News
IFF Announces Inaugural Programme The International Festival Forum (IFF) has confirmed legendary agent and festival promoter John Giddings as the subject of the IFF Keynote at the first edition of the global music festival industry event. As an agent, Giddings’ roster is a who’s who of the popular music world (including Madonna, U2, Sting and Lady Gaga), while as a promoter he is responsible for resurrecting the UK’s Isle of Wight Festival. Other topics include The Therapy Session: Difficult Engagements, which sees Glastonbury lawyer Ben Challis air the top five grievances between festival bookers and booking agents in a bid to build better understanding between the two camps. In Great Expectations: Loyalty vs Profit, session chair Stefan Thanscheidt (FKP Scorpio) examines the growing trend of agents and festivals booking with each other directly and cutting out middle agents and local promoters. Meanwhile, Festivals are Dead: Long Live the Festival!, chaired by Dany Hassenstein (Paléo Festival), will compare the formulae for success in a post-headliner festival world. IFF workshops include Data & Audience Insight, presented by Dan Brown (AXS) and Karim Fanous (Music Ally); and Better Brand Partnerships, hosted by Jeremy Paterson (IF Media Consultancy) featuring experts from the brand agency world. IFF co-organiser Ruud Berends says, “With some of the festival and booking agency world’s leading lights in attendance, the IFF aims to deliver both knowledge and insight into this vibrant industry.” The full programme is online at iff.rocks.
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Movers and Shakers Agents Clementine Bunel and Cecile Communal have joined ATC Live. The duo successfully built independent agency 2 For The Road Events over the past five years and bring their entire roster of artists with them including Benjamin Clementine, Songhoy Blues, Stromae, Mulatu Astatqé and Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains. AEG Europe’s Brian Kabatznick has been elected president of the European Arenas Association, bringing his experience from all areas of the entertainment industry, from venue management to event promotion and from marketing to ticketing. At the EAA’s spring meeting in Prague, John Langford from The SSE Hydro, joined the board as a new member, alongside Karin Mårtensson from Malmö Arena and Francesca Battistoni from Forumnet Group, who was re-elected. The board now also includes Peter van der Veer from the Ahoy Arena as treasurer and Nuria Goytre as executive director. Specialist transport provider, KB Event, has added Helen Himmons to the company’s senior management team. Working directly for managing director, Stuart McPherson, Himmons’ role will see her join the executive board, working on the strategic and day-to-day management of the business, and on delivery of key tours, events and projects. Her last six years have been spent working for the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, responsible for the commercial activities at Belvoir Castle, and overseeing public events, concerts and corporate activities on the estate. Lighting crew chief John Slevin is now reporting for work at HSL’s Blackburn HQ, as technical support manager (projects). The lighting and visual production rental company has also announced the appointment of Mick Seddon as group financial director and strategist. David O’Connor has been appointed as president CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company. A former partner at CAA, O’Connor replaces Tad Smith and has been charged with growing the company’s sports, media and entertainment businesses across its venue portfolio. Stephan Kurzawski has been placed in charge of the entertainment, media & creation division of Messe Frankfurt, replacing Kai Hattendorf, who is leaving to take up the post of managing director of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry this autumn. The Agency Group has added Ben Ward to its UK rock department in London, while Chris Richards, founder of boutique agency and management firm Autonomous Music, joins the company as an agent in their Los Angeles office. Ward previously worked at music management operation One Fifteen and has also worked as a tour manager. Through Portland, Oregon-based Autonomous, Richards has helped build the careers of a number of electronic artists.
Take That were honoured by the UK’s Genting Arena, having achieved seven sellout showsin the venue in May and June. The band was presented with commemorative tickets by arena general manager, Guy
Dunstan. Pictured left to right are Dunstan; Mark Owen; senior event manager, Sarah Scriven; Gary Barlow; senior event manager, Tony Hayes; Howard Donald; and senior account manager, Alex Ginever.
IQ Magazine July 2015