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17 EDITION # ER 2015 B M E T P E S
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r stories pth magazine with longe de inan is ine az ag -M VIP ews. ly free news service VIP-N collected from our month a festival feature In this issue we bring you European festivals, that sums up some of the tatives attended by VIP-represen en be ve ha ich wh of st mo rs or as concertgoers ;-) either for business matte t all of us at the VIP office It’s with great sadness tha s been in of John Gammon who ha ath de the t ou ab d rne lea many years, the Live Music Business for Pollstar. Europe correspondent for the last 15 as the UK and and jokes We will miss your laughs sic conferences when we met at Live mu all over Europe. RIP John.
ÂŽ
THE VIP TEAM vip-booking.com
#3 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
CONTENTS: VIP-MAGAZINE 17#2015 05
UTA buys The Agency Group
06
The meaning of Live Nation Germany
09
John Gammon passes at 64
10
Festival Feature – Paleo
12
Festival Feature – EXIT
13
Festival Feature – Sziget
14
Festival Feature – Roskilde
18
Solomon Parker joins Coda Agency
20
Booming times for GLP
24
Rikke Øxner new director of Aarhus City Festival
26
Artist Avails
14 20 18
24 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.COM | 20-22 Wenlock Road | London N1 7GU | United Kingdom | Phone +44 870 755 0092 | 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 LAYOUT: B9 Grafisk Design | Østergårdsparken 27 | DK-8410 Rønde | Phone +45 41289002 ®
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#4 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
vip-booking.com
13297
FRONT COVER: Marek Lieberberg – Photo by Jim Rakete
Manfred From VIP-Daily Tari mt@vip-booking.com News
Neil Warnock, founder of The Agency Group
BUYS THE AGENCY GROUP In a move to significantly bolster its music business, United Talent
TAG founder and president Neil Warnock (pictured) will become
Agency announced Thursday that it acquired the Agency Group,
UTA’s head of worldwide music, filling the vacancy left by Rob
the world’s largest independent music agency.
Prinz when he departed for ICM Partners in April, while TAG CEO
The Agency Group represents some of the biggest global touring
Gavin O’Reilly will leave the company.
and live music artists, including Muse, Paramore and the Black Keys. The company has more than 95 agents operating out of
UTA’s acquisition of TAG was financed by a new minority investment
officesin London, Los Angeles, New York and several other cities.
from Jeffrey Ubben, founder and CEO of San Francisco- based ValueActCapital, which has significantly invested in companies
Adding TAG, which will be combined with UTA’s existing music
including Microsoft, 21st Century Fox, Adobe and CB Richard Ellis.
division, instantly makes UTA a heavy hitter in the space, with a
But unlike those investments, the UTA relationship is a personal
roster of about 2,000 clients headlined by artists including Muse,
investment from Ubben, who joins the board of directors as a non-
The Black Keys, Paramore, Nickelback and Guns N’ Roses and
votingmember and becomes its first non-agency shareholder.
featuringemerging acts including Chris Janson, Action Bronson and G-Eazy, who will all join existing UTA clients including Kanye
“It’s not a typical institutional investment that comes along with
West, Mariah Carey and Milky Chance.
all kinds of restrictions and voting rights,” Zimmer says. “This investment is really about bringing a smart, seasoned investor into
TAG has more than 95 agents across seven offices in London, Los
the company to help us consider our future growth. It’s a much
Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Toronto and Malmo, Sweden,
more comfortable and organic relationship.”
which will give UTA a presence beyond L.A. and New York for the first time – yet another major milestone for the agency. “It’s a quantum leap forward for us in the music business,” UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer tells THR, highlighting TAG’s resources in Nashville and the global and Canadian market as well as in corporateand festival booking. “There are so many different areas of expertise that go into being a top-shelf music agency, and we were able to find all of those in one place at The Agency Group, along with a tremendous reservoir of real veteran leadership.”
#5 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com
The market entry of Live Nation in Germany
and MLK, the company has been the
Originally Marek Lieberberg operatedas
by taking on Marek Lieberberg as CEO and
gatekeeper of Live Nation artists for the
the managing director for these companies,
Daniel Lieberberg as President came as a
Germanmarket. It is presumed that Live
which also means that the MLK companies
surpriseto many industry players. The move
NationGermanywill launch its busines s
remain as an asset within the CTS Eventim
is the second attempt by Live Nation to run a
activitieson January 1, 2016.
networ k of
subsidiary in Germany following a trial period
companies.
Even
more
interestingis the fact that the namingrights
with German promoter Johannes Wessels as
In July 2000, shortly after the IPO (Initial
of the festivalRock Am Ring are owned
Managing Director in 2010.
PublicOffering) of CTS Eventim in February
by MLK GmbH & Co KG. Rock Am Ring
2000 at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange,
is one of the biggestfestivals in Germany,
The departure of Lieberberg from Marek
CTS Eventim acquired 51 percent of Marek
attractin g 80,000 visitorsand due to its
Lieberberg Konzertagentur (MLK) is remark
Lieberberg Konzertagentur (MLK) Holding.
relevance has been an important strategic
ablefor many reasons . For years MLK has
The MLK Holding each owned 100 percent
instrument withinthe value chain of MLK
been a key asset within the value chain of
stakes of MLK GmbH & Co KG and MLK
and subsequentlyfor CTS Eventim.
CTS Eventim. Lieberberg had already sold
Verwaltungs GmbH.
100 percent of his stakes in three companies
In 2014 the trademark
containing his name to the Medusa Music
By the end of 2003, the Live Nation
rights for Rock Am
Group, the holding name under which CTS
forerunnerClear Channel Entertainment
Ring became a
Eventim bundles its Live Music Activities .
(CCE), had acquireda 20 percent stake
matter
MLK used to be a vital concert provide r
in MLK GmbH & Co KG. Since 2010 CTS
contention
for CTS Eventim, filling up the content
Eventimno longer reported concrete figures
between
pipelinefor their ticketing division that
of stakes it holds in its various subsidiaries. As
MLK
within a decade became Europe’s biggest
of 2011, MLK is listed as a fully consolidated
and
ticketingcompany. Since the beginning of
asset within the annual report of the trade
the
the collaborationbetwee n CTS Eventim register Bundesanzeiger.
#6 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
of
TH MEANI LIVE N GERM
Andre and Marek Lieberberg
administrators of the Nürburgring, the race
Andre Lieberberg opens up wide ranging
including,
track where the festival had taken
challenges for CTS Eventim. Currently no
Halestorm and Tesserac T, Tickets for these
place since its first edition in 1985. Due
official news has been published as to what
shows still will be sold via CTS Eventim. Live
to difficulties with the new owners of the
the departure means for the festival Rock
Nation however expect Live Nation Germany
racetrack, MLK moved the festival last year
Am Ring. According to industry players
in the long run to sell tickets via its local
to an airfield in Mendig, very closely located
the festival is supposed to be organized by
divisionof Ticketmaster Germany.
to the Nürburgring.
Lieberberg in 2016 at least as part of a joint agreement with CTS Eventim.
As recently as March 2015 MLK GmbH &
among
others,
Motörhead,
Live Nation is also involved in the Berlin festivaland the first edition of Lollapalooza
Co KG filed an application to obtain the
When the announcement for the launch of
in Berlin via its subsidiary Festival Republic
trademarkrights for this festival in various
Live Nation Germany was released on August
due to a joint venture with the Unter
areas such as merchandising and print
3, it also included the news that the new
nehmensgruppe
products; in June an objection was filed
company is supposed to add more than 700
clear if Live Nation Germanywill, in the
to this and the application is still
shows towards the concert catalogueof Live
long run, includethose events within its
Nation. Bearing in mind that such a number
portfoli o. Takingmany of these aspects
pending.
HE ING OF NATION MANY
Hörstmann.
It
is
not
of shows needs a certain infrastructure, it is
into considerationit looks like Live Nation
Nevertheless, the
currently not clear with whom Live Nation
will followa soft launch policy and that it
main message
Germany will work in the future as local
will take some time before CTS Eventim has
promoter.
a solid competitor in the live music sector in
is that the departure of
its own home market. Until now, MLK benefited from the network
Marek
of local promoters that belong to CTS
Unlike CTS Eventim, Live Nation and its
and
Eventim. At the moment MLK has already
forerunnershave until now never been
announced shows and concerts for 2016
profitable. The US-company follows a strategy
#7 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
like the on-line retailer Amazon, who also
This aspect is certainly the most considerable
expectations of Live Nation might be high,
neverdelivered any profits to its shareholders.
component that CTS Eventim will have to
at the end of the day the German concert
But at least Live Nation delivers impressive
cope with in the future. One of the biggest
marketis still very different from other
revenue figures and is following an expansion
efforts by CTS Eventim was the fact that
European markets.
strategy. Even if Live Nation has reported
the management of this company was able
profitsfor the second quarterof 2015. It has
to combine the largest German promoters
The fact that domestic talent and artists
over the years become a tradition for the
underone roof.
have become very popular in recent years
companyto report a year end loss.
and have enabled many independent The departure of Lieberberg towards Live
concertcompanies to grow, won’t make it
In the short run, the departure of Lieberberg
Nation Germany underlines the fact that
any easier for a subsidiary of Live Nation in
may cause a potential gap in CTS Eventim’s
the purchase of companies by prominent
Germany.
revenue results. This of course will be filled
promoters isn’t a guarantee that the main
as soon as FKP Scorpio is fully consolidated
people behind a company will be retained as
Instead Live Nation Germany will benefit
again into CTS Eventim’s company results.
decision makers within the company.
from having many international artistson its roster. The newly found company will also
CTS
main
face a very strong domestic competitor in
consideredto be an associated company
promotersin the past with plenty of
Eventim
have
provided
its
CTS Eventim that other subsidiariesof Live
of CTS Eventim, with 47.5 percent partly
freedomto run their business units almost
Nation in Europehave not had to cope with
owned by the Medusa Music Group. But CTS
independently. The recent news, shows how
when the World market leader expanded
Eventimis now forced to re-organize its lines
dangeroussuch a policy can be for corporate
into those territories.
of defence.
concert companies. Although the business
21 – 24 SePT.16
haMburg/gerMany
Since 2010, FKP Scorpio has only been
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#8 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
JOHN GAMMON PASSES AT 64
He was also very well known by the
News pages until this week. It is difficult to
industrypeople that attends the Live Music
encapsulateyears of collaboration into a
conferencesin Europe where John always
paragraph.
was a visible character. The best we can do immediately is say A press release from Pollstar reads:
farewell and acknowledge his contribution
He was passionate in getting the root of
to not only the company, but the concert
the story, even if it may have ruffled some
industry as well.
feathers. Gammon¨s background includes a career as an agent as well as mangaging acts like Katrina & The Waves and Kingmaker, the latter of whom could boast opening acts like Radiohead during its ‘90s heyday.
VIP Sales Manager Charlie Presburg, worked with John for many years at Pollstar: As someone who worked with John
A native and resident of Ely, Cambridgeshire,
for many years at Pollstar’s UK office,
England, Gammon studied journalism at
I was always impressed with his sheer
harlowCollege. That education was put to
tenacity as a journalist and his ability
UK/Europe
use when Gammon was recruited by Pollstar
Corresponentover the last two decades has
to report from the International Live Music
died. He had been fighting cancer.
Conference on a one-off basis.
John
Gammon,
Pollstar’s
to get to the core of any news story that he was writing. He was a proper old school journalist who wasn’t afraid to ruffle a few
Gammon covered stories that ranged from
The response to his reportage was so
feathers along the way. I shall miss
the innocuous to the extremely sensitive
overwhelmingthat Gammon became Pollstar’s
his witty banter and seeing him at
and was the first to break stories such as
longtime UK and Europe correspondent .
Lollapalooza´s entrance into Berlin.
His work anchored Pollstar’s International
the various music conferences he alwaysloved to attend, he will be very sadly missed, RIP John.
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#9 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
FESTIVAL FEATURE As much as every Spring brings a crop of doom laden stories, in the broadsheets particularly, predicting the collapse of the festival market, it never actually seems to happenand the majorityof events seem to thrive, with even a few new ones popping up here and there. The uptake of registrationsfor the International Festival Forum seems to imply that agents and organisers have no doubt that the future is festivals! As to how many there are – who really knows! Certainly too many for one on-line journal to cover, but here’s a brief round up of the events we VIP people got to visit or communicate with so far this season:
PALEO July 20-26 saw the 40th edition of Switzerland’s Paleo Festival. The
VIP News spoke to Head of Production and Programming, Dani
event ran over 7 days rather than the usual 6, and featured shows
Hassenstein:
from Robbie Williams, Kings of Leon, Sting, The Script, Ben Harper, Robert Plant, Joan Baez, Patti Smith, Christine and the Queens,
How long have you been involved with the Festival?
JohnnyHalliday and others.
– I’ve been in this job for 7 years, but I’ve worked at Paleo for 15 years – I’m actually one year older than the Festival!
The Festival sold out attracting 35,000 people every day, 10,000 seven day passes were sold. 530 media representatives from 240
There’s been quite a lot of rain, and thereforequite a lot of mud!
companies attended, alongside 600 professionals from other
Has that caused any problems?
music companies. 1700 artists appeared, including many from
– No, we typically get a bit of everything over the days of the festival – it’s
the Far East who took part in an Asian focus on the Festival’s
a world festival and we get world weather!
world stage.
#10 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
KONZERTE · PARTYS · LESUNGEN THEATER · FESTIVALS · KONFERENZEN
From left to right: Michèle Müller (press officer), Daniel Rossellat (president), Dany Hassenstein (booking), Jacques Monnier (vice-president) and Allan McGowan (VIP-News).
What were the high points of this edition? – The big productions, Robbie Williams and Kings of Leon were great, but my personal highlights were Joan Baez, Patti Smith and Robert
— IM HERZEN BERLINS —
Plant. They all gathered for each other’s shows. They have history with the Festival, Robert Plant tells stories and is a great personality. He music stage, and he played the day Amy Winehouse died. Joan Baez appeared back in ’82. Putting something this size together for a week is quite an undertaking, have you had problems with crime or injuries etc.? – Yes, it’s like building a city! But even so, we’ve only had 58 reported thefts, and fortunatelywe’ve not had any deaths, or births, although we’d be prepared for that! If there was a birth then we’ve said the child could have a lifetime membership! We’ve always tried to make sure that the musicians feel like part of the family, and understandall the work that goes into buildingPaleo.
HIGHLIGHTS HERBST 2015 The GrandMothers of Invention (11.10.) // Bear’s Den (18.10.) // Cäthe (06.11.) // Warren Haynes (08.11.) // Kovacs (09.11.) // Ane Brun (15.11.) // Lianne La Havas (16.11.) // Scala & Kolacny Brothers (28.11.) // Maximo Park (07.12.) // Ibeyi (11.12.) // 17 Hippies (29.12.)
Schönhauser Allee 36 · 10435 Berlin Telefon +49 30 44 315 100 info@kesselhaus-berlin.de /kesselhausberlin www.kesselhaus.net
wienberlin.com
coverssuch a broad spectrum of music, he once played the world
#11 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
FESTIVAL FEATURE
EXIT FESTIVAL On July 9-12, VIP again visited this remarkable event in Serbia, staged
Exchange Program (ETEP) in 2003 and since then there have been
on the Petrovaradin fortress island in the middle of the Danube. A
a total of 2294 shows by 810 European artists from 30 countries
certain editor was apparently spotted dancing to the music of Manu
presented at the 90 ETEP festivals (2003 - 2014).
Chao! Unfortunately we didn’t make it to Montenegro for the Sea Dance festival that followed on from EXIT on July 15 – 18 (maybe
CEETEP (Central and Eastern European Talent Exchange Programme) is
next time!) The two events made up this summer’s Exit Adventure,
an ETEP sub-programme, together with the 18 CEETEP festivals in the
which resulted in a record-breaking 300,000 visitors to the fortress
CEE region and selected CEE media partners, Eurosonic Noorderslag
and to Montenegro’s Jaz beach. EXIT reported the most well attended
and co-organisers Sziget and Exit Festival developed a scheme for the
night in the event’s history. Continuing the theme of festivals being
circulation of CEE artists and repertoire in Central and Eastern Europe
like towns or cities, with all the processes of urban life taking place
at the festivals and in the media. The Program is coming to an end
besides the music, two marriage proposals were made and confirmed
with acts from the region being featured at Eurosonic in Groningen,
at EXIT and Seadance.
Holland, next January.
EXIT also again played host to the annual CEETEP meetings and
We will report on the progress made by the program in the next
workshops . Eurosonic Noorderslag started the European Talent
couple of issues.
#12 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
SZIGET FESTIVAL SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD Sziget Festival Hungary sold out the 2015 event despite increasing its
also try to make sure that fans choose Sziget because we offer more:
daily capacity to 90,000.
a huge adventure, a cultural holiday, an experience-packed week full of positive surprises. That’s what we will keep on focusing on, while
Held from 10-17 August, artists included Robbie Williams, Avicii,
we definitely don’t want to be involved in a dangerous competition
Kings Of Leon, Kasabian and Ellie Goulding. Organisers say 441,000
to get overpriced headliners. That’s just not our path.
people from 95 countries attended over the course of the event. “We hope our message gets through to our visitors, as they are the “We worked hard to create a festival that has its own unique
ones who create the magical vibe of the place we call the Island of
identity,” said Sziget’s main organiser Karoly Gerendai. “Our aim in
Freedom.”
the long term is to make sure Sziget’s image gets independent from its headliners, as we believe the most important features of the event
Next year’s Sziget has been set for August 10-17.
are not necessarily playing on the big stages. “To keep it simple, we try to give good reasons for fans to come to Sziget. We’re still trying hard to get good bands on our stages, but we
#13 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
FESTIVAL FEATURE
45 YEARS OF ROSKILDE AND STILL GOING STRONG! Roskilde Festival was once again blessed with blistering sunshine as
VIP-News questioned Roskilde’s Head of Music & Creation, Anders
100.000 ticket buyers enjoyed what was indeed another magical
Wahrén, about the success of this year’s event, competition on the
event. Headlining acts on the Orange Stage included Muse, Pharrell
Danish Festival Market and the festival’s future bookings.
Williams, Ryan Adams, Florence & The Machine, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj and many more. Following the wide success of the
How is your general feeling about this year’s festival and how
RollingStones show in 2014 the festival opted once again for a
did it compare to previous years?
legendary act in Paul McCartney who took the stage as the 2nd to
– This year’s festival went really well so my general feeling is very
last headliner on the last night in front of a packed audience who
good and I am very happy with the way the festival went and how
were entertained with a classic repertoire spanning over 5 decades
our audience took in new initiatives and participated. Every year
including songs from the Beatles era, Wings and new material. All
is unique and it’s always difficult to compare with previous years.
this ended with a magnificent fireworks display and an audience of
However in 2015 everything – including the things we can’t plan
all ages singing Hey Jude for 10 minutes after McCartney had left
ourselves such as the weather – fitted together like a perfect puzzle.
the stage – quite a moving moment one hastens to add. After this year’s success the festival expects to be able to donate an impressive 15-18 million Danish kronor to charity (approx. 2-2.5 million euro).
#14 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
Anders Wahrén – photo by Julie Hjort
#15 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
FESTIVAL FEATURE The introduction of the new festival Tinderbox which took place
– The important thing for us is to present a diversified program
just a week before Roskilde Festival in Odense caused quite a
with artists that are both relevant and great live performers at the
stir in the Danish Music Industry when it was announced. How
same time. Topping it off with legendary acts such as the ones you
did this affect your bookings, did you end up fighting over the
mentionedis great – and it is amazing to experience how much
same headliners and did you notice a change in ticket sales due
recognitionthey receive from a young audience as well - so as long as
to this competition?
it makes sense in the full lineup I expect we will continue, but it is not
– I wouldn’t say that it affected us, we strive to make the best possible
a “must” for us nor for our audience; we can tell from the ticket sales
festival every year, regardless of what’s going on around us, and we
that it’s the diversity that makes the difference. And I have to say that
haven’t changed our ambitions or way of booking. Roskilde Festival
legendary acts can come in other sizes than McCartney and Stones.
2015 was sold out extraordinary early this year so the only changes we have seen there have been from new initiatives from our own
How do you see competition from domestic festivals and
side. But of course there are a few top names that will be relevant
festivals in neighboring countries such as Sweden affecting
for all broad festivals of a certain size, or ambitions to grow, so in a
Roskilde in the future and do you think there will ultimately
packed European summer, there will be some acts that everybody is
be casualties in what is a per capita comparatively crowded
fighting to get.
festival market? – I believe you have to look at it in a broader perspective where not
How has the ticket buyer demography changed over the past
just music festivals but the rising number of cultural, arts, food etc.
10 years and do you see this as a trend for the future?
festivals and events in general are affecting and inspiring each other,
– Ten years ago about 50% of our audience came from outside of
keeping us on our toes and aware of what is unique about each of
Denmar k, especially from Sweden, Norway and Germany. That
us. In that sense competition is not a bad thing – and it’s not a new
numberhas decreased over the last ten years, so today there are
thing either.
about 15% foreigners attending the festival and the Swedes are no longer the largest group from abroad. That place now belongs to the
Both we, Smukfest and Northside sold out this year so for now at least
Norwegians. It’s difficult to say how it will develop – we noticeda
it seems that the audience for music festivals is there. But there is a
small rise in international guests the last couple of years and hope that
risk, I fear, that the development with more music festivals being built
that development will continue. Other demographics seem stable;we
from the top with lots of money to invest in headliners in time will
have a 50/50 gender mix and an average age of around 24 years.
challenge the diversity of the market, especially the smaller festivals and new initiatives since that inevitably will make it harder for them
Besides the hugely diversified program that Roskilde presents,
to both attract artists and pay them.
you’ve put your trust in old legendary acts such as The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney over the past few years which
Have you confirmed any acts for 2016 yet and what would be
have proved to be hugely successful in not just attracting a big
your dream booking?
audience but also bringing together people from all ages. Is
– Well… let’s just say that we’re working on it and we’ll let you and
this something you plan to continue in the future?
everyone else know when we have news.
Roskilde Festival
#16 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
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Joan Armtrading, Johnny Winter, Jose Feliciano, Kings of Salsa, Lady Gaga, Leonard Cohen, Linkin Park, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mahala Rai Banda, Manhattan Transfer, Mötley Crüe, Nazareth, Neil Young, Omara Portuondo, Over the Rainbow, Patricia Kaas, Paul Potts, Rival Sons, Roberta Flack, Roxette, Roxy Music, Scooter, Scorpions, Status Quo, Steve Lukather, Stevie Wonder, Suzanne Vega, Take 6, The Count basie Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Moody Blues, Thriller Live, Uriah Heep, Wailers, Whitesnake, Youssou N´Dour, ZZ Top...
juha.hytti@eastwaylive.fi Tel. +358 400 408 423
From VIP-Daily News
SOLOMON PARKER JOINS CODA AGENCY Agent Solomon Parker has left William Morris Endeavour (WME) to
Alex Hardee, Partner at
join Coda Agency as a Senior Agent.
Coda Music Agency said, “Solomon Parker’s dad, Louis
Parker, who will be based in Coda’s London offices, has been at WME
gave me my first job. Cris Hearn who
since 2007 – before which he ran Concorde International Artistes.
recently joined Coda also worked there, the company was called Concorde.
He brings with him a roster of acts that includes include Take That, The Prodigy, Cheryl Cole, Matt Corby, Haelos among others.
“I think Cris left with Solomon’s dad’s car and I took a tankful of terrapins. Solomon’s dad and those early days at Concorde were very
Solomon Parker said, “I am excited to be joining what I consider a
influential to my career.
fast moving and dynamic company who, over the last few years, have garnered a reputation for breaking acts that is second to none.
“It’s great that Solomon, Cris and myself are back under one roof, along with Tom Schroeder, James Whitting, Rob Chalice, Nick
“Between the partners there they have created a fantastic culture
Matthews, David Exley, and Paul Buck plus the multitude of younger
and following their recent far-reaching partnership with Paradigm
agents and bookers.
Talent Agency in the U.S. they are now perfectly placed to deliver a bespoke service to their clients that is second to none.
“We represent acts as diverse as Take That, Prodigy, Bastille,
“Coda put their artists and managers front and centre of everything
Disclosure, Ellie Goulding, The Libertines, Jess Glynne, Years & Years
they do and I’m very much looking forward to being a part of it.”
, John Newman, The xx, Jake Bugg and Emeli Sande. That’s just a short list from the top of my head – but what it also represents is that
Claire Horseman, Managing Director of Coda Music Agency said,
exciting times are ahead of us.
“Bringing someone of Sol’s standing into the Coda team further demonstratesour ambition to continue building a world class agency.
“Anyway I am not sure where Cris left the car and the terrapins
His experience and reputation in the industry are second to none and
died, proving that agents are the most durable of the reptile species.”
he will add real value to our overall offering.”
From left to right: Claire Horseman, Rob Challice, Solomon Parker, Alex Hardee, Tom Schroder
#18 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
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The No 1 Information Resource For The Live Entertainment Industry Having the right tools for the job is often the key to success. We have developed a range of services to meet the demands of agents, promoters, talent buyers, venue bookers etc.
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Peter Briggs pb@vip-booking.com
BOOMING
TIMES
Georg Leitner
FOR GLP
GLP is currently experiencing a boom with
In the light of this success VIP-News asked
We are also looking to expand the area
many of the acts represented by the agency.
CEO Georg Leitner about the company’s
of Rock (e.g. next year we celebrate
The success of the collaboration between
principles, future plans and strategies:
FOREIGNER’s 40th anniversary tour – and we
CHIC feat Nile Rodgers with Daft Punk 3 Years
are considering some great collaborations
ago was followed by an 80 city world tour
How many shows & concerts is GLP
with other Rock acts.
(booked by GLP). This paved the way for a
handlingper year and what are your
revivalfor many of the other Funk & Dance acts
strategic plans for GLP in the future?
Furthermore we will focus on Show Acts.
represented by GLP (Kool & the Gang, Sister
– GLP handles around 800 shows per year
This is currently the fastest growing depart
Sledge, Earth Wind & Fire Experience feat
across the globe. Over the past 35 years
mentwithin the GLP family with shows such
Al McKay etc). Recently GEORGE CLINTON GLP has become a strong force in the area
as Peter Pan on Ice, Royal Moscow Ballet and
PARLIAMENT / FUNKADELIC ´s collaboration
of Funk / Soul / R&B as well as Reggae /
with RUDIMENTAL lead to a similar marketing
Dancehalland World Music. Strategically
input. Similarly more and more Rock acts are
we will focus to expand on the EDM area,
Lastly we are focusing on bringing talent to
teaming up with Funk artists such as KOOL
especiallywith a view to further develop
developing markets. We recently had some
& THE GANG’s tour with VAN HALEN and
musicalcollaborationsbetween some of the
exciting tours in India, the Pacific Islands
FOREIGNER’s tour with KID ROCK.
top DJs and our Funk/R&B artists.
(Tahiti, new Caledonia etc.) and Africa. This is
#20 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
Vivaldianno.
Georg Leitner with Robert KOOL Bell and Nile Rodgers
in line with our history – with GLP being one
When we started the company in the early
considerthis development as a positive
of the first international companies to tour
80’s with artists such as James Brown, Ray
one?
artists behind the iron curtain in Europe in
Charles and Kool & the Gang, there was
– The music industry was one of the first
the early eighties.
generallya lot more “wheeling & dealing”
industriesin the world that applied globali
going on in the music business - so GLP stood
zation. In terms of the corporatization of
out with a strategic outlook.
the live market in Europe – the national
As one of your company principles
promoters , even as part of multinational
you are mentioning on your webtowards
Also today we have a very high rate of
companies
improvements of the methods applied
academicallytrained personnel – and I am
independently– so in terms of people, not
in the industry” What do you mean with
happy to say that in this spirit the members
much has changed.
this policy?
of the GLP family continue to follow the
To give you an idea – on the same tour we
– Having studied marketing & economics
principlesof flexibility, internal mobility,
work with AEG in one territory and Live
at University – we’ve always had the goal
multi-skilling and retraining.
Nationin another territory. Right now we
site:
“Academicstriving
in
Europe
still
act
highly
are in negotiations for one of our show acts
to delivera service at the highest standards – with a strategic outlook to expand the
The market concentration and corpora
for a worldwide deal with one multinational
marketpotential of our artists.
tizationin Europe is rising. Do you
promoter.
#21 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
In reference to the current market set
Nevertheless, compared to the Record
VIP-News: What are the next milestones
up, what are the issues that concern you
Industryor the Publishing Businessthe
you’ve set for GLP?
most?
live music sector runs no trade bodies on
– We are right now developing touring festival
– I am most concerned about the fact that
a European or International level. Do you
concepts (like we did in the past – MASTERS
there are too many tours pushing into the
consider this as a lack of professionalism
of SOUL, or the Tribute to BOB MARLEY
market (due to lack of income from the
or just as something the Live Music
FESTIVALtour). Last year we had the RTL Chart
recordedmusic side) – and we have come
Sectoris not ready for yet?
tour with a 4-act-bill concept including KOOL
close to an oversaturation. Also we have
– There are many issues where we as the
& THE GANG, CHIC feat Nile Rodgers, SISTER
to find ways to focus again on developing
most important sector of the industry should
SLEDGE and IMAGINATION. Similar to that
tomorrow´s talent. With the decline of the
act united and have our interests represented
we are developing a touring festival that will
recordcompanies – the agencies have to
on a Pan European scale. These issues reach
include some current EDM musicians joining
take a more active role in the A&R area.
from harmonizing authors rights companies
together with some of the classic acts.
At GLP we have a section dedicated to the
rates to security, standing strong when you
developmentof new show formats as well
have national tax issues (such as recently
We will bring to the road what is currently
as new talent.
in Spain with the drastic increase in VAT on
hitting the charts (e.g. co-operations like
tickets ), harmonizing Foreign Entertainment
Nile Rodgers / Daft Punk or George Clinton /
The relevance of the Live Music Sector
Tax etc. GLP will support any effort in that
Rudimental).
within the value chain for music products
direction– maybe this can be brought up
has risen significantly over the years.
again at next year’s ILMC?!
I am looking forward to some exciting times ahead!
#22 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
#23 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
Manfred Anne Frank TariAlsted mt@vip-booking.com aa@vip-booking.com
RIKKE ØXNER NEW DIRECTOR AT AARHUS CITY FESTIVAL Rikke Øxner
Aarhus City Festival has hired 50-year-old Rikke Øxner as their new
something, and here we have an urban space that we need to put
director. She joins in October replacing Jens Folmer Jepsen, who has
in play”, she says.
headed the Aarhus City Festival for nine seasons. Rikke Øxner has a very experienced and recognized cultural profile after 20 years at
She will not transform the festival week and shake all the traditions:
Roskilde Festival, where she has over the last several years, been part
“I have no ambition to turn the city festival into a music festival, but
of the leadership team, as head of booking and artistic director.
I have many, many ideas”, she says. She will not concretize her vision before the upcoming festival week is held and she starts the new job.
She still lives in Copenhagen, but is moving to Aarhus soon. “I must have my base here and have the city under my skin and I can
Rikke Øxner has been hired on a four-year contract. Her first task
only do that if I live here”, she says. “Both Roskilde Festival and
will be to help to hire a new head of administration for the festival
the Aarhus City Festival are about doing events in a defined area.
week. Aarhus Festival was first held in September 1965. Last year the
At Roskilde Festival, we had a great field where we had to create
festival week had 500,000 visitors.
A concert without our stage is like a body without a soul
M E G A F O R C E
#24 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
Megaforce Veranstaltungs GmbH Jöhlinger Straße 118 D-76356 Weingarten
Phone: +49 7244/7202-0 Fax: +497244/7202-22 Mail: info@megaforce.de
WWW.MEGAFORCE.DE
The Tennessee Whiskey brand Jack Daniel’s has launched an initiative
playingthe small venue circuit is how you learn your trade. From
supporting some of the UK’s independent small venues. Jack Daniel’s
a fan’s point of view it’s about those real memorable moments,
will team up with venues across the country to host regular events
discovering‘that band’ playing to a handful of people before going
featuring both up and coming talent and established acts.
on to headline Glastonbury years later.”
It is third time Jack Daniel’s up-weighted its music budgets and it now
“That’s why we think it’s important to support and put a spotlightn on
represents 30% of the whiskey brand’s total spend on marketing.
these places by creating an initiative dedicated to smaller, independent
Jack Daniel’s senior brand manager, Michael Boaler, says:
live music venues as part of our music plan – we really hope that our
“Independentvenues such as the Southampton Joiners and the
Jack Rocks nights help the venues to continue the great work they’re
BrightonJoker are essential to every new band’s development,
doing whilst discovering some top notch new bands along the way.”
ARTIST AVAILS See/Add more Artist Avails at VIP-Booking.com
Dionne Warwick
Chris Thompson (Ex-Manfred Mann’s Earth Band) Territory: World Period: available all year on request Agency: Live Concept Entertainment GmbH Agent: Michael Widmann Phone: +49-7203-9219180 E-mail: info@live-concept.de www.christhompson-central.com
Bo Kaspers Orkester
Placido Domingo Jr. Territory: World Tour Period: July 2015 - July 2016 Agency: Totalisimo Agent: Manuel Villegas Phone: 0034670666023 E-mail: direccion@totalisimo.com www.totalisimo.com/en/artists/placidodomingojr.html
BANCO DE GAIA Territory: World incl. USA Period: May 2015 onwards Agency: Value Added Talent Agent: Dan Silver Phone: +44 2077049720 E-mail: dan@vathq.co.uk www.vathq.co.uk
Bo Kaspers Orkester Territory: World wide Period: By request Agency: Lifeline Entertainment Agent: Michael Henriksson Phone: + 46 70 632 00 23 E-mail: michael.henriksson@lifeline.se www.lifeline.se
Basement Jaxx Territory: Europe Period: 2015 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Peter Eilliot Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: peter_elliott@primarytalent.com www.primarytalent.com/basement-jaxx/
Noel Gallagher`s High Flying Birds Territory: Europe Period: 2015 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Ben Winchester Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: ben@primarytalent.com www.noelgallagher.com
Sandro Territory: World Tour Period: July 2015 - July 2016 Agency: Totalisimo Agent: Manuel Villegas Phone: 0034670666023 E-mail: direccion@totalisimo.com www.totalisimo.com/en/djs/sandro.html
Dionne Warwick Territory: Worldwide Period: 2016 Agency: World Entertainment Associates of America, Inc. Agent: John Regna Phone: +1 4079934000 E-mail: JPR@JohnRegna.com www.DionneWarwickTourPromo.com
The “Original” Blues Brothers Band Territory: Europe Period: on request, May - August 2016 Agency: Basitours Agent: Peter Basler Phone: +41 79 7692393 E-mail: office@basitours.com www.basitours.com/artist/original_blues_brothers_band
Alan Parsons Live Project Territory: Worldwide Period: 2016 Agency: World Entertainment Associates of America, Inc. Agent: John Regna Phone: +1 4079934000 E-mail: JPR@JohnRegna.com www.AlanParsonsMusic.com
Need to know who is touring Europe? Go online - www.vip-booking.com
#26 VIP-MAGAZINE 17/2015 www.vip-booking.com
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