VIP-News Premium - December 2014 by VIP-Booking.com

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PREMIUM > VOLUME 174 > DECEMBER 2014

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VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

McGowan’s

Musings

So this is the last VIP News of 2014 – where

century seemingly no time at all ago. Still

roots, the venues where the talent begins

did the year go? I’ve just got over my jet

an incredible amount has happened in that

to develop, all of which is still essential. This

lag from a lightning trip to China (preceded

time, a lot of it fuelled by new technologies

sector has to be looked after and in this

by Luxembourg..) so my sense of timing

and of course the inexorable growth of

issue we’ll take a look at what is going on

may be out but it strikes me that come

social media – all of which supposedly

to help safeguard and develop this area. Is

January we’ll be a decade and a half into

makes it easier to promote all aspects of

there a new One Direction climbing on to

what we were all greeting as a brand new

the live music industry. But it always was,

a rickety stage in the back room of a pub,

and always will be a competitive business,

or bar, somewhere tonight? Probably, but

and we now have a situation where sectors

they’ll have a long way to go to catch up

of the business that got along quite well

with the phenomenal success of the boy

before are now competing with each other.

band that have taken off all over the World

The international expansion of Festivals,

– and to think we were worrying about a

now a year round market, has changed the

lack of new headliners just a few minutes

way many artists schedule their year and

(sorry – years!) ago!

the knock on effects of what some have

COLOPHON >

referred to as ‘Festivalisation’ are still being

And there does seem to be a stirring of new

seen on traditional Arena touring.

talent, take Royal Blood for instance in the UK, voted Best New Artist – I-Tunes and

VIP-News is published by: VIP-Booking 145-157 St John Street London Ec1V 4PW 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

The Corporates continue to get bigger,

nominated for BBC Awards. In Germany

Live Nation has of course outstripped

home grown talent is keeping international

everyone and everything, just how long

acts at bay on stages from clubs to Festivals.

before it declares itself an actual nation!

It’ll be an interesting next year!

Dance music is now EDM, with SFX buying everything that relates to the promotion

One thing that really shows how time

and presentation of Beats per Minute

has past is the news that Francis Rossi of

(What about hearts I wonder – human

Status Quo has been forced to start using a

hearts – don’t they come under that

new guitar for the first the first time since

heading – I suppose audiences are part of

1968 because the wood on the vintage

the whole EDM package?). And in order to

Telecaster has become so soft the guitar

stay competitive medium sized Companies

can no longer be kept in tune! So there!

from Agencies to Promoters to Managers are consolidating and expanding. It quite

Anyway – we hope you all have a great

takes your breath away!

holiday, and wish you all the best for next year – let us know what you’ve got planned

But then there’s the other end of the market

for 2015 – in the meantime, Ladies and

– the breeding grounds, the essential grass

Gentlemen – The News!

VIP NEWS >

NOVEMBER 2014

BBC

Music Awards Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com The first ever BBC Music Awards have attracted quite some attention, with the event being broadcast broadcast live on BBC One, Radio 1

Neil Simpson

and Radio 2, as well as in Denmark, Japan, Ireland and North America. Pharrell Williams was the big winner being named best international artist, and winning song of the year for, yes, you’ve guessed it ‘Happy’ (It was catchy at first, but I just can’t hear it any more! – ED.) Ed Sheeran was named British act of the year, receiving his Award from Sir Tom Jones and played a version of his Pharrell-produced single, Sing. One Direction, Take That and Coldplay also performed. Newcomers Catfish and the Bottlemen also played to their biggestever audience, after winning the BBC Introducing award for best new act. (Well done ATC Management and Neil Simpson!) The song of the year award was the only category decided by public vote, with the others decided by a panel of industry experts.

VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014 NOVEMBER

Dong Dong Beijing Grows in Second Year Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com My first ever trip to mainland China was short but interesting to say the least, in four

Dong Dong conference

days I managed to visit The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, and Dong Dong! This was the second year for this Beijing based conference and showcase event, and this edition has certainly moved things along in establishing itself as a new destination for music professionals and talents in China. I was there to chair a panel on Artist Management

with

the very experienced Paul Craig, manager of Biffy Clyro, and US Manager Eric de la Fontenay, who , along with other acts, represents

Chinese

rock act Second Hand Rose; Liang Long the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

front

man

joined the panel to make

some

very

pertinent comments

375 professionalsÂ particip ate

d in the 2014 edition (26 8 in 2013, or +40 %). 13 nationalities crossed paths. Most prominent was the rise in attendance from loc al professionals as well as (Barcelona Focus broug Spanish ht 3 acts and professiona ls from the Catalan metro polis). 55 accredited journalists. The workshops presented byArtlabÂ (Denmark) off ered new modules open to with an entrepreneurship artists mindset where they can learn from experienced tra iners.

about the present and possible future for artist management in China. Basically, artist management as we know it, and certain other areas of the business, are in early stages, but there are interesting acts developing, and an active live and festival market. A small but active group of resident and semi-resident westerners, including Ed Peto and Archie Hamilton are keen to help the market develop, and things seem ready for growth. Events like Dong Dong can definitely help. DongDong2014 convention was hosted at Meridian Space and presented 14 panels, conferences, debates and workshops for professionals from all around the world and 1 speed meeting session.

Marc Ridet of Swiss Music Export and me at The Great Wall

速

vip-booking.com

VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

Eurosonic ’15 Adds More Showcases Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Next month’s Eurosonic Noorderslag has added showcases from

Festival tickets for the Noorderslag festival and passepartouts for both

several current and previous winners of the European Border Breakers

festivals Eurosonic and Noorderslag (14-17 January 2015) are sold out.

Awards (EBBA) to its 2015 line-up. Jacco Gardner (nl, winner 2014), Melanie De Biasio (be, winner 2015), The Common Linnets (nl,

The event will again present showcases by more than 350 acts

winner 2015), and The Ting Tings (uk, winner 2009) will perform

alongside a conference programme featuring 150 panels, keynote

at the showcase festival, which will take place from Wednesday 14th

speakers, interviews, and workshops. VIP News will attend and report

through Saturday 17th January, 2015 in Groningen, The Netherlands.

back in the next issue.

In addition, Eurosonic Noorderslag has confirmed showcases by Beans & Fatback (nl), Birth of Joy (nl), Blaudzun (nl), Jett Rebel (nl), Kensington (nl), Maarten Vos (nl), Maison Du Malheur (nl), PAUW (nl), The Kik (nl) and Twin Atlantic (uk). Passes for Eurosonic, the international evening programme on Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 January 2015, are still available. Official tickets can be obtained through: www.ticketmaster.nl. Conference registrations are available through: www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl.

The Ting Tings

Since 2007 Colisium unites professionals from the music business across the world in Russia. Traditionally it brings together international promoters, concert agencies, festivals and event organizers, booking agents, artist managers, musicians, rental companies, music magazines, educational institutes, FM, TV, online media, record labels and video production studios, concert and event venues, security agencies and insurance companies - all major key participants of todays music industry. International professionals from CIS, Europe, Asia, USA also take part in Colisium to open new markets and areas for their companies. It’s the right place to meet your colleagues, �nd new partners, make presentations, discuss new marketing technologies and future plans in the music world of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Baltics and Kazakhstan. Colisium conventions had many professional speakers. Some of them to be named:

Sat Bisla (Musexpo, USA), Tapio Korjus (Rockadillo records, Music & Media Finland), Michael Shurygin (NCA), Helen Sildna (Tallin Music Week), Onta Shiroh Kawaguchi (Summersonic, Japan), Alexander Tikhonov, Evgeny Safronov (Intermedia), Vaidas Stackevicius (Vilnius), Juha "Richie" Mattila (LiveNation), Anu Aittoniemi (Music & Media Finland), Artyom Troitskiy (musical critic), Ilya Bortnuk (Light Music) Semyon Galperin (Yekaterinburg), Natasha Padabed (More Zvukov, Berlin), Ilya Ostrovsky (Kubana Festival), Bas Grasmayer (Netherlands), Greg Goldenzweig (Sweden), Kari Pössi (Blue Buddha, Finland), Sami Peura (Sam Agency, Finland) and many others.

In 2014 Colisium has expanded its work for 6 cities in CIS: Moscow (Russia) St.Petersburg (Russia) Minsk (Belarus) Kiev (Ukraine) Almaty (Kazakhstan) Krasnoyarsk (Siberia, Russia)

Early bird registration: www.colisium.org

VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >

DECEMBER 2014

The Vital Importance of Small Venues Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com As I mentioned in the Musings, one of the

DMA European Network – and we urge

main areas of concern for the future of our

support for all of these organisations, and

business is the development of new talent

any other initiatives that are currently in

– the headliners of the future, and the

place or in the planning.

Jonathan Robinson

importance of the small venues that are able to give these new artists the opportunity

The Venues Day event took place in

to develop their acts in front of audiences

London on December 9th, but due to other

which will become their vital fan base.

commitments we were not able to attend,

Many of these venues throughout Europe

however our colleagues at the excellent

are struggling to survive, many are having

Music Tank were there, and Director,

to close down for many reasons, local

Jonathan Robinson has kindly agreed

developments, lack of income and support,

to act as our guest writer and to let use

legal restrictions etc. Moves are being

feature his report on the small venues

made to redress this situation, we have

situation in the UK and on the event:

reported on the activities of Associations like The Music Venues Trust (UK), Liveurope

Biog: www.musictank.co.uk/resources/speaker-biographies/jonathan-

– based in the Ancienne Belgique, Brussels

robinson-programme-director-musictank

and backed by EC Culture Funds, the Live

Venues Day For a country which punches well above

It’s beyond the realm of this editorial to

UK, unanimously galvanized in their daily

its weight as one of only three global net

cover ‘chapter and verse’, the complex and

struggle to stay afloat.

exporters of music, the disconnect between

at times, conflicting interests of the live

that and the grass roots live music sector and

music business, but the ‘helicopter view’ is

Presented as celebration of small venues

its role in supporting the next-generation of

one of a (apparently) healthy, burgeoning

rather than a funeral wake, it necessarily

hit-makers has arguably never been greater.

sector that’s pretty much out-performed

began as gloomy discussion whose role call

the recorded industry since 2009. Focusing

of ‘macro’ issues remains all too depressingly

Little appears to have changed in the

in on the detail reveals a stark division

familiar – relaxed planning laws, threats

ten years MusicTank has looked at issues

between the record gross takings of sell-

from development, indifferent landlords,

afflicting live, from noise abatement, and

out stadium tours commanding ever-higher

over

Licensing Act reform to form 696 and

ticket prices (and for which there seems no

neighbourhood intolerance and hard-nosed

secondary ticketing.

limit to consumer appetite), and the vital

breweries, chief among them. But there are

small capacity venues sector that forms the

‘micro’ issues that continue to stifle. Informal

bedrock of grass-roots live performance,

conversations with a range of stakeholders

which is fighting for its very survival.

present revealed internal mechanics of an

some

areas

the

sector

appears

overburdened in regulation which duplicates pre-existing law (the Licensing Act 2003), yet

zealous

licensing

enforcement,

industry that doesn’t always appear to pull

is crying out for more considered regulation

With that in mind, the Music Venue Trust

in others (ticketing and noise abatement).

should be congratulated in facilitating

Above all, regulation desperately needs to

Tuesday’s Venues Day, which drew a

Small venue owners complain that promoters

better balance the live sector’s ecosystem

capacity

owner/

don’t understand the venue business – that

with consumers’ interests.

operators the length and breadth of the

venues can’t operate solely from the profit of

audience

venue

in the same direction at the same time…

VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >

DECEMBER 2014

‘wet’ sales (drinking at venues is in steady and

venues) remain the single biggest threat, in

orchestras (VAT is crippling small venue

continued decline); that they can’t routinely

a process that appears to be trying to catch

businesses);

take a hit on splitting door takings unless

venues out, rather than working proactively

pooling of knowledge via a website (to help

takings are sustained at capacity or near-to-

towards a mutually acceptable solution.

each other);

capacity levels; that the perilous economics of

booking agents ‘gifting’ back a successful

running a venue are simply not understood

It’s with heavy anticipation that the venues

band, to, say a venue that helped them on

by other’s in the ecosystem – promoters,

business awaits the outcome of heavy

their way in the early years (supporting and

musicians and booking agents alike.

lobbying, led by artist Frank Turner, for

acknowledging the importance of this sector);

the adoption of the ‘agent of change’

local authorities having to include cultural

The simple truth is that the vast majority of

principle. This would place the responsibility

policy as part of planning policy;

small capacity live music venues ironically

for incoming businesses bringing change to

take a lead from Unesco and introduce its

can’t sustain themselves solely through live

an area to manage and be responsible for

protective status to areas of music heritage

music; rather they cross-subsidise live music

that change, bringing to an end incidences

and high cultural value;

from the profit made by club nights and

of, say, new residential developments near

further

private hires. It’s a pretty grim state of affairs.

pre-existing music venues forcing venues to

live music brings to cities, towns and

remedy noise issues.

neighbourhoods;

Savages’ Jehnny Beth’s artist perspective

highlight

the

economic

value

make a case for state funding for UK bands

illustrated just how badly-served the artist

Despite the inevitable gloom, there is a clear

to be able to do UK tours (in the same way

community can be by some in business of

desire to make the small venue experience

funding is available for touring overseas);

live, be they promoter, venue or booking

great; for venues to do their bit for new

learn from (and copy?) European state-

agent – issues long-championed by Andy

music that they all feel so passionate about.

funded models for live music.

Inglis (who frequently considered himself as

And amidst the call for unity (literally the

being in the customer service business first,

suggestion of the formation of a Union for

As commented by Music Venue Trust

and the music industry second…)

small venues), some interesting ideas were

founder, Mark Davyd, “…the ‘rule book’ for

floated:

the small venue sector was written in the 70s, little has changed since and there’s

The overzealous and pernicious way in which noise abatement cases are brought (and

lobbying Government for an extension of

been a definite lack in asking [government]

on an increasing basis and at great cost to

the tax status recently afforded theatre and

for what we need...it’s time to do something radical.” Having

over-regulated

music

small

capacity venues to within an inch of its life the Government has latterly set about to de-regulate it in part (small venue capacity exemption), and for its part has proved it is listening. Much more could and should be done, however. There’s a powerful economic and

cultural

argument

encompassing

employment, GDP and cultural value that aren’t in anyone’s interests to be ignored. First

published

their monthly

MusicTank

newsletter

here

in and

reproduced by kind permission. MusicTank are seeking your thoughts on the topic - comments can be made here...

Frank Turner

Link to editorial: www.musictank.co.uk/ newsletters/dec-2014

VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >

DECEMBER 2014

Independent Venue Week Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Following a hugely successful first year,

opportunities they offer young and more

Independent venues sit at the heart of their

Independent Venue Week returns in 2015

established artist. It’s vital we all celebrate

local community, providing a vital lifeline

with 5 times as many venues taking part all

their existence during Independent Venue

to upcoming artists early in their careers

around the UK. Frank Turner has taken over

Week and do what we can to support

whilst bringing together those fans who

the mantle as this year’s Ambassador from

them so they are still around for years to

are passionate about live music. With more

Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood. The event is

come.”

and more small to medium sized venues

supported by public funding by from Arts

continuing to close around the country, Artists include Peace, Seth Lakeman,

Independent Venue Week supports those

Andrew Wetherall, White Fence, Edwyn

venues that play such a significant role to

The 7 day series of gigs will run from 26th

Collins, The Subways, The Blockheads,

musicians and fans alike.

January – 1st February 2015 across at least

Frankie & The Heartstrings with more to

85 venues. Some of the shows are curated

be announced.

Council England.

by a growing number of industry partners.,

“For us to grow fivefold in just one year is amazing and shows just how strongly

including BBC Introducing, Xfm, Rough

Helen Sprott, Director, Music at Arts Council

people feel, from all across the industry,

Trade, Domino Records, Noisey, Boiler

England said, “Independent music venues

about these venues and the role they play

Room, Communion, Huw Stevens, 13

are an invaluable part of our national music

both to breaking and touring artists and

Artists, The 405, Fierce Panda and Club

ecology. They are often the places where

to local fans all around the country” said

Fandango.

people across England first experience live

co-founder Sybil Bell. “It’s great to be

music and for many years these venues

back again promoting a nationwide, week

Also curating 2 nights is Xtra Mile, Frank

have also provided the vascular system by

long program of gigs with such a strong

Turners label and Frank will be headlining

which artists have been able to tour the

list of venues, artists and partners. We’re

2 special shows for IVW, one of which is

nation. It is this dual role, nurturing both

excited to help make January a really great

at 93 Feet East where he played his first

audiences and talent, that sits at the heart

time for music fans to go to their local

ever gig. He commented, “It’s great to see

of Independent Venue Week and we are

venue and see some great live music and

Independent Venue Week back again for a

delighted to be supporting this celebration

hope they continue to support their venues

second year and with so many more venues

of grassroots music through our Grants for

throughout the year.”

taking part. There’s been so much support

the Arts programme.”

recently for the work these places do and

More Details: Further support from the music industry has

www.independentvenueweek.com

come, once again, from PRS for Music, UK Music and The Musicians Union.

www.facebook.com/

Speaking on behalf of PRS for Music, their

independentvenueweek

Head of Marketing Paul Sims said “We’re delighted to be backing Independent Venue Week for a second year. These venues are the lifeblood of the live music scene and our many members who perform there. Up and down the country night after night, they provide a crucial platform to new and breaking acts to hone their stagecraft and

Sybil Bell

to try out the songs they have written in front of an audience of live music fans.”

Independent Venue Week

VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

New Festival by Rob da Bank Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Bestival organiser Rob da Bank is launching

commented: “I’m delighted to announce

called

that we are launching a new festival in

Common People, which will take place

Southampton next year, our first new

on Southampton Common in Hampshire

venture since we started Camp Bestival

on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May

seven years ago. We have been inundated

2015.

with offers to start new festivals every year

experience… it’s a metropolitan two day

but it wasn’t until we found the beautiful

show easy to access and open to all ages,

It’s promising a music line-up of live music

site of the Common that we felt it was

compact but packed with experiences and

and DJs “from legendary stalwarts of

right to start a new chapter in Bestival’s

priced very, very reasonably. We can’t wait

the festival scene and guaranteed crowd

history. This isn’t a camping show, it’s not a

to unveil our headliners and star cast for our

pleasers, to the most exciting new acts that

tents, wellies and car packed to the rafters

first Common People show in May. Watch

new

non-camping

festival

are getting those in the know all hot under

this space”

the collar.” There are no acts confirmed yet, tickets are The event will see The Flats area of The

not yet on sale, and the price has not yet

Common – between The Lake, The Boating

been announced. We’ll have the details for

Lake and The Cemetery Lake – fenced off but

you when they’re available.

there will not be overnight camping on site. Common People curator Rob da Bank

Read more at www.efestivals.co.uk

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VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

Arts Council England Continues Support for Momentum Music Fund Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Officially launched at The Great Escape

artists, but the path for talent to find its

in 2013, the Momentum Music Fund is

way is riddled with uncertainty at key

being extended for another year beyond

points in an artist’s career. By focussing on

its original two-year pilot.

the artist and their needs, the Momentum pilot has shown how we can do more to

The Fund was the first Arts Council

support talent, and give that helping hand

England initiative that directly funded

at the right moment. This is where the fund

with Arts Council England in delivering

artists outside of the jazz, classical and

can, and has, played an important role:

the highly successful Momentum Music

folk genres, and offers grants to enable

backing talent where the industry can’t,

fund which remains the most competitive

artists and their business partners to

bridging gaps in investment, mobilising

programme we have ever run at PRS For

pursue career-enhancing projects that

better management and planning, and

Music Foundation. Over the last two years

may include live or recording-based work,

helping to build a pipeline from local music

Momentum has attracted a huge range of

seeking to complement investment made

development programmes to national

applications from artists who need help

in new talent by existing music industry

exposure. This additional investment will

to boost their career. Those selected for

players such as labels and publishers.

result in further evidence to help us do

support include many of England’s most

more for music talent, and will show how

talented artists who are now receiving

Outgoing Arts Council boss Alan Davey

we can continue to make a real difference

nominations for awards such as the

told reporters: “I’m proud of what

to artists - that, after all, is what we should

Mercury Prize, BRIT Awards, BBC Sound Of

Momentum has achieved and excited

be about”.

Poll and many more. We look forward to

about what it can do. As we stated when

offering this unique funding opportunity

this fund was first announced, the Arts

The Fund will continue to be run by the PRS

to more artists and to investing more in

Council are aware of the great work that

For Music Foundation, whose Executive

the breadth of talent which contributes to

the music industry does in nurturing talent

Director Vanessa Reed said: “We are

the ongoing success and global reputation

by investing heavily in new and emerging

delighted to continue our partnership

of the UK’s music industry.

Arts Council boss Alan Davey, photo by Richard Eaton

Director Vanessa Reed

VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

ILMC ’15 Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Organisers of the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) have

the result of a lot of conversations with our members earlier this

announced a raft of changes to the 2015 event including a new

year; we’re now more geared to the needs of the modern business

schedule and workshop programme. The changes allow ILMC to

than ever.”

offer more networking and private meeting space, as well as 50% more panel content overall.

Details of the new workshop and panel schedule will be announced in January just as entries to the ILMC Bursary Scheme close. The

The announcement comes as the leading global gathering of concert

scheme, designed to nurture young professional talent and start-

business professionals opens for registrations with its annual theme

ups – supported by patrons Robertson Taylor W&P Longreach – was

– always an irreverent take on the business – revealed as caped

announced last month.

crusaders and wannabe superheroes. The invitation-only event typically sells out in advance, welcoming over 1,000 delegates from

ILMC 27 takes place at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington,

more than 60 countries.

London, from 6-8 March 2015. Event partners include Live Nation, AEG, Intellitix, Showsec, Star Events Group, Eventim, Airbeem, Feld Entertainment, AXS, Dot Tickets and many more.

Key changes at the 2015 event include:

Greg Parmley

A new Thursday night op ening party A full day of conference

sessions on Friday 6 March

A new educational works hop programme running across the week end An increased number of

panel topics

The launch of a ‘Tech La boratory’ area featuring an invited ran ge of innovative start-ups.

“The main conference now runs from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon, to better mirror delegate activity and free up more meeting space,” says ILMC head Greg Parmley. “The changes are

Need to know who is touring Europe? Go online - www.vip-booking.com vip-booking.com

VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

A Couple of Lists Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

As it’s nearly Christmas and I know how much you all like the occasional list, here are three to see you through to 2015!

2014 UK Festival Awards Public-Voted Awards Best Major Festival: Gla stonbury Festival Best Medium-Sized Festi val: We Are FSTVL Best Small Festival: The Zoo Project Festival Best New Festival: The Sec ret Festival Best Family Festival: Ca mp Bestival Best Metropolitan Festi val: Live At Leeds Best Dance Event: Cream fields The Grass Roots Festiva l Award: Leopallooza Best Overseas Festival: Tomorrowland (Belgium) Best Toilets: V Festival Headline Performance Of The Year: The Libertines at British Summer Time, Hyde Park Best Breakthrough Artis t: Wolf Alice Anthem Of The Summer: Calvin Harris - Summer Jury-Voted Awards Line-Up Of The Year: Fes tival Number 6 Best Use Of New Technolo gy: The Parklife Weekender [for their revolu tionary portable substance-analysis system supplied by The Loop, and working with Greater Manchester Police] Agency Of The Year: Willia m Morris Endeavor Concession Of The Year: Goodness Gracious Healthy Foods The Greener Festival Aw ard: Shambala The Brand Activation Aw ard: Malibu The Extra-Festival Activ ity Award: Beat Herder Promoter Of The Year: Ric h Bryan (Bearded Theory) The Outstanding Contribu tion To Festivals Award: Rob Da Bank

Madonna

10 Richest Recording Art ists – According to Wealth-X Amounts are in U.S. dolla rs 1) Madonna $800 million 2) Paul McCartney $660 million 3) Dr. Dre $650 million 4) Diddy $640 million 5) Celine Dion $630 millio n 6) Bono $590 million 7) Mariah Carey $520 mi llion 8) Jay Z $510 million 9) Elton John $450 millio n 10) Beyonce $ 440 millio n …and finally according to UK Collection Society PPL

The Most Played UK Christmas Songs 1. The Pogues (feat Kirsty

MacColl) - Fairytale Of New York 2. Lily Allen - Somewhere Only We Know 3. Mariah Carey - All I Wa nt For Christmas Is You 4. Wham! - Last Christma s 5. Slade - Merry Xmas Eve rybody 6. Wizzard - I Wish It Co uld Be Christmas Everyday 7. Band Aid - Do They Kn ow It’s Christmas? 8. Chris Rea - Driving Ho me For Christmas 9. Leona Lewis - One Mo re Sleep 10. Shakin Stevens - Me rry Christmas Everyone

The Pogues (feat Kirsty MacColl) - Fairytale Of New York

VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

2015:

Festivals in the Melting Pot Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

Fruzsina Szep, once a booker for the Sziget festival has left Hungary and moved to Berlin

We can take it for granted that the festival

But the recent past has already proved that

both events varies but both editions features

landscape in 2015 will look very different.

all events are not assured of success. Within

an extensive DJ-program with top acts such

First announcements for new festivals such

just five years the Swedish market saw

as Fedde Legrand, Moguai, Grandmaster

as Tinderbox in Denmark by FKP Scorpio,

the departure of events such as Hultsfred,

Flash and Paul Kalkbrenner.

Der Ring Grüne Hölle Rock at Nürburgring

Arvika and Peace & Love. The Greenville-

and its sister events Rockaviaria and Rock in

Festival by Creative Talent failed in 2014 and

Fruzsina Szep, once a booker for the Sziget

Vienna in Austria by DEAG and an edition of

the unknown events (okay, amongst others

festival has left Hungary and moved to

the US-Event Lollapalozza in Berlin are only

and for the record: the Berlin Festival) who

Berlin to work on the new Berlin edition

the tip of a festival iceberg heading into

have already suffered losses are indicators

of Lollapalooza. Particularly the situation

some sort of a climate change.

and presages for what the industry could

in Germany has definitely heated up, so

expect in 2015.

this one is certainly an event that faces

Competition is heating up. Newcomers such

a challenges as the festival market in the

as Bravalla in Sweden or the Best Kept Secret

Sziget Cultural Management, the promoter

German capital has already showed that it

in the Netherlands by the local branches of

of the Sziget Festival in Hungary, for the first

is more than tough.

FKP Scorpio or Down The Rabbit Hole by

time has started to book an edition of the

Live Nation subsidy Mojo Concerts have

winter sport combined with music event

In Denmark alone FKP Scorpio found

already indicated the new movement in the

into its neighbouring country for the first

their announcement of Tinderbox, being

festival circuit. Without any doubt the trend

time in Vienna on November 21-22, running

referred to as a “declaration of war” by

is that the big players within the concert

simultaneously with the edition in Budapest

Gunnar Madsen of the Danish Rock council

industry are aiming to gain market shares

on November 21-24. Due to the mild winter

Rosa. Hopefully it won’t be so dramatic,

and to occupy niche-playgrounds as well as

the Vienna edition has been re-located in

but certainly the festival season 2015 will

the battlefield of big major festivals.

the indoor arena Marx Halle. The line up of

become more than interesting...

VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

Multimedia For Festivals Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com Previously to promote a concert or a festival

and Richard Zijlma from Amsterdam Dance

by Spotify in reference to this year’s

it just took some billboards, flyers, perhaps

Events about their findings regarding new

Lowland edition?

some advertisements and proper PR-work

media experiments and the experience

for printed press and radio. Today of course

gained from them.

Van Eerdenburg: It gives a great insight into the importance of festivals in discovering

it needs more. Communications around live events have changed significantly and it is

VIP News: On the Lowland website

new music. The dynamics of a festival are

not only the generation of digitals natives

various new media services such as

different from a headline show, or small

who know how to serve and to handle a

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and so on

specialized

modern communication environment for

are prominently displayed. Whoich of

necessarily buy a ticket for the festival to see

music events.

them are so called ‘media partners’ and

certain acts, still try to find out about the

which are perhaps sponsors?

acts that they do not know. And this survey

festival.

People

that

don’t

proves they do it in large numbers. Unlike a

The conversion of communication and new media services is an ongoing process. Besides

Eric van Eerdenburg: None of them are

lot of other big festivals Lowlands is a festival

social media gadgets such as Facebook,

sponsors. None of them are official media

that does not exclusively thrive on headliners,

Twitter or Instagram it is furthermore music

partners. Again, the fans subscribe to our

but on ‘subliners’ and debuting acts; an ideal

streaming services such as Deezer, Spotify

festival pages on these services. They are

festival to put on the acts that are looking for

or SirusXM, that take up the opportunity to

communication channels. We need to be

a bigger audience.

replace the old school media format radio.

where the fans are. In the old days one tried to sell tickets at the

With this in mind, VIP News spoke with

VIP

main

specialized record stores for unknown acts.

Eric van Eerdenburg from Lowland Festival

conclusions regarding the data gained

News:

What

are

your

That’s the place where the true music fans would be. Almost 70% of the Lowlands fans use Spotify. This number will grow since it’s a very well organised service. We need to be where the music fans are. Artists that are not on this type of service are not of this age. It’s this, or it’s piracy. VIP News: How many people are working for Lowlands to serve the various new media channels? Van Eerdenburg: I have three people working on promotion, mixed on- and offline at the peak promotion times. It’s not a separate thing. They run Lowlands & Down The Rabbit Hole. More and more Social Media gains importance in communication with our audience. VIP News: On the ADE website various new media services such as Instagram, Facebook,

Twitter

and

Google

are

prominently displayed. Nevertheless,

Eric van Eerdenburg, Lowlands

the “media reports” section is also spiked with many media reports from ranging

VIP NEWS >

DECEMBER 2014

from 3voor12, BBC, Guardian NBC News.

when in comes to innovation which fits the

How much has ADE meanwhile turned

key values ADE has. For example we worked

itself into a media venture and what is

also with Spotify and agreed to work on

the strategy behind this?

specific values; bring reach, engagement and innovation. The partnership ended very

Richard Zijlma: The essence is simple;

successfully. For example we had homepage

we try to connect and to engage with

takeover in several countries during ADE for

both electronic music lovers and music

example USA and Mexico!

professionals worldwide. I think, as we all do, nowadays, that we all switch during the

VIP News: You even ran ADE Radio for

day to new media and old media, between

the first time. How does it work and

online and off line all the time. I think ideally

what is your experience of working with

the presence of an event like ADE should be

SiriusXM?

prominent in all those fields. And of course

Richard Zijlma, Amsterdam Dance Events

we are focused on increasing presence

Richard Zijlma: There was a lot of demand

online more and more. For example I think

from international radio station to cover ADE.

a communication staff member should start

With ADE Radio we were able to make this

reference to this years ADE edition? Very

watching his phone instead working behind

efficient for both parties and were able to

interesting of course; we just hired a staff

a desktop, cause most online time is now

control this content. We broadcast live and

member purely focused on data, cause

spent on the phone. The whole landscape

also recorded dedicated shows. Total reach

we now want to interpret all the data we

has changed over the years. I love the

was about 30 million listeners globally so a

collected from all platforms, our own website

challenges and specifically we like to work

great next step. Serius SM for example had a

and ticket sales for example. To be honest

with those companies because they know

reach of 9 million listeners in the states!

some outcome even surprises me, on the

how to connect with the audience, have

VIP News: What are your main conclusions

other hand I have to be honest, this is also for

a lot of relevant data and they are upfront

regarding the data gained by Spotify in

us a relatively new field.

Moving Offices Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com Philipp Jacob-Pahl and Carlo Luis Ruben

to the Landstreicher Booking roster. In

For further information please check:

Schenk who formerly worked for the

September the company celebrated their

www.landstreicher-booking.de/en/

AS.S. Concerts subsidy Selective Artists

five year anniversary and now looks after

category/acts/

have moved on to Landtstreicher Booking.

76 artists, including Kraftklub, Casper and

www.selectiveartists.com/

Previously based in Cologne, they will

the wonderful First Aid Kit. Landstreicher

launch a new local office for the Berlin based

Booking now employs around 25 people

concert company. The move bring artists

and also launched its first open air event

such as Milky Chance, Woodkid, Anne May

with Splash Entertainment in 2013 with the

Kantereit, Juli, James Vincent McMorrow,

Kosmonaut Festival in Chemnitz

We Were Promised Jetpacks and ﾃ《geir Shortly after the departure of Jacob-Pahl and Schenk, A.S.S. Concerts announced the opening of an office for Selective Artists in Berlin where Robin Shaw will be based. A team including Christoph Pancke, Sabine Wittern, Wiebke Kulpa, Katharina Wortberg will additionally handle Selective Artists

Philipp Jacob-Pahl

and Taika Jansen in the A.S.S. Concerts headquarters in Hamburg.

Carlo Luis Ruben Schenk

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DECEMBER 2014 > NOVEMBER 2014 VIP NEWS > BUSINESS

MUSIC IN SHARES

Music In Shares Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com It is time again for the annual review of the

DEAG increased its revenue from 125.2 up

for Creative Artist Agency (CAA) are a bit

share price development of our beloved cor-

to 129.5 million Euros and its EBITDA from

more solid so to say. At least the rating

porate concert companies over the recent

6.6 up to 6.8 million Euros. While these

agency Moody’s reported in an evaluation

year and some other news that might inter-

growth rates are not so impressive it is the

of credit facilities of $610 million for CAA

est the financial as well as the music busi-

share price that show a huge step forward.

that an IPO in the future is likely.

ness community:

Last year at the same time the share price was 4.20, this time it is at 6.81 Euro. The

By the way, Moody’s rate the credit qual-

CTS Eventim - Between Gaining- and

share price performance therewith gained a

ity with the note “B2 corporate family rat-

Growth-Strategies: