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VIP NEWS
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VOLUME 180
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JUNE 2015
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VIP NEWS >
JUNE 2015
McGowan’s
Musings
Well the longest day was yesterday so we’re
Midem organisers admitted that the numbers
the Foo Fighters managed to fall off the
now officially on the rundown for the rest of
were down by 11% on January ’14 figures.
stage in Gothenburg, breaking his leg in the
the year, so with that comforting thought in
However the VIP team enjoyed it and, like
process, though adopting the show must
mind welcome to this edition of the News!
others, reckoned that the decreased numbers
go on ethic, the rest of the band played a
Travels since the last issue have included visits
made it easier to do business. 2016 will
set of standards before a plastered ( not in
to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands and
apparently see the event move till later in
the drinking sense of course!) Dave returned
Paris for me, and Cannes, France for a couple
June, so we’ll see, although I can’t see many
to complete the set sitting down. However
of others in the team. The Cannes trip was
festival promoters being available at that time.
as a result the show will not be going on at
of course for Midem, still the grandfather (or The trip to Scotland for the first Xpo North was
Rock Werchter and Glastonbury. Florence
but facing difficulties as far as convincing
somewhat marred by the plane developing a
and the Machine have however moved up
music business folk to pay the still expensive
fault and diverting to Edinburgh – now I’ve
the bill to make up for things on the Pyramid
registration fees. This was the first year that
got nothing against that capital city, but
Stage. Organiser and founder Michael Eavis
the event was moved to June, great for the
hanging around for hours in any airport is
has taken it all very calmly though as you’d
weather in the sunny South of France, but
not fun, we finally argot to our destination
expect from a 79 year old who maintains that
this did not swing it for the attendance;
over 8 hours late! However, Inverness is a
the hugely-successful festival “could go in a
very attractive City, and even though the
wink” and will be outlasted by his dairy farm
mountains in the distance still had snow on
In a new film on BBC iPlayer, he reveals his
them, there were a couple of days when
proudest achievement is nothing to do with
the sun shone to rival Cannes. I also got to
the festival, but is in fact the moment he won
experience one of the best drummers I’ve
the gold cup for best herd from the Royal
ever seen and heard, Audrey Tait of Hecter
Association Of British Dairy Farmers – so he’s
Bizerk is a slight figure but as powerful as
got his priorities sorted!
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several festivals including Pink Pop, St.Gallen,
grandmother?) of all the music trade shows,
any male kit players that I’ve seen. With the absence of their bass player she and Glasgow
Now, what else before we move on! Ah
rapper Louie still produced quite a set!
yes! Van has become Sir Van, not known for always being in the best of moods, it’s not
And what of Paris you ask? Well that was for
known whether Northern Irish singer Van
the planning meetings for this year’s MaMA
Morrison cracked a smile when he got the
event in October – we’ll keep you informed!
news that he’d been knighted in the Queen’s honours list. Also a well-deserved OBE,
There’s been a couple of stage accidents
Order of the British Empire, went to my good
of late with some knock on effects, Five
friend, Keith Harris, UK manager of Stevie
Seconds of Summer’s singer (how’s that for
Wonder, amongst many other things. Oh
alliteration!) will probably be staying away
and Take That got the keys to The O2, having
from pyros for some time after setting fire to
performed on the London stage 22 times!
his hair and burning his face during a show at Wembley Arena – he has recovered you’ll
… no, I didn’t get anything, but anyway
be glad to know. Then Dave Grohl – he of
Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the News!
VIP NEWS >
JUNE 2015
First Edition of Xpo North Reports Success Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
XpoNorth Director, Amanda Millen said, ‘We’re delighted with the success of our first festival under the XpoNorth banner. This was our most ambitious programme to date, and we’re pleased that the event continues to achieve growth, both in terms The first edition of XpoNorth took place
of attendee numbers and range of content.
in the Highland Capital of Inverness across
It’s fantastic to bring such a cross-reach
the 10th and 11th of June. The event was
of industry figures together in a beautiful
known as goNORTH from 2001 to 2014
city to connect with the most exciting new
and featured content from a range of
talent in Scotland.’
XpoNorth Director Amanda Millen
creative strands including music, screen and broadcast, fashion and crafts, publishing and gaming. The event continues to be a
Xpo North 2015 Picture - Paul Campbell Photography 135
free festival due to the funding and support from Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Attracting
around
1500
attendees,
highlights from the music programme included
a
keynote
with
legendary
Australian promoter Michael Chugg, along with seminars from PRS for Music, Music Publishers Association (MPA), the Music Producers Guild (MPG) and the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA). The event also featured over 60 live showcases from acts including SAY (see below) Award winner Kathryn Joseph, KLOE, Monogram, Catholic Action, Man of Moon, Hector Bizerk and Miss Irenie Rose. XpoNorth is one of the few events where you can get to see most, if not all, of the acts as the venues are all within walking distance. The only thing I missed this year was the late night gathering in one of the hotel bars, where as is the case as I’m sure many of you know, much of the networking is done. Seems that the hotels weren’t keen on extra bar take – in Scotland? Surely not!
Xpo North
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VIP NEWS >
JUNE 2015
Kathryn-Joseph
Scottish Album of the Year Award Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
Continuing with things Scottish, on June
The winner of this year’s public vote was
18 The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY)
Paolo Nutini’s ‘Caustic Love, which won an
Award announced the latest winner of the
automatic place on the shortlist after a 72
Leonie Bell, director of arts & engagement
coveted award – having appeared at Xpo
hour public vote. The remaining nine slots
at
North Kathryn Joseph took the SAY Award
were awarded by The SAY Award’s panel of
congratulations to Kathryn Joseph as this
for her album ‘Bones You Have Thrown
independent judges.
year’s winner! The SAY Award has firmly
Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’. The event was
Creative
Scotland,
said:
“Huge
established itself as a significant celebration
hosted by Janice Forsyth and Vic Galloway
Stewart Henderson, chair of the SMIA,
of contemporary music from Scotland
of BBC Scotland, also an attendant of Xpo
said:“It’s been a flagship year for The SAY
that illustrates the talent and energy that
North.
Award, our biggest yet, so I’m absolutely
exists within Scotland’s music industry and
delighted for Kathryn. ‘Bones You Have
that emanates internationally. From the
Produced by The Scottish Music Industry
Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Shed’ is a
longlist, to the shortlist and now the winner,
Association (SMIA), and now in its fourth
beautiful, very special album. I’m just
the award is a fantastic way to celebrate,
year, The SAY Award has grown to become
incredibly proud of all the music our artists
recognise and promote the achievements of
the most prestigious music prize in Scotland.
have released over the last 15 months – and
Scotland’s talented musicians and producers
Each shortlisted album wins the artist
for The SAY Award to recognise a talent like
- of which there are many.”
behind it a £1,000 prize and a one of a kind
Kathryn, well, we must be doing something
quilt from Glasgow School of Art graduate
right. It’s shaping up well for The SAY’s fifth
Peter Leathem, CEO of PPL, said: “The SAY
Vanessa Hindshaw.
anniversary next year.”
Award is a fantastic way of supporting and raising the profile of Scotland’s world class music scene and it is a real pleasure to be associated with such an increasingly important event. Huge congratulations go to all the performers involved.” Previous winners of The SAY Award include Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat (2012),
Leonie Bell, director of arts & engagement at Creative Scotland
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RM Hubbert (2013) and Young Fathers (2014) – who were also longlisted again this year for their album DEAD.
VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
JUNE 2015
The Early Birds... Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com
The festival season 2015 is in progress,
Hörstmann Unternehmensgruppe (HUG),
end of last year where in her new position
delivering first results and findings.
the mother ship of the music magazine
she will also oversee the first edition of
Intro, Melt Festival and Melt Booking and
the Berlin Lollapalooza event in September
DEAG,
the Live Nation subsidy Festival Republic.
The current edition of Berlin Festival has
controversy over the inauguration of its
Berlin Music Week will be replaced by a new
attracted some positive media reports
new festivals ended with an announcement
festival entitled Pop-Kultur at the end of
by local newspaper but also some harsh
of a total figure of 160.000 visitors for its
August.
criticism for making the event cashless.
According
to
the
promoter
festivals Rock im Revier in Gelsenkirchen,
While cashless systems have been in use
Rockavaria in Munich, Rock In Vienna and
The newly appointed MD Fruzsina Szep
for some years in various football arenas in
an edition of the Sonisphere Festival in Biel
commented: “What we dreamed of creating
Germany, such as Munich, Dortmund and
in Switzerland.
in the past months, what we developed and
Gelsenkirchen, important daily newspaper
planned with the entire team, became a
such as Tagesspiegel and Berliner Zeitung
The Berlin Festival previously held in
reality. The city of Berlin has found its mirror
have criticised the organisers of Berlin
September
the
image in the Berlin Festival – all its facets, its
Festival sharply for operating the system.
music convention Berlin Music Week on
music, arts and culture, its secrets, bringing
a new date (May 29-31) in the
together Berliners and Berlin fans at a truly
A particularly sharp article appeared in
magical venue!”
the Berliner Zeitung. Under the headline
went
ahead
without
Arena
Park. According to the promoter the event attracted 15.000 visitors for its 10th
“Berlin Festival Between Consume And
anniversary. The business unit behind Berlin
Szep formerly worked as a program director
Control” and from a total of 970 words
Festival is a joint venture between the
for Sziget-Festival and moved to Berlin at the
only 50 were dedicated to the line up. The rest of the article rather featured extensive
Fruzsina Szep
descriptions of long queues and editorial comment focused on big data regarding the drinking habits of festival goers and referenced personalized tickets. Right at the beginning of the story, the US mother ship of Festival Republic Live Nation was referred to as an “Entertainment Monopolist”. Well, from a Berlin point of view this must be true. The biggest European festival promoter by far, FKP Scorpio, is not affiliated with Live Nation but is associated with CTS Eventim. The European leading ticketing company unlike Live Nation is not listed on New York Stock Exchange but does appear on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, reported for its events Hurricane and Southside a total figure of 125.000 visitors. According to the company Hurricane gained 5.000 visitors more than its sister event Southside with 60.000 visitors. FKP Scorpio also chose to run this year’s edition of the Hurricane festival with an RFID
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VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY > (radio-frequency
identification)
JUNE 2015
cashless
Festival which refund the correct sum of the
payment system. After a failed attempt in
deposit the festival goers paid in advance.
2012 to make this event cashless, the current
Anyhow “cashless” is an issue that can be
implementation also encountered serious
read in various ways.
problems before improving. On the first day of the event, on Thursday, June 18, the
The German agency Four Artists who
radio communication system didn’t work
together with 0711-Entertainment promoted
have been cancelled, including events such
properly and caused long lasting queues;
for the last fifteen years the one day festival
as Crazy Week à Nice, where previously
also bar and shop staff on on the site didn’t
Mixery Hip Hop Open will not continue the
acts like Thirty Seconds to Mars, Mika,
want to service customers offering cash as
event in 2016. The current edition on July 18
Simple Minds played. According to a report
they feared being fined. (This is exactly the
in Stuttgart will be the last one. According to
in the daily newspaper Nice Matin, the
same situation as occurred on the first day
the company rising production costs, Gema
promoter Ivoire Music reported insolvency,
of the Download Festival in the UK – Ed.)
(the German copyright collection society)
blaming, amongst other costs, high concert
fees, and staff wages makes it impossible
royalties charged by the French collection
Folkert Koopmans, MD of FKP Scorpio, one
for the promoters to continue to promote
society Sacem.
of the most unpretentious promoters ever,
their event. Additionally it seems to be a
addressed the difficulties in a press release
problem in Stuttgart to find a suitable site
Amongst other endangered events are the
by the company, committing honestly:
that is also suitable for installing camping
festival Voix du Garou in Six Fours-les-Plages
The system itself was not to blame for the
facilities for the audience.
near Toulon in Southern France, which last
occurring problems, which we were not able
year presented headlining artists Placebo,
to solve until Thursday evening. However,
In line with this there is also frightening
Stromae, Woodkid, and Massive Attack.
some of our guests also had to wait for a
news from France where in 2013, according
Also the world music festival Résonances in
long time to receive their badges, for which
to a survey by industry associations SACEM
Roquefort, will stop after 20 years, having
I would like to apologize.”
and IRMA, 1400 plus festivals took place.
gained up to 20.000 visitors in previous
Public funding for music festivals has
years.
Well, the synthetic viral money exchange
been traditionally available for more than
thing is one thing. Especially when media
two decades, but 2015 seems to be a
A propos “cashless”, the football club
reports raise the question of what happens
turnaround year for many events that until
Borussia Dortmund announced for the
with the money that is not being re-funded
now benefitted from public funding.
upcoming season 2015/2016 beginning
to punters. At Hurricane for instance the
in August to abstain from its previously
re-fund was only returned in round figures,
According to the website “ cartocrise-
cashless
payment
system
and
to
a slightly different policy than at Sziget-
culture-francaise” more than 40 festivals
introduce cash payments in its arena...
re-
Festival
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VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
JUNE 2015
Faith No More and Royal Blood for Werchter Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com As mentioned in the Musings, Dave Grohl broke his leg during a show in Sweden, resulting in Foo Fighters cancelling this year’s set at Belgium’s Rock Werchter 2015 (amongst other festivals). It was as you might imagine, an eventful week at the Rock Werchter office. Phone calls were made and e-mails were sent out trying to find a great alternative. (On this subject, also read wikihow’: ‘Headliner cancels. Now what?’ on www.rockwerchter.be). Faith No More and Royal Blood graciously stepped in to appear on Thursday June 25th, adding a double dose of rock to the bill. Faith No More was in popular demand by the festival audience. Last February, Royal Blood received the BRIT Award for best British Band which was presented to them by Jimmy Page. Plenty of reasons Wechter decided, to grant them not one but two spots on the Rock Werchter Main Stage, both on Thursday and on Saturday!
23.-26. SEPT. 2015 CONFERENCE · SESSIONS WITH WILL PAGE (SPOTIFY) · PETER RIEGER (PETER RIEGER KONZERTAGENTUR) · ALISON WENHAM (IMPALA) · THORSTEN SCHÄFER-GÜMBEL (STELLV. SPD-VORS.) · CHRIS BARTON (SHAZAM) · PAUL HASLINGER (COMPOSER) · TERRY HALL (FORMERLY THE SPECIALS) · INEKE DAANS (PIAS) · DANIEL MÜLLENSIEFEN (UNIVERSITY OF LONDON) · STEPHAN THANSCHEIDT (FKP SCORPIO) · RALPH SIMON (MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT FORUM) · JOHNNY HAEUSLER (SPREEBLICK) · FRANCINE GORMAN (NORDIC PLAYLIST) · BURAK ÖZGEN (SESAC) · BEN RODENBERG (GASTSPIELREISEN) · FIONA BRANDES (PAY OR SHARE) · AND MANY MORE · SHOWCASES · NETWORKING · MEETINGS · AWARDS FESTIVAL · CONCERTS · WANDA · SÓLEY · TORRES · MAC DEMARCO · AURORA · METZ · LÅPSLEY · XOV · JORIS · TRÜMMER · PALMA VIOLETS · VÖK · COSMO SHELDRAKE · HAPPYNESS · CRISTOBAL AND THE SEA · GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS · A.O.S.O.O.N · DAN MANGAN · ROMANO · ODDISEE · AND MANY MORE · LITERATURE · FILM · FINE ARTS - PERFORMANCES
REEPERBAHNFESTIVAL.COM Organiser: Reeperbahn Festival GbR and Inferno Events GmbH & Co. KG
7
VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
JUNE 2015
Police Defend Face Scanning at Download Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
Leicestershire police force has defended
festivals they’ve paid good money for, and
or buy something at the stalls. Cash was not
scanning the faces of 90,000 festival-goers
not feel as though they’re being surveyed by
accepted at any bar, food stall, market stall,
over the weekend of 12th-14th of June,
police,” she said.
fun fair ride or merchandise stand. The tags
and checking them against a list of wanted
are also used to grant attendees access to
criminals across Europe. The force used facial
A cashless payment system was put in
different areas of the site. Early attendees
recognition technology on festivalgoers
place for the first time in a bid to cut crime,
on the first day reported problems in
at Download, staged at a rainy Donington
but the system seemed to suffer the same
topping up, with systems crashing and
Park, and say that the information gathered
teething problems as that implemented at
traders unable to take money for items.
has now been destroyed. It was believed to
FKP Scorpio’s Hurricane Festival in Germany
As attendees were asked not to bring cash
be the first time the software had been used
(see above).
and there was no fall-back system available.
at an outdoor event in the UK.
Things were resolved for the main days, Every single person on site, including staff,
headlined by Slipknot, Muse and Kiss, with
The trial was criticised by campaign group
children, RIP and VIP customers needed
main support from Judas Priest, Faith No
Big Brother Watch as “worrying”. Images of
a dog tag to get around the festival and/
More and Mötley Crüe.
people were compared against a database of criminals who target music festivals across Europe, the force said. Chief Supt Chris Haward said no one who came to the festival to enjoy themselves had anything to worry about. “The software provided an efficient and effective way of picking known offenders out of a crowd - something that officers would previously have been done using paper briefings,” he said. But Renate Samson from Big Brother Watch said the way police went about the scheme was “a great worry”. “We’re very keen for bad people to be caught but we’re also keen for innocent people to go about their day-to-day business, have a good time at
8
Download Festival
VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
JUNE 2015
Live Sector Raises Concerns over Business Rates Being Applied to Festival Sites Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
A few days before UK Music published its
now being reassessed as rateable, and have
and piecemeal, without any clear policy
report stating that so called music tourism -
seen a number of instances where site-
framework”.
people travelling to music events - generated
owners are receiving bills backdated as far
£3.1 billion for the British economy,
as five years, in circumstances where they
The submission concludes: “This issue
representatives for the festival sector made
could not reasonably have anticipated such
requires a discussion at ministerial level
a submission to the government’s Business
bills”.
about how business rates policy will help or
Rates Review expressing concern that the
inhibit business growth. As part of this we
Valuations Office Agency, which advises the
The festival reps state their viewpoint that
believe it is essential that there is a review
tax man on the taxable value of property,
no such rates should apply to festival sites
of the evidence around the contribution
has been recommending business rates be
which are, after all, “temporary and ancillary
that festivals and events bring to the UK
applied to festival sites where previously no
uses of agricultural land”.
economy, and the rural economy; and
such payments were required.
how an increase in business rates liability Moreover, they object to the unpredictability
may
impact
business
In its submission to the review, the festival
of the VOA’s recent activity. They write:
competitiveness of the UK events industry,
sector wrote: “The festival and events
“Since there is no clear policy set out in
the cultural life of the UK and the economic
industry has significant concerns about the
the VOA Rating Manual, or elsewhere, with
and social impact on rural areas”.
current reassessment of festival and events
regard to the rateability of festival sites
sites being conducted by the Valuations
taking place on agricultural land we have no
Amongst the organisations backing the
Office Agency. As a result of this, we are
way of understanding the guiding principles
submission were the UK Live Music Group,
seeing land which has previously been
of the reassessment. It is unfair that festival
the Concert Promoters Association, the
outside the business rates regime, on the
and events sites are apparently subject to a
Association Of Festival Organisers and the
grounds of its status as agricultural land,
reassessment which appears to be arbitrary
Association Of Independent Festivals.
Need to know who is touring Europe?
investment,
the
®
Go online - www.vip-booking.com vip-booking.com
9
VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
JUNE 2015
Ongoing Initiative Aims to Match Best Emerging talent to Independent Festivals in the UK Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Building
on
the
groundbreaking Introducing talent
that
matched
success
partnership has
seen
with
of
the
Larmer Tree Festival, who went on to be
Paul
with
BBC
the BRITs Critics choice, releasing a debut
said, “With the festival season rapidly
emerging
album that went straight to Number One
approaching, AIF members are proud to
in March 2015.
again partner with BBC Introducing for this
independent
festivals throughout the UK since 2012,
Reed,
General
Manager
of
AIF
initiative. Festivals play a huge role in artist
The Association of independent Festivals
Successful artists and bands are selected
development and the perpetual question
(AIF), the London based organisation that
from a pool recommended by regional BBC
is, “Who are the festival headliners of
represents over 50 of the UK’s independent
Introducing teams from across the UK. AIF
tomorrow?” This partnership is part of the
music festivals, has announced details for
then puts a shortlist to each AIF member
answer, connecting the most exciting new
this years artist and festival pairings under
festival based on genre and aims to match
acts in the UK to our most creative and
the scheme including the partnership of a
artists with relevant festivals. It is a great
successful independent festivals”.
UK artist and international festival for the
opportunity for emerging artists to be
first time.
discovered on a national level.
Jason Carter, Head of BBC Introducing said, “We are delighted to be teaming up once
The two groups first worked together at
The festivals participating in the initiative
again with the Association Of Independent
the Radio 1‘s Big Weekend in Hackney in
this year include Bestival, Blissfields, Kendal
Festivals. By pairing BBC Introducing artists
2012 to showcase emerging artists from
Calling, Larmer Tree Festival, No Tomorrow,
with a number of independent festivals,
East London in the year of the London
Nozstock the Hidden Valley, Pete The
we’re opening the doors for new acts to
Olympics. Artists who have since benefited
Monkey (France) and Village Green with
experience the thrill of playing a festival
under this initiative include Savages, The
artists such as Bearcubs, Shelter Point and
stage and being seen by whole new
Heartbreaks and, in 2014, James Bay at
Lisbon joining their lineups this season.
audiences”.
Paul Reed, General Manager of AIF
10
Jason Carter, Head of BBC Introducing
VIP NEWS >
JUNE 2015
The Mastering of a Music City Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com In the May issue of the News we reported on the successful Music Cities Conference held in Brighton just before The Great Escape. At
4
the event it was announced that a report was being prepared in
Engaging the broader music community to ensure the people
Canada looking at the ways that a strong local music industry can
most affected by music policies are involved and informed.
strengthen a city’s wider culture and economy, and how these cities could encourage and enable a stronger music business community.
5
Prepared by global record industry trade the IFPI and Music Canada
Access to spaces and places for artists to practice, record, and
the report called ‘The Mastering Of A Music City’, has now been
perform at every stage of their career.
launched. Its authors say the report “provides a simple checklist to help local authorities, businesses, community groups and the
6
creative sector capitalise on the potential of music to build, grow
A focus on audience development, ensuring that there is an
and strengthen their cities”.
engaged and passionate audience for local musicians as well as international touring artists, now and into the future.
Among the tips offered to anyone wanting to master a music city,
7
are...
Music tourism or the development of a ‘music city’ brand to
1
leverage a thriving live music scene, rich music history, or
Music and musician-friendly policies, from licensing and
large music festivals in order to reap the significant benefits
liquor laws to parking and planning regulations to affordable
associated with music.
housing and artist entrepreneur training. Launching the report, Music Canada boss Graham Henderson told
2
reporters: “A vibrant music sector delivers an extensive array of
The creation of music offices to help musicians and music
social, cultural and economic benefits to its community; from job
businesses navigate the broad range of government policies
creation and retention to city identity and music tourism, to social
and regulations that impact music.
cohesion, music can play an essential role”.
3
He went on: “Communities of any size, anywhere in the world,
The formulation of music advisory boards to engage the
can assess the extent to which they have the essential ingredients
broader music community in a collaborative way and to
for a Music City, and deploy the strategies successfully used in the
facilitate dialogue with city governments.
likes of Nashville, Melbourne, Toronto, Berlin and other renowned Music Cities, in order to enhance or grow theirs. These strategies don’t necessarily require heavy investment - addressing red tape and establishing dialogue between leaders in the music community and city officials are inexpensive ways to grow music’s contributions”. Go to: www.ifpi.org
Music Canada, Graham Henderson
11
VIP NEWS >
JUNE 2015
UK Music Tourism Generates £3.1 billion Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com UK Music has published new figures on the
The UK Music report also states that £3.1
billion to the UK economy but this report
contribution music tourism makes to the UK
billion was generated by music tourism
confirms they are truly world-class and a
economy in the latest edition of its ‘Wish
last year, while the 546,000 music tourists
powerful advert for the UK”.
You Were Here’ report.
coming from abroad spent an average of £751 while in the UK. The music industry
Speaking for UK Music itself, the industry-
The figures confirm that music tourism
group also reckons that 38,238 full time jobs
wide trade group’s CEO Jo Dipple said: “The
numbers increased by 34% between 2011
were sustained by music tourism last year.
UK’s rich music heritage and infrastructure
and 2014, with 9.5 million festival fans
has made the UK the go-to destination for
travelling to UK music events in 2014 alone.
Welcoming
the
Over half a million came from overseas,
appointed
Culture
new
report,
and the rest apparently covered more
Whittingdale told reporters: “It’s fantastic
than “three times the average commuting
news that our music industry drew in 9.5
distance” of an event’s local region in
million tourists last year but it’s no surprise.
order to attend. (I think I understand that
British music is legendary around the world
particular factoid! – Ed.)
and continues to go from strength to
Secretary
recently
live music globally and these statistics show
John
how tourism is now a bedrock of British music and the wider economy.”
strength, with UK artists now accounting for one in seven albums sold worldwide. Festivals like Glastonbury hold an iconic status on the world music scene and are one of the reasons why international tourism is booming in the UK, drawing in streams of visitors to all parts of the country. We know our UK creative industries contribute an astonishing £76.9
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale
12
VIP NEWS >
JUNE 2015
PRS, STIM and GEMA in joint venture From VIP-Daily News
European Commission grants clearance for
Trusted
service
from
organisations
the establishment of a ground breaking
representing
European
result of years of productive collaboration
licensing and processing hub. PRS for Music,
repertoire with years of combined
between STIM, GEMA and PRS for Music
STIM and GEMA combine to create brand
experience of back office processing
to deliver a solution that will help the digital
new, cost efficient and one-stop service
and music licensing;
market grow.”
Reduced processing costs based on
“What this clearance means is that we are
unparalleled economies of scale;
now able to work even more effectively on
significant
European digital service providers. It’s the
across Europe on behalf of over 250,000 songwriters. In a ground breaking move, PRS for Music
behalf of songwriters, composers and their
(UK), STIM (Sweden) and GEMA (Germany)
Full transparency for all rightsholders,
music publishers, while at the same time
have today been given clearance by the
with confidence inspired by collective
helping to develop the Digital Single Market
European Commission to set up a pan-
ownership;
across Europe.”
processing hub. It is the first combined
A major contribution to online cultural
www.prsformusic.com
offering of its kind
diversity as the new hub will bring
www.gema.de
multi-territory licensing within reach of
www.stim.se
European online music rights licensing and
This will transform pan-European music
smaller repertoires.
licensing by enabling ease of access for digital music services to music rightsas well as
The joint venture will also aim to
provide faster and more accurate payments
resolve issues related to split-copyright
of royalties to writers and their music
licensing by integrating back office
publishers, according to STIM.
processing and matching services with front office licensing services.
PRS says that benefits of the new joint venture include:
Robert Ashcroft, Chief Executive, PRS for Music said, “This is a very significant day
Faster and more accurate invoicing
for online music licensing as our new joint
and royalty payments at a time when
venture is uniquely positioned to deal with
the usage data from online services
the rapidly transforming online music market.
is growing from billions to trillions annually;
Karsten
Dyhrberg
Nielsen
CEO
STIM
added: “Today’s Competition Clearance Simplified licensing negotiations for
announcement is testament to the incredible
digital music services operating across
work that has gone into the design of this
Europe, reducing barriers for innovative
new offering, which will provide a seamless
new online services;
service for both music rightsholders and pan-
Karsten Dhyrberg Nielsen, STIM, Photo Fredrik Hjerling
13
VIP NEWS >
JUNE 2015
MMF Talk Streaming in the US Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com The Music Managers Forum have just
York event and MMF Board Member Scott
completed a series of events in the three
Rodger the LA one.
main music cities in the US - New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. Titled “From a
Last year the MMF and FAC partnered
Whisper to a Stream” the seminars were
with Spotify to organise presentations and
led by Jon Webster and Jonny Dawson.
discussions about the latter’s service and
Co-Chair Stephen Budd joined the New
streaming in general in the same US cities. Other events have also been held at SXSW and around Coachella. CEO Jon Webster said “The seminars were
free to freemium; data and accounting;
initially themed around streaming and timed
breakage to representation; safe harbours
to coincide with the (subsequently delayed)
to the recently formed International Artists
launch of Apple Music which covers radio
Organisation”.
and fan connection as well. Managers turned up in significant numbers and it was
Artist David Byrne also joined the meeting
a great opportunity to exchange knowledge
in New York.
and express hopes and concerns with
CEO Jon Webster
14
their peers. The conversations eventually
More events are planned for the autumn
covered a wide range of issues from
and next year.
VIP NEWS >
JUNE 2015
MU Lobbies for Agent of Change Principle for Venues Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com In the last few issues of the News we have
The MVT is now backed in this by the
aim is to overcome the increasing incidents
reported on the problems being faced by
Musicians’ Union, which has now placed this
arising from people moving in next to
certain UK venues, and indeed the closure
issue high up its agenda, lobbying Parliament
a music venue, which may have helped
of far too many for various reasons including
and government over the introduction of
make a previously undesirable part of town
noise complaints from residents of newly
the principle. The agent of change principle
attractive again, and then complaining
built neighbouring properties We have also
is the idea that if property developers erect
about the noise, often forcing the venues
featured the efforts being made by the
new residential buildings next to existing live
to cut back their music programmes or shut
Music Venues Trust to gain more protection
music venues, they should have a legal and
down entirely. In the main these grassroots
for established venues. The MVT have often
financial responsibility to provide whatever
music venues rarely have the budgets
referenced the ‘agent of change’ principle
sound proofing is necessary to ensure the
required to pay for costly sound proofing to
implemented in Australia.
venue and future residents can co-exist. The
be put in. Too many venues have faced this challenge in recent years, and several more are set to in the near future. Commenting on the MU’s bid to introduce the agent of change principle, the Union’s General Secretary John Smith said: “Music venues across the country are vitally important - both for musicians and bands who rely on them for their livelihoods and for music fans and local communities. Venues must, of course, stick to the terms of their licence and residents must be able to complain if they do not comply or are causing a genuine nuisance. But a growing number of well-established venues have been forced to close or to undertake expensive noise reduction work as a result of noise complaints and abatement notices served by new developments. We would like the government to consider introducing the agent of change principle in order to help protect these important cultural spaces”.
Union’s General Secretary John Smith
15
VIP NEWS >
NAMES & JOBS
JUNE 2015
Rikke Øxner new director of Aarhus City Festival
Fender appoints new CEO
From VIP-Daily News
From VIP-Daily News
Andy Mooney
The Fender company has announced the appointment of a new CEO in the form of Andy P Mooney, who joins the musical
Rikke Øxner
instrument firm from surf wear company Quiksilver.
Aarhus City Festival has hired 50-year-old
and here we have an urban space that we
Mooney also previously worked for Disney
Rikke Øxner as their new director. She joins
need to put in play”, she says.
and Nike. Confirming his new role, he said
in October replacing Jens Folmer Jepsen,
yesterday: “As a longtime fan and user of
who has headed the Aarhus City Festival
She will not transform the festival week and
Fender products, it’s a dream come true to
for nine seasons. Rikke Øxner is a very
shake all the traditions: “I have no ambition
be asked to lead a brand and company that
experienced and recognized culture profile
to turn the city festival into a music festival,
I personally have so much admiration for”.
after 20 years at Roskilde Festival, where
but I have many, many ideas”, she says.
she in the past several years has been part
She will not concretize her vision before
His new boss, Fender co-Chair Mark
of the leadership, head of booking and
the upcoming festival week is held and she
Fukunaga,
artistic director.
starts the new job.
success in connecting consumers to brands.
added:
“Andy
has
proven
His personal passion for Fender guitars and She still lives in Copenhagen, but is moving
Rikke Øxner has been hired on a four-year
the company’s long and storied history
to Aarhus soon. “I must have my base
contract. Her first task will be to help to
makes him a great fit for our culture. We are
here and have the city under my skin and
hire a new head of administration for the
tremendously excited to have an executive
I can only do that if I live here”, she says.
festival week. Aarhus Festival was first held
of Andy’s calibre at the helm of Fender and
“Both Roskilde Festival and the Aarhus City
in September 1965. Last year the festival
we look forward to great success in the
Festival are about doing events in a defined
week had 500,000 visitors.
future under his leadership”.
area. At Roskilde Festival, we had a great field where we had to create something,
17
VIP NEWS >
NAMES & JOBS
JUNE 2015
James Last dies at 86 From VIP-Daily News Big band leader James Last has died in
Born Hans Last, his record company changed
Florida, aged 86.
his name to James to make him sound less German when his debut album came out
The German-born musician`s manager said
in the UK. He was not consulted about the
he died at his home “peacefully and in the
change - but went along with it.
presence of his family”. During his career, he charted with 65 albums “In
him,
the
world
loses
a
unique
ambassador whose expressive and all-
2 For The Road Events join ATC Live From VIP-Daily News
in Britain alone, and at his peak was creating two albums a month.
encompassing language was music. He gained a large and loyal fanbase - but “We bid farewell to the man, friend and
was derided by many music purists who did
visionary, who by his impressive strength and
not like his middle-of-the-road versions of
openness, his professionalism, modesty and
classic tunes.
love of life served as a role model and as an inspiration for many generations worldwide.”
His illness took a “life-threatening” turn last September and apparently forced him
Last sold millions of records with his
to face the fact that “a man full of plans,
trademark “happy music” - upbeat versions
needs to not just slow down but give up
of pop and classical favourites performed by
his life on tour altogether”, That led him to
his orchestra.
announce his final British shows - his 89th
Clementine Bunel
Cecile Communal
and 90th concerts at London`s Royal Albert Last started his music career in the 1960s,
Hall - which took place in March.
making instrumental recordings as James
Agents
Clementine
Bunel
and
Cecile
Communal of 2 For The Road Events to ATC
Last and His Orchestra - a big band with
“I can`t talk about goodbye - it`s a terrible
additional strings and a choir.
feeling,” he told the BBC at the time.
Live. Clementine & Cecile have successfully built independent agency 2 For The Road Events
James Last
over the past 5 years and bring their full roster of artists with them including Benjamin Clementine, Songhoy Blues, Stromae, Mulatu Astatke and Francois & The Atlas Mountains. Sharing the same artist focused and creative approach as ATC Live, their artists join the growing roster that includes Passenger, The Lumineers, Half Moon Run, Shura, Soak, Curtis Harding and The Districts. Clementine and Cecile will be assisted by Milo Steelefox.
18
VIP NEWS > BUSINESS >
MUSIC IN SHARES
JUNE 2015
Music In Shares Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com
CTS Eventim - The Winner Gains It All CTS Eventim is a cheer leader among those corporate companies
Euro. These are profit margins that really deserve the term don’t you
covered within this section. While the business figures for the first
think?
quarter 2015 only reveal a slight revenue increase from 150.4 one year ago up to 151.7 million Euro, the profit results grew significantly.
Within the live entertainment sector the revenues shrunk a little bit from 88.1 to 77.3 million Euro. The EBITDA therefore is 7.6 million
The Earnings Before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortisation
Euro.
(EBITDA) went up 11.7 percent from 32.9 to 36.8 million. The usually impressive results for the ticketing division of CTS Eventim provide
Nevertheless the share price of CTS Eventim appears to be the
an almost boringly repetitious read; revenue for this part of the
overall winner in this section. At the beginning of January the share
company went up from 69.4 to 76 million Euro. The EBITDA results
was at 23.19 Euro. On June 22 the share price was 31.74. The market
therefore grow “only” by 7.7 percent from 27.1 up to 29.2 million
capitalisation is currently at 3 billion Euro.
DEAG - The Market Shaker The turmoil has calmed down, but DEAG has managed to shake up the festival market in Germany and Austria with its three new festivals. The financial results for this attempt to launch new festival formats in an already challenging market environment apparently won’t be visible until DEAG release its results for 2nd quarter. The ones raised for the first quarter compared to Q1-2014 rose from 32.6 up to 38.96 million. The Earnings Before Interests & Taxes (EBIT) rose from 1.48 up to 1.83 million. However, the share price of DEAG came under pressure when various newspapers reported weak ticket sales for the new festivals with acts including Metallica, Muse and Kiss. From 6.88 Euro at the beginning of the year the price was down to 5.63 Euro when this report went on to press. Earlier on at the end of February the share even celebrated a peak moment when the share went up to 8.20 Euro. The market capitalisation currently is 93.2 million and the current share price indicates that the financial community is waiting a bit until the business results for Q2-2015 will be revealed.
19
VIP NEWS > BUSINESS >
MUSIC IN SHARES
JUNE 2015
Live Nation - Investors Approve Incentive Plan And Spotted Protesters Sometimes it is surprising how emotional investors can be. At the
percent. Another incentive plan for stocks for the company top
recent annual meeting on June 10 the share holder community
management only received a positive voting of 77 percent. The
of Live Nation approved a bonus and incentive plan for the top
most exciting election results refer to that of the board of directors
notch management of Live Nation with a voting result of 99
of Live Nation:
Nominees
Mark Carleton
For
Abstained
Pass Rate
Broker Non-Votes
42,409,468
1,434,426
75 %
7,667,904
125,193
1,446,896
99 %
7,667,904
Ari Emanuel
172,305,929
129,616
870,375
99 %
7,667,904
143,928,393
Jeff Hinson
171,432,459
Jimmy Iovine
Peggy Johnson
171,733,831
Ted Enloe
Against
Jonathan Dolgen
129,462,026
27,942,341
1,435,186
83 %
426,994
1,446,467
99 %
7,667,904 7,667,904
172,250,858
185,552
869,510
99 %
7,667,904
171,484,359
375,544
1,446,017
99 %
7,667,904
171,732,462
127,573
1,445,885
99 %
7,667,904
Jim Kahan
Greg Maffei
133,823,712
38,622,845
859,363
77 %
7,667,904
Randall Mays
167,832,231
4,605,701
867,988
97 %
7,667,904
158,453
846,432
99 %
7,667,904
27,770,241
858,011
83 %
7,667,904
Michael Rapino Mark Shapiro
172,301,035 144,677,668
The incentive plans for the company management are probably a
getting as little as $9 per hour. These kind of working conditions
bit more lucrative than for those who work for Live Nation as stage
obviously caused concerns and led to an extraordinary non-official
hands. The Los Angeles Times reported the working conditions
annual meeting outside during the annual meeting of Live Nation.
for stage hands by the subcontractor Crew One Productions, a service supplier for Live Nation. Within the article among others it is
Since the beginning of the year the share went up from $26.16 to
reported “ sometimes the workers aren’t even given water to drink”
$28.73. The market capitalisation of the company therewith grows
and that “safety training is all but nonexistent” The stage hands
up $5.79 billion.
SFX Entertainment De-Listing And Plaintiffs In Sight The announcement by company founder Robert F.X. Sillerman
Well, so called “squeeze out” procedures are always good to call
tregarding his buy back of SFX Entertainment shares with the
out opponents of such measures on the plan. The main purpose
purpose of de-listing from NASDAQ has caused legal actions
of such legal actions is to increase the buy back price of shares on
by various opponents. One of these opponents is the law firm
which Sillerman set a so called “put price” of $5.25. Additionally
Brodsky & Smith, LLC, which announced that it is evaluating to
the rating agency Moody’s announced that it will take the former
launch “potential claims” against the management of the company
credit ratings for credits of 325 million under review for a possible
under the aspect of “possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other
downgrade.
violations of state law in connection with the sale of the Company” to Sillerman. With a similar intention the law firms
20
Marc S.
At the beginning of the year share price was $4.49, currently it is
Henzel also considers as undertaking potential claims against
$4.46. The current market capitalisation is $418 million, within the
SFX Entertainment as well as Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., Dunnam &
last 52 weeks the share price reached a peak of $8.67 and lost until
Dunnam, Faruqi & Faruqi and The Shareholders Foundation.
then 46.9 percent of its former value.
VIP NEWS > MISC >
JUNE 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
Roskilde Festival is the largest music festival in Northern Europe – attracting audiences from all over Europe and the rest of the world. It is an independent, non-profit festival organised by The Roskilde Festival Charity Society. Roskilde Festival presents an up to date and progressive music programme as well as lots of events, art and activities. Approximately 160 bands play at the festival. The camping areas open on the Sunday preceding the festival with upcoming acts playing the smaller stages Rising and Apollo Countdown and many activities during the days up to Thursday. An extensive environmental programme is implemented each year including a refund system. All profits from the festival are donated to humanitarian, cultural and nonprofit projects that benefit people all over the world. The festival is located on the Festival Site, outside the town of Roskilde, 35 km from Copenhagen. Musicians representing all conceivable genres, from all over the world, play minimum one-hour sets on the smaller stages and often 90-minutes sets on the biggest stages.
BANCO DE GAIA Territory: World incl 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
Bo Kaspers Orkester Territory: Worldwide Period: By request Agency: Lifeline Entertainment Agent: Michael Henriksson Phone: + 46 70 632 00 23 E-mail: michael.henriksson@lifeline.se Homepage: www.lifeline.se
The long sets make the Roskilde Festival music experience fundamentally different from most competing festivals in Europe. Roskilde Festival was established in 1971 and has since then presented acts like Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Beastie Boys, Björk, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Coldplay, The Cure, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Bob Dylan, Faith
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
No More, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Paul Kalkbrenner, Kings of Leon, Kraftwerk, Bob Marley, Mastodon, Metallica, M.I.A., Muse, My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Outkast, PJ Harvey, Prince, Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Rammstein, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Ravi Shankar, Slayer, Slipknot, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Streets, The Strokes, Talking Heads, Tiësto, Tool, U2, Roger Waters, Kanye West, Jack White, The Who, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.
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
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.
MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
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