Analysis
Movers and Shakers Clementine Bunel, the agent who has helped shape the live careers of artists including Stromae, Benjamin Clementine, Ibibio Sound Machine, Songhoy Blues and Parcels, has departed ATC Live to take up a new role at Coda Agency. Prior to joining ATC in 2015, Bunel ran her own successful agency, 2 For The Road Events Ltd, which combined a booking agency, promoter and creative production team. Live Nation Sweden has announced the promotion of its head promoter, Anna Sjölund, and director of marketing and Nordic partnerships, Therése Liljedahl, as joint managing directors. Sjölund will remain the company’s head promoter, overseeing LN Sweden’s agency, touring and festivals, while Liljedahl will retain responsibility for commercial partnerships in the Nordics while also managing LN Sweden’s marketing, partnership, finance, administration and HR functions. Danielle Russell has been appointed head of events at London Stadium 185, the operators of the former Olympic Stadium in London. Previously she spent five years across the other side of the capital, working for the Football Association at Wembley Stadium where latterly she was partnership development manager – music and new events. Ticketmaster France has hired Charlotte Broutin, formerly of rival operation France Billet, as head of music. Her arrival comes as Ticketmaster works to strengthen its share of the French ticketing market, where it is in competition with Fnac’s France Billet and Vivendi’s Digitick. Jeff Craft, co-founder of London-based X-ray Touring has announced his retirement. His roster included Pixies, PJ Harvey, Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker and Elbow.
Thomas Ovesen has revealed plans to join AEG Ogden as vice-president of programming for the new Dubai Arena. Currently CEO of 117 Live, Ovesen will commence his new role early in 2018. ATC Management has announced that artist manager Rasmus Damsholt will head up its new office in Denmark, the company’s third international office and its first in continental Europe. Infrastructure service provider eps has strengthened its international controlling team with the appointment of Alice Kentenich as its new head of finance/controlling at its German subsidiary. In addition, the parent company is bringing Olga Sarman and Katharina Wilk into the team group’s finance department. Kentenich was at Formel D GmbH as a treasury and controlling manager, while Sarman previously worked for Lufthansa, and Wilk joins from online shop Whisky.de. SMG Europe has promoted Dan Harris, general manager of its Scunthorpe venues The Baths Hall (1,800-cap) and Plowright Theatre (354-cap), to the post of general manager at the new Hull Venue, a 3,500-capacity music and events complex set to open in summer 2018. Additionally, SMG has named Nick Waight as MD of Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre ahead of its move to a new home in 2019. Waight’s last role was as managing director of NEC Group. He will step into his new role in April 2018. Sheffield Arena in Yorkshire, the UK’s seventh most-visited arena, has promoted Joe Waldron to replace Rob O’Shea as general manager. Waldron, who has been at the arena for 18 years, including 11 as deputy GM, steps up after O’Shea left to focus on his promotions business, Manifesto Events.
International jury members at this year’s Swiss Live Talents Music Marathon in Bern had their work cut out deciding on the winners from the event’s 36 shortlisted emerging acts. Created by the SwissAmp association, Swiss Live Talents aims to promote and support the country’s live music scene, and this year attracted entries from 660 registered acts. Sharing a prize fund of CHF50,000 (€42,000), the winners in each musical category were: Zeal and Ardor (Best Live Act); KT Gorique (National Language); KT Gorique (Public Award); The Last Moan (Rock/Metal); Odd Beholder (Pop/Indie/Folk/Songwriter); WUGS (Electro/Dance); KoQa Beatbox (Urban/Hip-Hop/Groove/Reggae); and Long Tall Jefferson (Best Emerging Talent).
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IQ Magazine January 2018