2014 in Review
Further Observations Well, we’re nearly running out of time and space. As usual, it’s pretty much impossible to cover all aspects of a year in live music – even ILMC’s time travel theme a couple of years ago didn’t help, and as yet, the super heroes lined up for next March have yet to step forward to help me out! So what shall we look at now? Perhaps we should look at the way political problems can, and did, interfere with our business.
shows in Israel. Many of these cancellations, it seems, were to do with artists avoiding danger, as much as protest at Israeli action in Gaza, while police also refused to grant permits for outdoor gatherings. In Hong Kong, promoters in the former British Colony told IQ that the events of September and October had a real impact on gigs and ticket sales. “Lloyd’s of London will sell it (insurance) to you, but it’s so expensive it’s not worthwhile. There’s always a Russian roulette element to concert promotion, but this is like playing with two bullets.” Carmi Wurtman – promoter (Israel)
Social & Political Unrest
At ILMC, the Emerging Markets Place panel took politics and international acts willingness or otherwise to play in certain countries as a major theme, discussing Russia and Israel in particular.
We saw the effects of social and political unrest, and that hard-todefine term, force majeure, in various areas throughout the year. Cem Yegul’s Pozitif were not the only promoters to suffer losses. In early March, Eric Clapton cancelled a concert in Bangkok, due to violent demonstrations in the city. The Gaza conflict raised security fears, with big names including Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Megadeth, Cee-Lo Green and Backstreet Boys scrapping
“Acts get conflicting messages from fans in these controversial markets – some asking them to play as a statement of defiance, while others say such appearances underwrite the governments’ activities. That freaks out the acts. If they do play, the backlash tends to be from the minority, but it tends to be very harsh.” Steve Zapp – ITB (UK)
Contributors (left to right): Cem Yegul (Pozitif Live), Clothide Fery (Live DMA), Ellie Gould (Jigsaw Music Management), John Probyn (Live Nation), John Reid (Live Nation), Marty Diamond (Paradigm Agency), Michael Rapino (Live Nation), Simon Jenkins (‘The Guardian’), Stefan Zarges (‘Musikmarkt’), Steve Zapp (ITB), Tom Windish (The Windish Agency)
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
• Four people are killed and at least eight others injured after a flash flood rips through a festival in the town of Refrontolo, Italy. • The African state of Guinea observes a week of national mourning after a stampede at a seafront concert in the capital, Conakry, kills 34 people, including 11 children. Four people are arrested: two of the event’s organisers, a public official in charge of managing the beach site and the head of the government agency for public events. • Live Nation sells its merchandising operation Musictoday to Delivery Agent. The deal involves such accounts as Bonnaroo, the House of Blues and country superstar Tim McGraw. Delivery Agent plans to expand the Musictoday business through a high-tech system that allows television viewers to purchase goods directly from adverts and TV shows through web, mobile and TV applications. • Live Performance Australia reports that the country’s live entertainment sector smashed records in 2013, with nearly AUD$1.5bn (€1.1bn) in revenues – an increase of 22.7% on 2012’s total.
• Philippines-based Music Management International Corporation agrees a joint venture deal with Live Nation to promote shows in the country. • CTS Eventim announces that it has won the business to be the exclusive ticket-seller for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. • Manchester Arena’s naming rights partner, Phones 4U, goes into receivership less than 18 months into its fiveyear deal. • Ticketmaster Germany agrees a strategic partnership with Dusseldorf-based Mehr! Entertainment Group and Eintrittskarten.de, giving it access to more than 2,500 new events and six venues across Germany. • Accent Media wins the right to operate the new .tickets Internet domain, dedicated to the sale of tickets. • Rock in Rio confirms Metallica, Linkin Park, Taylor Swift, No Doubt, Deftones and John Legend as the first acts for its debut in the United States. Rock in Rio USA will be hosted on the Las Vegas strip over the 8-9 and 1516 May weekends in 2015.
IQ Magazine January 2015
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Dralion © Daniel Desmarais