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VOLUME 179
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MAY 2015
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VIP NEWS >
MAY 2015
McGowan’s It was – to say the least – an active weekend
it is relevant! The very first edition was, as I
but that’s not something that anybody
in Brighton! The Brighton Arts Festival is in
think I’ve said before, beset by some of the
would want to see – or in this case – not
full swing, as is the Fringe Festival, and just
worst south coast spring seaside conditions
see! Great Escape presented an extremely
to add to the celebration, the congestion
that the weather gods could throw at a new
high standard of acts, ranging from the
and the clamour, The Great Escape hit town
event, high winds, torrential rain and wintry
secret Paul Weller show at the Old Market
with a few hundred acts, playing 35 venues,
temperatures! Since then things haven’t
venue, to the Maccabees, The Vaccines and
plus 20,000 or so Festival goers, and a large
been so bad, with some particularly fine
many others – my own favourite being the
swathe of the international business people
conditions for some editions, this one was
Malian band Songhoy Blues (thanks for the
that I normally run into at the international
a mixture with a couple of chilly, windy and
help in getting in Adam!), Delta Rae from
events that we VIP people tend to frequent.
wet days and nights, but with summery
Carolina and the Dutch act Birth of Joy – but
According to the organisers over 3500
conditions on the Saturday. However the
of course I couldn’t get round, and certainly
delegates attended this tenth edition. Now,
cold and wet evenings made conditions in
couldn’t get in – to see 450 bands!
I am going to mention the weather, and yes,
the long and often very slow moving queues
COLOPHON > VIP-News is published by: VIP-Booking.com 20-22 Wenlock Road London N1 7GU United Kingdom +44 870 755 0092 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 +44 870 755 0092
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Musings
for the much sought after gigs particularly
In this business ten years is quite a long
unpleasant, like SXSW and other largescale
time for an event to endure and to develop,
events The Great Escape is having to deal
but this pales into insignificance when
with the complaints of punters not being
compared to the duration of the UK’s
able to access the shows they really want
Performing Rights Society PRS, yesterday I
to see because there are too many of them
attended the Society’s one hundred and first
trying to get into venues that reach capacity
Annual General Meeting. There were, and I
in very quick time.
include myself in this, quite a few somewhat elderly writers and publishers in attendance,
This of course results in frustration, and
but nobody, I’m pretty sure, that had
often altercations with harassed door
attended all of the meetings! In fact the
staff – some of which it has to be said,
history of music writers and publishers goes
are not experienced in handling these
back even further than 101 years, as CEO
situations. It wasn’t just the festival goers
Robert Ashcroft pointed out in his speech,
who were denied access, the possession
in 1905 the Music Publishers’ Association
of a delegate wrist band certainly didn’t
announced that they would accept no more
guarantee getting in, and in some cases
music for publication until the law afforded
artist managers, media representatives and
adequate protection against pirates, who
showcase presenters found themselves out
sold
in the cold. But, what can you do? Getting
(of sheet music) without permission or
there early is of course advisable, but if
payment. By 2014 the battle against piracy
you’re trying to cover a few shows, you have
had largely moved onto the Internet and
to be on the move. It’s a matter of becoming
now there’s streaming to be dealt with….
overly successful and I, and probably the
Some things seem to always be with us!
organisers don’t see any obvious solutions,
Anyway, as ever, Ladies and Gentlemen –
apart from putting on a less attractive bill,
The News!
cheap
lithographed
reproductions
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2015
The Great Escape Presents its Biggest Line Up for the Tenth Anniversary Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com The tenth Great Escape came to a close on Saturday May 16 with a hail of confetti concluding a special midnight show from The Maccabees – who had also appeared at the very first edition. Emerging artists like Shamir, Sunset Sons, Jack Garrett and Lion Babe all performed alongside more established acts like The Vaccines, The Cribs and Alabama Shakes. Over the past decade, Adele, Mumford and Sons, Bastille and Ed Sheeran have all performed before breaking big. Asked about the way that the bill is put together organiser Kat Morris explained. “It’s pretty complicated, it takes about a year to get the festival together. There are lots of different things that we can do, but actually anyone can put themselves forward, there is an open submission process on the website. The team also travels to different countries all year round to see new music and out and about in London all the time and there are ideas coming in from different partnerships of the festival.” She added that the planning for The Great Escape 2016 has already begun.
Kat Morris, The Great Escape
Festival Republic to Launch Community festival in November Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Festival Republic has announced the launch of a new ‘Community’
Confirming the new event,
festival in London from November 3 – 6. The intention of the event is
Festival Republic MD Melvin
to bring together the music community with the living, working and
Benn told reporters: “This
visiting communities of musicians and music lovers of Shoreditch, the
is an urban, multi-venue
increasingly fashionable area of East London.
emerging talent event inspired by our love of the fact that live music just never stops getting better. But we want to present it in the Community; in the butchers and bakers and the basement offices and loft bedrooms as well as some of the more established venues of Shoreditch. It will represent the energy of our musical culture and the innovation of one of the most innovative and vibrant areas in the UK”. Festival Republic’s Jon Mcildowie, who is set to curate Community, added: “As promoters but above all music fans we are constantly looking out for new and emerging talent. Community is an opportunity for us to share the music that we are all excited about and to introduce new artists to the public before anyone else. I’m
Melvin Benn
delighted to be working with the Live Nation team to help bring the programme together”.
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VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
MAY 2015
The First Music Cities Convention Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
It has often occurred to me over the last few
Amsterdam or New York etc and vice versa.
thrust of the convention was to consider
years as Conference and Showcase Festival
With this in mind I was very happy to be
the impact a thriving local music industry
events get bigger and bigger that City
invited on the day before this year’s Great
can have on a city, in terms of employment,
Exchanges, ie a two or three day and night
Escape, and again, right on my doorstep in
boosting the economic and social welfare
presentation of the music and other arts
Brighton, to the first edition of the Music
of an area, adding to tourist attraction and
in each others cultural centres and venues
Cities Convention.
keeping talented people within the region.
could be a good idea. Instead of being up
As you can imagine I found this concept very
against over 2000 or more bands at SXSW in
According to co-founders Martin Elbourne
interesting, and I was not disappointed by the
Austin for instance, a few acts from London,
and Shain Shapiro although it was only on sale
presentations and the discussions. I’m not
or Glasgow, or Brighton could be up there
for two months, 50 cities from 20 countries
saying that I’m jaded by the content of the
with the the main attractions in Hamburg,
signed up to be part of the event. The main
many industry events that I attend and take part in, but it was interesting to hear new people talk on topics very closely related, but looked at from a different perspective, to the themes addressed at the main events in our international music industry calendar. Throughout the day speakers representing Adelaide and Melbourne, Cape Town, Berlin, Quebec, Barcelona, Liverpool, Addis Ababa, Groningen and Montreal, delivered detailed and positive presentations on how they were encouraging and capitalizing on the development of music industries, artists, production facilities and venues, often in cooperation with their national and local authorities.
Martin Elbourne
4
Topics presented and later discussed included Live Music Action Plans, the establishment
VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
MAY 2015
of Creative Centres and Industry Clusters,
industry developers output. He convinced
The next edition is a collaboration with the
Networking, Innovation, Entrepreneurship
all his local politicians to visit the Eurosonic
Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit, held
and Collaboration. One good example of
festival, to see first hand how important it is
in Washington, DC on Oct 25/26. We will
collaboration included discussions between
to the town, and they’ve never questioned
provide more information for this very soon.
Mark Davyd of the Music Venues Trust
helping the event since.
(see last two issues of VIP News) and the representatives of the South Australian Music
Music Cities co-founder Martin Elbourne said,
Development Office about the possible
“Money is always an issue - but there are
implementation in the UK of the Agent of
other factors too. Small venues closing down
Change law which had been used to good
is a problem being faced all over the world.
effect in Adelaide to protect the status of
So my message to the UK government would
live music venues threatened by new urban
be to look at what’s being done in cities
development.
around the world, and then look at the music communities in our own cities and towns.”
Music Canada are officially launching their own report on the impact music can have
Co-founder
on a regional city at Midem this year, and
Diplomacy concluded the day’s event by
Shain
Shapiro
of
Sound
they gave some highlights of that work at
thanking the sponsors,
Music Cities.
Quebec Government in London, City of
Music Canada,
Montreal, and stating that in the coming The Deputy Mayor of Groningen - the
weeks and months, they would progress the
Netherlands home of Noorderslag Eurosonic
development of the Develop the Music Cities
- advised letting the politicians see the
Network.
Shain Shapiro
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VIP NEWS >
MAY 2015
Backlash for Ticketmaster in Germany Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com There are live music industry players that enjoy secondary ticketing
For those promoters inclined to take a clear stand against so
very much, but there are also still industry protagonists out there
called secondary ticketing found it even more challenging to keep
who have concerns about this kind of business model, already
up their efforts against this extremely profitable business model.
legislated against in France and Denmark, being still prepared to
The German concert agency MCT is one of these and following
argue that, amongst other things, it contains elements that display
the integration of Seatwave as an additional sales channel of
the characteristics of the black or grey markets.
Ticketmaster cancelled his deal with the company. MCT has maintained a strict policy against secondary ticketing for some
However Live Nation subsidy Ticketmaster’s purchase of the resale-
years. In 2012 the Company started selling personalized tickets
platform Seatwave again confirmed just how the resale of tickets
for certain shows via their associated ticketing shop Tickets.de in
has been successfully embedded within the value chain of corporate
order to identify tickets that had been sold through black market
companies.
channels on the internet.
Scumeck Sabottka
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VIP NEWS >
MAY 2015
MCT MD Scumeck Sabottka explains his reasons why he cancelled his ticket distribution deal with Ticketmaster Germany. VIP News: Unlike in France where the promoter association Prodiss successfully lobbied for a strict law against the unauthorised resale of tickets there still is no similar law in
Sabottka: No, not at all. Ticketmaster has been a complementary
Germany. Any idea why this should still be the case?
service for us. I as a promoter would like to decide for myself who is going to sell the tickets for the shows I promote. Ticketmaster was for
Scumeck Sabottka: I do not believe that politicians are as familiar
the one year long lasting collaboration an interesting partner for us,
with the subject of secondary ticketing as we are within the industry.
but at the end of day it didn’t create more or less ticket sales.
I almost assume that even one or the other promoter within the industry itself is not aware of how secondary ticketing is working. In
VIP News: Companies such as Google are, so to say, partners
particular I mean the, from my point of view, immoral and illegitimate
in crime due to the massive online marketing efforts by those
resale of tickets above the face value.
various ticketing resale platforms. On the other hand there are for many other products or services search engine sites
VIP News: Do you receive support and backing for your efforts
displaying price listings and rankings for the best available
in terms of your restrictive policy against secondary ticketing
prices. Are ticket buyers looking for the best ticket prices
from other players within the live music industry?
available on the internet?
Scumeck Sabottka: No, I only I receive support for this from those
Sabottka: No, unfortunately ticket buyers do not buy there where
artists and their managers we are working with. Beyond those people
tickets are offered for the best price. I wish this would be the case,
the interest is actually rather limited. The majority of people within the
but it isn’t. How else could it be explained that tickets are sold on
live music business apparently consider our efforts to ban secondary
these secondary ticketing websites, such as Seatwave. We see this
ticketing as something that makes things more complicated. But in
with how many people we have to refuse access on the door, as they
fact this isn’t the case. Nevertheless I have to add, that due to the
bought tickets on those sites, where those tickets have been re-sold
increased utilisation of this kind of ticketing on various levels, ranging
two or even three times. For instance, at our Kraftwerk concerts at
from Kraftwerk to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from Nick Cave to
the Nationalgalerie in Berlin the face value for a ticket was 72 Euro.
Rammstein we receive support from the fans of those artists for our
But on those ticketing platforms tickets for these concerts has been
strict policies against secondary ticketing, they appreciate what we
sold for 198 Euro.
are doing. VIP News: How is your experience regarding the ticket market VIP News: Are you suffering economic disadvantages due to
in France, where the unauthorized resale of tickets is forbidden
cancelling your distribution deal with Ticketmaster?
by law and judged with a penalty fee in the first case of 15.000 Euro and in case of recurrence even with 30.000 Euro? Sabottka: Last year we did eight shows of Kraftwerk at the Louis Vuitton Museum in Paris and sold personalized tickets therefore. The shows were promoted by our long term partner Corrida and thanks to the existing law against unauthorized re-sale of tickets in France everything went ahead very differently. I would be pleased if this would be the same over here in Germany or if this law would become a law on a European level.
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Networking Showcase Festival Trade Fair Conference Film Screenings Awards virtualWOMEX
Budapest, Hungary 21 – 25 October 2015 www.womex.com
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2015
Dramatic Eurorock 2015 From www.side-line.com
Belgian Guestwriter Bernard Van Isacker shared his first hand experiences with us on this year’s Eurorock Festival where thousands of Euros were stolen which led to some truely chaotic days.
successful surgery to his heart 2 days after
people at the festival such as me and several
the festival ended.
other people working backstage would step in as new organisers together with the stage
Bernard Van Isacker was contracted as a spokesman of the Festival. He too still needs to be paid by the organiser: “Despite all the problems, I consider it professional behaviour to do what I was hired for: talking to the press”
Only a few minutes after the theft I got a
managers. The idea was to see how many
phone call from a newspaper and from
bands would still be playing live and which
then on the news started circulating pretty
wouldn’t and try and make the festival
fast and my phone was ringing like mad. I
running for a limited time. My first work
did a couple of very short interviews with
there now was to inform the public that we
some newspapers and told them that we
had practical issues that would force us to
were looking for a solution. Never trust
halt the festival for an hour, time we needed
It was (not so) surprising that the mainstream
the press of course, because soon some
to get a new line-up sorted out.
media, which never wanted to report on the
newspaper started spreading that Killing
Eurorock Festival before, let alone announce
Joke, a headliner, had canceled. Complete
However, after having talked to several
it, suddenly found the time to act as real
nonsense, but this had an immediate impact
bands (I have never seen such a fast
vultures and shred the festival completely
on the ticket sales as I saw people leaving
negotiation round happening), it became
to pieces (including spreading completely
that were there to buy a ticket.
clear that many were willing to play after
bollocks news) after it faced problems on
all, because they either had been fully paid,
Saturday morning. I was on the terrain for
With Rudi rushed off to hospital, the
or had already received a partial payment,
the complete 3 days (14 – 15 – 16 May)
organisation was beheaded. In order to
or because they just wanted to play for free
acting as a hired spokesman for Eurorock
avoid a complete chaos, it was decided
(such as Legend). On top Der Klinke, and
and it turned out to be one hell of a job with
together with the police to go for a fade-out
many other bands that hadn’t been booked
a lot of drama.
scenario where volunteers and contracted
for the festival even offered to play for free while Lovelorn Dolls – who hadn’t been
I was informed early Saturday morning (May
paid either – offered to play again in case
16) that money had been stolen. The money,
that would be needed. The only thing left
which should have been used to pay the
to do was to get the bands lined up so they
bands, had just arrived and had immediately
would make it back on time to catch their
been put in a sealed of metal hub. There
planes etc.. It took some hard persuasion
were maximum 20 minutes between putting
to get some bands to agree, but in the end
the money there and it being stolen. When
we succeeded in getting a line-up ready
speaking to Rudi Donckers, the organiser of
that would last until 2:00 AM at least.
the festival, I noticed he became paler and
In between this negotiating I announced
paler as time progressed after the discovery
the bands that would play for sure at the
of the 45.000 Euro (I was first told 75.000 euro, then 45.000 euro - some medias reported 80.000) being stolen. Shortly after he was rushed to hospital and he underwent
festival.
Here’s a quick look on how we were shifting lineup all the time at Eurorock.
Anathema and Killing Joke (editor’s note: thanks to Live Nation which intervened
9
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2015
too to make sure they’d play) immediately
contracted spokesman, this was a unique
suggested they would prolong their set
experience.
and bring either more songs (Anathema) or extended versions (Killing Joke) without
Cheers, Bernard Van Isacker
nagging too much about the rest of the money. Peter Hook from his side offered
(This is how I lived the whole thing, it is
his backline to be used so that Anathema
no representation of the organisational
and Therion could play. All together 40 of
structure and / or errors that might or might
the 43 live bands played in the end, not bad
not have happened. Further investigations
I’d say :)
by the police will have to unravel what really happened there.)
At the moment of posting this (May 18) I have over 100 voice messages on my phone from the press, a few more interviews lined
To read the full version, go to: www.side-line.com/eurorock-2015-the-
up and so on. Drama sells, unfortunately.
industrial-woodstock-a-behind-the-scenes-report
From my perspective, that of being a
Spanish Music Industry Protests Against Tax From VIP-Daily News Spain fell silent on Wednesday, May 20, as
groups are national or international,” says a
Springsteen and other heavy hitters to Spain
hundreds of artists, promoters, managers
petition published on Change.org and aimed
told the newspaper El Pais. “It’s not worth it
and others in the Spanish music industry
at Spanish President Mariano Rajoy, as well as
for them to come.”
protested against a 21 percent tax on concert
the country’s finance and cultural ministers.
tickets.
The petition has already attracted around a
According to Billboard, the entertainment
quarter of a million signatures.
tax in other European countries is: France:
Top chart singers, including Alejandro Sanz,
5.5 percent, Portuga: 13 percent, Italy and
Joan Manuel Serrat and Miguel Bose, and
“There are international artists who don’t
Finland: 10 percent, Germany: 7 percent,
bands called a ‘day without music’ and
include Spain on their tours or only go to one
Belgium and Holland: 6 percent, and
were photographed on the website Día Sin
city,” Neo Sala of Doctor Music, a promoter
Switzerland 2.5 percent. In Norway there is
Música (‘day without music’) with tape over
who has brought The Rolling Stones, Bruce
no live music tax.
their mouths. in protest over the VAT hike of September 2012 which they say has killed off the arts and entertainment industry in the country. According to the Association of Music Promoters, the tax is responsible for the loss of more than 40,000 jobs in the entertainment sector and a 30 percent drop in concert attendance since it was imposed
“Since
the tax was raised…on live music (from 8 percent to 21 percent) we are experiencing a destructive spiral as far as the possibilities we have [to remain solvent], whether the
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Photo www.undiasinmusica.org
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2015
U2’s First Arena Tour In 10 Years “A Home Run” From VIP-Daily News
U2
Live Nation global touring chief Arthur Fogel
not the first time they had crossed on the
has declared ticket sales for U2’s first arena
touring circuit.
tour in 10 years “a home run”. “They`ve overlapped before. It makes for In an interview with Billboard, he said: “We
an interesting year. I suppose some would
made the decision to come out a totally
look at it as problematic, just in terms of
different way this time - in arenas, not
time and attention, but part of the art form
stadiums, so they could play more shows in
is managing multiple projects at the same
one city,” he said. “And the results - 99%
time.”
of tickets have been sold - are absolutely fantastic.”
Fogel praised Live Nation’s impact, 10 years on from its spin-off from Clear Channel, and
According to Musicweek Fogel discussed
the work of the company’s president and
the challenges of producing tours by
CEO Michael Rapino.
Madonna and U2 in the same year. “I see a true global company footprint - an He is promoting Madonna’s Rebel Heart
industry leader with a great culture,” he
and U2’s iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE arena
said. “This all comes from the leadership
dates later this year, but pointed out it is
and vision of Michael Rapino.”
Arthur Fogel
11
VIP NEWS >
NAMES & JOBS
MAY 2015
Frank Ströbele Live Nation joins BMG in name Chief Germany Strategy Officer From VIP-Daily News
Jane Beese: New Head of Music Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
From VIP-Daily News
Jane Beese
London venue Roundhouse has announced the appointment of Jane Beese as its new head of music. Beese joins after 15 years at
Jordan Zachary
the Southbank Centre, where she is head of contemporary music. She has been the Melt-
Jordan Zachary has been named Chief
down festival’s lead programmer since 2010,
Strategy Officer of Live Nation Entertain-
working with curators including David Bowie,
ment, reporting to President and CEO Michael Rapino.
Frank Ströbele
Patti Smith and Yoko Ono. She will take on her new role in September
Jordan Zachary joins Live Nation from
BMG has appointed Frank Ströbele as Vice
following the conclusion of this year’s Melt-
Raine Group, a global merchant bank fo-
President, Continental European Reper-
down, to be curated by David Byrne, from
cused on technology, media and telecom-
toire, reporting to Executive Vice Presi-
August 17-30.
munications, Zachary collaborated with
dent, Continental Euorpean Repertoire
Live Nation`s team on its festival strategy,
Fred Casimir at the company’s Berlin head
“I’m delighted to accept the role of head of
and was a key part of recent Live Nation
office.
music at such a historic, iconic and important
deals, including the C3 Presents acquisition
arts space,” she said. “I’m especially looking
and the programming partnership with
In the newly-created role Ströbele will be
forward to working with the amazing team
VICE, where he also holds board affilia-
involved in key artist and catalogue cam-
at the Roundhouse and to engaging with the
tions. Raine had also invested and become
paigns, as well as the strategic develop-
young creatives programme.”
a partner with C3 prior to Live Nation’s
ment of new business models. In addition
acquisition of a controlling interest in C3
Ströbele will support Casimir in overseeing
Prior to the Southbank Centre, Beese worked
late last year, a deal reportedly worth $125
the Continental European offices of BMG.
at booking agencies including 13 Artists, In-
million.
ternational Talent Booking and Asgard. Ströbele joins BMG after running his man-
“As we continue to drive our global market
agement company eye sound for over a
Nicola Thorold, executive producer of the
share, bringing on Jordan, who has deep
decade with clients such as Within Temp-
Roundhouse, added: “We’re thrilled to have
expertise in the live music and media indus-
tation. Prior to that Ströbele held senior
Jane join us at the Roundhouse. The expe-
tries, will help us accelerate the growth of
positions at Sony Music Europe in London,
rience she brings from the Southbank Cen-
our concerts flywheel and find additional
Universal Music Germany as well as head-
tre is second to none. We look forward to
ways to build our high margin on-site, ad-
ing Sanctuary’s Continental European op-
welcoming Jane at such an exciting time in
vertising and ticketing businesses,” said
eration based in Berlin
Roundhouse’s history.”
Rapino in a statement.
13
VIP NEWS > BUSINESS >
MUSIC IN SHARES
MAY 2015
Music In Shares Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com
DEAG - Risk-Factor Festivals Until now DEAG has not officially released a win warning, however
to a sufficient extent, the continued existence of the company and
in the meantime the company has published several warnings in
the group would be at risk”
recent publications that can easily be interpreted as hidden win warnings. The reasoning for this is the launch of their three new
There are a more examples within the report that describe the risk
festivals entitled “Rock Im Revier”, “Rockavaria” in Munich and
potential for DEAG in a similar manner. One with a very serious
“Rock In Vienna” in Austria .
meaning is that by the auditors BDO AG for the annual report, who concluded in reference to the planned festivals “Our audit has not
One of these warnings can be found in the annual report for 2014,
resulted in any qualification, except for the following restrictions.”
published on April 30. There it says: “If the actual sales revenues and
In particular the auditors state: “Due to the lack of sufficient audit
the associated actual inflows from ticket sales for the festivals were
evidence we have not been able to finally and conclusively assess the
significantly deviating from the forecasts, a shortage of liquidity
amount of expected ticket sales on the basis of advance sales as well
might occur and DEAG might have to rely on the use of additional
as possible cost reductions in the event of ticket sales significantly
financing sources (third party or own funds). If this did not succeed
below the budgeted values”.
DEAG
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VIP NEWS > BUSINESS >
MUSIC IN SHARES
MAY 2015
The proceedings and developments from the first announcements
and the Nürburgring site appears now to be overall winner in
until shortly before the events took place, on May 29-31 in
retaining the name. DEAG, among others, has now to cope with
Gelsenkirchen for Rock Im Revier and Rockavria in Munich, were
negative press from Germany’s well-known WiWo, as well as the
accompanied by various legal disputes, and caused wide ranging
nationwide daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ).
media coverage that occasionally turned out to be very sceptical as to the likely success of these festivals. The economic-magazine
In its weekend issue on May23 the newspaper wrote a feature
Wirtschaftswoche (WiWo) had already reported weak ticket sales
article with the headline “Rock Or Die” about DEAG and its festivals
in December 2014.
reporting on discount sales of tickets for Rockavaria and Rock Im Revier and among others on the correspondence between the
As early as Summer 2014 the media coverage peaked, reporting
newspaper and a lawyer on behalf of DEAG.
a number of legal confrontations regarding name rights, the MLK departure of Rock Am Ring from Nürburgring, and the first
According to media reports DEAG invested heavily into fees for
announcements for “Der Ring Grüne Hölle Rock” by DEAG. Originally
its festivals headliners such as Metallica, Muse, Kiss, Limp Bizkit,
DEAG intended to promote “Grüne Hölle” as one of its three new
Faith No More and various other acts. At various times WiWo and
festivals at Nürburgring with the aim to replace Rock Am Ring, which
SZ reported on low ticket sales, raising the question as to whether
has been staged on the racing site since its launch in 1985.
highly paid headliners are still worth the financial risk. However, a financial collapse of DEAG would be a worst case scenario for
The insolvent site Nürburgring appeared to be an extraordinary mine
the German concert industry that could cause significant knock-on
field for various legal battles, not just for MLK. DEAG also stumbled
effects.
into the one or other legal case that later on lead to the Company converting its original idea for a festival entitled as “Grüne Hölle”
The answer to the question how seriously DEAG will be affected by
at Nürburgring into “Rock Im Revier” in the arena “Auf Schalke” in
the results for its new festivals will take some time; nevertheless it is
Gelsenkirchen.
already evident that the share price is heavily under pressure.
CTS Eventim subsidy MLK appeared at the beginning of the festival
On March 3 the DEAG share peaked at 7.49 Euro, on May 25 the
battle as the one who could lose its name rights for Rock Am Ring
share price has been down to 5.54 Euro.
Live Nation - Lower Revenue But Higher Loss On April 30 Live Nation reported its results for Q1-2015. The company basically has been able to maintain its revenue results, reporting a return of $1.20 billion, compared to last year’s result of $1.27 billion. Nevertheless the company nearly doubled its loss results. From a previous net loss of $32.4 million in Q1-2014 it went up to $58.2 million. The loss per share increased from $0.17 up to $0.31 cent. However, the share price is on the rise again, from $25.97 as reported in the April issue, the share in the meantime went up to $27.36.
SFX Entertainment - Higher Revenue and Lower Loss SFX Entertainment managed to increase its revenue in Q1-2015 from $33.3 one year before to $52.1 million. The net loss decreased from $55.9 to $41.6 million... Last time the reported share price was $4.47, this time it is $4.11.
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VIP NEWS > MISC >
MAY 2015
MEMBER PRESENTATION
ARTIST AVAILS Noel Gallagher`s High Flying Birds Territory: Europe Period: 2015 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Ben Winchester Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: ben@primarytalent.com Homepage: www.noelgallagher.com
The international concert agency “RU-CONCERT” was founded in 2001 at the time when there were no promotion companies in Russian Federation which could provide a full circle management services to artists and creative companies. Developing, the company expanded its range of services and the main priorities of the agency today are creation of infrastructure to support show business industry in Russian Federation and a strong professional team of art managers who will become the first and the last competent authority in solution of client’s tasks. Years of experience has allowed to “RU-CONCERT” company to sign contracts with wellknown stars of Russian and foreign music, to become a representative of many famous foreign artists. In the past few years we served state corporations’ big oil and financial companies, city administrations of Russian Federation. During the active, creative and highly responsible administrative work “RU-CONCERT” agency has maintained a spotless reputation: since its establishment and up today has not had a single confusion both by clients and by department authorities, tax
8:58 PAUL HARTNOLL from ORBITAL Territory: World excl USA Period: May 2015 onwards Agency: Value Added Talent Agent: Dan Silver Phone: +44 20 7704 9720 E-mail: dan@vathq.co.uk Homepage: dan@vathq.co.uk
Chris Thompson (Ex-Manfred Mann¥s Earth Band) Territory: World Period: Available all year on request Agency: Live Concept Entertainment GmbH Agent: Michael Widmann Phone: +49 7203 9219180 E-mail: info@live-concept.de Homepage: www.christhompson-central.com
authorities, courts, Prosecutors Office. Thanks to the reliable image “RU-CONCERT” agency attracts serious customers who would like to get reliable and predictable results. Talented artists will always find like-minded people in “RU-CONCERT”. Working with us is comfortable for all. After all we are doing our favorite thing that’s why we treat artists and partners with love and respect. We are always happy to help novice artists to promote to the big stage. We organize performances and tours for
DIE KRUPPS Territory: Worldwide Period: September 2015 Agency: IBD Agent: Sabine Waltz Phone: +49 (0) 8202 9049870 E-mail: sabine@ibdbooking.de Homepage: www.facebook.com/diekruppsofficial?fref=ts
artists, music groups in CIS countries and Europe. Today, “RU-CONCERT” company is a source for event purchase of foreign pop stars for Russian event market. Catalogue of the agency is constantly updated with new artists trying to satisfy not only the most discerning tastes of the audience but also to work in order to stay ahead of demand.
About Our Company VIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest databasefor 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 subscribersin over 30 countries.
THE ORCHESTRA starring ELO former members Territory: Worldwide Period: 2015 Agency: World Entertainment Associates of America Agent: John Regna - Artist Agent/Manager Phone: +1 407 993 4000 E-mail: jpr@johnregna.com Homepage: www.THEORCHESTRAonline.com
Peter Doherty Territory: Europe Period: 2015 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Matt Bates Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: matt@primarytalent.com Homepage: www.albionrooms.com
MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
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Noel Gallagher