terminated, with or without cause, or if there was a change in control of the company.

Of its Q1 losses, the company says they stem partly from its multi-year charge to increase its online marketing, e-commerce and ticketing ability.

Q1 concert revenues were $448.7m, slightly down 0.1 per cent from 2011’s $449.3m; ticketing was up 5.2 per cent to $326.5 m, from $317.5m; and Artist Nation revenue advanced 13.5 per cent from $54.1m to $64.1m.

North American concert attendance increased to 4.356 billion from 4.006bn in Q1 2011, while the overall international attendance figure decreased from 2.953bn to 2.851bn.

LNE’s long-term debt stands at $1.662 billion and short term debt is $51.2m.

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audience • Issue 148 • May 2012

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europe The 27th annual Eurosonic Noorderslag conference and festival will showcase Finnish music when it returns to Groningen on 9-12 January.

The event’s creative director Peter Smidt says Finland’s up-and-coming talent was picked to take the spotlight following the relative success of acts such as Astrid Swan, French Films and Disco Ensemble.

The showcase will be organised by the recently-created Music Finland, a merger of marketing association Music Export Finland and music information centre and archiver Fimic, though the content of the focus has not yet been announced.

Executive director for Music Finland Tuomo Tähtinen says the link-up could not come at a better time for Finnish music, adding that Eurosonic Noorderslag creates, “Excellent chances of connecting with an international delegation, which includes key industry players.”

Early-bird delegate tickets are available until 14 June at €240 ($308).

More than 3,000 delegates attended this year’s event.

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A spokesman for the company added, “We are not in a position to discuss terms, but TM has taken over responsibility for the operational running of the service, which will enable HMV to broaden its range of events, while also Simon Fox reducing its running costs.”

MD of TM UK Chris Edmonds says, “This partnership is bringing together two leaders in their field.

“Enabling our customers to buy tickets from HMV’s network of stores is another great addition to our service.”

Meanwhile, HMV is still trying to offload its live music division MAMA Group (see Audience issue 145), while three former executives of MAMA Group’ artiste management division SuperVision have joined US company Red Light Management (see page 8).

In its latest figures, HMV has announced it expects to make a profit of £10 million ($16m) in the coming 12 months, despite making a worsethan-expected loss of £16m ($26m) in the year

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Retail chain HMV has announced that its ticketing division hmvtickets is to be operated by Ticketmaster (TM), while it retains the brand name.

The deal is what HMV calls a “strategic Chris Edmonds partnership” with Live Nation Entertainmentowned TM. Although neither of the companies would disclose the exact nature of the partnership or the financial terms of the deal, HMV says the arrangement would come into effect within the next couple of months and that an hmvtickets team and the brand itself would be kept.

Part of the arrangement will enable TM to sell tickets via HMV stores with hmvtickets box offices.

“We remain committed to offering our customers a premium-quality ticketing service, and by partnering with the world’s number one ticket agent, we’re in a position to expand the range and depth of events that we can make available,” says HMV CEO Simon Fox. united kingdom

Finland focus for 27th Eurosonic

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TM takes on HMV ticketing in a ‘strategic partnership’

Learn more about us: www.eps.net

11.05.12 10:12

audience • Issue 148 • May 2012

Court rules Ticketmaster bound by anti-touting law UNITED STATES In a decision strongly opposed by three out of seven judges, Arkansas Supreme Court passed a ruling on 19 April to say that Ticketmaster (TM) is bound by the state’s anti-touting law, which forbids unreasonable charges above a ticket’s face value.

TM had said the law, which seeks to prevent touting, was not intended for authorised ticket agents, especially when acting as an agent of the venue. But the court said the Deceptive Trade

Practices Act applies to exclusive agents as well.

The judgment is the result of a federal lawsuit filed against TM by concert-goer Corey McMillian, who alleged that the firm violated the state law when fees were applied to his purchase of four Jason Aldean tickets at Verizon Arena (cap.

18,000) in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

TM’s fees raised the advertised price of $42.75 to $55 – an increase of almost 30 per cent.

Arkansas Code 5-63-201 states it is illegal to

sell tickets to an entertainment event at a “greater price than that printed on the ticket or box office sale price plus any reasonable charge for handling or credit card use, whichever is greater”.

A source tells Audience, “The court didn’t define what is reasonable, so nobody knows.

You could ask six people and get six different answers. I guess we’ll have to wait for the next lawsuit.” It is understood that TM is continuing the business as usual.

world news

SuperVision managers move towards the light

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UNITED KINGDOM Three former managers of HMV/MAMA Group’s artiste management division SuperVision have joined US company Red Light Management (RLM), which has launched a London office.

James Sandom and Cerne Canning will head the new venture, while Deb Fenstermacher will be employed at RLM’s New York office.

The trio bring with them a roster that includes Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, White Lies, The Vaccines, Crystal Castles and The Cribs.

“Red Light’s artiste-first ethos, breadth of resources and wealth of knowledge will enable us to provide the best possible service to our artistes,” says Sandom, who was a key executive of SuperVision, alongside Canning. HMV acquired MAMA in 2010.

The trio’s move to RLM follows speculation about the future of MAMA, which HMV is looking to offload, after investing £62.5 million ($100m) in the company (see Audience issue 145).

RLM, which also has US offices in Charlottesville, Los Angeles, Nashville, Denver and Atlanta, was founded in 1991 by Coran Capshaw, Dave Matthews Band’s long-time manager. Other company artistes include Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Damian Marley.

In partnership with 19 Entertainment, RLM also co-manages a number of the American Idol season 10 finalists.

RLM CEO Bruce Eskowitz says, “The expertise and passion that James, Cerne, Deb and their staff bring to this partnership will be incredibly beneficial for all Bruce Eskowitz Red Light artistes.”

(l-r) co-manager Michael Gorfaine, Adolfo Galli, James Taylor and co-manager Sam Feldman

Preparation is the key to Taylor tour success ITALY Promoter Adolfo Galli says the “incredible success” of James Taylor’s recent tour of Italy was down to months of preparation and close teamwork.

Taylor played 16 sell-out concerts in 1,000-capacity venues such as Teatro Sociale in Como and Teatro Grande in Brescia, ending with two shows at Rome’s Auditorium Conciliazione (1,760).

“It was an incredible success and I have to say it was really down to James and the management team,

who worked together with us,” says Galli of Brescia-based Di and Gi. “We went on sale on eight months’ notice and this gave us the opportunity to see how the shows were doing. Part of the success came down to James coming over in January to promote the tour. It’s given him a profile and set it up for next year when his new album comes out.”

Galli says that, overall, 25,000 tickets were sold at a slightly higher than normal average of €60 ($77) each.

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Resale firm winds up and switches base europe Secondary ticketing firm Viagogo has moved its headquarters from the UK to Switzerland, after changing its name and then winding up that company.

Previously registered at London offices, Viagogo changed its name to Consolidated Information Services Ltd (CIFL) on 22 March and four days later the renamed firm was put into the hands of liquidators.

The Viagogo website, now operated by Viagogo AG, is registered to an address in Geneva and asks for mail correspondence to be sent to a Swiss post office box.

A Channel 4 television documentary screened in the UK on 23 February and titled Dispatches: The Great Ticket Scandal, showed employees of the company engaging in a number of shady

practices (see Audience issue 147).

Undercover reporters filmed Viagogo staff talking about receiving ticket allocations directly from promoters and using multiple credit cards to buy concert tickets to resell at inflated prices.

Liquidator BDO declined to comment on the extent of any creditors’ list but, on 26 March, CIFL made a declaration of solvency, stating that it would be able to pay its debts in full, together with interest, within 12 months.

Viagogo was established in the UK in 2006 by

Eric Baker, co-founder of US secondary ticketing giant StubHub, now owned by eBay and with an operation in the UK. Baker stepped down as Viagogo’s sole director in January 2011 and is now CEO of Viagogo AG. The company’s last financial return filed with Companies House is for the year ending 31 December 2009 and lists Viagogo’s net liabilities at more than £30.5 million ($48.8m). Its December 2010 filing was overdue at the time of the name change and winding up.

One theory of what was behind the move is that the company wanted to remove itself from English jurisdiction, after losing a court battle with the Rugby Football League, which requires Viagogo to reveal who sold restricted tickets through its website.

world news

Three-day country festival is a first for Live Nation

The Gorge Amphitheatre

united states Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) is launching a three-day country music festival at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, on 3-5 August.

The Watershed Music Festival line-up will feature artistes such as Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Dwight Yoakam, while a local stage will feature regional acts.

Three-day tickets start at $90, with the venue limited to a daily capacity of 25,000.

“For years we have wanted to host a multiple-day country festival that builds on the tremendous success of our annual Sasquatch Music Festival [cap. 20,000] and Dave Matthews Band residency,” says Live Nation Seattle president Jeff Trisler.

“We believe this event will bring that same sort of excitement and energy to The Gorge for an entirely new group of music fans.”

The event is LNE’s first multi-day country festival in the US. Artistes also playing the amphitheatre include Metallica, Pearl Jam, Rush and Radiohead.

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audience • Issue 148 • May 2012

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MTV world stage will beam show to millions of homes sweden MTV says more than 600 million households will be targeted by a one-off concert in Gothenburg on 21 June – the country’s lightest night of the year.

The MTV World Stage show will be held at the city’s Götaplatsen, with the promise of top international artistes and local acts,

Mattias Behrer

in what it is claimed will be the biggest outdoor concert to be held in the city square.

“Götaplatsen is a perfect venue for MTV World Stage due to its scale and its ability to accommodate so many music fans,” says Mattias Behrer, senior vice-president and general manager of MTV Northern Europe.

The square has previously been used to stage the free Gothenburg Culture Festival (cap. 10,000), held this year on 14-19 August and featuring Swedish acts such as J-Son, Daniel Adams-Ray and Mustasch.

Although details of the acts performing and the capacity being used for the event had not been announced as Audience went to press, MTV says the concert will be beamed to 160 territories via 166 TV channels and 550 digital and mobile providers.

Weekend Festival targets younger fans head promoter of RL Concerts, which launched in 2008 and now puts on 15-20 shows annually in Estonia and Finland.

“A festival was on our minds from the start. First we had to get some experience from doing smaller shows and even to get some money for the festival. We’ve got different genres of music in the festival, but they’re all for a younger audience.”

Tickets to the two-stage event are €59 ($79) for one day and €79 ($106) for two days.

world news

finland Organisers of a new 17,500-capacity festival are hoping to fill a gap in the Finnish market at the end of summer.

The Weekend Festival will be held on 17-18 August at Luukki recreational area in Espoo, 25km from Helsinki, and will include international acts such as David Guetta, Skrillex, Hurts and OFWGKTA and local acts such as Haloo Helsinki! And Redrama.

“Finland has a lot of rock festivals, but this is something a bit different,” says John Rugemalira,

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keeping it going all year See pages 22-27

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audience • Issue 148 • May 2012

Former manager is jailed for 18 months united states Leonard Cohen’s former manager Kelley Lynch has been convicted of harassing the singer after repeatedly violating a court order to stop her contacting him.

Cohen said Lynch sent hundreds of emails and left voice messages from February 2011 to January this year, even though he had severed all relationships with her in 2004.

On 12 April, a Los Angeles court convicted Lynch of two counts of leaving or sending harassing or obscene messages and five counts of violating a restraining order.

She was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and placed in an alcohol and anger management programme.

Cohen sued Lynch in 2005, accusing her of stealing $5 million from his personal accounts and investments. A judge granted Cohen a default judgment, ordering Lynch to pay $9.5m, which she has not done.

The Sydney Entertainment Centre

world news

Legendary venue will be demolished in site revamp The 13,000-capacity Sydney australia Entertainment Centre (SEC) will be torn down and replaced by a smaller 8,000-capacity venue, as part of a A$1 billion ($997 million) revamp of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour.

The 30-year-old venue, which has shows

by Radiohead, The Black Keys and Florence & The Machine lined up, will be demolished in November 2013.

Meanwhile the newly-named Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct is expected to open in late 2016, with a stronger focus on conventions and conferences.

Part of the new precinct, owned and operated like SEC by Darling Harbour Convention and Exhibition (DHCE), will be the new 8,000-capacity venue, which the company calls a “red carpet

premium entertainment facility” and which will also open in 2016.

“Over the past 30 years the Sydney Entertainment Centre has staged more than 4,000 concerts, attended by more than 26 million patrons and hosted some of the world’s greatest artistes,” says SEC’s general manager Steve Romer.

“We are very proud of our achievements and delivery of world-class entertainment events.

Our redevelopment, quite simply, is a mark of our success.”

A spokeswoman for DHCE adds, “It’ll continue to be very active for live music within the precinct, as will the conference and exhibition space.”

Acts who have played the arena over the years include U2, The Beach Boys, Elton John, Bob Dylan and Kylie Minogue, with Dire Straits playing 22 nights back-to-back in 1986.

William Morris gets seriously digital Technology private equity UNITED states investment company Silver Lake Partners has purchased about a 31 per cent non-controlling stake of the William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME).

The 2 May deal came on the third anniversary of the merger between William Morris Agency and Endeavor.

“Partnering with Silver Lake aligns WME with the global leader in technology investing and ensures that all of our clients across film, TV, music, literature and other genres can capitalise on the dramatic new opportunities emerging from the digital media revolution,” says a company statement.

WME artistes include Pearl Jam, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Sheryl Crow and Alicia Keys.

12 ROCK | CLASSIC | POP w w w. 1 0 s o p r a n o s . c o m KULTOPOLIS GMBH | Tel: +49 68 61 / 93 99 80 | E-Mail: roland@kultopolis.com | www.kultopolis.com audience • Issue 148 • May 2012

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market focus:

Switzerland

Switzerland Population (million)

Per capita GDP (US$) Internet penetration (%)

7.8 43,500 84.2

Per capita album sales (US$) 20.2 Per capita album sales (units) 3.0 Economic growth (%) 3.7 Currency Swiss franc

market focus: switzerland

Blue Balls Festival

14

With economic gloom permeating most corners of the European Union and a raft of aggressive austerity measures being faced by at least two of its neighbours, the country remains famously neutral and enjoys a surprisingly healthy live music scene. Keith Coles reports

L

30,000-capacity Open Air Gampel andlocked as it is by Germany, festival, which will feature headliners France, Italy, Austria and Foo Fighters, Placebo and Cypress Liechtenstein and being the Hill on 16-19 August, with a four-day world’s 20th largest exporter ticket at 202 francs ($218). of goods, the risk of a financial They also book Das Festival (cap. knock-on effect from the problems 4,500), featuring Mando Diao and of the euro currency counties can’t Rodrigo Y Gabriela on 8-11 August, be underestimated. with tickets at 279 francs ($301) for a However, for the moment, its live Derrick Thomson four-day ticket. music scene is in exceptional good They are lining up shows by acts health and promoters even worry such as Godsmack, Ting Tings and Death Cab that the market might become oversaturated For Cutie at Zurich’s Komplex 457 (2,200), and by concerts and festivals, and possibly coming recently-announced Archive dates. to a head this summer.

With a population of just eight million, pro“All in all, it’s a very healthy market but, in moters are well aware that competition among the summer, the competition is huge and shows can be fierce but, sandwiched between there’s more going on than ever before,” says some the continent’s most influential nations, Derrick Thomson, MD of Winterthur-based Cult Switzerland has the added difficulty of a very Concerts Agency, who promotes with partner unique market.

Marc Lambelet of Lausanne’s Black Lamb It has four official languages and correspondProductions on “around 95 per cent” of shows. ing areas – German-speaking, covering 64 “Events might not do as well as they have per cent of the population and centreing on in the past because of the sheer number of shows,” says Thomson, who adds that the coun- Zurich; French-speaking, comprising 21 per try’s ever-growing festival market puts pressure cent and focused on Geneva and Lausanne; on the pockets of even the most ardent of fans. Italian-speaking, around the city of Lugano and covering 6.5 per cent; and Romansch-speaking, Cult and Black Lamb book acts for the

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

comprising less than 1 per cent of the country.

“The biggest issue, of course, is the economic situation the whole world is facing,” says André Bechir, CEO of the country’s leading promoter Good News Productions, which is majorityowned by German multi-faceted music company Deutsche Entertainment AG (DEAG).

“We don’t know where we’re going. And ticket prices are very high compared to Germany and France because of the strength of the currency.”

Added to this, he says, is the fact that, “If you look at the Swiss festival market nearly every village has its own event. It’s not exactly damaging, but why would you wait to see one band, when you can go and see 10 bands at the same time.”

This year, Good News will promote shows by acts such as Elvis Costello at Zurich’s Kongresshaus (3,000), and Jay Z and Kanye West, and two Lady Gaga dates, at the city’s Hallenstadion (13,000).

The company will also organise the 13,000-capacity Moon and Stars festival in Locarno city square on 5-15 July, featuring acts such as Elton John, Lenny Kravitz and Billy Idol.

Meanwhile, DEAG has helped re-establish

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Basel

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Lausanne Geneva

PRODUCTIONS

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Keeping Music Live in Switzerland since 2006 We would like to thank:

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Tel: +41 21 312 40 60 Fax: +41 21 312 40 59

info@soldoutprod.com www.soldoutprod.com audience • issue 148 • May 2012

market focus: switzerland

the key executives behind veteran promoter Free & Virgin (F&V), after it declared bankruptcy last October.

Backed by DEAG and Swiss publishing company Ringier, Starclick Entertainment is headed by F&V founder Harry Sprenger and colleague Stefan Matthey.

It has already promoted acts such as 3 Doors Down at Eulachhalle (3,500) in Wintherthur and The Cat Empire at Komplex 457.

“We were forced to close down Free & Virgin because we had to finance our other company called OP Outfield, which co-organised the last two Sonisphere festivals,” says Sprenger. “The 2011 event did not sell well enough, therefore we had to put in all the money to be able to keep the festival running.

rise in production costs, we are close to the “After they [DEAG and Ringier] heard that maximum capacity of the market. Soon people Stefan and myself had to close down, they will have to make more choices on what they asked us whether we would be interested in a want to see.” new venture.”

Collaborating with Starclick Entertainment Starclick has upcoming shows by Lynyrd and minor partner Good News, Skynyrd at Eulachhalle, Guns N’ Roses Opus One is organising the Swiss at St Jakobshalle (9,000) in Basel and edition of touring metal festival Blink 182 at Zurich’s Hallenstadion.

Sonisphere (40,000) at YverdonSprenger says the future of the comles-Bains on 30 May, featuring pany is about diversity – something he acts such as Metallica, Slayer and believes is essential for a company to Motörhead. succeed in the Swiss market.

“It will be held for the first time “Starclick wants to present a wider in the French part of Switzerland, variety of artistes and we also want to where more and more shows are get more involved in corporate events,” André Bechir taking place, and that’s partly explains Sprenger. because we have a very international community in Geneva.”

Two in one Other upcoming shows feaCelebrating its 20th anniversary this ture New Kids On The Block and year, Nyon-based Opus One was Backstreet Boys at Geneva Arena created as an independent company (9,500). Last year the company

by Good News and the organisers of staged events by Elton John, Bob Paleo and Montreux festivals, who Dylan and Mark Knopfler, Shakira, wanted a booking and programming and George Michael. division in the French part of the Operating primarily in the French country.

Harry Sprenger part of the country, Live Music It also acts as an agent for internaProduction has promoted around tional artistes, with Good News pulling 1,400 shows in its 20-year history. out of the partnership in 1996.

The firm is part-owned by Tamedia “Major international acts remain media company. popular in both parts of the country, Founder Michael Dreiberg says but some music will do well in Zurich 50 per cent of the company’s outand not in Geneva – there are defiput is live music, with the other half nitely two countries in Switzerland,” consisting of musicals and family says Opus One’s Vincent Sager. entertainment.

“What we can see is that, with the Vincent Sager “French music is obviously very increase in ticket prices through the

15

strong here and the next show we have is Johnny Hallyday who will sell 40,000 tickets – at up to 140 francs [$151] each – at Stade de Genève, but if he played in the German part he would sell only about 1,000 tickets.

“The big, big acts will not come to Geneva, they will play two times in Zurich instead.”

However, Dreiberg says medium-sized acts are increasingly playing in Geneva, “Acts like Lenny Kravitz, who is very popular and can sell 8,000-9,000 tickets, are coming to both parts of the country more and more.

“Also, the big acts have been built up over 40 years, but many new acts won’t be around in 40, because they get replaced by another new one within two or three years. For example, Tokio Hotel played at Stade de Genève in 2010 and sold out within an hour of tickets going on sale, but two years later they’re finished.”

The company also exports Mozart the Rock Opera globally, with shows currently in Korea and Japan and set for Broadway in New York in 2013.

Changing attitudes

them that the artistes who are play“Always the first goal is to grow the ing concerts in Zurich should also French part of the territory and in the do shows in Lausanne or Geneva to future to be able to promote shows in cover the whole country,” he says. the German part, or at least to collaboThis year the company will rate with partners in the German part,” promote club shows by acts such as says Soldout CEO Julien Rouyer.

Ayo at D! Club (800) and Shaka Ponk “For every 10 artistes playing Zurich at Les Docks (1,000), and Archive at one of them will play in Geneva, while the Auditorium Stravinski (3,500) in most of the artistes playing Geneva Montreux.

Arena come from France or the French Michael Dreiberg Rouyer says club shows, with avermarket.”

Rouyer says international acts will often only age ticket prices of 30-40 francs ($32-43), help encourage smaller French acts, but that 1,000 to perform in the French part of the country dur3,000-capacity shows are few and far between. ing the June to August festival season.

The company also books indoor music “We keep pushing the agents and saying to

market focus: switzerland

Also operating within the French part of the country is Lausanne’s Soldout Productions, which was founded in 2006 to promote shows in the Lake of Geneva region.

Its shareholders include long-time partners Black Lamb’s Marc Lambelet and Cult Concerts’ Derrick Thomson.

The Strokes at Paleo

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www.audience.uk.com 11.05.12 09:54

Festival frenzy

With a disproportionately large number of established festivals held every year, considering the country’s modest population, the sector is surprisingly buoyant - and where the bulk of international acts appear.

Bern-based Appalooza Productions will promote the 29th annual Gurtenfestival (20,000) on 12-15 July, with performances by Lenny Kravitz, Norah Jones and Snow Patrol. Tickets are 200 francs ($216) for a four-day pass.

“It seems that the festival sector is growing every year and yet we are selling out faster than ever,” says organiser Philippe Cornu.

“There are new events created by people with a lot of passion and there are a few new events created by people with money, and we hope it’s the people with spirit who will have the chance to continue their work – the same way we started.”

Cornu offers a word of warning for promoters and festival organisers, however.

“The Swiss market has definitely been overplayed in the last few years. People are not willing to spend the money for acts they have seen three times already in the last four years.

Promoters have to be creative to keep their

audience.” Meanwhile, Incubus, Deadmau5, but now it starts at the end of May and lasts Mumford & Sons and Ed Sheeran will be until September,” says Paleo spokesman among the acts playing the 36th Open Air St Christophe Platel.

Gallen (30,000) on 28 June-1 July.

“We try to work together with other festivals Festival organiser Christof Huber says tickets that are on the same day as us. On the other to the event are selling quicker than in the prehand, everybody’s looking for the big acts so vious 10 years, seven of which were sell-outs. the competition will always be there.”

“From what I hear from other festivals, Blue Balls Music director Urs Leierer agrees sales are really promising,“ says Huber, but that festival organisers must think smarter in he adds, “The competion over the summer the current climate. in Switzerland is starting to become “Our audiences are high and ridiculous and I don’t know where it tickets selling well, but in my will end. opinion there are too many events “For 2012, there are around five new happening and not everyone will festivals, plus three to four stadiums have ticket sales that give them a shows.“ breakeven,” he says.

A four-day pass to the four-stage “Also, there are a lot of smaller festival costs 193 francs ($208), with and not as well-established festivals a one-day ticket priced at 88 francs that come and go, and there are ($95). some people who pay incredible Philippe Cornu fees that are far away from reality, which are Expanding season bad for the market.”

Now in its 37th year, the The company’s 20th 40,000-capacity Paleo festival Blue Balls Festival, in Nyon will present artistes held in Lucerne on 20-28 such as Sting, Lenny Kravitz, July, will feature Mika, The Cure and Manu Chao Paulo Nutini and Kaiser on 17-22 July. Tickets are 65 Chiefs. francs ($70) a day.

The event, which “We used to have a small includes a series of festival season which started Philippe Cornu free concerts by in July and ended in August,

‘

The festival sector is growing every year and yet we are selling out faster than ever

‘

festival Metropop (2,000) in Lausanne, set for 10-12 November in this its 12th year. Acts appearing will include Kaiser Chiefs and Raggasonic.

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audience • issue 148 • May 2012

market focus: switzerland

upcoming shows

17

international artistes and local acts, servicing concerts and corporate events. The company has worked with most of the country’s live music promoters and artistes such as Celine Dion and Eliana Burki.

Bürli says a current trend is for the country’s up-and-coming acts to embrace traditional Swiss music and build it into their own material, but he adds that many festivals seem too mainstream to support it.

“Events like Paleo take on different kinds of music, but with others the line-up remains much the same year after year,” adds Bürli.

Premium events

Das Festival

market focus: switzerland

up-and-coming acts, is held at the 5,000-capacity open air Pavilion, 1,000-capacity Club Schweizerhof and the KKL – featuring 2,000, 1,500 and 250-capacity spaces. Tickets cost between 50 and 90 francs ($54-97).

Also observing that the festival season is bordering on saturation is Daniele Bürli, general manager of booking agency Viston AG. “Switzerland is packed with festivals – you can start in June and by the end of August you could have visited a festival every week,” he says.

Established in 1963, Viston has booked everything from orchestras to

18

we are looking forward to all the artists joining us this summer! foo fighters, mando diao, snow patrol, eodm, placebo, cypress hill, the ting tings, ayo, godsmack, naturally 7, the subways, bush, rodrigo y gabriela, death cab for cutie, t. mills, milow, roger hodgson, yodelice, nada surf, katzenjammer, deichkind, all time low, famara, silbermond, chiddy bang, beatsteaks, alex clare, fat freddy’s drop, the hives, the joy formidable, twin atlantic, dick brave, triggerfinger, mark lanegan band, bassnectar and many more www.cult-agency.ch audience • issue 148 • May 2012

www.blacklamb.ch

“I think we’re in a very good position,” says Session Basel president Matthias Muller, who organises the multi-concert Avo Sessions, held from 26 October-15 November at the 1,500-capacity Musical Theater Basel.

“There aren’t many people who organise shows at this time of year and so perhaps the competition isn’t so great. Of course our job is still to convince an act to come over.”

In its 27-year history, the event has featured artistes such as Joe Cocker, Pink, Status Quo, Tom Jones and Kelly Rowland. Since its 12th year, concerts have been broadcast by TV channels around the world – something Muller admits is a huge attraction for international acts, adding, “We can motivate people to come over just for one show and then go back home.”

With the importance of securing sponsorship, which Muller says accounts for more than half of the event’s funding, ticket prices have to be kept at Urs Leierer a reasonable level to maintain audiences.

“It is important for us and the people who fund us that the ticket prices are affordable,” adds Muller, who has not yet announced ticket prices for this year’s events.

Keeping prices at an affordable level is also key to maintaining the relative prosperity of the market, according to the body that represents concert promoters.

The Swiss Music Promoters Association (SMPA) has 29 members, which account for around 80 Stefan Breitenmoser per cent of the concert and festival market in the country, grossing in excess of 281 million francs ($300m) in 2011.

SMPA director Stefan Breitenmoser says most promoters are now aware that they have hit the ceiling for ticket prices.

“The average ticket price, the SMPA calculates, is around 84 francs ($91). Most of the promoters have realised that ticket prices have reached a level which they should not exceed, if we want to sell as Matthias Muller many tickets as we do now,” says Breitenmoser.

“We must not destroy the market with higher ticket prices or too many concerts and festivals. I have heard that the established festivals and some stadium shows are selling well, but there are some stadium shows, like Madonna [promoted by Good News], for which you can still buy tickets.”

The unique situation in which Switzerland finds itself, surrounded by eurozone countries but not sharing their currency, is summed up by Bechir.

“We’re a small country, we have three languages and we have three different cultures, so it can be complicated.

“Ticket prices are too high and it’s down to the agents, managers and artistes,” he says. “If you have a top artiste, people will come to see them, of course but, at the other end, bands will suffer if too much money is taken out of the market by the big players.

“We still have good customers and a healthy country. We just don’t know how the economic situation will affect us.”

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Production news Black Keys take Digico on first arena outing WORLD Since achieving mainstream success in 2010, The Black Keys have invested in their own production equipment for their first global arena tour this year, including a Digico audio console for front of house and monitor positions.

The band are performing extensively across North America, Europe and Australia, at venues such as Revel’s Ovation Hall (cap.

4,550) in Minneapolis, US, Toronto’s Molson Canadian Amphitheatre (16,000) and Australia’s Sydney

Jason Tarulli

Entertainment Centre (13,250).

The audio desks were specified

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Dubai-based distributor and technical production company TechnoPro has been appointed exclusive Middle East distribution partner by Barco-owned lighting products manufacturer High End Systems (HES).

Celebrating its 10th year of business, TechnoPro has established itself supplying national celebrations and events, such as Oman’s month-long Muscat Festival, and opened a branch in Qatar.

As part of its sales strategy, the company will provide training in HES’s Wholehog consoles, the Axon Media Server and Technospot and intellaspot fixtures to professionals.

“Our goal is to create more certified technicians in the region and to assist customers to understand the details of HES’s technologies,” says TechnoPro CEO Nabil Bourgeili.

LIGHTING

monitors, supplied by Clevelandbased distributor Eighth Day Sound.

“Eighth Day invited me to have some hands-on time with the new SD10.

“I wanted to be confident with the functionality of the board and needed a multitrack recording of each show,” says Tarulli.

“I am a huge fan of flexibility but I still rely on presets for all of the built-in comps and gates as well as the Waves plug-ins.”

De Effenaar in lighting switch netherlands Multi-purpose music and arts venue De Effenaar in Eindhoven has replaced its stock of moving lighting in its main hall with Robin fixtures by lighting manufacturer Robe.

The venue complex boasts three performance areas; a 1,300-capacity hall, a theatre (cap. 400) and a café (100).

With shows by Elvis Costello, Joan Armatrading and Dio scheduled this year, De Effenaar’s technical manager Charles Konings sourced 16 Robin 600

spots and 24 Robin MMX spots from Robe’s Benelux distributor, Controllux.

“The decision was made

Charles Konings and Natasha Von Haaften

through a combination of our good relationship with Controllux and the quality of Robe compared to other brands,” says Konings. “We’ve seen Robe penetrating the market and becoming prevalent in venues as well as in rental company stocks.

That gave us real confidence.”

The Robin 600s are rigged on the over-stage trusses and the MMXs on a box truss over the audience, where their effects can make an impact for dance events.

Freelance lighting designer Natasha Von Haaften, who works at the venue, says, “The new Robes are fast, have good colourmixing and are completely versatile. With the zoom out and the frost filter they can even mimic a wash source.”

E S A C IDE U G W S S O INE H

www.showcase-music.com

production news

TechnoPr becomes High End dealer

by The Black Keys’ long-standing sound engineer Jason Tarulli, who worked with a variety of desks throughout the group’s early career.

“I never knew what audio kit I would get from day-to-day in those days,” he says. “Then I got behind a Digico desk at a Cleveland show in 2009 and immediately wanted to see more. It was a welcome moment of clarity in a mess of flavour-of-the-day consoles.”

Now he is using a Digico SD 10 at front of house, with an SD 8 on

S BUS C I S U THE M

VISIT WWW.SHOWCASE-MUSIC.COM FOR UP-TO-DATE LIVE EVENT CONTACTS, ALL YEAR ROUND. STAGING

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

PA HIRE

SECURITY

CATERING

TRUCKING

CREWING

INSURANCE

DRAPES

RIGGING

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Newsbites INDIA Loud Technologies, owner of audio brands such as Mackie, EAW, Ampeg and Martin Audio, has appointed two distributors as part of what it calls aggressive growth plans in the territory.

Bangalore-based E&E Systems will handle distribution for Mackie, while Mumbai-based Vardhaman will handle EAW. They join with existing Ampeg distributor Musik City as Loud’s national sales force.

“The Indian market is as dynamic as its rich musical culture,” says Loud CEO Mark Graham.

Gaskell goes Orbital with Colour Sound UNITED KINGDOM Veteran electronic dance duo Orbital needed a lighting rig that complemented the relatively intricate video presentation on their UK tour.

According to lighting designer Jonny Gaskell, the setup needed to be bold and straightforward for shows at venues including Manchester Academy (cap 2,300), the O2 Academy Glasgow (2,500) and London’s Royal Albert Hall (5,250).

He asked Colour Sound Experiment to provide the rig, which featured a mixture of intelligent lighting fixtures including 13 GLP impression Spot Ones, 25 impression Zooms and 13 Clay Paky Sharpies, plus a range of strobes and blinders.

“Colour Sound’s kit and attitude are great,” says Gaskell.

“I get premium service every time.”

The lighting was mounted on three overhead trusses, of which the rear truss also held the video wall, a WinVision 18mm pitch surface supplied by Chaos Visuals.

Gaskell says it was the first time he has used Sharpies, which he enhanced by using a number of Colour Sound’s laser bounce mirrors clamped to surfaces on the stage.

He operated the show with his own Chamsys MagicQ lighting console.

Nicholson converts to Pro2C for Jessie dates AUSTRALASIA The portability of Midas’s Pro2C audio console convinced Jessie J’s production team to use it on the singer’s Australian and South East Asian dates, according to monitor engineer Jimmy Nicholson.

The tour visited venues such as Malaysia’s Sunway Lagoon Club (cap. 2,200) in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore Indoor Stadium (12,000) and Australia’s Festival Hall (5,450) in Melbourne and Riverstage (9,000) in Brisbane, Audio for the shows was initially set up on a Midas XL8, before being loaded onto the manufacturer’s Pro6 model for dates in the UK last year. From there, the settings were transferred to the Pro2C for the most recent performances.

“The Pro2C met all my requirements,” says Nicholson. “I found the layout, including the new shortcut buttons, easier than the Pro6. It’s amazing that almost all the processing power of a Pro6 can be squeezed into such a small console.”

USA Audio manufacturer A-Designs has launched a single rack space pre-amp, the Ventura, inspired by the vintage sound of the 1970s Quad Eight console.

The Ventura is a version of the company’s JM-3001 mic preamp and, says A-Design’s Peter Montess, “Produces the detail and depth that one would expect from high quality analogue gear.”

production news

Orbital

The Midas Pro2C

RUSSIA A newly-formed company headed by audio specialist Igor Verkolat, Sonoruss, has become a certified provider of L-Acoustics systems to the region.

“Russia is an exciting market for us and we have noticed a huge increase in enquiries,” says L-Acoustics sales manager Peter Owen. “Igor and his team have big ambitions for L-Acoustics and we will be fully supporting his plans.”

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audience • issue 148 • May 2012

Download

special feature

Keeping it going all year 22

Its launch and name signified a new age for festivals, and its focus on maintaining an online relationship with its audience all year round helped the UK’s Download through some tough times. A decade later, and that bond with its core fans is even stronger, as Christopher Barrett reports

S

ince its inception in 2003, Download has grown to become one of the biggest festivals in the world and the second largest in the UK after Glastonbury (cap. 150,000).

A tight-knit team at promoter Live Nation (LN) has successfully harnessed the passionate Download audience’s energy for the past 10 years, both at the festival itself and online throughout the year.

As a result Download has grown from a two-day, two-stage event into a three-day, five-stage festival that can accommodate up to 120,000 people.

On 8-10 June at Donington Park motor

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

racing circuit in the West Midlands, Download will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a lineup that includes Black Sabbath, Metallica, The Prodigy, BiffyClyro and Soundgarden.

In that decade, the festival has not only survived but thrived despite a huge rise in the number of festivals and the onset of widespread economic uncertainty.

Key to Download’s development has been the LN team’s commitment to listening and learning from its audience 24/7, 365 days a year.

LN chief operating officer and Download festival director John Probyn communicates with fans on a daily basis, via an online forum

that has 62,000 registered users.

He also makes use of social media applications tied to Download’s award-winning website.

“We have an amazing online forum where we have thousands of fans who on a daily basis discuss thousands of topics,” says Probyn. “I have built up a really good relationship with them. You can go on there and ask what they want; it’s like having free market research.”

Since the festival’s launch, digital interactivity has been very much at the heart of the Download concept, as its title suggests.

The man responsible for branding the festival is former MD of LN UK Stuart Galbraith www.audience.uk.com

John Probyn and Hannah Farnham

ng i t a r Celeb de of a a deC oad l n w o d

www.audience.uk.com

performed at the event. It was a scheme that would prove short-lived.

“There are so many people out there offering downloads, it is not the priority for us. We just concentrate on offering a great line-up,” says Probyn.

Overseeing the line-up each year is LN senior vice-president of music Andy Copping, who like Probyn and Galbraith, helped launch Download.

Despite LN overseeing numerous festivals throughout the world, Copping says that there is no block booking.

“We book all our festivals on an individual basis. Occasionally we communicate with each other to exchange ideas, but there is no group booking,” says Copping.

Monsters of Rock established Donington Park as the home of rock, but Copping says the Download brand has helped attract a broader range of rock fans and artistes.

“Monsters of Rock had pigeon-holed itself because certain bands didn’t want to play a festival with that title. It worked perfectly in the ‘80s, but with the advent of bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana in the ‘90s, it didn’t fit,” says Copping.

special feature

who now heads Kilimanjaro Live. Originally a partner in promoter MCP (acquired by LN predecessor SPX Entertainment in 1999), Galbraith helped run the Monsters of Rock festival at Donington from 1980 through to 1996, and wanted to create a modern rock festival brand that would appeal to a new generation of artistes and fans.

“I chose the name Download because it was not genre or location-specific, so it was transportable musically and geographically,” says Galbraith, whose company now co-owns touring festival Sonisphere.

But his decision had swift repercussions.

It was 1993, the age of Napster and other unscrupulous online operators, and Download was a dirty word in the recorded music business.

“The CEO of every record company contacted me to ask what the hell I was doing launching something called Download. The name just signaled the festival would be digitally orientated,” says Galbraith.

To lend the festival a face, the Download Dog mascot was created and used early on as a method of delivering messages digitally.

Fans who signed up to receive Download information had it delivered on their desktops via the Dog. LN senior marketing manager Marcus Thistleton remembers,“It would begin barking and reveal the latest batch of bands added to the bill. With everyone at Live Nation registered on the system, you can imagine how loud it was in the offices when we made an announcement.”

The first Download attracted around 24,000 people and saw the introduction of an initiative enabling them to use a code on their tickets to download recordings of live sets

23 www.showsec.co.uk

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

about how to improve the festival, He is understandably proud including what kind of bands to of the diversity of this year’s bill, book. We put a lot of time and which features genre and era-stradresources into utilising that facility,” dling acts such as Black Sabbath, says Copping.

Chase & Status, Metallica, Slash, While a full-time member of the You Me At Six and Rise Against. e-commerce team at LN oversees the “I try to create a decent mix of Download forum, there are a numbands from across the board. Black ber of fans of the festival that have Sabbath have been around for Andy Copping volunteered to act as moderators and decades and that’s us tipping our keep an eye out for hat to the old Monsters anything that Probyn of Rock days, but and his team may be they sit comfortably interested in. alongside newer acts,” Meanwhile a team says Copping. of 10 at LN deliver the When it comes to Download website, selecting acts, Copping Twitter feeds and says he keeps his Facebook and YouTube finger on the pulse by content. regularly speaking with Download’s YouTube agents, managers and Andy Copping material has attracted the media, but he also 2.3m views, it has 66,000 Twitter followers and utilises a team of tastemakers. the Facebook pages have more than 320,000 “They are a group of young enthusiastic likes, something that online content manager music fans that keep me up to date on what’s Duncan La Barre is particularly proud of. hot and what’s not,” says Copping.

“We’ve grown the likes on Facebook from a very small number to one of the largest Inside track Facebook pages for a festival in the world, Another key resource for Copping is with the platform now a key marketing tool,” Download’s online fan forum. says La Barre.

“It provides a direct line to the potential Since the advent of Twitter and rise of ticket-buyer. We are always asking questions

‘

24

‘

special feature

Everyone involved in the festival is a real music fan, we are all very passionate about what we do

Leading artistes to 2003

2004

2005

2006

Iron Maiden Marilyn Manson Sepultura Chimaira Evanesence Apocolyptica Funeral for a Friend NO FX

Black Sabbath Velvet Revolver Megadeth Anthrax Garbage Mastodon My Chemical Romance

Metallica Linkin Park Slipknot Iggy and The Stooges Slayer Korn Machine Head

Metallica Guns N’ Roses Korn Prodigy Funeral For A Friend Deftones Bullet For My Valentine Cradle Of Filth

Facebook, Copping and Probyn have had to divide their time between the channels, but there is an emphasis on the Download forum as it allows in-depth discussion.

Probyn says that the intensity of his online interactivity with the audience has led to numerous frank exchanges, but also to the kind of loyalty that has helped the event ride

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audience • issue 148 • May 2012

www.audience.uk.com

have played Download: 2007

2008

2010

2011

Iron Maiden Mötley Crüe Megadeth Marilyn Manson Dream Theater Korn Machine Head Evanescence

AC/DC Aerosmith Megadeath Rage Against The Machine Def Leppard Deftones Motörhead Napalm Death

KISS Judas Priest Motorhead Kid Rock The Offspring Bullet For My Valentine H.I.M.

Alice Cooper Linkin Park System Of A Down Cheap Trick Alter Bridge Blackstone Cherry The Cult Skunk Anansie

out even the toughest of years.

“The forum is one of the main driving forces behind the success of Download. We have had years where we haven’t had a strong line-up and we have still done 50,000 people because of the loyalty of our fans,” says Probyn.

Copping admits that since Download’s launch, the increase in artiste fees and

2009

Faith No More ZZ Top Def Leppard Limp Bizkit

Marilyn Manson Whitesnake Slipknot Killswitch Engage

Download

competition from a burgeoning festival market has made it ever more challenging to secure the perfect line-up.

“The competition is fierce and some festivals have failed because of the economic downturn.

Band fees have gone through the ceiling – some acts behave as if there isn’t a downturn out there,” he says. “It is very hard for every

festival, regardless of the market you are targeting, to put a bill together that is going to work. We have to pay top dollar.”

Unrealistic riders have plagued the live music business for decades, but Copping says bands at Download tend to be more understanding than most and the LN team does everything possible to accommodate artiste requirements.

“We look after 120 bands over the weekend, that’s a lot of people to take care of. We do everything we can to make sure their experience is comfortable because we want them to tell other bands what a fantastic experience they had, and come back.

“Yes it’s expensive and can be a pain in the arse, but you have to do it, otherwise you fall by the wayside,” says Copping.

With 95,000 fans expected for the 10th edition, and LN reporting strong ticket sales, it appears that there is little chance of Download falling by any wayside any time soon. Not least as some fans are willing to pay well over the £190 weekend ticket price.

Among new elements this year is the RIP Hotel, a VIP option providing a luxurious home for affluent fans.

There have been VIP facilities at Download from the outset, even a luxurious tour bus that punters could hire for a princely £16,000, but the 20-room hotel is a new facility and the £1,930 room packages have nearly sold

special feature

Congratulations to John, Hannah and all our friends at Live Nation for 10 great years of Download

25

All the best for another ten years! From Mobbers and all the Stage Audio family www.stageaudioservices.com www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

Staging the show Key elements Security – Simon Battersby, Showsec “Download has a very high-energy crowd – we see up to 2,500 people come over the crash barrier during a single act.”

Concessions – Jonathan Lewis Stephen Freeman Concessions “It is a unique festival that has stayed true to the fans because the organisers pay an enormous amount of attention to them.”

Staging – Phil Addyman, Star Events “Download caters from a niche market, but appeals to all age groups by presenting acts from across the spectrum of rock genres.”

special feature

Download

out. “Think Twilight Zone and you can guess what it will be like, all the staff will be dressed up as characters,” says Probyn, who plans to make more hotel rooms available next year.

“The great thing about the Download audience is that they really buy into the format.

The bands are important but so is everything else,” he says.

With Download’s success founded on the creation of an overall festival experience that the fans want to return to again and again, sponsorship opportunities are only made available to brands that add value to the festival environment.

Past years have seen Snickers provide a skateboard and BMX show and Red Bull introduce a Spanish stunt motorcycle circus.

This year Red Bull is hosting the Bedroom Jam stage for unsigned acts and Jägermeister will use its JägerRock Truck as an acoustic stage.

Other brands hosting stages are Pepsi Max and Zippo, the latter taking over the second stage for the first time this year.

Vodafone will help fans organise their weekend via a mobile app with features including up-to-date stage line-ups and a detailed map of the festival that pinpoints the user’s location.

“We have had some brilliant sponsors

that have added to the festival, but there is no headline stage sponsor, we have never given that to a brand,” says Hannah Farnham, another LN executive who has worked on Download since the start.

This year Download’s main stage will be renamed in honour of Jim Marshall following the recent death of the guitar amp innovator.

For Copping it was the obvious thing to do.

“Most bands use or have used Marshall amps and it seemed fitting,” he says.

While the main stage and Download’s entire infrastructure have shifted location within Donington Park a number of times, they have now found a natural home.

For many years the festival took place in the old Monsters of Rock infield site within the historic racetrack, before failed attempts by thenowner Donington Ventures Leisure to host Formula One led the festival to be relocated to a car park area to the West of the site.

“It didn’t have the right feel about it, mainly because it was on tarmac – I don’t think anyone liked it, from the management team to the fans,” says Farnham.

In 2009, Download moved to its current greenfield location south of the circuit where the festival has been given space to grow.

“We can go up to 120,000 people in the

Communications – Charlie Brownridge CBA/Spindlewood “The Live Nation team are willing to embrace new technologies and evolve as a business and the people that go to Download have evolved and grown with them.”

Charlie Brownridge

Catering – Mary Shelly Smith Eat To The Beat “I can’t believe it is 10 years! We have worked at the festival since the beginning.

It’s a nice site and never muddy, at least where we are…”

PR – Bernard Doherty, LD Communications “One of the main reasons that LD as an event PR company has grown and developed, is due to 10 years of doing Download festival.”

Bernard Doherty

netherlands +31 (30) 242 82 00 info.nl@mojobarriers.com

26

check our website for rental distributors

united Kingdom united states international +44 (1708) 687 440 +1 (717) 664 0158 +31 (30) 242 82 00 info.uk@mojobarriers.com info.us@mojobarriers.com info.int@mojobarriers.com

Foo Fighters, Milton Keynes 2011

worldwide crowd control solutions audience • issue 148 • May 2012

www.audience.uk.com

a Metallica CD in a portakabin and Download site for the past went on stage and did three or four three years, reports crime numbers each before swapping over. has fallen significantly in “They kept going for about an recent years. hour and 20 minutes. By the time Low points aside, there Metallica came off it was front-page have been many highs news across the internet. That was a in Download’s history fantastic time. We went from being and few can forget the terrified we were about to have a 2005 festival, not least Simon Battersby riot to one of those moments where John Probyn. He recalls people say ‘I was at Donington the being back stage before year…’”

Metallica were due to play their headline slot Probyn, Copping and Farnham together when the news broke that their drummer Lars with many of the festival’s suppliers have been Ulrich had been taken ill and hadn’t made the at Donington every year since Download flight. started.

“We were faced with 80,000 people in the Copping believes it is that kind of loyalty arena waiting for the band to come on,” he that sets the event apart. “Everyone involved recalls. “We had a rushed meeting in the in the festival is a real music fan. We are all production village, word got around and the very passionate about what we do and the drummers of Slipnot and Slayer offered to fill quality of what we deliver,” he says. in. They had a quick impromptu rehearsal with Geoff Gorringe of Eve Trakway, which supplies Download’s thousands of metres of temporary roadway, walkways and mesh fencing, says that once everyone is on site it feels like one big family.

“One year there were problems getting the litter cleared out of the arena and we all picked up litter alongside John [Probyn] and his team. It doesn’t matter what your title is, we all pull toward the same goal.”

John Probyn

‘

The [online] forum is one of the main driving forces behind the success of Download

‘

arena and 80,000 in the camp site,” says Probyn. “With AC/DC in 2010, we went over 100,000 but I am not sure I would want 120,000 people on site. It was comfortable-ish for AC/DC”.

The majority of fans immerse themselves in the full festival experience and day tickets represent only John Probyn five per cent of sales.

Many arrive as the gates open at midday on Wednesday, two full days before the music starts in the arena.

As a result, Probyn says the emphasis is on entertaining the audience in both the arena and campsite.

“We try and cram in as much as possible, you have to entertain people otherwise you start getting problems,” he says.

Download has enjoyed a relatively troublefree history. But in 2006, it broke out with acts of arson taking place in the campsite after an incident-filled Guns N’ Roses set.

“That was a real low point and slap in the face for all of us. We’d had three years of great festivals,” says Farnham.

After the skirmishes in 2006, Probyn and his team met with police and security teams and there have been relatively few incidents since. In fact, Showsec’s Simon Battersby, who has overseen security across the entire

special feature 27

www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

It happens right here!

zurich‘s number 1 venue Live

CapaCity 2000

Upcoming Shows:

death cab for cutie the ting tings m83 die antwoord gogol bordello social distortion the hives

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The details shown below have been compiled from information provided to Audience and whilst we make every reasonable effort to ensure accuracy, we cannot be held responsible if data is incorrect

Dates

Country, City

Event

May 22-26 Singapore, Music Matters

Millenia

Information Tel: +852 2167 8040 www.musicmatters.asia

Music Matters is the pioneer music industry event in the Asia Pacific region and is a gathering of key players in the global music industry.

May 23-25 Ibiza, IMS 2012 Tel: +34 971 399 276

Ibiza Town www.internationalmusicsummit.com The International Music Summit returns to Ibiza on the last week of May, for its fifth annual gathering. IMS has been created by BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong and leading professionals to help re-set the agenda for electronic music culture.

Jul 11-13 USA, Ticket Summit

Las Vegas

T +1 860 416 5767 www.TicketSummit.org

Ticket Summit is the leading ticket conference and trade show for live entertainment professionals. It shall Include panel sessions, keynote addresses and networking events.

Sep 9-12 UK, PLASA 2010

London

T +44 207 370 8662 www.plasashow.com

International event attracting buyers and specifiers within the entertainment, event, corporate, architectural and installation industries from all over the world.

Sep 20-22 Germany,

Hamburg

Reeperbahn Festival & Campus

T +49 40 43 17 9590

www.campus.reeperbahnfestival.com Germany’s largest club festival and conference for the music and live entertainment industry. Unusual locations, interesting panels and new forms of cross-company exchange make Reeperbahn Festival a fixture for all professionals of the creative industries.

Sep 20-23 Russia, Music Moscow

Sokolniki

T +7 495 380 24 82 www.musicmoscow.ru

Dates

Country, City

events

Event

Information

concert promoters, agents, managers, artists and other related entertainment professionals. IEBA provides networking, showcasing and educational opportunities to strengthen relationships, foster growth and increase revenue for the live entertainment industry.

Oct 9-10

UK, LIVE UK Summit London

T +44 20 7224 2442 www.liveuksummit.com

The sixth year of the UK’s only comprehensive live music industry conference.

Bringing together promoters, festival organisers, venue operators, agents, managers, brands and many more.

Oct 16-20 USA,

New York

CMJ Music Tel: +1 917 606 1908 Marathon Conference www.cmj.com

College Music Journal’s influential conference and showcase event, with keynote speakers, debating sessions, exhibition area and live performances.

Oct 17-21 Netherlands, Amsterdam Dance Event T +31 35 621 8748 Amsterdam www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl The worlds biggest club festival and conference for electronic and dance music.

Aimed at European labels, publishers, agents, managers, artistes and DJs. Oct 17-21 Denmark, WOMEX

Copenhagen

Tel: +49 30 3186 1430 www.womex.com

The biggest conference, trade fair and showcase festival exclusively dedicated to world, roots, folk, ethnic, traditional, local and Diaspora music of all kinds.

Oct 18-21 Finland,

Tampere

Music & Media T +35 82 0730 2230 Finland www.musiikkimedia.fi

With its 22nd edition ahead, the annual Finnish music industry bash Music & Media is again looking to gather together more than 700 music business professionals.

With the partner showcase festival Lost In Music boasting around 100 upcoming acts each year.

The largest exhibition of music instruments, professional audio and lighting equipment and technologies in Russia and its surrounding territories.

Oct 25-26 France,

Paris

Oct 1-3 UAE, Dubai Light Middle East 2012

MaMA is a music and convention festival in Paris for the international music industry, offering a gateway to the French music market. MaMA is a place to meet and exchange for all music industry sector.

T +97 1 4338 0102 www.lightme.net

Established trade fair for lighting, spotlighting innovative product development, current design trends and invaluable technical know-how.

Oct 7-9

USA, IEBA Conference Nashville

Tel: +1 615 251 9000 www.ieba.org

IEBA was founded in 1970 as a non-profit trade organisation for talent buyers,

MaMA Tel: +331 42 38 40 49 Event www.mama-event.com

Oct 26-29 USA, 133rd AES Convention Tel: +1 212 661 8528

San Francisco www.aes.org/events

It’s tim e for a little less conversati o n!

Jef, Best wishes for a long and enjoyable retirement.

You deserve your days in the sun.

From all your friends at SMG in Europe and America. www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

events

Largest gathering of audio professionals and enthusiasts on the globe, attracting delegates from over 100 countries worldwide.

29

Jef Hanlon plays a Telecaster

special feature

Living the dream 30

He started his career trying to play like Elvis Presley’s guitarist James Burton and closed it playing alongside the guitar legend. In between, Jef Hanlon became an agent, artiste manager and promoter – often all three at once. Having just retired, Hanlon looks back on a 50-year career, as Johnny Black reports

J

ef Hanlon has been a presence at the heart of rock ‘n’ roll for almost as long as rock ‘n’ roll has existed.

“When I was playing guitar in bands in the early ‘60s,” he reflects, “My favourite guitarist was James Burton who played with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Ricky Nelson.”

He could not have dreamed then that at the end of a long, rich and varied career, he would find himself playing on the same stage as his idol.

Born Jeffrey Hanlon in Blackpool, UK, in 1943, he became fascinated by guitars at the age of 12, and started doodling his name on his school workbooks as Jef, “Because it looked more like Jet, as in Jet Harris of The Shadows.”

There was little question that he was destined for anywhere other than the music business and Jef Hanlon even one of his first bands, the

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

Manchester-based Mr Smith And Sum People, found him mingling with future megastars.

“We played with The Beatles several times,” says Hanlon, “but when we supported them at The Floral Hall in Southport, they blew our minds. They’d just come back from Hamburg.

“Like a lot of bands, Sum People looked more like Cliff Richard and The Shadows, with mohair suits, Fender Stratocasters and Vox amps with echo units,” he remembers. “The Beatles looked like thugs in denim jeans, leather jackets and roll-neck sweaters and they used dodgy Rickenbackers and funny-looking Gretsch guitars with Ampeg amps and no echo. It was a much more raw sound and we adopted it soon after.”

After a particularly gruelling European tour in 1965, Sum People split and Hanlon bumped into an old Mancunian acquaintance, the pop singer Wayne Fontana, who needed a van and driver

to pick up some Vox amps from Dartford near London.

“I had the band’s old van and picking up his gear led to me becoming Wayne’s road manager.”

At this point, Hanlon still dreamed of playing guitar in a top band but, instead, his diligence and resourcefulness landed him a job at the agency which handled Fontana’s affairs, Kennedy Street Enterprises, now a major national promoter.

Kennedy Street founder Danny Betesh fondly remembers his early association with Hanlon.

“He was very good with paying attention to detail and keeping expenses down. We enjoyed success together with all the projects we worked on, then and ever since, but while he was with us back then, he soon moved on from Wayne Fontana to another of our acts, Herman’s Hermits.”

www.audience.uk.com

What others say…

Peter Aiken, Aiken Promotions, Ireland “My relationship with Jef goes back to the ‘70s and what struck me most then was that, even when Ireland was going through its worst times, he would always bring his acts in to play in Belfast. We did Rod Stewart, Don Mclean, and BB King with Jef in those times, and he was always at the shows as well.

I’d acknowledge him as one of the Peter Aiken greats.”

Colin Revel, SMG/Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, UK

“I met Jef 16 years ago when he started to put shows in the arena. He has a wealth of experience and a manner and attitude that makes you really want to help him make the events successful.”

Rune Lem, Live Nation Norway

“Having worked with Jef for almost as long as I can remember on acts such as BB King, Crusaders, Don McLean and many Rune Lem more, I’m pleased to say that he has always been a real gentleman, a man of his word and someone who worked very hard.”

Karsten Jahnke, Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion, Germany

“Jef is a real music man, a nice human being and a very fair business man. Over the years we have worked together on many projects.”

special feature

“I made terrific money with the Hermits,” explains Hanlon. “£50 [$81}a week and expenses, and was soon driving a flash MG Midget sports car - but I was always away from home. By 1969 I felt I wasn’t getting anywhere.”

Along the way he had formed a firm friendship with Vic Billings, best-known as Dusty Springfield’s manager, who invited him to join his company in With the Everly Brothers London.

“I’ll never forget the last often quite a few people waiting for us.” show I did with The Hermits,” grins Hanlon.

This was when Barrie Marshall of Marshall “It was a Royal Command Performance at the Arts, now global promoter for artistes such London Palladium in 1970. Max Bygraves was as Paul McCartney and George Michael, first out in front giving the band a big build up encountered him. when the fuse on the bass amp plug blew.”

“Jef has many admirable characteristics,” says He got a message to the stage manager Marshall. “Firstly he was very honourable when who signalled Bygraves to stall for time while it came to financial aspects and he fought Hanlon, uncomfortably conscious that the hard for his artistes. He was also extremely Queen was waiting, frantically stripped the hands-on, always at shows checking on the plug and stuck the two bare wires into the production, the promoter and the audience plugboard. “I spent the entire set crouched reaction.” behind the speakers holding those wires in the London’s West End has always been home socket, praying it wouldn’t blow up.” to a host of artistes and industry people and Days later he was working with Billings not far from Hanlon’s home in Upper where his pragmatism and clear Montague Street lived a struggling thinking quickly elevated him to singer that Billings had managed partnership status. Billings-Hanlon some years earlier.

Management thrived through the early “He was Paul Gadd then, but in ‘70s, and an association with Motown 1972 he adopted the name Gary boss Berry Gordy brought Hanlon into Glitter and released Rock And Roll contact with soul star Jimmy Ruffin who would become the first black artiste Parts 1 And 2, which became an Danny Betesh to be accepted on the UK’s Northern international hit. cabaret circuit.

Hanlon found himself booking “Jimmy was a sexy performer and Glitter’s live gigs, a task he performed women went crazy for him,” says so assiduously that Glitter’s Hanlon, “But their boyfriends didn’t like producer Mike Leander invited him that. to join a new venture, Rock Artist “We used to specify two bodyguards Management (RAM), which was soon on our rider because, going from the dominating the emergent glam rock theatre door to the car park, there were Georg Leitner craze, with acts including The Bay

31 Supporting agents in contemporary music

Congratulation to our Past President JEF HANLON on your retirement after 50 GLORIOUS YEARS in the live music industry, from all your friends & colleagues at the Association www.association@agents-uk.com • association@agents-uk.com • 020 7834 0515 www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

City Rollers, Hello, Barry Blue and The New Seekers.

Nick Leigh, now running Nick Leigh Associates, remembers, “Jef took me on at RAM as an agent/booker in 1974 and taught me everything I know. I regard him as a mentor.

He earned my respect because he never considered himself more important than his acts.”

Leigh later worked with Hanlon at Derek Block Concert Promotions, By the mid ‘70s however, Hanlon saw that glam rock had run its course.

“I knew from working with Herman’s Hermits in the ‘60s that you can have 20 hits in a row but, when your time is up, the kids don’t want to know you. Unfortunately, neither Gary nor Mike Leander understood this and continued to lead a sumptuous lifestyle, swanning off to Cannes, St. Moritz, Australia and Bali.”

Target Europe

Ever the realist, Hanlon extricated himself from RAM and started working with agent and promoter Derek Block, who, via an alliance with the Los Angeles-based William Morris Agency, started bringing acts such as Johnny Mathis, Diana Ross and The Everly Brothers to the UK and Europe.

“The European Community [now the European Union] was just being invented,”

states Hanlon, “So the vision Block and I had was of becoming the first pan-European agency. And we did it.”

Paul Ambach, co-founder of Belgian promoter Make It Happen, is one of many operators on the European mainland who remembers Hanlon from this era.

Among artistes Jef Hanlon has worked with BB King Chuck Berry Belinda Carlisle Joaquin Cortes Randy Crawford Bing Crosby Crusaders Culture Club Duran Duran Everly Brothers Bob Hope Human League Gladys Knight Jerry Lee Lewis

Little Richard Johnny Mathis Nana Mouskouri Don Mclean Roy Orbison Diana Ross Neil Sedaka Simon & Garfunkel Rod Stewart UB40 Dionne Warwick Andy Williams Tammy Wynette

“Jef inspired trust and was always constructive. To set something up took one call, one yes and one go. You didn’t have to get it in writing. On several occasions he brought me acts that I didn’t think would sell well, like Donna Summer, but she completely sold out

the Forest National, 7,000-8,000 seats, because she had become popular in between booking and appearing.”

Towards the end of the ‘70s, Derek Block’s agency division began to make a name for itself, with agent Ian Flooks representing acts such as The Clash, Ian Drury & The Blockheads, the B52s and The Pretenders.

“After Ian left and took his acts, I moved over from Bron Agency to back up Bob Gold, who’d been left behind with Squeeze and a punky band no one really wanted called The Police,” says agent Steve Parker of Miracle Artists.

“As The Police broke huge, Bob then left to join Ian and then Ian Wilson, with his little support act U2 moved over too. It was a grim time and Jef was always there with down-toearth advice, such as ‘don’t panic, just pick up some new acts’.

Within a year, with ambitious young agents Martin Horne and Rob Hallett joining the team, the agency became the leading outlet for the early ‘80s boom, with acts such as Duran Duran, Adam Ant, UB40, Talk Talk, Toyah and Dexy’s Midnight Runners.

“Jef and Derek just let us get on with it, but Jef was there when we we got into the odd scrape and needed his experience,” says Parker.

Laurence Leader, now an international agent at ICM in Los Angeles, started at Derek Block’s straight from school and quickly noticed, through the fog of cigarette smoke

JEF HANLON special feature

You told us years ago that you HAD retired but you keep popping up time and time again Maybe this time you will be able to put your feet up CONGRATULATIONS ON A FANTASTIC CAREER Best wishes from Derek and Paul and all at Flying Music

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN JEF HANLON HAS LEFT THE BUILDING”

www.flyingmusic.com

32

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

www.audience.uk.com

in his office, that, “Jef was extremely detailoriented and well-focused. He taught me how to cost out a tour.”

Leader also recounts a memorable piece of Hanlon folk-lore involving a trip to New York, to negotiate details of a Don McLean tour with manager Herb Gart.

“After a morning during which Gart refused to budge from his contract conditions, they repaired to a Chinese restaurant and carried on the discussion, still to no avail,” recalls Leader. “When the fortune cookies arrived at the end, Jef cracked his open to find the message inside read ‘Give Herb the deal he wants’. The whole thing was set With Tony Goldring and BB King up from the start.”

Another Hanlon protégé was Tony Goldring who started at Block’s in the late ‘80s and is now international development head at William Morris Endeavour Entertainment in Los Angeles.

“Having been on the road himself, Jef really understood musicians’ lives,” says Goldring.

“That gave him a very good relationship with them, but he was also a very focussed, cautious businessman. He and Derek made a great team because Derek came up with big ideas, but it was Jef who actually made them happen.”

Given his love affair with guitars, it’s no surprise that Hanlon holds particularly fond memories of a five-night stand he organised for BB King at London’s Royal Festival Hall (cap. 2,000) in 1981.

“BB would look across at Big Ben from the Green Room at the back of the hall and say ‘This is the greatest gig I’ve ever played’. At the end of the week he presented me with a limited edition Gibson BB King Lucille guitar, serial No 02.”

Georg Leitner of Georg Leitner Productions in Austria, has worked with Hanlon for many years, but particularly recalls how in 1986, “We promoted a Rod Stewart show at the Hohe Warte Stadion.

What others say…

Pete Wilson, 3A Entertainment, UK

“In the last 10 years I have been fortunate to work on co-promotes with Jef. He has an in-built passion for events and a tenacious attitude to get the very best out of a situation.”

Jenny Dunster, Whatever Artists Management, UK

“Jef has the most amazing ability to look at the big picture but, at the same time, not lose track of the minutiae. He has a Jenny Dunster very common-sense approach to what we all know can be a very volatile business.”

Terry O’Brien, Playpen, UK

“I owe my career to Jef. After meeting him at an early Music Managers’ Forum meeting, he offered me six weeks volunteer work on the spot and within a month he’d given me a permanent post.

I’ve yet to meet anyone with Jef’s steady calm and feel for an artiste’s value.”

Jef

Congratulations on a wonderful career Wishing you a happy and contented future

From Danny Betesh and all your friends at Kennedy Street

Kennedy Street Enterprises, Kennedy House, 31 Stamford Street, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1ES Tel: 0161 941 5151 · Fax: 0161 928 9491 · email: kse@kennedystreet.com

www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

special feature 34

“Unfortunately, parked cars blocked the way for example, he was involved in setting up the Concert Promoters’ Association (CPA), which for Rod’s limousine to reach the stadium. We brought promoters together for the first time to had to ask Rod and his manager to hike down fight a proposed hike of performance royalties a little mountain to get to the backstage area,” from two per cent to six per cent. remembers Leitner. “During the walk, The action succeeded in limiting Rod’s manager Randy Philipps [now the rise to just three per cent, but the president/CEO of AEG Live] gave longer term achievement was that the me a powerful lesson in swearing CPA became an ongoing forum where in English, but Jef kept his calm and promoters could exchange intelligence. de-escalated the situation, so we all Hanlon also played a significant walked away from this incident as role in the Music Managers’ Forum friends.”

Paul Latham (MMF), was president of the Agents’ Meanwhile, Hanlon admits that Association of Great Britain (1995 to 1997), working with Chuck Berry gave him as many and even facilitated the creation of Audience headaches as happy memories.

“I grew up loving Chuck, but I soon learned magazine. that he trusted nobody,” he says. During one European tour, Berry tested the nerve of Triumph and disaster Hanlon’s Swiss co-promoter Andy Bechir of In 1990, after almost 15 years with Derek Block, Good News Productions by sitting outside the Hanlon decided to move on and established his venue in his self-drive Mercedes and refusing own company, Jef Hanlon Management. “A lot to enter until he was paid the fee he claimed of my clients, like Don McLean, BB King and The Hanlon owed him.

Brubeck Quartet continued to work with me.”

“I had already paid him,” points out Hanlon, “So, over the phone, Andy and I concocted a plan.” This involved Bechir entering the venue and informing a group of impatient Hell’s Angels that Berry was outside in the car refusing to play. “They went out and circled the car, glaring at Chuck,” says Hanlon.

Bechir then came to the rescue and escorted Berry inside. “He was onstage playing before the Angels got back to The Elvis Presley In Concert Show their seats.”

Gang culture

In 1983, Hanlon was persuaded to help revive the flagging fortunes of the by-then-bankrupt Gary Glitter.

“I used my influence to get him onto the university circuit. Effectively, we re-invented him as a rock ‘n’ roll pantomime dame and it worked fantastically well,” says Hanlon.

Within a few years, the Gary Glitter Gang Show was packing out multiple nights in UK arenas.

However busy he was, Hanlon always made time to give others the benefit of his years of experience. Paul Latham, president UK, Live Nation, remembers, “When I was manager at Manchester Apollo in 1985, Jef was one of my early mentors. He spent much time coaching me on the ways of the local media.

“You always had to be on the mark for Jef, who brought some of the biggest global acts to town.”

Hanlon has also been instrumental in forming and running industry bodies. In 1987,

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

The ‘90s saw Hanlon still in high gear. “I packaged Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll which was Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, across Europe; I did Bob Hope at the Royal Albert Hall in 1994 and I brought Joaquin Cortez to the UK in 1996 and he did seven Royal Albert Halls [cap. 3,700) at £50 a ticket.”

Hanlon’s world was, however, shaken to its foundations in1997 when Gary Glitter was arrested on child pornography charges. “Life for my wife and me became a nightmare,” he recalls. “We had paparazzi outside our house, our dustbins were raked through and my phone was tapped.”

The strain of the Glitter scandal prompted Hanlon to begin planning for retirement, but he had no intention of going out with a whimper.

Most of the music industry found it hard to believe Hanlon would ever retire, but he insisted he was looking forward to a quieter life, spent mostly at his holiday home in Spain.

However, the industry was right, it took almost another decade for Hanlon to fully extricate

himself from work. Despite the turmoil surrounding Glitter, Hanlon found time to be a pivotal player in the launch of Audience in 1999.

“Having worked with Steve Parker at Block’s, when he left MPI [Miracle Prestige International] agency to try and launch a magazine, while also hanging onto his personal agency roster, I rented him a room at my York Street offices.

“I knew him to be an honest, genuine guy and when, after a couple of years of research and preparation, he was ready to give it a go I helped raise the launch money and rented him more space,” says Hanlon.

Parker recalls, “Needless to say not everything went smoothly and it was a rollercoaster ride for a few years, but Jef was always there, solid and sensible, when I needed support.

Fortunately, as the magazine grew, Jef was able to rent us more rooms in the building at very fair rates. Audience wouldn’t have happened without him” An offer to bring the successful US stage spectacular Elvis Presley In Concert to the UK – featuring Elvis singing on screen and a 31-piece show comprising Elvis’s original TCB band, the Sweet Inspirations, the Imperials and an orchestra – gave Hanlon an opportunity to go out with an appropriately large bang.

“I knew exactly how to market it to arenas in the UK and across Europe,” he says. “The 2001 shows went very well. Word-of-mouth did the job and the 2003 tour was sensational, 2005 was better and so was 2010.”

Despite the economic downturn, even the last series of shows made money and the final gig, at the UK’s 15,000-capacity LG Arena in Birmingham on 18 March this year, proved sweeter than Hanlon could ever have imagined.

His wife Alice made sure he was in the venue during soundcheck, where he was surprised to find a tribute speech being delivered from the stage, followed by an invitation from none other than his first guitar hero James Burton to play with him and the band.

“I was presented with a signed Fender Telecaster like James uses, and then we played a 12-bar blues jam in C, with me doing my very poor BB King impersonation. It really blew my mind.”

www.audience.uk.com

‘Thank you Jef for all the shows’

city focus: Cologne Germany Audience takes a look at the world’s major cities and venues most used by international acts

Lanxess Arena

Luxor

A: Willy-Brandt-Platz 3 50679 T: +49 0 221 8021 E: contact@lanxessarena.de W: www.lanxess-arena.de Principle contact person: Sabine Weinand Schuett Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 20,000 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Bob Dylan, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue, Celine Dion, Nickelback, Coldplay, Tina Turner, Sting, Britney Spears.

Palladium Cologne

A: Schanzenstraße 40, 51063 T: +49 2 219 6790 E: info@koeln-event.de W: www.palladium-koeln.de Principle contact person: Nina Nolting Policy: Hire only Capacity: 3,800 In-house Concert Sound System: No In-house Concert Stage Lighting: No Past/forthcoming shows: Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Foo Fighters, Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Milow, Lady Gaga, Kings Of Leon, Mary J. Blidge, New Model Army, Kanye West, Black Eyed Peas.

city focus

E-Werk Cologne

A: Schanzenstraße 37, 51063 T: +49 2 219 679 0 E: info@e-werk-cologne.com W: www.e-werk-cologne.com Principle contact person: Nina Nolting Policy: Hire only.

Capacity: 2,000 In-house Concert Sound System: No In-house Concert Stage Lighting: No Past/forthcoming shows: Beastie Boys, Bad Religion, Def Leppard, Wise Guys, Queens Of The Stone Age, James Morrison, Joe Cocker.

A: Luxemburger Straße 40 T: + 49 22 192 4460 E: info@luxor-koeln.de W: www.luxor-koeln.de Principle contact person: Richard Bölle Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 500 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: The Used, Of Monsters And Men, The Vaccines, Ben Howard, James Blake, Hard Fi, Okkervil River.

Live Music Hall Underground

Live Music Hall

A: Lichtstr. 30, 50825 T: +49 2 219 5429 90 E: kontakt@livemusichall.de W: www.livemusichall.de Principle contact person: Robert Kril Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 1,500 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Bruno Mars, Skunk Anansie, Black Label Society, Melissa Etheridge, Moby, Maroon 5, Bush, TV On The Radio.

Gebäude 9

A: Deutz-Mülheimer Str. 127-129, 51063 T: + 49 22 120 5373 6 E: post@gebaeude9.de W: www.gebaeude9.de Principle contact person: Jan van Weegen Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 300 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Gotye, Lisa Hannigan, Maccabees, Gravenhurst, Lana del Rey, Black Lips, Laura Marling, The Drums, Melvins, Wild Beasts, Wu Lyf, Stereo Total, Mumford & Sons, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

Gloria Theater

A: Apostelnstrasse 11. 50667 T: +49 2 216 6063 0 E: info@gloria-theater.com W: www.gloria-theater.com Principle contact person: Benjamin Schweitzer Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 800 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Foo Fighters, Oasis, Caligola, Tindersticks, Medina, James Blake.

Underground

Underground

36

Gloria Theater

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

A: Vogelsanger Str. 200, 50825 T: +49 22 154 2326 E: info@underground-cologne.de W: www.underground-cologne.de Principle contact person: Robert Kril Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 400 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Rival Sons, Therapy?, Dead By April, Y&T, CIV, The Bouncing Souls, Clutch, Boysetsfire, Every Time I Die.

www.audience.uk.com

tour plans a guide to artistes, tours & agents

Dewolff Artistes

Period

Territory

Agent & Company

Contact Details

Alec Empire

Oct-Nov Worldwide

Ana Moura

Anne Clark

Oct-Nov Europe David Flower T +44 20 7359 9232

SASA Music rab@sasa.demon.co.uk

Nov-Dec Worldwide Jeff Aug T +49 83 2493 3851

MAXIMUM Booking info@MAXIMUMBooking.com

Jeff Aug T +49 83 2493 3851 MAXIMUM Booking info@MAXIMUMBooking.com

tour plans

Aslan Aug Worldwide Mark Downing T +35 31 201 3660

AMA Music Agency mark@amamusicagency.ie

Atari Aug Worldwide Jeff Aug T +49 83 2493 3851 Teenage Riot

MAXIMUM Booking info@maximumbooking.com

Awake Aug-Sep Europe Jezz Haigh T +44 1225 428 284

ACA Music j.haigh@acamusic.co.uk

Bassnectar Aug-Sep Europe Andy Duggan T +44 20 7400 4500

Primary Talent

International andyduggan@primarytalent.com

38

Baxter Dury

Aug Europe

Bright Sep Europe Moments

Alex Bruford ATC Live

T +44 20 7580 7773 alex@atc-live.com

Christophe Quemin T +34 67 032 8728 Get Your Acts Together christophe@getyouractstogether.net

Artistes

Period

Territory

Cameo Oct Europe

Canned Heat Oct-Nov Europe

Agent & Company

Contact Details

Serena Parsons T +44 20 7400 4500 Primary Talent serena@primary.uk.com International Sabine Trunzer Kultopolis

T+49 68 61 939 9827 agentin@kultopolis.com

Captain Sep Europe Stanny Renaers T +32 11 229 982 Hollywood Project

Fame International info@fame-international.eu

Chew Lips Aug Europe Alex Bruford T +44 20 7580 7773

ATC Live alex@atc-live.com Deer Tick

Dewolff

Dominique Young Unique

Sep Europe Rob Challice T +44 7456 8888

Coda Music Agency rob@codaagency.com

Nov Europe Sabine Trunzer T+49 68 61 939 9827

Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Aug Europe Andy Duggan T +44 20 7400 4500

Primary Talent

International andyduggan@primarytalent.com

Electric Mary

Epica

Dec Europe Ben Hylands

Inspired Artists

Sep-Oct Latin Nick Peel

America Miracle Artists

South Africa’s premier concert venue

T +44 1273 305 752 ben@iaatouring.com T +44 20 7935 9222 nick@miracle-artists.com

Voted best concert venue in Johannesburg for 13 consecutive years.

accessibility • experience • excellence

Johannesburg, South Africa +27 11 794 5800 (t) • +27 11 794 5808 (f) info@coca-coladome.co.za www.coca-coladome.co.za

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

www.audience.uk.com

Artistes

Family Stone

Fiction

Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains

Period

Territory

Agent & Company

Contact Details

Aug Europe Nina Pernica T +43 1 914 8615

Georg Leitner Productions npernica@glp.at

Aug-Sep Europe Alex Bruford T +44 20 7580 7773

ATC Live alex@atc-live.com

Aug Europe Cecile Communal T +44 20 7430 1282

2 for cecile@2fortheroadproductions.com

the Road

G3 ft. Joe Satriani, Mar, Asia, Wayne Forte T + 1 212 633 2600 Steve Vai Apr S. Asia Entourage Talent wayne@entouragetalent.com and Steve Morse India Associates Ltd

Gaby Moreno Nov Europe Christophe Quemin T +34 67 032 8728

Get Your Acts Together christophe@getyouractstogether.net

Kyla La Grange

Gene Loves Jezebel

Artistes

Aug-Oct Europe

Carlos Pinto Inter-Music International

T +351 21 274 5759 inter-music@ip.pt

Period

Territory

Agent & Company

Contact Details

Jo Boxers Sep Europe Jack Gray T +44 151 284 7524 Glen Hughes Sep Europe, S. Alan Cottam T +44 125 466 8471

Satellite Agency jack@satelliteagency.co.uk

America Alan Cottam Agy alan@alancottamagency.co.uk

Joe Cang Sep Europe Ania Marzec T +48 22 894 6035 Greg Lake Oct-Nov Europe Corrado Canonici T +44 20 3086 9993

Central European ania@centraleuro.org

World Concert Artists

Organisation

corrado@worldconcertartists.org

Johnny Logan Aug-Dec Scandinavia Niels Estrup T +45 36 98 0800 Hundred Oct Europe Sabine Trunzer T+49 68 61 939 9827

Owit Music Europe ne@livemusik.nu Seventy Split

Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Johnny Winter Nov Europe Sabine Trunzer T+49 68 61 939 9827 Igor Boxx Sep Europe Ania Marzec T +48 22 894 6035

Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com (Skalpel)

Central European ania@centraleuro.org

Organisation Karbido Aug-Dec Europe Ania Marzec T +48 22 894 6035

Central European Organisation

ania@centraleuro.org Oct Europe Nick Peel

Miracle Artists

Aug, Nov Europe Georg Leitner

Georg Leitner

Productions GmbH Aug-Sep Europe

Alex Bruford ATC Live

T +44 20 7580 7773 alex@atc-live.com

La Frontera

Jun-Aug Europe

Carlos Pinto Inter-Music International

T +351 21 274 5759 inter-music@ip.pt

T +44 20 7935 9222 nick@miracle-artists.com T +43 1 914 8615 gleitner@glp.at

Little Fish Sep-Nov Europe Christophe Quemin T +34 67 032 8728

Get Your Acts Together christophe@getyouractstogether.net

Mary Black Sep-Oct Europe Carsten Hilding Larsen T +45 4071 7722

SSM chl@sportstarmanagement.dk

tour plans

Karbido

King’s X

Kool & The Gang

Kyla La Grange

39

www.audience.uk.com

audience • Issue 148 • May 2012

tour plans a guide to artistes, tours & agents Artistes

Period Territory

Agent & Company

Contact Details

Aug-Dec Europe Christophe Quemin T +34 67 032 8728

Get Your Acts Together christophe@getyouractstogether.net

Misia Aug-Dec Europe Henry McGroggan T +48 22 894 6035

Central European henry@centraleuro.org

Organisation

Moriarty Aug-Dec Europe Christophe Quemin T +34 67 032 8728

Get Your Acts Together christophe@getyouractstogether.net

Nazareth Sep, Nov S. America, Alan Cottam T +44 125 466 8471

Europe Alan Cottam Agency alan@alancottamagency.co.uk

Nile Oct-Nov Europe Nick Peel T +44 20 7935 9222

Miracle Artists nick@miracle-artists.com

Nina Hagen Sep-Oct Europe Georg Leitner T +43 1 914 8615

Georg Leitner gleitner@glp.at

Productions GmbH Maxence Cyrin

Nouvelle Vague Oct Europe Christophe Quemin T +34 67 032 8728

Get Your Acts Together christophe@getyouractstogether.net

Oh Burgundy Aug-Sep Europe Alex Bruford T +44 20 7580 7773

ATC Live alex@atc-live.com Peatbog Faeries Oct Worldwide Chris Wade T +44 1377 217 662

Adastra chris.wade@adastra-music.co.uk

Procol Harum Aug N. America Wayne Forte T + 1 212 633 2600

Entourage Talent

Associates Ltd wayne@entouragetalent.com

tour plans

Renaissance Aug Worldwide Wayne Forte T + 1 212 633 2600

Entourage Talent wayne@entouragetalent.com

Associates Ltd

Renegade Aug-Sep Europe Jezz Haigh T +44 1225 428 284 Brass Band

ACA Music j.haigh@acamusic.co.uk

Ritchie Family Jul-Sep Europe Stanny Renaers T +32 11 229 982

Fame International info@fame-international.eu

Rockapella Sep-Dec America Wayne Forte T + 1 212 633 2600

Entourage Talent Associates Ltd

wayne@entouragetalent.com Santigold

Sharon Shannon

Sep Asia

& Australia

Sep

Andy Duggan T +44 20 7400 4500 Primary Talent andyduggan@primarytalent.com International

Eastern Henry McGroggan Europe Central European Org.

T +48 22 894 6035 henry@centraleuro.org

Terry Bozzio Artistes

Period

Territory

Agent & Company

Contact Details

Sister Sledge

Sonny Rollins

Sep Europe Georg Leitner T +43 1 914 8615

Georg Leitner Prod GmbH gleitner@glp.at

Nov Europe Gunter Schroder T +1 617 254 0007

Ted Kurland Associates gunter@tedkurland.com

Stranded Horse Aug UK Cecile Communal T +44 20 7430 1282

2 for the Road cecile@2fortheroadproductions.com

Steps Sep UK, SE Asia Gary Howard T +44 20 7239 0958

The Agency garyhoward@theagencygroup.com

Group

Steve Hackett Nov-Dec Asia, S. Asia Wayne Forte T + 1 212 633 2600

India Entourage Talent Associates Ltd

wayne@entouragetalent.com Stiff Little Fingers

Symphony X

10cc

Team Me

Nov Europe

Steve Parker Miracle Artists

T +44 20 7935 9222 steve@miracle-artists.com

Oct Europe, Asia Nick Peel

Miracle Artists

T +44 20 7935 9222 nick@miracle-artists.com

Sep, Europe, UK Steve Parker T +44 20 7935 9222 Oct-Nov Miracle Artists steve@miracle-artists.com

Oct-Nov Europe Rob Challice T +44 7456 8888

Coda Music Agency rob@codaagency.com

40

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

www.audience.uk.com

Artistes

Period

Ten Years After

Terry Bozzio

Nov Europe Sabine Trunzer T+49 68 61 939 9827

Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Oct-Nov Europe Jeff Aug T +49 83 2493 3851

MAXIMUM Booking info@MAXIMUMBooking.com

Territory

Agent & Company

Contact Details

The Animals Mar Europe & Friends

Sabine Trunzer Kultopolis

T+49 68 61 939 9827 agentin@kultopolis.com

The Bamboos

The Black Umfolosi 5

The Blind Boys Of Alabama

The Civil Wars

The Coal Porters

The Coronas

The Duke Spirit

The Imagined Village

The Inspector Cluzo

Serena Parsons Primary Talent International

T +44 20 7400 4500 serena@primary.uk.com

Oct Europe

Aug Worldwide Chris Wade T +44 137 721 7662

Adastra chris.wade@adastra-music.co.uk

Jun-Jul Europe Tom Gold T+1 415 386 3456

Rosebud Agency tomg@rosebudus.com

Nov Europe Rob Challice T +44 7456 8888

Coda Music Agency rob@codaagency.com

Sep Europe Kelly Foley T +44 137 721 7662

Adastra kelly.foley@adastra-music.co.uk

Oct-Nov Europe Carsten Hilding Larsen T +45 4071 7722

SSM chl@sportstarmanagement.dk

Aug Europe Alex Bruford T +44 20 7580 7773

ATC Live alex@atc-live.com

Sep Europe David Flower T +44 20 7359 9232

SASA Music rab@sasa.demon.co.uk

Jul-Aug Germany Jeff Aug T +49 83 2493 3851

MAXIMUM Booking info@MAXIMUMBooking.com

The Manic Shine Aug-Sep Europe

Jezz Haigh ACA Music

The Selecter

Sep Europe

Bart Quintens Artist Agency

The Sheepdogs

Aug-Sep Europe

Alex Bruford ATC Live

The Stone Foxes Aug Europe

Period

Territory

Agent & Company

Contact Details

24-7 Spyz

Sep Europe

Jeff Aug T +49 83 2493 3851 MAXIMUM Booking info@MAXIMUMBooking.com

Vanilla Fudge

Aug Europe

Margo Lewis Talent Consultants International

T +1 212 730 2701 margolewis@tciartists.com

We Were Aug-Sep Europe Alex Bruford T +44 20 7580 7773 Evergreen

ATC Live alex@atc-live.com

Wilko Johnson Feb Germany, Sabine Trunze rT+49 68 61 939 9827

Switzerland, Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Austria

Yasmin Levy Oct-Dec Europe Rob Challice T +44 7456 8888

Coda Music Agency rob@codaagency.com

T +44 1225 428 284 j.haigh@acamusic.co.uk T +32 1677 7670 bart@artistagency.be T +44 20 7580 7773 alex@atc-live.com

Tom Gold Rosebud Agency

T+1 415 386 3456 tomg@rosebudus.com

The Weepies

Treetop Flyers

Aug Europe Tom Gold

Rosebud Agency

Aug-Sep Europe Alex Bruford

ATC Live

T+1 415 386 3456 tomg@rosebudus.com

tUnE-yArDs

Aug Europe

T +44 7456 8888 rob@codaagency.com

T +44 20 7580 7773 alex@atc-live.com

tour plans

Rob Challice Coda Music Agency

Artistes

Sonny Rollins

41

www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

festival news Live Nation aiming for 200,000 summer sales FINLAND This summer will see the country’s most ambitious international live music line-up yet, but at least one promoter is certain there is enough public demand for tickets.

As well as promoting large one-off shows with Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium (cap. 43,000) and Red Hot Chili Peppers at Tampere’s Ratinan Stadion (31,000), Live Nation Finland (LNF) is launching two one-day festivals, Helsinki Classic Festival (13,000) on 16 June at Kaisanniemi Park, featuring Sting, and Garden Party (5,000) on 29 June at a nearby beach, featuring Regina Spektor.

The events will be in addition to Finland’s established festivals, including Pori Jazz (30,000), Ruisrock (35,000), Puistoblues (14,000), Provinssirock (25,000) and Tuska (11,000), but LNF believes it is sustainable. ”We’ve sold 170,000 tickets now and the target is 200,000 for our summer schedule - which we’ll do,” says LNF chief promoter Scott Lavender. ”Red Hot Chili Peppers sold out in an hour, for example.”

The local edition of Sonisphere will take place at Helsinki’s Kalasatama on 4 June.

Despite only attracting 10,000 last year, the capacity has been set at 46,000 for Metallica.

Unique presentation is key for ‘world’s biggest’ jazz fest

Festival International de Jazz de Montreal

CANADA The 33rd edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal will feature 180 indoor concerts and more than 450 free outdoor shows from 28 June-7 July.

The event, which claims to be the biggest jazz festival in the world, will add Maison Symphonique de Montreal (cap. 1,900) and SAT (Société des Arts Technologiques) (250) to its list of nine indoor venues.

Among the artistes set to perform are James Taylor, Liza Minelli, Norah Jones and Seal.

festival news

Summer Camp grows into site

42

“The capacity depends on how many tickets The organisers of B’estfest Summer ROMANIA we sell – it could be huge, but we can’t do Camp will extend the borders of this year’s event, held at Tunari Pipera park in Bucharest, in everything in one go,” she says. “We’re hoping to get bigger little by little.” the hope of attracting an extra Coroianu adds that double the 5,000 fans on top of the festival’s number of tickets had been sold by usual 30,000 capacity.

May compared to the same period in The event moved to the lakeside 2011. site last year after previously This year, a new 7,000-capacity being held in the city centre (see rock stage will be added to the Audience issue 134). However, festival, which will feature acts such as festival organiser Laura Coroianu of Garbage, Pulp and Selah Sue. Tickets Emagic Entertainment says the city are 265 lei ($78) for a three-day pass, of Bucharest-owned site could still Laura Coroianu with camping an extra 15 lei ($4). accommodate a much bigger event.

Tour Manager Terry Tucker’s Tribulations

audience • issue 148 • May 2012

by Newman-Parker

“We always try to do something different than other festivals around the world,” says organiser Laurent Saulnier.

“It’s important to have major musicians, but for us it’s always about Laurent Saulnier finding new ways of presenting those people,” adds Saulnier, using the example of Rufus Wainwright, who will perform a free outdoor show to launch the open air element of the festival. The rest of the outdoor content will feature mostly up-andcoming acts.

Other venues used will include Theatre Maisonneuve (2,982), Metropolis (2,000) and Club Soda (600).

Tickets to individual indoor shows start at C$27 (US$27).

Quarter of Creek fans pay by instalments UNITED STATES Around a quarter of fans at northern Florida’s Bear Creek Festival (cap. 10,000) are expected to buy their tickets in instalments as part of the event’s EZ Pay payment plan.

The plan gives festival-goers the chance to pay for their tickets in five equal monthly sums, or, if the festival is less than five months away, pay over the number of months left before the 8-11 November event.

Paul Levine of organiser Big IV Productions says the plan was introduced by event ticketer Elevate Tickets.

“Our audience loves the option and roughly 25 per cent of our ticket-buyers use the service,” he says. “We attract many students and young people and the option really seems to fit their financial situation.”

The New Orleans-influenced festival, held at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, will feature acts such as Beebs & Her Money Makers, Lotus, Umphrey’s McGee and Bright Light Social Hour.

Instalments cannot be refunded and failure to pay within a 10-day window will cause cancellation of tickets. A three-day ticket costs $130, with an additional $40 to attend on the Thursday.

www.audience.uk.com

Rock in Rio speeds up its expansion plans to latin ameRica, noRth ameRica and asia.

The world’s greaTesT music fesTival associaTed wiTh The gianT in The enTerTainmenT and sporT’s business imX

rock in rio is a communication platform that gathered 5.9 million people in 10 editions and was transmitted to 200 countries on Tv and on the internet. it is as well the greatest music and entertainment festival in the world, in the social media networks, with more than 4.8 million followers. The brand, created by roberto medina 27 years ago, is now Top of mind in every hosting country, i.e. brazil, portugal and spain.

roberto medina - Rock in Rio

imX is a joint-venture between img worldwide and ebX group, created to explore the sports and entertainment markets in latin america. a company that was born with eike batista’s, founder of ebX group, strategic and global vision, it intends to invest more than us$ 250 million to achieve the objective of becoming brazilian greatest company in its segment within the next 3 years. eike batista - EBX

The partnership between the two brands will not only allow the creation of new products and projects in the entertainment business having rock in rio brand, but will also accelerate its expansion to latin america, north america and asia. The two businessmen will have equal shares in the partnership, which continues to be under the command of roberto medina and his team. from now on, the magic of the world’s greatest music festival will go further beyond.

contact: raulazevedo@rockinrio.com

ROCK IN RIO FOR A BETTER WORLD