Vip magazine Sept. 2014

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Inform The No1

15 edition # 014 AUGUST 2

Catching up with Roskilde

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on page 13

READ MORE ON PAGE 14

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e n i z a g a m IP V e to th e of the best news from This Magazine contains som monthly, online VIP-News. the recent editions of our

ence, about a New Music Confer Please lean back and read view on mburg, get some points of take a trip to Creative Ha e as a Tactical Player.

Ticketing and on Youtub

industry events, ine for free at the major We distribute this magaz attending one of these, it is most likely that you are s thi g din rea are you as so ng team e and talk to the VIP-Booki and we invite you to com vide. about the services we pro Until we meet again…

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#3 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

contents: VIP-magazine 15 #2014 05

Waves Vienna Meets Bratislava Music Conference

06

(CE)ETEP latest results

08

BBC announce Music Awards

10

IMMF Moves to Strengthen the International Voice of Managers & Artists

12

Industry Profile

13

FKP Scorpio Announce New Addition to the Conference Showcase Calendar

14

Catching up with Roskilde

18

The Socialization of Ticketing

22

Survey Reveals Problems of Tent Dumping at Music Festivals

24

Artist Avails

25

MIDEM to Change Dates

26

YouTube – A Tactical Power Player

28

Tales of the City… A Trip to Hamburg

6 8

14 18

Vip-booking.com The No 1 Information Resource For The Live Entertainment Industry Having the right tools for the job is often the key to success. Through our ongoing communication with key Live Entertainment Industry Professionals, we have developed a range of services to meet the demands of agents, promoters, talent buyers, venue bookers etc. It’s no coincidence that we are now considered to be the No. 1 information provider for this thriving industry.

Publishing: Vip-booking | 145157 St John Street | London Ec1V 4PW | Phone +44 (0) 870 755 0092 | Fax +44 (0) 870 622 1953 | Email: vip@vip-booking.com | www.vip-booking.com Director: Ronni Didriksen | rd@vip-booking.com General Manager: Peter Briggs | pb@vip-booking.com SALES Manager: Charlie Presburg | cp@vip-booking.com Area Manager (GAS): Stefan Gottwald | sg@vip-booking.com Writer and editorial: Allan McGowan | am@vip-booking.com & Manfred Tari | mt@vip-booking.com distribution: 3.000 copies of the magazine are distributed to professionals within the Live Entertainment Industry FREE OF CHARGE production: Grefta Tryk | Markedsgade 41 | DK-8500 Grenaa | Phone +45 8632 2922 | www.grefta.dk

To reserve your ad call +44 (0) 870 755 0092 or send an email to vip@vip-booking.com. Read more online www.vip-booking.com #4 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

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13297

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front cover: Lars Just/POLFOTO

Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

Waves Vienna Meets Bratislava Music Conference The

opening

sentence

of

the

collaboration; previously the cooperation

Vienna­Music­Business Research Days.

announcement­regarding the collaboration

has been primarily focused on the exchange­

This conference­is quite interesting as

of Waves Vienna­and the Bratislava Music

of the showcase program between the

it combines­the world of science and

Conference­reads: “The exchange between

Cities, but for the upcoming edition the

academics­with that of the music business.

Eastern and Western Europe will this year

conference­program will also take place in

Invited speakers among others are Paul

be manifest in the choice of location”.

Bratislava.. The conference schedule now

Resnikoff of Digital Music News (US), Peter

sees the conference program starting on

Jenner (UK), Keith Harris of PPL (UK), and

This innovation is very interesting; both

October 2 in Vienna, with the second day

our own Allan McGowan.

cities­are only 54 km apart but the

taking place in Bratislava on October 3.

definition­East/West still seems to indicate

Further information can be found on:

a meeting between two different worlds.

For the first time the Vienna conference­

http://www.wavesvienna.com/en/update/

Anyhow, Waves Vienna and the Bratislava

will take place in the University Of Music­

artikel/waves-vienna-bratislava-music-con-

Music Conference are strengthening their

and

Performing

Arts,

alongside

the

ference-1/

#5 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Anne Frank Alsted aa@vip-booking.com

The fourth results of The European Talent Exchange Programme 2014 and the first CEETEP results of 2014.

(CE) ETEP is an initiative of Eurosonic Noorderslag to stimulate the circulation of European repertoire on festivals, radio and media in Europe.

ETEP: 270 confirmed shows by 89 artists from 19 different European­ countries.

ETEP Results: top-scoring countries / top scoring act: 1. UK, 17 artists, Royal Blood, Jungle Royal Blood Eurosonic Noorderslag session, Video Jungle 2. The Netherlands, 15 artists, Birth of Joy Birth of Joy live at Eurosonic Noorderslag 3. Ireland, 7 artists, Hozier Video Hozier, Hozier live at Eurosonic Noorderslag (phone recording)

CEETEP: 10 confirmed shows by 9 artists from 8 different European countries.

4. Sweden, 7 artists, Elliphant, Alice Boman Elliphant Eurosonic Noorderslag session

Royal Blood: ‘’Eurosonic Noorderslag was our first European show

5. Germany, 6 artists, Milky Chance

so we’ll always remember it. A very important and well organised

Milky Chance live at Eurosonic Noorderslag

event at the start of the year, highly recommend it for new artists’’.

This is the complete list of ETEP and CEETEP artists and MØ: ‘’Eurosonic Noorderslag is a great, and cool festival to play.

bookings­at this point. Next ETEP and CEETEP press release

Especially for up comers! It has helped me two years in a row get-

will follow september 2014:

ting attention from cool media and bookers from badass festivals in Europe. When you’re there you feel the excitement for new music amongst the people participating in the festival no matter if it’s the

CEETEP:

guests, the scouts or the artists’’.

Oratnitza BG

1

Kadebostany: ‘’Our show at Eurosonic was a success and solidified

Carnival Youth

1

our reputation as a live band, it helped us reach many professionals

Bernays Propeganda MK

1

of the scene at once. For a band like us who tour a lot, this showcase

Frau Casio RS

1

was like a ‘’shortcut’’ to reach influental people in the live world who

Goodbye to Gravity RO

1

didn’t know of us yet’’.

Puncke HR 1

LV

Quimby HU 1 TI RS 1 Beissoul & Einius

Oratnitza

#6 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Carnival Youth

LT

Bearnays Propeganda

1

MØ

Royal Blood

Kadebostany

ETEP: Royal Blood UK

14

Coely BE 3

Cairo Liberation Front NL

1

Jungle UK 14

East India Youth UK

3

Charity Children

1

MØ

La Pegatina ES

3

DJ Pravda IT

1

DK 9

DE

George Ezra UK

7

Girl Band IE

3

Electric Eye NO

1

Milky Chance

DE

7

Kate Boy

SE

3

Gudrun von Laxenburg AT

1

Birth of Joy NL

7

Thomas Azier NL

3

Ja Panik AT

1

Pional ES 7

Denai Moore UK

3

KiT NL 1

Hozier IE 7

Hermigervill IS 3

La Femme FR

1

Kodaline IE 6

Lonely the Brave UK

2

Le Galaxie IE

1

Wild Beasts UK

6

Mariam the Believer

SE

2

Luca Sapio IT

1

Circa Waves UK

6

Nadine Shaw UK

2

Pablo Nouvelle CH

1

Ballet School

DE

6

Truckfighters

Benjamin Clementine FR

6

Bondax UK 2

Scarlett O’Hanna BE

Kadebostany CH 6

Farao NO 2

Tensnake

Jaakko Eino Kalevi FI

5

Kid Karate IE

The Opposites NL

1

Larry Gus

GR

5

Linkoban

DK 2

The Wands

1

Baby in Vain

DK

5

N’toko

SI 2

traumahelikopter NL 1

Emilie Nicolas NO

4

Russkaja AT 2

Noah Kin FI

Lulu James UK

4

The Mispers UK

2

Djaikovski MK 1

The Strypes IE

4

NoNoNo

SE 2

Rhodes UK 1

The Animen CH

4

Kensington NL 2

Manu Delago Handmade AT

1

SE 2

2

Repetitor RS 1 1

DE 1

DK

1

Elliphant

SE 4

Melanie De Biasio BE

2

Mozes and the Firstborn NL

1

Alice Boman

SE

4

Slick Shoota NO

2

Mister and Mississippi NL

1

Sam Smith UK

4

Taymir NL 2

Reverend Shine Snake Oil

DK

1

Hudson Taylor IE

4

Ásgeir IS 2

Bo Saris NL

1

I Am Legion UK/NL

4

Jenny Wilson

SE

1

Emilie Nichols NO

1

Drenge UK 4

Afterpartees NL

1

Cid Rim AT

1

Tourist UK

Baskerville NL 1

Klangkarussel AT 1

Seward ES 4

4

Brother & Bones UK

1

Soul Sister Dance Revolution NL

Claire

C + C = Maxigross IT

1

DE 3

1

#7 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Announce

Music Awards­ The BBC has announced the launch of

artist awards, with viewers and listeners

director­general­Tony Hall said. “BBC Music­

the BBC Music Awards, as part of a wide-

choosing­the winning­song of the year.

is a celebration­of the brilliant musical

ranging new musical strategy by the

The awards will also feature a host of

talent­across our country. We`ll be joining

Corporation­…

performances­to review the year, as well as

up music on television, radio, iPlayer and

collaborations between well-known artists

online like never before. There`ll be new

and the BBC Orchestra. BBC Radios 1 and

shows, new partnerships and whole new

popular­music, The awards event will be

2 and The One Show will offer behind the

ways to enjoy music.”

the BBC`s biggest­musical presentation

scenes access to the award ceremony.

Aimed at celebrating the year`s best

after Glastonbury­, uniting BBC One, BBC

The

wide

ranging

plans

have

been

Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 ahead of a live

The new music strategy unveiled by

show presented­by Chris Evans and Fearne

the corporation­encompasses TV and

considering­recent­cut

Cotton­ . The event will take place on 11

radio­programming­ , digital services and

redundancies­, however­ the new strategy­

Decembe­r at London`s Earls Court.

provisions­to support emerging talent

is of course positive. There may also be

including­the introduction­of classical

some consternation at the offices of the

Categories will include British artist of

music­to UK primary schools.

the year and song of the year. A panel of

welcomed­by many, but are surprising­ backs

and

BRIT Awards, although the BBC are making­ great efforts to convince all interested­

BBC presenters and producers will select

“Today`s the start of something very

parties­that there will be no conflict –

the best British artist and international

special­for everyone who loves music,” BBC

Watch this Space!

Chris Evans and Fearne Cotton will host the BBC Music Awards from London’s Earl’s Court

#8 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

„W IR L A S SE N U N S

E N IC H T L E IS “ K RI EG EN

365 TAGE PROGRAMM BEI 100 % SOUND! NACH UMBAU: JETZT WASSERDICHT & SCHALLDICHT!

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#9 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

IMMF Moves to Strengthen the International Voice of Managers & Artists 2014 sees the International Music Managers­

THE NEW ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Forum (IMMF) taking big steps on the way

The new IMMF has been registered as a

CURRENT POLICY & REPRESENTATION ACTIVITIES

towards strengthening the international

non profit organization in Luxembourg. The

The IMMF Copyright Committee took part

voice of music managers and artists. With

daily operations will be coordinated and

in the EU Copyright Consultation at the

a new seat in Luxembourg, strengthened

administered­by Daria Wabnitz, while the

beginning­of March 2014, presenting­its

secretariat­ , new international committee

agency FACTORY 92 will be taking­over the

position paper on the issue. The position­

structure and several new members the

international press relations. Committees­ paper stated the importance of copyright­

IMMF umbrella now represents the inter-

are

new

legislation harmonization across the EU

ests of national associations from more

structure­working as labs in order to draft

in order to give a legal answer and a

than 20 countries, with an organizational

ideas, enhance international cooperation­ framework­for the mass usage of content.

infrastructure­able to leverage this ever

and strengthen policy work, within the

The position paper also underlined the

growing representational weight.

following­ areas:

necessity­of an international song database­

the

cornerstone

of

IMMF’s

in order to build a global and efficient Kari Karjalainen, lawyer and chairman­

• European Committee

of the IMMF Copyright Committee

• Live Committee

explains one of the core drivers for

• Copyright Committee

IMMF also attended the Music Biz Association­

strengthening the IMMF:

• Marketing and promotion Committee

summit 2014 at Musikmesse Frankfurt in

• Funding Committee

Germany where executives from several

• Training and Education Committee

major stakeholder organizations­presented­

IMMF is moreover experiencing growing

worldwide evolutions within copyright, EU

and in order­ “…People need music, , music king­ to support music ma and for, creators seek audiences

. For ations­ income from their cre sic­ mu for t some time the marke er­fairly has not functioned eith nces affect­ or efficiently, imbala , one music­ the creation of new t the tha is of the core problems rights does marketplace­for music g­ambition­ not work. The growin , ncidence­ of IMMF is thus no coi but a necessity...”

#10 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

monitoring tool.

their concerns and opinions on recent international membership demand. This

matters and international collecting rights.

Spring the IMMF thus welcomed MMF

Representatives from pan-European and

Estonia as its newest national member.

international umbrella organization within

MMF Latin America is furthermore being

music industry areas such as entertainment

established and welcomed into the IMMF.

law, music publishing and concert venues

MMF Latin America will unite managers

attended the event alongside IMMF.

from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Panamá, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Perú and Venezuela.

In general 2014 has thus far seen IMMF being­represented and featured across a wide range of international music stakeholder­events from Sun Breathe Music­

authors) they manage. The core mission of

Contact:

over SXSW in Austin (US) to Tallinn Music

the IMMF is to defend the economic and

• General inquiries: Daria Wabnitz

Week in Tallinn (Estonia).

legal interests of artists on an international­

(daria@immf.com)

Conference in Cape Town (South Africa)

scale. The IMMF’s vision is to create better­

• Press: Christian Hald Buhl

ABOUT IMMF

international trade conditions for all art-

(buhl@factory92.eu)

The International Music Managers Forum

ists across the world. The IMMF today

(IMMF) represents music managers and

represents­National MMF Organizations

Links:

through them the artists (performers and

from 21 countries.

• IMMF (www.immf.com) • FACTORY 92 (www.factory92.eu )

IMMF Council at Midem 2014

#11 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Profile georg leitner

industry Name: Georg Leitner

Company: Georg Leitner Productions GmbH Email: gleitner@glp.at

Roster includes: George Clinton Parliament / Funkadelic, Kool & The Gang, Gil Scott Heron, Akon, Missy Elliott, Sean Paul, Collie Buddz­, Inner­Circle, Foreigner, Nina Hagen and Mother’s Finest.

1. A brief history of your career in the Live Music industry.

Biggest Disappointment:

Started my first promoting company in 1977, promoting and

When I found out at the tender age of 6 that it was my parents and

manifesting­punk and alternative concerts in Austria and developing­

not Father Christmas who brought the Christmas tree…

marketing concepts for the industry (banks etc.). In 1985 James Brown’s manager, Jack Bart, gave me the first opportunity to progress­

3. What’s your best skill and worst habit in the context of your

towards an international agency. Sal Michaels (Pyramid Productions),

work?

Dick Allen (William Morris) to name a few, were instrumental in

My best skill is to always move forward , act solution orientated, find

giving­me the opportunity to further develop the concept of “artist

great people to work with and find great fun in what I am doing.

marketing” throughout Europe, the Near East, Africa and eventually

I focus a lot on the main points which is maybe also my worst habit –

the Far East and Asia. So it was a logical step to stop promoting and

I sometimes don’t pay enough attention to detail. Thank god I have

focus on artist marketing from 1988 onwards.

a great team who do.

2. Describe the highlight of your career and the biggest

4. What’s your new year’s resolution/plans for 2014?

disappointment.­

We are working on a world tour that combines some of our Classic

Here’s some of the hightlights:

R&B /Funk artists with people from the EDM scene.

- When we had FOREIGNER perform at the Reunion of LED ZEPPELIN­

Similar to what we saw happening with CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers/

in 2007 at the O2 in London .

DAFT Punk , there are numerous collaborations now evolving along

- Our last tour with RAY CHARLES in 2003 – we knew this would

the same lines (e.g. GEORGE CLINTON PARLIAMENT­/FUNKADELIC &

be our last tour with him. His dignified way of handling this was

RUDIMENTAL),. The tour concept will be unique and will give the

deeply moving.

audience a fascinating dynamic between classical & new!

- KOOL & THE GANG at the aids benefit in 2003 in front of 250 000 people in Nairobi/Kenya.

5. What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

- SEAN PAUL (2009) and 50 CENT in Casablanca (2011)/

Hopefully still working at GLP with my team to expand the

Marocco­open Air in front of 150.000.

marketing­potential of the great artists we represent and devise­

- Our tour with CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers last year – that

yet new and unexplored show formats. We will continue to be

comprised­80 cities across the world – and thanks to “GET LUCKY”

strong in the different areas that GLP cover – Funk, EDM, show

all sold out!

formats (like our Burlesque show, Peter Pan on Ice etc), Rock, Jazz and World music. Hopefully we will be booking music that does not exist yet and continuing to expand throughout the world.

#12 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

FKP Scorpio Announce New Addition to the Conference Showcase Calendar off last year with a 52,000-capacity­sellout­. Sell

in the music industry what Sweden is well

outs are also expected for Denmark’­s 30,000

known for in Europe – to find and bring

capacity Northside, started in 2010, and the

up interesting­new artists and innovative

27,000 Greenfield started in Switzerland in

technical­ solutions.”

2005.

”It feels great to develop the collaboration with FKP by creating a new festival together­,

The new event is to be called, Where’s the

says Stefan Papangelis, CEO, Experience

Music? FKP Scorpio say that this title is their

Norrköping. “Where’s the Music?” is

way to describe what state the music business­

going­to improve the image of Norrköping as a

is currently at and where it is heading­. Their

music city and bring us even closer to its vision

press release goes on to explain:

to become the Music Capital of Sweden”.

This is best done live and through discussion.

Folkert Koopmans, CEO of FKP Scorpio

The platform is a combined showcase festi-

FKP Scorpio will, in collaboration with

val and music industry conference, focusing

Upplev­Norrköping, create an annual festival

Whilst interviewing Folkert Koopmans I was

on new music, new collaborations and new

that will be held in various public locations

already aware that this outwardly calm and

solutions­. Where’s the Music? is a festival

in the unique area called Industrilandskapet­

even reserved man always appears to have

with two purposes, one obviously being the

in the central of Norrköping. This location

some new project on the go. Not satisfied

music where we aim at having new artists in

adds to the experience of the festival as

with upcoming tour dates with the 100 or

focus and presented to a curious­and excited­

being­more intimate and the visitors will

so artists and 16 festivals in 4 countries that

industry ready to get into new projects­. The

be able to walk from one stage to another

his Hamburg based Company is responsible

other being a comprehensive conference­ in just a few minutes. Our ambition is to

for, he already had plans in place for a new

program­processing and exploring subjects­ make this festival the best one in the Nordic

conference and showcase event in Sweden.

related to the industry. The festival­will include­

countries and attract thousands of visitors

artists performances as well as lectures­held

to Norrköping.

showcase

by people in the music industry, sharing their

“Where’s the Music?” is scheduled for

conference­circuit by creating a Swedis­ h

stories and experiences. The combination

12-14 February 2015. This is about a month

event in Norrköping during its Bravalla

will make a platform for networking, where

after Eurosonic and pretty close to By Larm

Festiva­l. He told Billboard, “We’re speaking­

nationa­l and international music industry will

- a lot of professionals could be very busy

to 18 venues in Norrköping and we can

exchange­experiences and ideas, explore new

early next year!

use several that are within walking distance

artists and find new collaborations, through

of each other, just as Reeperbahn does in

lectures and personal meetings.

FKP

Scorpio

is

joining

the

Hambur­g and Eurosonic­does in Groningen.”

Folkert Koopmans, CEO of FKP Scorpio is Things are already looking good for FKP Scoroio’­s

excitedly­looking forward to launch his new outdoor festival business, with its majo­ r festival in Norrköping. “We have found a great twinned German festivals­, the 73,000-capacity­ and trustworthy partner in Upplev Norrköping Hurricane and 60,000-capacity­Southside,

while promoting Bråvalla Festival­in 2013. It

having­already sold out with a couple­of

feels great to come back to Norrköping with

months to spare. Folkert also expects­to sell out

the new concept, Where’s the Music?, so

the second edition of Bravalla, which kicked

that we can show international­professional­s

#13 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Catching up with Roskilde VIP-Booking.com Manager

Peter

–

General­ This year saw The Rolling Stones play under­

as Artistic Director has led to a ‘shuffle’

the orange canopy, which was originally

in the management team. VIP spoke to

designed­for the band in the UK for their

Roskilde’s­Anders Wahrén about his past,

1976 summer tour, although this present

present and future work with the Festival:

Briggs

comments­on his visit to this year’s edition of Denmark’s

canopy is a new larger version designed

Roskilde Festival:

in 2001. The Stones performance set

How long have you been involved

the stage for a special experience for the

with Roskilde, and what is your

For a second year Roskilde 2014 was again

band, the festival and the audience. With

background­?

blessed with fantastic weather, adding to the

other headliner­s including Arctic Monkeys,

– I grew up with Roskilde festival, my first

already unique experience provided by the

Damon­Albarn, Stevie Wonder, Jack White,

year was 1996 when I was only 13, and

arrangers. Very few festivals I’ve visited pay

Major Lazer and Danish act Trentemoller -

started working as a volunteer in 2001,

so much attention to creating­such a good

this year’s festival broke the all time record­

alongside working at a local Roskilde venue­.

experience and atmosphere for the audience­,

with over 100.000 tickets sold meaning­

I went on to skip my studies and take a job at

providing a wide and diverse selection­of

that the festival expects to be able to

Roskilde Festival where I booked bands from

restaurants­, bars and cozy areas­all set off by

donate­approximately­2.5 million euro to

2004 to 2007, focusing­on Scandinavian­

colourful and atmospheric­lighting­in both

charity and cultural purposes.

acts and upcoming Danish­acts. After a 3½

the main festival­area and backstage. I never

year stint at Live Nation Denmark, where I

cease to be amazed at how well everything­

VIP-News spoke to Anders Wahrén of

developed a roster of local­talents as well as

seems to run and how little trouble there

Roskilde Festival after the event:

played a central role in the startup of their

seems to be in compariso­ n to the crime

The team at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival,

now 5-year strong metal festival Copenhell, I

statistics often reported during an average

undoubtedly one of the world’s leading

returned­to Roskilde in the spring of 2011 to

weekend in a town populated by a similar

outdoor­events, as well as being one of

take a new role as head of music booking, to

amount of people. Although the 31.000

greatest contributors to charitable causes

allow­Rikke­to concentrate on management­

volunteers (yes 31.000!) certainly play their

on an international scale, has remained

duties.

part in keeping order there’s still something

pretty constant for a good few years, but

to be said about easing the restrictions on

the recent announcement by the well

Since your return what areas of the

from people’s lives and just letting them do

known and respected Rikke Oxner that she

event’s development have you been

it their own way.

was stepping down from her latest position­

concentrating on?

#14 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

besides

what stood out for you. Do you have

and press have given nothing but great

actual­music­booking, I have focused

any specifically memorable moments

feedback, so we are very happy and eager

on developing­our artistic profile that

from previous editions?

to follow up in 2015.

also consists of street art, installations,

– This was a very successful year for us,

performance­ , literature and much more.

not only because of a strong line-up and

Do you see any changes being made

As well as the way we combine art forms,

remarkable­ticket sales, but also because­

in the future running of the Festival or

production and the general identity of the

we

does the present formula continue to

festival.

developed­a new Art area, put even more

–

Over

this

last

3½

years,

(again)

introduced

new

stages,

work successfully?

focus on our massive Street Art project Will you be taking on Rikke’s role

and even with a late cancellation from a

– The good thing about the present formula­

when she steps down?

headliner like Drake, we managed to keep

is that it is actually always a changing­

– Rikke had moved from heading the

Jack White in Europe for an extra show. All

event. Sure, the main lines stay pretty

music­booking to a less hands on role as

in all our volunteers impressed once again

much the same, but we have a history­

Artistic Director. I will not take over the

and delivered the special Roskilde vibe

of killing some of our darlings (stages, a

full responsibilities, but I have taken over

with outstanding moments like Damon

cinema, certain areas etc.) to make room

the responsibility of programming all of

Albarn’s Arena show, the Atomic Bomb!

for new things. And as far as the musica­l

our artistic­content – music and other art

Tribute to William Onyeabor, an exstatic

profile goes, we take pride in the fact that

forms – with the brilliant teams that make

party with Major Lazer and more intimate

we are one of the most varied­and diverse

the festival stand out.

sets ranging from beautiful quiet moments

festivals in the world, and I don’t see that

with Aoife O’Donovan via Maya Jane Coles

changing. I think it’s interesting­to see all

From your point of view was this

electronic touch to extreme hardcore from

the more genre-specific festivals popping

edition­particularly

Nails. Everyone from artists to audience

up, but diversity has always been the key

successful

and

Photo by Vegard S. Kristiansen

Anders Wahrén, Photo by Roskilde Festival

#15 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

for Roskilde, and that’s also a big part of attracting­the many different audience­ types we have and who create the special­ atmosphere at Roskilde. The ability to change really is a big part of the key to success and goes hand in hand with the great deal of involvement from both the hundreds of volunteers who devote time to work with Roskilde Festival all year around and the co-creation with our guests.

Congratulations

for

the

success­of this year’s Roskilde­ , but also, on are in order­ a more personal­level, the whole VIP team would like to congratulate­Anders Wahrén and his wife on the very recent­ birth of their second son, and Rikke Oxner on her equally

17–20 SEPT.

2014

Orange Scene, Photo by Steffen Joergensen

recent­ marriage!

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#17 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

14/08/2014 19:30

Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

The Socialization of Ticketing

Which trends are you currently seeing within the ticketing

culture already going on for years. This market is pretty revolutionary­

business?

and very progressive, so when we started, this was one of the quickest

– There are a lot of them., I think the most important one is that for years

growing markets that we could enter. I guess that half of the tickets

people have been talking about consumer information and ‘knowing

sold by via Paylogic can be connected to electronic music but we also

your customers’, but it was more about putting the instruction­to use.

facilitate ticketing for other events like tours, sports events and venues.

Now, 2013 and 2014 are the years where event organizers are really

In the German market mobile ticketing is less important in terms of the

beginning to understand the values of their own relationship with their

overall share of tickets sold for concerts. When do you expect mobile

visitors; they’re doing everything to build the strongest relationship

ticketing to also speed up in Germany?

possible. That isn’t caused by selling a ticket or having a new headliner

– Most of the tickets are bought via the internet on laptops or desktops­.

on the event; it’s about knowing the people­that like your brands and

However in the USA, the UK and also in the Netherlands, you see that

knowing how to interact with them. By thoroughly knowing them

nearly eighty percent of event discovery happens on mobile devices,

and knowing how to involve them through technology, companies

through social media or event apps. In the US, the conversion rates of

have a chance on becoming more successful, and which can make the

mobile payment are growing incredibly, so they are just one step ahead

difference­for the future. That is one of the most interesting trends, it’s

of Europe. I’m not sure, but I guess one of the reasons fewer tickets are

nothing new, but the change is that companies­really understand it the

sold via mobile right now, is that a lot of solutions offered are not very

importance of the customer relationship now.

user-friendly. Another reason is that other well-known main players in the German market don’t have a focus on mobile payments­and push

In which part of the event genres is Paylogic most successful?

it less than in other countries. They don’t inform their customers on

– As we started in the Netherlands there was a very big electronic music

the possibilities; if they did they might sell a lot more tickets through

#18 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

No, there isn’t a revolution going­on but it seems a sort of a progressive evolution is under­way as ticketing benefits­from new technologies and consumer­trends.

VIP News spoke with Jan Willem van der Meer, CCO at the ticketing service provider Paylogic­, a company which is part of the stock market listed EDM-Imperium SFX Entertainment.

mobile devices. For example, a few years ago as e-commerce started

is really useful and how do you evaluate it, or how does the

on the European markets, the Netherlands were already selling eighty

promoter­evaluate it?

percent of the tickets online, while in Germany still over forty percent

– I think the most important thing is, if you are in a direct relationship

of the tickets were sold via retail stores. I don’t think the technology

with the consumer (the fan), you can get more and more information­

lags in Germany; the consumer behavior is different if you compare it

on how they behave and how they make decisions as well as how they

to the Netherlands or the US. Buying on mobile devices will become a

are buying their tickets. If you see that a consumer is always buying

common way of buying tickets in Germany in 2015.

tickets on the first day you’re on sale, then you know what kind of consumer that is. If you can connect this data to his social environment­

“Big Data” is a buzzword in terms of the exportation of

and you see that he is engaging with your event or even alerting others­

consumer­and consumer behavior data. What kind of data

to your event, then you can call him an ambassador or an influencer­.

#19 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Every brand, especially event brands, are being pushed a lot by these influencers. Now, if you get in touch with these people and offer additional­incentives, for example a sense of exclusivity, you connect them on a stronger level to your brand or your event. That is what we call customer ownership. If you give them some extras and they can share it, then they might actually sell the tickets for you. Like with a lot of things in this world, if people are promoting what they have paid for, it has a much stronger effect that a promotion by someone who is just selling it. About eighty percent of the people who are going to an event are going there because someone they know is going too.

So, who is the first one who makes the decision? If you find out who these people are and how they make decisions, you can connect to these people and connect them to your brand. This is very important.

You can have statistical data about how many women, how many men or, how many people are coming by public transport; that’s interesting data and I’m sure you can use that information. But it is more interesting for the planning of an event; if you want to know how to boost the event, how to sell more tickets and get sell out earlier­, you need to know the influencers and connect to them.

How much is social ticketing only

Jan Willem van der Meer

a buzzword or already reality­?

– Well, social ticketing is a buzzword. That doesn’t mean however that it is not something I think of. I don’t think that social ticketing

strategic plan in which we point out a list of dates and moments

is only on Facebook, I think Facebook is a tool like many other social

in which we make the right contact points with the visitors to get

networks are tools. You should implement those tools in your entire

them connected to the brand. That plan is established for the ticket

strategy to establish a relationship with your visitors. What I call social

sales, for pre-registration, for different kinds of contact moments.

ticketing is to assure that people can take their relations and friends

Everybody wants a special product and everybody wants special

to the same event and that they share experiences together. You can

conditions for it. I think that, by letting our customers understand

facilitate this in a digital way, so that could be social ticketing; it could

that with the tools of Paylogic you can have so many more contact

be a group buying process. If people buy a ticket and they have the

moments, and so many more ways to get people connected to the

possibility to tell their friends/,”Hey, I bought a ticket for this event,

event, you can do much more than just putting the tickets on sale.

would you come with me?”, that is part of social ticketing. But you

We did this from the start, but now we feel that our customers are

should not concentrate­on only one platform. A user on Facebook is

really getting it and they like it. As I said at the ILMC, it’s much more

a Facebook-user in the first instance, not a user of your brand.

important to become a strategic partner to your customer than just

Do you remember the first big social network from the US? It was

an online cash register.

Myspace, and after Myspace collapsed, there were about thirty or

Another thing we are currently looking into is connecting in many

forty bands that completely went out of business, because the only

different­ways to RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). We believe it

access to their fans was through Myspace. So they lost their fan base

is important to not only know what consumer behavior looks like on

completely because they didn’t realize that they were so dependent

their device, it is also important to know the behavior of consumers­

on Myspace. I think it is important that you use Facebook, but it

at the event. When you know what the consumers are doing at

should not be to only platform you use to connect to your visitors.

the event you can be much more successful, it can bring much more feedback and it can influence the entire event. I think mobile

What kind of plans and innovations do you have in mind,

becomes­more and more vital. We talk a lot about a “Mobile first”

technically or strategically, for Paylogic in 2014?

approach, which means that whatever you think of in your strategy,

– I think the main focus for us is to be able to create strategies for

you position the visibility and usability on mobile devices first after

event organizers to get better connections to more people, using

which you roll it out to different devices.

a lot of different technologies in order to connect. But it’s similar

We also want to help our customers making it possible for people­

what we discussed about social ticketing, we want to connect and

to buy different products on one website, either being music,

understand­our costumer. Together with our customer we make a

either­being­it a ticket or something else. Right now it still looks

#20 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

like you promote­an event on your website and you direct people

that they want to partner up with. We give them access in one

to the website­of, let’s say, CTS Eventim or Ticketmaster and the

standardized­technological­way, to make sure that everybody has the

people­have to buy their tickets there. This is a little bit old fashioned­,

best service; the consumer, the event organizer and the promoting

because­buying a ticket is a very simple process and there is no reason­

platform. The event organizer and the promoting platform should be

to buy it on a separate platform. So, actually it has to be available

able to easily make a deal together. For example; Songkick gets one

everywhere. The role that Paylogic plays in there is something like

euro for every ticket sold or fifty percent­of every ticket sold in the

“Intel inside”, it’s not about us. You should just be able to sell and to

final week before the event when the need is higher. This should all

buy the ticket on every platform.

eventually be facilitated by technology.

People often compare us to CTS Eventim or Ticketmaster because

Okay, but the reality in these days seems that if you have

they think we have the same goals. But we don’t. We don’t want to

tickets­available on various platforms, promoters end up

have our own relationship with the consumer; we don’t want to be

having­a couple of terminals or printed data-lists at the door,

the promoting party. We are the technology facilitator; we want to

trying to figure out where the visitor bought the ticket.

make sure that in the entire e-commerce system these three different­

– I think what we do is exactly what solves this problem. What

roles can work perfectly together. No issues at the entrance of an

happens­right now is that you work with one consumer brand

event, no issues with selling out on one platform but still have tickets

ticketing­platform­like Ticketmaster, Ticketonline, CTS Eventim or

available at the other. We make sure the technology works. And also

anyone else. This brand has the goal to find audiences for you as

we make sure that everybody gets paid. When we collect the money

an event organizer. So you sell seventy percent of the tickets there,

from the visitor of the event, also the platform like Songkick will get

but then you decide to sell tickets on Facebook or on Songkick or

paid immediately and we do not have to involve the event organizer.

wherever­. What we try to explain is that we are not a destination­

We distribute that money with our technology. With this B2B market

platform or a consumer platform, you don’t buy tickets by

place as we are creating it, ticketing platforms as we know them will

Paylogic.­ com­or on our mobile app. We are the technology in

change. It might take a little while, but we think that is what the

between­the consumer, the event organizer­and any platform

market wants.

MannheiM: Smart hotspot in the middle of Europe

Choosing the SAP Arena in Mannheim, your event will have access to 8 million potential customers drawing more than 30 cities within 100 kilometers radius.

#21 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

s m e l b o Pr s l a e Survey Rev g n i p m u D t n e T of s l a v i t s e F c i s u M at

The Love Your Tent campaign and

Juliet Ross-Kelly has set up the Love Your

John Giddings has talked about the tent

Buckinghamshire­New University have

Tent initiative on the back of environmental­

problem­at various festival industry events

published­the results of a survey of

work she has done with the Isle Of Wight

over the past years.

festival-­ goers­­about the waste left

Festival­ , and aims to discourage an

by

increasingly­common­practice amongst

In the survey of 1200 festival-goers from

festival-­ goers in the UK and beyond,

multiple countries, 60% admitted to

buying­a dirt cheap tent for attending a

discarding­tents at the end of festivals,

festival, with the intention of just leaving

with a third then saying they intended

it in the camping field at the end of the

to continue doing so, and another third

event. So that someone else has to dispose­

unable­to say for certain they wouldn’t

of it. Isle of Wight Festival organise­ r

do it again in the future. This despite the

punters­on

festival

sites,

an

increasingly­big issue for the festival sector with logistical­ , environmental­ and commercial­ramifications­ , and something­previously highlighted by the A Greener Festival organisation.

#22 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

fact 86% of those surveyed recognised­

share of their responsibility and work with

festivals­to introduce similar measures,

waste was a major environmental­factor at

event organisers to tackle this problem.

with a bid to reducing campsite waste at

festivals­.

festivals by 10% year on year. She said, Ross-Kelly’s work at the Isle Of Wight

“Thanks to the great support and work

According to Bucks New University’s Teresa

Festiva­l has included inviting festival-goers

by Bucks we can see how much work still

Moore the research confirms a growing

to sign up to a commitment regarding

needs to be done to encourage a change

problem not just confined to the UK. As tent

taking­responsibility for their waste, and

in

prices get cheaper, more are discarded at

their tents, pointing out that by camping­

festivals­to reduce their campsite waste by

festivals. She called for retailers to take their

alongside

people

10% year on year we are leading a change

festival-­goers­will be able to stay in a much

that will help to protect festival culture for

more pleasant campsite for the duration

future generations and from the work that

similarly

committed

of the event. She is encouraging other

audience

behaviour.

By

targeting

we’ve done with the Isle of Wight Festival, we know it’s achievable”.

Imagine

if you could go to one website and learn ALL about the European Live Music Industry?

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#23 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Artist avails See/Add more Artist Avails at VIP-Booking.com

ORBITAL

Glasvegas

Jedward Territory: Europe Period: October & November 2014 Agency: Denis Vaughan Management Agent: Denis Vaughan E-mail: DVAUGHANMUSIC@DIAL.PIPEX.COM

Alan Parsons Live Project Territory: Worldwide Period: 2014 Agency: World Entertainment Associates of America Agent: John Regna - Artist Agent/Manager Phone: +1 407-993-4000 E-mail: JPR@JohnRegna.com Homepage: www.AlanParsonsTourPromo.com

ORBITAL 単 25th year anniversary tour in 2014 Territory: The World excluding USA Period: May onwards Agency: Value Added Talent Agent: Dan Silver Phone: +44 207 704 97 20 E-mail: dan@vathq.co.uk Homepage: www.vathq.co.uk

Stanley Jordan +Teodore Enache Territory: Europe Period: Late October + November 2014 Agency: DENIS VAUGHAN MANAGEMENT Agent: Denis Vaughan E-mail: DVAUGHANMUSIC@DIAL.PIPEX.COM

Chloe Charles Territory: Europe Period: September/October Agency: Paperclip Agency / Agent: Hilde Spille Phone: +31 243239322 E-mail: hilde@paperclip-agency.com Homepage: www.paperclip-agency.com

Glasvegas Territory: Europe Period: 2014 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Ben Winchester Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: ben@primarytalent.com Homepage: www.glasvegas.net

Bo Kaspers Orkester Territory: World wide Period: By request Agency: Lifeline Entertainment Agent: Michael Henriksson E-mail: michael.henriksson@lifeline.se Homepage: www.lifeline.se

Reset Territory: World Period: 2015 Agency: Scandinavia Event AS Agent: Thomas Borgvang E-mail: thomas@scandinaviaevent.com

THE ORCHESTRA starring ELO former members Territory: Worldwide Period: 2014-2015 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

Dionne Warwick Territory: Worldwide Period: 2014-2014 Agency: World Entertainment Associates of America Agent: John Regna - Artist Agent Phone: 407-993-4000 E-mail: jpr@johnregna.com Homepage: www.DionneWarwickTourPromo.com

Need to know who is touring Europe?

Go online - www.vip-booking.com

#24 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

速

vip-booking.com

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

MIDEM

to Change Dates

For many years music business professionals flocked to the South

more participants from more countries. All of this and a move to a

of France in January to attend what was for most of those years

June date when Cannes is at its best”.

the industry’s biggest trade event, and hopefully for blue skies and sunshine. But things have changed, numbers have dropped off for

Now it seems pretty certain that the sun will shine, but what of hotel

Midem, and often the weather seemed to take a turn for the worse.

availabilities, and high season prices for what was always the most

However all is to change, as the event is to push back 6 months to

expensive of events, particularly in the bars? We shall see…

5-8 June 2015.

There will be other changes, MIDEM Director Bruno Crolot: “MIDEM 2015 will have a new look, new content and a new atmosphere, as well as being partially open to the general public. We believe the

®

result of the changes will be a bigger, more vibrant MIDEM, with

#25 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

– A Tactical Power Player The Google subsidiary Youtube intends to enter the new market for

In fact Youtube is already quite well known for holding on to the

music streaming services. In recent years Youtube became one of

bucks. A bit like Apple or Amazon­, Adidas or Burger King, and other

the most important platforms for promoting music and apparently­

usually corporate­companies that often attract media awareness

would like to extend its position in the market joining other recently­

when it comes to allegations­of poor working conditions or other

established players such as Spotify, Deezer and Wimp...

questionable business­practices.

Youtube’s mother ship Google currently has a market cap of $375

In terms of questionable business practices Youtube is now

billion and is known for delivering impressive business results

confronted­by protests from independent labels who simply do not

such as the $59.8 billion revenue and net income of $12.9 billion

want to sign the license agreements proposed by Youtube for its

reported­for 2013. Google does not declare business results for

new streaming service. According to the trade organisation WIN

Youtube within its financial reports.

(Worldwide Independent Network), the contractual demands are considered by many labels as, ‘highly unfavourable’, setting out

However, the results itself are certainly satisfyingly for shareholders­

non-negotiable terms, undercutting existing rates in the market-

but may cause exaggerated demands­from those who produce

place from partners such as Spotify and Deezer.

and supply­the raw material for what actually makes Youtube popula­r. In terms of the business agreements with the market

It is already well documented that in particular less well known

suppliers­for streaming services, the decision takers at Youtube

artists­receive less per year in license fee payments from streaming­

seem determined­not to overpay some of these content providers.

services­than a busker normally earns per day. But what do

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#26 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

vip-booking.com

these ongoing­developments mean for the live music industry

for its new music service with Sony, Warner and Universal Music.

community­?

But the latest news as reported in the Financial Times on June 17

The answer is simple: a trend that has already manifested itself

artists including Adele and the Arctic Monkeys, after a number of

over more than one decade now, basically rising fees and ticket

independent record labels refused to sign up to the licensing terms

is that Youtube is “about to begin a mass cull of music videos by

prices! The live music business has been compensating­

for its new subscription service.”

artists for their drastically reduced income from recorded music for years now. On the one hand

These reports undoubtedly indicate that Youtube is a

promoters, artists and agents benefited from

tactical power player. Using its powerful position to

rising visitor figures and ticket prices. On the

obtain better conditions for its new service. But while

other hand the question remains what does

the live music industry currently is only indirectly­

this development mean for the live music

affected­by these kind of business practices by players

industry­in the long run?

such as Youtube, it is only a question of time until one of the corporate tech & online giants such as Google,

The music business is a fast changing industry that continues to re-invent itself. It is evident that the regular introduction of new technologies has caused significant

Apple or Facebook will reach out and launch services such as ticketing systems or media platforms that perhaps will be as demanding and onerous for the live music sector.

development­, amendments and innovations, from the invention of the Gramophone, the shift from shellac to vinyl records to

With this in mind, it might be time that particularly the live music

CDs, the rise of radio and TV, and lately the digital distribution of

industry sends a signal of solidarity towards those that are already

recorded­music via online outlets.

facing the power of Youtube and their business associates. And for those power players within the corporate concert companies it might

Yes, the live music sector has benefitted and experienced a long

be helpful to bear in mind, that the profit results of Google alone are

lasting boom in recent years. Yes, Youtube reached agreements

twice as much as the overall revenue returns of Live Nation...

A concert without our stage is like a body without a soul

M E G A F O R C E

Megaforce Veranstaltungs GmbH Jöhlinger Straße 118 D-76356 Weingarten

Phone: +49 7244/7202-0 Fax: +497244/7202-22 Mail: info@megaforce.de

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#27 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

My invitation from the Media Relations Dept of Hamburg’s­Marketing Dept to join a Press Trip to become better informed about Creative Hamburg was somewhat last minute; in fact I was in Dresden when I agreed to take part, then in Berlin. However the sensible routing was not for me – as usual! Rather than staying in Berlin for an extra day then taking a leisurely train ride, I returned to Brighton, had a day at home, then flew to Hamburg at an hour normally associated with going to bed at the many music trade events that I’ve still not learned to be sensible at! Things weren’t looking good when the Hotel’s brand new Wi-Fi system clearly didn’t want to have anything to do with the rooms, I complained of course, it’s in my aging nature…. However, stay with me – things definitely got better!

This trip around a fast developing City, with a great trading and docklands­tradition, which I’d already become quite fond of from my distantly remembered days of booking bands into still operating­ venues­like the Markthalle, and several visits to the Reeperbahn Festival­, was not in any way exclusively to do with music.

Basically this visit aimed to give us an introduction to the creative scene of Germany’s second largest city,covering not just Music, but Design, Media, Games and Fashion The other journalists on the jaunt, an interesting group of people easy to get on with, were concerned­ with these sectors and Architecture, Travel and Lifestyle. So we were to cover a wide field of Creativity. However my first impression that only a few stops on the tour would be relevant to my area of experience­, and hopefully, expertise, were wrong, and this trip has reinforced my observation and contention that music, and all the music­industry’s multiple methods of production and development of its product are connected with pretty much all areas of creativity, and even more so in this digital age that on the one hand has caused so many problems, but on the other has forced all areas of the industry to embrace change..

Of course Berlin is Germany’s largest city, and the competition between­ the two is more than easily detectable. However, Hamburg is recognised as Germany’s design capital with more than 14,000 designers­ living and working there. According to Edgar Ruhe, CEO of Hamburg Creative Gmbh, 80,000 people work in the Creative Industries­in Hamburg, 8% of the total work force, producing a turnover­of€10.5 billion. Hamburg is also financially better off than Berlin, and apparently has 42,000 millionaire inhabitants, whereas the once divided City has only 10,000. However Berlin is way ahead on business ‘start-

#28 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

Tales of the City…

A Trip to Hamburg

Elbphilharmonie

g

#29 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

ups’, though Hamburg is fast catching up and determines­to use ‘old money’ to finance ‘new start-ups.

Further visits included the very impressive IF Design Exhibition, and the still under construction offices of designxport. The 25 Hours Hotel, is described as a maritime design Hotel, but could definitely qualify

Our first guided tour was around the spectacular and still under­

as a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel with its highly imaginative design, much of it

construction­Hafen City Hamburg – Europe’s largest inner-city

explained to us by the English designer, Stephen Williams. I wish we’d

development­project. The city is currently turning old harbour

been staying there! www.25hourshotels.com/en/hafencity/home/

warehouses­into ateliers and event venues especially for the city’s

home.html

creatives­ . There is also a brand new University which we visited, where I was struck by the image of a young student concentrating

Visits to buzzing and attractive areas of the City like Schanzenvierte­l

on the construction of an architectural model somehow seemingly

reminded me a lot of The Laines in Brighton and parts of East London­

not distracted by a spectacular view through the huge floor to ceiling

like Dalston. The energies shown by the new businesses, assisted in

window of large ships entering the harbour.

terms of start –up advice and support through access to funding­, including crowd funding, and provision of affordable work, and

Hafen City also gave us our first view of a development specifically

rehearsal­, space reminded me of the ways that the music industry in

concerned with music. The nearly completed and very beautiful new

the UK is finally beginning to receive support from parts of regional

concert hall - the Elbphilharmonie, situated right on the waterfront of

and national government.

the river Elbe, on the western tip of the Hafen-City. The glass structure­ is built upon the massive red brick construction of the former­

We met with Hamburg Startups at coworking space Betahaus

warehouse­known as the Kaispeicher A and rises up to a height of

Hamburg­ , and were told about Eifflewerk, a new centre for

110 metres. The Hall contains a world-class concert hall with a seating

coworker­s specialising in digital media startups. I asked how many

capacity for 2,100 guests and a height of 50 metres, plus two smaller

applicants referred to themselves as operating, or intending to, in the

concert halls, along with a hotel, a restaurant, 45 residential flats and

music business. No actual figures were available, but the sector is well

a plaza with a 360° panorama view which is open to the public. The

represented, though currently it lags behind games.

project is currently guaranteed completion of the whole building on 31.10.2016. The opening will probably take place in Spring 2017.

I was surprised by the number of references to SXSW, although we

The Elbphilharmonie and the prestigious hundred year old Laeiszhalle

at VIP generally think of the Austin event as specifically a music and

in the city centre are under one management. The concert series

artist showcase, (which of course it was till a few years ago) Kreative­

‘Elbphilharmonie Konzerte’ will present a multifaceted, modern and

gesellschaft, www.kreativegesellschaft.org the funding and advi-

cosmopolitan programme of classic, jazz and world music in about

sory body operated by Hamburg Creative, saw it as an event offer-

100 concerts each season.

ing export­opportunities to a wider raft of creative companies. They

Hamburg by Night

#30 VIP-magazine 15/2014 www.vip-booking.com

had in fact financed attendance in Austin, using a variety of means

Other music related stops were at a brand new and impressive

including­EC social and cultural funds, for a Hamburg delegation

recording­studio run by Micky Berg of The German Wahnsinn Team,

including­the Reeperbahn Conference and Festival.

Micky explained that they had located this state of the art facility close to the Reeperbahn to benefit from the music activities, and the access

They were also working with the Reeperbahn Festival Conference

to the growing number of local musicians.

to integrate non-music companies to the exhibition areas of the event. Co-founder and organiser Detlef Schwarte, well known to VIP,

We also met with Karsten Scholerman of Clubkombinat and

explained­the history of the event to the journalists. (We will catch

Livekomm­, who I had sat with on a panel that I moderated at last

up on plans for this year’s September edition in the next issue.) The

year’s Reeperbahn. He explained some of the work his organisation

staging of the Festival, started by promoter Karsten Jahnke, in the

was undertaking to help live clubs in Hamburg and beyond, there was

red light Reeperbahn district was quite an initiative in changing the

some good news, but still problems, including the loss of Hamburg’s

reputation of the area, and it could be said, helped give the green

long established Molotov Club due to the rebuilding in the area of

light to take over properties in the area to develop spaces for creative

Spielbudenplatz (many of you who attend Reeperbahn regularly will

use alongside the facilities originally provided to attract needy sailors

know about this.) The clubs are having their problems but fighting

and now curious tourists.

back using initiatives like Die Nacht der Clubs, The Club Night will take place on September 5th, with shows in 25 clubs all available for

It seems that as the ever growing number of music conference

entrance with one ticket. www.dienachtderclubs.de

and showcase events develop they are attracting more delegates and exhibitor­ s, from gaming and other digital media companies,

I haven’t told you all; Fancy dancing in one of the biggest clubs

includin­g the new companies and individuals, the sort of startups

I’ve ever seen – once a fish market? Need a stuffed camel or a

being backed by the City of Hamburg. It appears that music which

huge portrait­of Elvis, or the prow of a galleon perhaps? Just visit

has always provided­content for all forms of media, marketing and

Hanseatische­Materialverwaltung for whatever props you may need

entertainment­, now also provides promotional outlets and vehicles!

for your creative project – another successful startup…As I say, it was a very full three days!

Our full on tour took in visits to the ADC Festival which celebrates and awards best practice in German Advertising, Product Design and

My thanks to Lu Yen Roloff and Matthias Beer of Hamburg Marketing

Creative Communications, and Jung and Matt, one of Germany’s

for arranging the trip, and for feeding, watering and looking after us

most successful advertising agencies.

all. I suggest you all book a weekend in Hamburg, or I’ll see you at Reeperbahn – just ask me anything about Creative Hamburg…!

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