News
Movers and Shakers Arnaud Meersseman has been appointed as the new managing director of Paris-based promoters Miala (see page 10). He was previously at Nous Productions, which is set to become a Live Nation subsidiary. Lee Charteris has been appointed president of the International Live Events Association – Middle East, and has stepped down as vice-president of operations at Flash Entertainment to pursue other projects. “The past eight years at Flash have been great, we have really built a brand for Abu Dhabi and the UAE to be proud of,” says Charteris. Warner Music Italy has appointed Clemente Zard as the new managing director of its promoter and booking business, Vivo Concerti. He was formerly MD of Saludo Italia, a production and promotion company in the musical and family entertainment business. Former Chugg Entertainment CEO, Matthew Lazarus-Hall, has launched his new company, Uncommon Cord Pty Ltd, a consultancy focused on creating experiential interaction between clients and consumers in the live event sector. ETC has appointed Enrico Nobile as European rigging sales manager, a new position to fuel the growth and development of the company’s rigging division in Europe. Nobile has been involved in the business since 1979 when he established the design and installation company Elettrosistemi. He will be based in Rome. PMY Group, one of Australia’s leading technology enhancement firms, has appointed Chris Charleson as chief financial officer. He previously held the same position at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium. Really Useful Theatres has named Rebecca Kane Burton as its new managing director. She has been vice-president and general manager of The O2 in London for the past four and a half years. Bram de Clerck has joined Robe Lighting s.r.o. as business development manager for touring, TV & live events. He previously worked for the likes of Phlippo Showlights, Luxillag and Controllux. Artist-ticketing and concert discovery service Songkick has added Nick Fishbaugh to its business development staff. Fishbaugh joins the company from Shazam, where he was senior director of global music partnerships. He will be based in Los Angeles. United Talent Agency has hired former Columbia Artists Management’s Mary Petro and Soroka Agency co-founder Ryan Soroka as agents in its New York office. Soroka’s roster includes Against the Current, Flor, Our Last Night, Hands Like Houses and David Garibaldi. Artist management company, Wildlife Entertainment, has named Emma Greengrass as its new managing director. Greengrass joined the music industry as a regional radio plugger at London Records, but more recently was the UK label head at Caroline International. Gary Prosser has been appointed as production manager and art director for the Music Venues Trust.
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GOVT FUND BOOSTS FRENCH FESTIVALS France’s minister for culture, Audrey Azoulay, has praised “exceptional” ticket sales for the country’s music festivals this summer, the vast majority of which have seen attendances rise in spite of challenges posed by fear of terrorist attacks. Azoulay attributes the positive results to a strong police response, as well as the fund set-up by the French govern-
ment to help promoters with security costs, which industry association Prodiss estimates at about €7million. The culture minister claims that funding persuaded many festivals to reconsider cancellation. “We mobilised the public security forces and launched a support fund, [which] is still in credit. Many festivals have used this fund,” she says.
Main Square Festival in Arras, promoted by Live Nation France, was one of many events to sell out in 2016
Pill testing at Australian festivals this summer Anti-prohibition activist Will Tregoning says pill testing will be in force at Australian festivals this year, bringing the country into line with “at least ten” other countries. The harm-reduction advocate says pill testing will go ahead, despite the lack of backing from government bodies or the police. Tregoning believes drug checking and pill testing will most likely be introduced in the capital city, Canberra. Tregoning’s Unharm organisation, along with Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation president Alex Wodak and Canberran doctor David Caldicott, previously mooted pill testing in New South Wales, but were
told by police and the state government that they risked prosecution for drug supply and manslaughter, despite the fact that three people died after taking drugs at Stereosonic festival in NSW last November. “Canberra doesn’t have the biggest festival, but there’s an opportunity to prove this is a viable and effective thing that can really work,” Tregoning says. “All these things that people come up with about how we can’t possibly do this in Australia can easily be disproved by showing this can be done. Pill testing is being used in at least ten countries around the world,” he adds. “Absolutely we know it’s working.”
IQ Magazine September 2016