VIP-News Premium - March 2021

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PREMIUM > VOLUME 242 > MARCH 2021

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MARCH 2021

View From The Hill Firstly, I hope that wherever this newsletter

Here in the UK, Boris Johnson’s announcement

finds you, you are both safe and well. Hard

last month that all lockdown measures should

to believe (or is it?) that it’s pretty much 12

be lifted in England from June 21st has of

months to the day since we all went into some

course been very welcomed by the business.

for those events

form of lock-down and as I write this, the UK

It seems that in the UK, we are pushing ahead

happening over the summer should they be

is marking the anniversary with various events

with rolling out the vaccine and over half the

cancelled. These include Denmark with a

around the country with a minute’s silence at

population of the country have now been

fund of €67.2million, Germany (€2.5billion),

midday to remember those who have passed

given that all important jab. These two factors

Norway (€34m), The Netherlands (€300m),

away as a result of the pandemic.

have certainly provided the live industry

Austria (€300m) and Belgium (€60m).

Sales Area Man ager

Charlie Presburg - VIP-Booking.co m

and the ticket buying public a high level of With

and

optimism and confidence with festivals selling

March also saw the first fully digital edition

entertainment industry, much has happened

regard

to

the

live

music

out across the country. It was announced last

of the International Live Music Conference

over the last 12 months. Whether it is the

month that Reading, Leeds, Creamfields and

(ILMC). Now in it’s 33rd year, the event

proliferation of streamed live events or various

Boomtown Festivals have all sold out. It also

which also incorporates the International

governments providing funding (or not) for

looks like the UK will gain a number of new

Production Meeting (IPM) has previously been

festivals, venues and the live music sector, the

outdoor venues from June with the recent

held in its physical format at London’s Royal

feeling we at VIP-Booking.com are getting is

announcement of three new festivals at Tofte

Garden Hotel and is certainly one of the most

certainly one of a lot more positivity.

Manor in Bedfordshire. We are of course

enjoyable events that the VIP-Booking.com

still very much living in unprecedented and

team attends. Needless to say that we really

unpredictable times so let us hope that things

did miss being there in person! Despite the

run as smoothly as planned and that all these

fact that this year’s event was purely online,

aforementioned events go ahead.

it was about the closest we can get to the ‘real thing’ given the current circumstances.

COLOPHON > VIP-News is published by: VIP-Booking.com Enghaven 19 Attrup 8444 Balle Denmark Managing Director: Ronni Didriksen rd@vip-booking.com General Manager: Peter Briggs pb@vip-booking.com Writer and editorial: Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Writer: Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com For advertising enquiries please contact: Peter Briggs pb@vip-booking.com +46 70 77 60 480 Charlie Presburg cp@vip-booking.com +44 (0) 7980 817496

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Sadly, the picture for the industry outside

This year’s event brought in over 1000

the UK is not so rosy with Germany’s

delegates from across the globe and included

announcement of cancellations for this year’s

some high quality speakers, it also included

Rock am Ring, Hurricane, Melt, Splash, Full

50 showcases from various up and coming

Force festivals, it is still hoped however that

artists. Thanks again to Greg Parmley and

this year’s Wacken Open Air will go ahead.

the ILMC team for a thoroughly enjoyable

On a more positive note, it was recently

event, hopefully next year, we can all be in

announced that Crew Nation, a global relief

London in person to raise a glass together in

fund set up in April 2020 by Live Nation has

the delegates bar.

raised $18m for touring and venue crews impacted by the pandemic. Another positive

Let us hope that the coming months will

story to come to light recently is that various

bring some light at the end of the tunnel

EU countries’ governments have announced

across the world for our industry and that we

event

funds

can finally begin to start attending live events

being made available which will certainly

cancellation

compensation

once again! I hope that you enjoy reading this

reduce the financial risk to event organizers

issue of the VIP News, stay safe everyone!

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>

MARCH 2021

Two Hamburg promoters join forces From VIP-Daily News The two Hamburg tour and concert promoters Funke Media and

international superstars such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, the

Neuland Concerts have joined forces with immediate effect.

Rolling Stones, and the Bee Gees.

Both companies, which were previously competitors will now operate

Gerlach and Funke will manage the business and the Neuland

under the name Neuland Concerts, making the new company “one of

Concerts team as equal partners in the future.

Germany`s largest owner-operated concert promoters and agencies,” according to its own admission.

“Funke Media has been a competitor for us up until now, and we`ve always had the utmost respect for the high level at which the company

Christian Gerlach founded Neuland Concerts as a Warner Music

has been operating. Despite the competitiveness of the relationship,

division in 2008, and it has since grown to become one of Germany`s

it has always been characterized by a great mutual appreciation and,

leading concert promoters. Neuland has managed tours for Bruno

since a few years, growing trust. It is remarkable how Pascal has

Mars, Jason Derulo, Twenty One Pilots, Robin Schulz, Kaleo, and Russ

developed the family business founded by his father Hans-Werner

when they were still playing small clubs to arenas.

Funke since he joined the company in 1997. By merging as Neuland Concerts, we can expand our business, especially in the area of local

Gerlach`s team takes pride in having “a good feel for trends and

events in and around Hamburg, and offer even more diverse events

newcomers.” The company`s touring and booking department for

right here on our doorstep,” commented Christian Gerlach.

domestic artists is supplemented by a company-owned division for show design and live event production.

Funke added, “Over the past few years, I have come to know Christian as a reliable and at the same time very passionate promoter who has

Gerlach and his team became independent in 2017 after completing

always thought outside the box. He knows the needs of his artists

a management buy-out from Warner Music, at which point Neuland

across all genre boundaries. I was impressed by the establishment

began working more closely with Funke Media, the promoter and

of Neuland Concerts as a new agency and its subsequent leap into

agency it has now acquired for an undisclosed sum.

independence; since then, we`ve been touching base fairly regularly.

When we were looking for new alliances our aim was to combine

Pascal Funke founded the company in 1959, and it now has a well-

opportunities and competencies while remaining honest to our own

established roster of artists and an extensive event schedule. Over

values. Through the merger, both companies have succeeded in

the course of more than six decades, Funke has drawn national and

doing this under the joint roof of Neuland.

Christian Gerlach and Pascal Funke

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MARCH 2021

European countries offer safety net for festivals From VIP-Daily News Denmark has become the latest European

Smukfest

country to offer a financial safety net to event promoters, including music festivals.

The Danish government is providing a DKK500 million (€67.2 million) cancellation compensation fund to encourage events to proceed with plans for their summer events in 2021.

The scheme will reimburse festival organizers for all fixed costs and salaries incurred up to the end of September for festivals with capacities of more than 350 if the events have to be cancelled, postponed, or significantly changed.

Denmark is home to a number of festivals, including the Northside Festival Denmark, Copenhell, Tinderbox, Roskilde Festival, and Smukfest.

Joy Mogensen, Denmark’s Culture Minister, said: “We all hope for a summer where the infection situation allows us to gather for festivals again. Until then, the festival organisers can continue to plan soundly with peace of mind. With the agreement, we ensure that festivals will be compensated if they have to cancel due to restrictions.”

Joy Mogensen

The full agreement, which must still be

Meanwhile, the UK live music industry

approved by the European Commission,

umbrella group LIVE (Live Music Industry

includes the safety net, an emergency pool

Venues & Entertainment) is one of the

for large solidarity events facing bankruptcy,

organizations lobbying the government to

and a compensation ladder to provide

provide insurance to festivals.

organisers with estimates of what they can expect.

Due to the current lack of such a scheme, some of the country`s largest festivals,

The move follows similar insurance schemes

including Glastonbury, have cancelled their

established by Germany, which has a €2.5

summer events. According to research

billion fund, as well as schemes established

conducted by the Association of Independent

by Norway €34 million, the Netherlands

Festivals (AIF), 92.5 percent of its members

€300 million, Austria €300 million, and

are unable to stage their events without the

Belgium €60 million.

assistance of an insurance scheme.

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MARCH 2021

AEG brings back furloughed staff From VIP-Daily News The world’s second largest concert promoter

and furloughs. According to the company`s

AEG, is rehiring its staff in preparation for

annual reports from 2019, where it reported

the return of concerts.

employing 10,500 full-time employees, to the end of 2020, where it reported 8,200

AEG has begun bringing back part-time and

full-time employees including those on

full-time employees who were furloughed

furlough, approximately 2,300 full-time

or had their hours reduced during the

The second stage of rehiring includes full-

jobs were permanently cut.

pandemic, with the first wave of employees

time employees who have been reduced

returning on April 1.

to part-time status. These employees will

The majority of AEG`s layoffs and furloughs

be reinstated to full-time status on April 1,

were implemented on June 8, 2020,

“During the next six months, as our business

with the process expected to be completed

following across-the-board salary reductions

ramps up, we will begin bringing all of you

by June 1. Employees who were furloughed

for employees in April 2020. The company

back full time at full salary,” AEG CEO Dan

during the pandemic and are now expected

has not stated how many employees were

Beckerman wrote to employees in a March

to return to work full-time in the fall make

affected by layoffs and furloughs.

22 email obtained by Billboard.

up the third and final tier.

“Because parts of our business continue

During the pandemic, both AEG and its

to face uncertainties before life returns to

main competitor, Live Nation, implemented

normal,” Beckerman explained, “some of

significant layoffs and furloughs as both

you will return before others.” “However,

companies prepared themselves for a year

barring any setbacks, we expect everyone

without live entertainment and significant

will return to work at full pay no later than

revenue reductions.

October 1. In the weeks ahead, you will be contacted by your HR manager as to how

Thousands

these changes will impact you.”

affected by Live Nation`s rounds of layoffs

of

employees

have

been

Hungarian promoter Marton Brady dies from Covid-19 From VIP-Daily News Márton Brády was the founder of the ShowTime Budapest international concert agency, which brought the Rolling Stones to Hungary in 1995. He also founded Ticket Express in the mid-1990s, which became one of the most important players in the domestic ticketing market. After the change of regime in Hungary, he founded one of Hungarys largest concert promoters, Showtime Budapest, out of nowhere.

Besides bringing Rolling Stones to Budapest, he also promoted shows with Eric Clapton, Bon Jovi, Pink, Elton John, Sting, Simply Red, Rod Stewart and many more.

Márton Brády was 54.

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Márton Brády

Dan Beckerman

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MARCH 2021

German promoters boycott legendary venues From VIP-Daily News Eleven German promoters have sent an open letter to two legendary

Grosse Freiheit 36

Hamborg venues, The Docks and Grosse Freiheit 36.

The promoters will no longer work with the two venues after they facilitated conspiracy and right wing statements posted on the venues. Banners and posters hung in front of the venues One of the posters that appeared in front of the docks last week apparently broke the barrel. It read: “Stop lockdown: arm yourself with knowledge”, including links to well-known corona conspirators, some of whom maintain contacts with the right-wing extremist scene.

The statement reads (translated from German by Google Translate)

long for the unifying power of live culture, you are apparently looking to join forces with oaths, conspirators and those who see no

It is with great and growing disappointment that we have in recent

contradiction in demonstrating for democracy alongside the Nazis.

months observed you offering a forum for your increasingly dangerous and anti-democratic ideas. Most recently with indirect calls for violence

We can not and will no longer accept that. Events under your roof

and reference to right-wing populist and conspiratorial “media” not

are out of the question for us under these conditions-we will accept

deserving of this name, our patience has finally come to an end.

the resulting damage to all guests and the cultural location of the cosmopolitan city of Hamburg.

We can imagine that you see your messages as being covered by `freedom of expression` and this may also apply to the more harmless

But since, unlike you, we do not believe that there is no freedom

parts of your facebook site. Most of the indisputable messages have

of expression in this country, we would at least like to give you the

now apparently been removed, which is not surprising and probably

opportunity to take a stand on this matter. How did this come about

only due to public pressure. We hereby ask you to dismantle these

and do you think there can be a solution that is merely paying more

posts immediately and present your personal expressions of opinion

than lip service?

clearly as such in the future, instead of acting as before from covering the overall structure of your venues.

The statement is signed by a group of promoters from the interest group of the Hamburg music industry:

This does not change anything in terms of the damage caused and our consistent rejection of these ideas. By spreading wrong information, you are instrumentalizing not only us and your own venues, but

FKP Scorpio Konzertproduktionen

above all, the artists that have made a significant contribution to your

Karsten Jahnke Konzerte

previously good name. Many of them from home and abroad, have

STP HAMBURG KONZERTE GmbH

already spoken to us about this situation and are no longer ready to

Inferno Events / Reeperbahn Festival

make music on your stages, the same applies, of course, to our own

Neuland Concerts GmbH

employees and tour partners.

a.s.s. concerts Buback Tonträger und Konzerte

This is understandably harmful to you, as we, the undersigned, are

Semmel-Concerts

responsible for well over 90 percent of your concerts.

River Concerts Kingstar Music

But ultimately, that is not the deciding point: At a time when our

OHA! Music

industry should be standing together, and in which countless people

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MARCH 2021

Paradigm sells its music division From VIP-Daily News Paradigm Talent Agency has agreed to sell its North American live

represents an important transition for the incredible music agents of

music representation business to Casey Wasserman`s

Paradigm and the artists they so brilliantly serve. We are huge fans of

sports and

lifestyle company, ending months of rumors about a potential sale.

Casey Wasserman and the company he’s built, and I am very pleased that he and his team will be at the helm of this important business

Paradigm`s North American music company will form a new operating

line. It’s both thrilling and bittersweet to reach this agreement,

unit after the transaction closes, which is expected to happen in

transition to a new era for Paradigm, and initiate a stabilizing solution

the second quarter of 2021, according to Paradigm. Additional

during a global pandemic that has created an existential crisis for our

information, including a name and structure, will be revealed by

industry,” said Paradigm’s Sam Gores.

the Wasserman organization after the transaction closes, which is expected to happen in the second quarter of 2021, Paradigm said.

The decision to divest Paradigm`s North American music assets had been in the works for some time, but was intensified by the

Paradigm expects to sign a joint services agreement with Wasserman

pandemic`s effect on the live music industry, according to a statement

as part of the contract to ensure that all Music clients receive

from Paradigm. For months, the agency has been the subject of

continuity of service for talent and literary services.

rumors of a deal, most recently in May when it was forced to refute news of a sale of its music assets to Wasserman.

Following the deal, Paradigm will continue to serve its talent and literary customers, but its Talent and Literary company will be sold to

“By now most of you have seen stories in the media that Casey

“strategic partners.”

Wasserman is in talks to purchase Paradigm, and that the deal is nearly done. Let me be clear: these stories are not accurate. There is

Tom Gores, a private equity investor, stepped in to provide financial

no agreement to sell Paradigm, nor is any sale imminent,” Sam Gores

backing and played a key role in negotiations with other industry

said at the time in a letter to the agency’s staff obtained by Variety.

players as part of the Paradigm restructuring process. According to a release from Paradigm, he will also become an equity partner in the

Wasserman, which was founded in 2002, specializes in sports

new venture.

representation, with a roster that includes professional athletes from baseball and basketball, as well as Olympic athletes and other sports

“This agreement is a win for all parties and a vital step on the

projects, such as Acme World Sports, a prominent hockey agency,

restructuring path we embarked upon more than a year ago. It

and BBaltics, a Lithuanian basketball agency.

Casey Wasserman

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MARCH 2021

COVID-19 and the Live Industry: How Are we Coping?

It goes without saying that these are challenging times with the Live Music & Events Industry being one of the worst hit by the current coronavirus crisis and with the lockdowns and restrictions on events imposed by governments all over the world.

Although there is some hope on the horizon with some events looking like they might take place in the summer and onwards, there is still a lot of uncertainty remaining.

We asked 4 professionals from different countries about their current situation and how they are dealing with the problems facing their businesses.

Name: Jerome O. Hamilton Company: Headline Entertainment Ltd. Role: Managing Director Country: Jamaica How has your company been coping with the current crisis?

How’s the re-opening schedule looking in your country?

“Our company has not been coping well with the current crisis, we

“Scheduling of the reopening of the country might be pushed back

are predominantly a booking agency where 80% of our bookings are

for a while as we just had new additional curfews and limitations

done outside Jamaica. We’ve seen 90’s high-90s reduction bookings,

imposed on the nation, based on the growth in Covid-19 cases

all things happening have been a few online appearances. We’ve

and unlike traditional first world countries we will not and do not

drastically reduced our company size and reduced even our number

have any high amount of vaccines or will be getting any time soon.

of hours in office, basically we are in hibernation.”

Limited Hospital facilities force us to face limitations, we’re under a restriction of 5am out of the house, home by 8pm everyday and so

Have you received any financial support from your government

this completely kills the entertainment and right now where things

and if so are you still receiving support?

are we have no idea when.”

“We’ve received no financial support for our Government, we’ve

How do you see open air events taking place in your country

had talks of different ways the Government is aiming to assist the

during the summer?

industry, but nothing has come of it yet and there have been very few individuals in Jamaica and entertainment that has received any form

“Very unlikely for any outdoor activity of any major size, of the

of support. I go on record to say it is one of the industries that even

two major festivals and major events for the summer at this point I

though it’s so impactful locally it’s totally disregarded on a certain

think one is looking at rescheduling and one is looking to go ahead.

level and despite some promises of some payments to some small

But I personally think it’s going to be very unlikely to have major

individuals, there is very little proof of this happening or if it will

events because even if visitors and travellers will have a high level of

change soon.”

vaccination and though some of those can come to Jamaica, we will

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MARCH 2021

not internally have that high level of vaccination, so there is still going

replace some of the traditional events, it will be entertainment for

to be an openness to risk on our part.”

some people to stay at home, and every live show I think will have a streaming component going forward.

Have you already booked indoor shows for the autumn and onwards?

I still expect a big growth back in the live industry and it won’t replace it, as there are some people who still don’t find it attractive and still

“I’ve been discussing some events for major artists in Europe, nothing

are not entertained or it doesn’t hold their attention long. So there

major in the states yet. I think one of the main things that we have on

will be a place for it, I’d say it’s important but maybe not as important

top of our books are rescheduled dates that were moved from 2020

a replacement as we might think.”

and now some have moved from 2021. But there have not been any major discussions of new dates, just possible dates that were being

Will the demand for Live Events be stronger than ever once we

discussed before that have been rescheduled to later on, but not a

get back to normal?

lot in new callers.”

“I expect a demand for live events to be strong, I don’t know it’ll Do you expect to see more “independent” booking agencies

necessarily be stronger. I think there’s going to be a louder cry for it,

and promoters in your country in the future and why?

but more noise doesn’t mean that there are more people. Because I still think that there are some people who will refuse to go to events

“I completely expect to see more independent and single operations.

and will not go to events for a while until they feel a certain type of

Everybody is going to look at a way in to make some money when

safety and comfort, a normalness before doing so.”

the industry opens, and everybody is going to be excited that the long drought in entertainment is going to lead to a higher than normal attendance, I think it’s going to happen like that. Also I expect much more independent booking agents, I expect more managers to be booking agents and not use an additional booking agent as everybody tries to retain as much money as possible. And yes, I expect a lot more persons to want to become promoters and want to try their hand, plus you have promoters that are waiting for over a year to have events, so not everybody is going to wait for the traditional period anymore, there’s going to be a rush when we get to what I call the safe date.”

Has the pandemic stimulated more cooperation between promoters/agents in your country and if so in which ways?

“No, I don’t think it has stimulated more cooperation between promoters and agents in my country. Entertainment in Jamaica and Reggae is very disjointed, the sides don’t talk to each other and even this long break has not led to a collective meeting of Jamaican Entertainment Industry in any shape or form, so I don’t think it has led to any closeness and I don’t expect that to change.”

How important do you think Live Streaming will be in the future, both for major and upcoming acts?

“Streaming is going to be relevant in the future as it is now, where it is going to be a new way to contact certain audiences. I guess it’s like shopping from home as opposed to going to the store, but you still have a lot of people who prefer going to the store, because of the difference is with streaming events you are forced to see what the camera sees and you take away that freedom. So while it will

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Jerome Hamilton

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MARCH 2021

Name: Mark Halliday Company: Veritas Entertainment Ltd. Role: Founder and Managing Director Country: United Kingdom How has your company been coping with the current crisis?

Mark Halliday

It’s been a period of hibernation for us in particular. All of our work disappeared practically overnight in March of last year so we haven’t worked properly for over a year, but we are seeing a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. We are starting to see some enquiries start coming in and our existing core business contracts are looking to reopen as of May, so hopefully this is the start of the recovery.

Have you received any financial support from your government and if so are you still receiving support?

We were very lucky to have been a recipient of the governments’ Cultural Recovery Fund, which has enabled us to prepare for the return of work and to quickly return to our previous viability and more. We are now ready to supply our shows to customers overseas and tour the UK as soon as we are allowed.

How’s the re-opening schedule looking in your country?

The vaccine roll out in the UK is proving itself to be one of the most successful government actions since the pandemic began and is therefore helping people gain some level of confidence in attending large scale events, proven by Live Nation’s sales of nearly 200,000 tickets for their UK festivals in 48 hours. We have yet to see how that translates to ticket sales for indoor theatres, but we await this info

autumn overseas working with bigger promoters, bringing our shows

with bated breath. This will determine whether the wider industry will

to areas of the world which are just a little ahead of us. Ideally we

be able to successfully return to normal theatre scheduling, staffing

would love to see the shows in New Zealand, UAE etc.

levels and, hopefully previous profits.

Do you expect to see more “independent” booking agencies How do you see open air events taking place in your country

and promoters in your country in the future and why?

during the summer?

Not sure what is meant by “independent” booking agencies, in One thing is clear, the UK is seeing a spike in people wanting to

this context, but it will be interesting to see how much the touring

attend outdoor concerts of all shapes and sizes and will do for the

theatre circuit has contracted, with some venues not making it

next few years. What is not clear is how this will take place. Whether

through the pandemic. Will there be a glut of content so theatres

this is preceded with lateral flow testing, vaccine passports etc I am

can take their pick of the best shows? Will theatres see themselves in

not sure.

a stronger bargaining position as competition for the dates hots up?

We will have to wait and see.

Have you already booked indoor shows for the autumn and onwards?

Has the pandemic stimulated more cooperation between promoters/agents in your country and if so in which ways?

We do have indoor shows booked with our core business clients as of June, however we are going to wait until spring ‘22 to take any

One fascinating thing I have encountered about the pandemic, as far

real financial risk in theatres ourselves. We would love to spend this

as the industry is concerned, is the open communication between

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MARCH 2021

producers and promoters. There seems to be a camaraderie and

right now. Some believe a hybrid livestream/live show option is the

desire to work together to get through this, which I don’t believe was

future, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see live streaming

there before. I sincerely hope it continues.

making a hasty retreat once people are allowed to fill a venue. In my opinion, Nothing can compete with the live theatre/concert

How important do you think Live Streaming will be in the

experience.

future, both for major and upcoming acts?

Will the demand for Live Events be stronger than ever once I think this very much depends how big you or your artistes are on

we get back to normal?

the world stage. Niall Horan and Kylie sold over £3 Million of tickets between them during lockdown which will have made them and

Many are predicting boom times over the next few years. I think

made the promoters a hell of a lot more money than the live events

people have discovered a love for live that they never knew they

would have done, considering they will have incurred none of the

had, before it was taken away from them. There is also the fact

usual infrastructure costs.

that, while many people have lost jobs, a lot of people who have worked from home have seen the opportunity to actually save

However, if you are an emerging artiste or a touring one nighter

money, simply from not spending on travel to work, lunches, drinks

theatre show I have not seen any evidence that there is the same

and dinner with friends. It’s just a case of filling them with enough

appetite from fans. It seems the industry is very split on this subject

confidence to go back into busy spaces and spend it! :)

Name: Monika Auer Company: Armin Rahn Agency & Management Role: Managing Director Country: Germany How has your company been coping with the current crisis?

Have you received any financial support from your government and if so are you still receiving support?

Our sales collapsed more than 90% in 2020. We could not do a lot as our main business concentrates on live performances. Just TV Shows

Yes we received (rarely) financial support, but it was very complicated

and some new upcoming concert versions in summer 2020 as “car

and took a long time until the payments arrived and unfortunately it

cinema concerts” have been possible.

doesn’t even cover the running costs by far.

How’s the re-opening schedule looking in your country?

For live performances there still is not a real re-opening schedule.

How do you see open air events taking place in your country during the summer?

I think maybe open airs with limited capacities might be possible this summer, but far away from the former size & volume Have you already booked indoor shows for the autumn and onwards?

Yes, for the moment we booked some indoor shows for autumn 2021 and 2022

Monika Auer

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Do you expect to see more “independent” booking agencies and promoters in your country in the future and why?

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MARCH 2021

I do not think there will be more but different/new ones coming up

Live streaming will for sure become an even more important sector

for sure and some old traditional ones leaving the market.

than it was before this pandemic hit the world, for major and upcoming acts as well.

Has the pandemic stimulated more cooperation between promoters/agents in your country and if so in which ways?

Will the demand for Live Events be stronger than ever once we get back to normal?

I do not have the feeling that cooperation has been stimulated with concern to promoters/agents, in fact I fear it might be the other

I hope so and yes, I think for the younger generations that never

way round.

really feared the virus that much there is already a high demand to go out and have fun together again. For the older generations

How important do you think Live Streaming will be in the

it might be a bit different and take longer to make them visit live

future, both for major and upcoming acts?

Events again.

Name: Nana Trandou Company: High Priority Promotions Role: Managing Director Country: Greece How has your company been coping with the current crisis?

Moreover, the understanding on the part of the agents definitely

helped a lot since they returned the deposits to us.

Immediately after the first lockdown a year ago, and after it was announced by the government that events and concerts wouldn’t

How’s the re-opening schedule looking in your country and

be happening, our company HIGH PRIORITY PROMOTIONS was

how do you see open air events taking place in your country

put under suspension like all other companies that organise similar

during the summer?

events. The first step for us was to move the AthensRocks Festival, as well as all the other concerts, to later dates in 2020.

Greece is one of the countries with a statistically good level of vaccination. Therefore, given the good weather conditions, the

By careful planning and cost-cutting strategies, we were able to

government will proceed with the re-opening of cafes/restaurants

survive even though the state’s financial assistance was and remains

strictly and only in outdoor areas in April. At the same time, they will

minimal with only a small subsidy given on employees’ salaries, and a

increase the number of rapid tests to make them accessible for the

support amount, part of which will not be refunded.

wider population.

Have you received any financial support from your government

We hope that this plan will succeed and that some events and

and if so are you still receiving support?

concerts will take place in the summer. However, I believe that the venues will have limited capacity and will be exclusively seated, under

There is not a significant ‘umbrella’ support by the state regarding

strict sanitary measures, like the use of masks, rapid tests performed

cultural events. The only event organisations and venues that received

at the entrance and vaccination certificates.

a subsidy were the state agencies, not the independent promoters.

My experience, being a COVID-19 patient, motivates me to be Although the ticket voucher was recognised by the government and

extremely sensitive when it comes to the issue of prevention and

there was no refund of tickets for the concerts that did not take place

safety. I believe that a strict protocol should be followed without any

by the other promoters, this was something that we strategically

reckless relaxation of the measures by the organisers.

did not follow and opted to give ticket buyers the possibility of redeeming their ticket. Knowing how difficult the situation is for

The travel restrictions and all major festivals and tours in Europe that

everyone, we did not want, in any case, to use the money of ticket

have been cancelled, along with the fact that Greece is a fly-in/out

buyers as a ‘support capital’. It is very important that the fans that

country, make it difficult to book concerts with foreign artists for this

have supported us through the dark days, and aspire to be there for

summer. Maybe it will be possible to do that from September and

us when it is sunny once again, are happy and not disappointed!

later on.

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MARCH 2021

Have you already booked indoor shows for the autumn and

Do you expect to see more “independent” booking agencies

onwards?

and promoters in your country in the future and why? Has the pandemic stimulated more cooperation between promoters/

We have already booked 4 open air and 10 indoor shows for the

agents in your country and if so in which ways?

rest of the year.

The live music industry has been hit harder than any other industry We really hope that things will get better than they were in the

in this pandemic. A lot of companies will not be able to survive, the

previous months, and that we will be approaching the end of this

landscape circumstances will change and probably several independent

unprecedentedly difficult pandemic soon. We are looking forward

promoters are going to make their appearance in the Greek market,

to host all these shows.

something that is already happening in many other countries.

Nana Trandou

We learned a lot through this pandemic, such as that a smaller and more profitable business model can function better and be extremely efficient, (as I remember that used to be the case in the 80s and 90s). What we also need to keep in mind is that we shouldn’t be so arrogant and competitive with each other, to focus on the music and maintain good collaborations, which are important, as we are all in the same boat and only with close devoted cooperation can we face crises like this one.

Who would have thought that one day all the live shows around the world would stop at the same time? Therefore, we need to be more realistic, collaborative and to keep up with the business ethics.

We mustn’t have unreasonable demands on any side and we must help our partners in order for all of us to provide perfect live shows to the public when it will be safe again. Let’s prove that we can be more human, even in the music business world!

How important do you think Live Streaming will be in the future, both for major and upcoming acts?

Live streaming has turned out to be a powerful tool as it has somehow brought music and artists inside our homes. I am certain that it is here to stay and that it will be an important asset for all the artists, mainly for the upcoming ones. However, what’s also certain is that it can’t replace the live show as we know it.

Will the demand for Live Events be stronger than ever once we get back to normal?

Live events are interactive. There is the artist on the stage, the audience that supports them, dances, sings, falls in love, hugs one another, and creates memories. It is a part of their life and it is about the whole experience! I believe that the demand for live events will be stronger than ever once we get back to normal.

Nevertheless, I also believe that if there’s one thing to learn from this crisis, it’s that nothing is a given and simple moments like meeting your friends, hugging your loved ones, going to a festival or the concert of your favourite band, all hold incredibly great value in our lives!

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NAMES & JOBS

MARCH 2021

Steve Backman joins Runway Artists

Sally Dunstone joins Primary Talent

From VIP-Daily News

From VIP-Daily News

Steve Backman has joined Runway Artists, a London-based

Sally Dunstone has joined London-based Primary Talent as a concert

independent booking agency, from Primary Talent in the United

agent, effective immediately. Dunstone comes to Primary Talent after

Kingdom. And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Emmy The

working with X-Ray Touring since 2014. A stint at Live Nation is also

Great, Gabriella Cilmi, DJ Steve Lamacq, The Bootleg Beatles, The

on her resume.

Mission, Art School Girlfriend, Odina, Cattle & Cane, and The KVB are among the artists Backman brings with him from Primary Talent,

Joining Dunstone in the change to Primary Talent will be her roster,

where he worked for 19 years.

which includes Jack Harlow, who was nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance and will appear on the March 27th

Matt Hanner commented “It`s great that an agent of Steve’s pedigree

episode of Saturday Night Live, as well as 2021 BRIT Awards Rising

had enough belief in what I`d started to want to come on board.

Star Nominee Rina Sawayama, Kelly Lee Owens, Places+Faces, Maxo

We have a shared ethos and approach to the way we work with our

Kream, Lancey Foux.

artists and I think we will benefit from working together.”

“What ICM and Primary have put together over the past year has Backman added, “It`s a chance for me to put my knowledge to

not gone unnoticed in the Concerts world and I am excited to join

something new, fresh and exciting that we have control of. We are

the team with my talented roster of artists and keep the momentum

the masters of our own destiny and that is really freeing.”

going,” said Sally Dunstone.

It was one of the first major agencies to open during a period of

“Sally is an agent I have admired and wanted to work with for a long

unparalleled disruption for the live entertainment industry due to the

time. She has an exciting contemporary roster of clients and has a

coronavirus outbreak.

huge future ahead of her” said Matt Bates who has been promoted to the role of Head of International/Europe. “We are thrilled to

“There are some big players in [the independent agency world]

welcome her into the ICM/ Primary family.”

now,” Hanner noted, referring to the several major agents that have gone independent in the last 12 months. “There is a lot more scope to shake things up and work in a slightly different way.”

Sally Dunstone

Matt Hanner continued, “We have the freedom to push into areas where we might be able to offer more for our acts and benefit them in the long term.

Steve Backman

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> BUSINESS >

MARCH 2021

CTS Eventim positive despite major revenue drop From VIP-Daily News Eventim`s revenue in the live entertainment segment fell by 86.1 percent year on year in 2020, to €136.8 million.

The company stated that it is securing additional liquidity by implementing promoter voucher schemes. The €741.2m in cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2020 demonstrates its financial foundations, which remain “very robust even after a year of pandemic.”

CTS Eventim remains positive for 2021 despite reporting a more than 82 percent drop in revenue in 2020 to €256.8m, down from

“Never at any stage did we experience any kind of shock paralysis,”

€1.4bn the previous year.

Schulenberg continued. “It was clear to us from the very beginning that, with our outstanding teams, we will emerge from this

Normalised EBITDA for the Berlin-based ticketing and live

crisis stronger than before, by continuously extending our core

entertainment company was -€2.9m, down from a positive

competencies in technology and industry know-how.”

€286.5m the previous year.

Eventim stated that its prompt response to the COVID-19

Klaus-Peter Schulenberg

pandemic, including “rigorous” cutbacks, income from insurance compensation, and government grants to cover payroll and overhead costs, acted as a cushion and reportedly saved a “doubledigit million figure.”

Klaus-Peter Schulenberg (pictured), chief executive of CTS Eventim, said: “With our full-scale cost management from the very beginning of the crisis and thanks to our prudent economic management in the years before, we see ourselves as superbly positioned when live shows return to concert halls and our business revives.

“In view of the increasing availability of vaccines and rapid tests, and the progress of vaccination campaigns, there are good prospects that our industry can start getting back to normal over the next few months.”

In the fourth quarter of 2020, group revenues were 92 per cent lower year-on-year at €28.1m, as normalised EBITDA amounted to €14.8m, down from €109.5m in 2019.

Revenue in the ticketing segment for the whole of 2020 was 73.7 per cent lower year-on-year, at €126.6m, while ticketing’s normalised EBITDA fell year-on-year from €220.4m to -€23.6m.

This includes €10m in compensation paid by insurance companies.

Ticketing revenue fell 88.9% in the fourth quarter of 2020, from €174.7m to €19.5m, while normalised EBITDA was -€11m.

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> MISC >

MEMBER PRESENTATION

MARCH 2021

This space is dedicated to present some of our clients using VIP-Booking.com.

Companies presented here have our best endorsement...

New Concept Management New Concept Management’s activity is oriented around two poles namely musical interpretation which encompasses several styles of music (Jazz, salsa, soul music, classical, pop, slow, Congolese rumba, folk music ...) and the promotion of works originals from artists working for the label.

About Our Company VIP-Booking’s core product is the largest­database­for the European Live Entertainment Industry www.vip-booking.com­developed as a tool for industry professionals­. Since it’s launch in the year 2000, we have consistently offered our subscribers the very best in database services and now boast subscribers­ in over 50 countries.

®

vip-booking.com

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HOW TO USE

1

Use VIP Analytics to lo cate where your artist has the most in terest:

VIP-Booking.com for Agents/Managers

2

ues Use our Tour Builder to locate ven or agents within a given area:

3

Find the Talent B uyer and relevant other contact s:

®

The No. 1 information resource for the European Live Entertainment Industry vip-booking.com