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FEBRUARY 2019

Interview with ILMC Chief Greg Parmley Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

Greg Parmley

VIP News: In the ILMC delegates list you are listed under “Artist

Greg Parmley: Klaus-Peter Schulenberg is making an announcement

Management”, “Agency” and “Conference.” What other

about some new plans for CTS Eventim. I’m very curious what it is!

businesses do you run besides ILMC that we were previously unaware of?

VIP News: Was it very difficult, or expensive, to convince Roger Daltrey and Dua Lipa to attend ILMC 31?

Greg Parmley: No, that’s an error! Conference is more than enough to be honest!

Greg Parmley: We’re really thrilled that both of these world-class artists have agreed to speak at ILMC this year. Roger Daltrey has

VIP News: Ages ago, amongst others ILMC-Founder Martin

one of the greatest track records for live performance ever, so his

Hopewell introduced the term “live music industry.” That was

perspective on touring is totally unique. Dua is already a hugely

back in the days when the idea of corporate concert companies

successful live performer, so her viewpoint, and her father Dugi’s,

was considered pretty much theoretical. Now in fact the live

will be fascinating. ILMC has always tried to provide a range of

music business has become industrialized. What is your future

opinions from across the business, and the artist’s voice is very

expectation for this business?

much a part of that.

Greg Parmley: I don’t think anyone would be surprised that as the

VIP News: As usual the conference agenda will cover all relevant

size of the business increases, and with it the revenues generated, the

business aspects that matter for this industry. However, the

business will become increasingly corporatised. One interesting aspect

current political climate abounds with populists, yellow jackets,

of this is the number of external investors that are now entering the

‘Fridays for the Future’ and other developments. Apparently

space. For a long time, concerts and festivals weren’t big enough

these topics do not seem to be of interest for the majority of

business to be interesting on that scale, but that’s changing now. What

the live music community. Nevertheless, don’t you think the

interests me is how that impacts and potentially changes the industry.

industry should consider these aspects more appropriately? As Brexit is knocking on the door, in particular UK live music is

VIP News: Probably the wealthiest ILMC ‘newbie’ is going to

currently facing the consequences of political disruption...

be Klaus Peter Schulenberg, CEO of CTS Eventim. Will he be alone on stage or is it going to be an interview in the style of

Greg Parmley: The ILMC agenda is predominantly built by feedback

the one you did with Michael Rapino three years ago?

from over 100 professionals around the world who form the ILMC

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