Audience 178

For the International contemporary Live Music Industry issue 178 NOVEMBER 2014 UK ÂŁ5.85 Europe â‚Ź7.60 ROW $12.32

Kiss me Kylie Minogue goes on arena dates

War of words over Greek Theatre deal Festivals expansion plan for DEAG We certainly have to think very carefully about how we price shows these days Scott Lavender of Live Nation Finland

Essential reading for industry professionals in more than 80 countries

T

his issue probably has more news about new and planned festivals than any before. DEAG has several new ones spread across Germany and Austria; America’s Lollapalooza is dropping in on Europe, New York is getting its first country music festival, Rock in Rio is hitting Las Vegas and Tinderbox in Denmark has been true to its name and ignited a local flare-up.

German pan-European festival giant FKP Scorpio has launched another Swedish event, as well as indirectly grabbing a large chunk Finland’s Provinssirock. Meanwhile, Live Nation and SFX are buying up EDM festivals almost as fast as they are being launched.

It all sounds very exciting and, when they are successful, festivals can be great profit centres, not to mention the extra revenue to be squeezed from ticket booking fees.

It’s almost like the desperate rush for colonies by some nations during the 17th to 19th centuries, or in today’s business parlance, market share.

However, observers in some countries feel their festival scenes are already at saturation point. The competition for a limited number of headliners is fierce and, not surprisingly, driving up artiste fees, which in turn either pushes up ticket prices or squeezes promoters’ margins yet further.

Big business it may be, but disaster stories from across the world – remember Australia’s Big Day Out? – should act as salient warnings.

14 22

Contents 4-12 World News Industry news from around the globe

14-21 Market Focus: Finland Monthly insight into an international tour market

Forthcoming Events

33

City Focus: Istanbul, Turkey Featuring the main venues for international artistes

34-35 Production News

Daniel Grinbank helped revolutionise the Wild West of South America in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and now he is back for more Publisher & Managing Editor: Stephen Parker

Administrative Manager: Alice Cantillon Ings

News Editor: James Hanley

Credit Control: Murali Sri Balaskanda

Editorial Contributors Europe: Christopher Barrett, Mike Gartside USA/Canada: Jane Cohen, Bob Grossweiner Sales Director: Gareth Ospina Business Development Manager: Archie Carmichael Subscriptions Manager: Fiona West Picture Manager: Alyse Kimsey

www.audience.uk.com

Artistes, tour periods, agents

42

Advertising: Gareth Ospina, Archie Carmichael T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 E: gareth@audience.uk.com archie@audience.uk.com

Festival News International festival activity

42

Developments in equipment and show production

Editorial: James Hanley T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 E: james@audience.uk.com

Subscriptions: Fiona West T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 E: fiona@audience.uk.com

36-41 Tour Plans

Bewildered By Social Interaction The trials and tribulations of tour manager Terry Tucker and his crew

Subscription Rates: £75 for 12 issues (UK) £85 for 12 issues (Europe) £95 for 12 issues (Rest of the World) Subscribe online at www.audience.uk.com

ISSUE 178: November 2014

Cover photograph: Rex Features

AUDIENCE is published monthly from the UK by:

Design: Bakker Design

Audience Media Ltd, 26 Dorset Street, London W1U 8AP United Kingdom T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 F: +44 (0)20 7486 2002 E: info@audience.uk.com W: www.audience.uk.com

Print: Premier Print Group www.premierprintgroup.com

The opinion expressed by contributors to this publication are not always a reflection of the opinions or the policy of the publishers. Information on services or products contained within editorial sections does not imply recommendation by AUDIENCE. No responsibility can be accepted for errors or omissions. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without the written authority of Audience Media Ltd.

audience • issue 178 • November 2014

contents

22-29 Feature – Back In The Saddle

30

3

War of words after Live Nation clinches Greek Theatre rights UNITED STATES Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) has hit out at the criticism and “false assertions” that followed the decision to grant the company control of the Greek Theatre (cap.

5,800) in Los Angeles.

Nederlander Concerts, which teamed up with AEG Live to bid for the contract, has operated the city-owned venue since 1976, but was bypassed in the tender process, when the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks made its initial recommendation in favour of LNE. It suffered a further blow when the Los Angeles City Commission also backed LNE’s submission. The recommendation is now in the hands of a city council committee, and the final contract will have to be approved by the parks commission, the council and Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Nederlander and AEG say they are “disappointed that the board did not carefully consider the overwhelming evidence”, and claim the evaluation process was flawed.

But LNE has fired back with a stronglyworded statement. “Live Nation’s financial commitment to the City of Los Angeles is higher than Nederlander/AEG under any scenario,” says the company. “Our minimum guaranteed proposal value is higher, and our company even outbid Nederlander/AEG when considering their unrealistic revenue projections.

“Despite false assertions made in an aggressive, political-style campaign waged by Nederlander/AEG, the facts tell a compelling story about Live Nation’s proposal.”

According to Nederlander, it presented a proposal offering $6.25 million more than

LNE in rent revenue to the City of Los Angeles during the 10 term, and $17.5m more rent revenue to the city, if extended. The contract expiry date is October 2015.

LNE’s proposal has promised $40m in improvements to the Greek Theatre, over Nederlander’s $19m. LNE also promised more concerts – 70 a year. For every year of less than 70 concerts, a $50,000 fine is to be paid to the city.

“Our bid delivered the highest guaranteed investment by nearly $10m, delivering $106m in guaranteed benefit over 20 years,” adds LNE. “Ultimately, they were not willing to commit the investment dollars that we were.

“We fully expect Nederlander/AEG to continue its deceptive campaign of misinformation in an attempt to discourage the city council from supporting the decision.”

world news

Police investigate ‘fake’ Brooks’ complaints

4

IRELAND A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions following an investigation into fake objections to the ill-fated Garth Brooks concerts scheduled for Dublin’s 80,000-capacity Croke Park.

The five sold-out events were set for 25-29 July this year, but were scrapped 17 days before they were due to start after Dublin City Council (DCC) granted a licence for only three shows, citing the “unacceptable level of disruption” on local residents (see Audience issue 174).

Brooks insisted he would play “all or none” of the shows.

The concerts’ promoter Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions said he stood to lose in excess of €1

“Whether there are five, 15 or 500 submissions, million ($1.35m) over their cancellation. .

A total of 384 objections were received by the Dublin City Council must take account of the views expressed in the submissions,” added DCC but dozens were thought to be suspect, Keegan. “The volume or absolute number is not with some of the residents said to have made the issue.” objections denying that they had.

A police spokesperson says “It was reported that 40 per cent of a case is ongoing, adding, claims were fraudulent,” Aiken told the “Investigating Gardai [police] Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport are following over 450 lines and Communications. “This illegal activity of inquiry as part of the has been ongoing and I have been investigation. To date, in excess of completely blindsided.”

200 statements have been taken.”

DCC CEO Owen Keegan said that A source tells Audience based on an investigation of a sample of that arrests are expected 200 submissions, 64 per cent had been Peter Aiken within weeks. assessed as ‘not suspect’ by the police.

Live Nation revenue up 11 per cent UNITED STATES Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) reports third quarter (Q3) revenue of $2.5 billion, up 11 per cent on the same period last year – $200 million more than Wall Street analysts had expected.

Concert revenue increased $239.8m, or 11 per cent, with the number of events increasing to 5,157 from 5,073 during the same reporting period in 2013. The overall increase in revenue was primarily due to increases in its Concerts, Ticketing and Artist Nation divisions of $198.5m, $29.3m and

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

19.9m, respectively.

“Live Nation has never been in a stronger position,” says president/CEO Michael Rapino, “We are on track to deliver our three-year strategic plan for 2015 and have great confidence in our longer-term growth opportunities.”

LNE reports that 22m people attended its shows in Q3, up 800,000 on the same period last year, as a result of more shows, higher attendance in North America, and increased stadiums and amphitheatres business, say

the company.

Artist Nation’s revenue increased $19.9m to $130.9m compared to $111m, helped by the addition of several new managers.

Ticketing revenue increased $29.3m to $386.1m, which the company attributes to higher domestic resale fees from its TM+ platform, which lists primary and secondary tickets together, although primary ticket sales fell slightly.

LNE’s long-term debt is $2.03bn, with shortterm debt at $48m. www.audience.uk.com

Shares sale ends Tinderbox boycott DENMARK Two owners of booking so the agents and artistes working for and with me could continue working agency Skandinavian have sold their unaffected by the current boycott,” shares of the company in response to a Nielsen tells Audience. “It was important boycott from four major festivals, over for me that the success of Skandinavian their involvement in the new Tinderbox – being Denmark’s biggest and best Festival (cap. 25,000). agency – could continue, and the Brian Nielsen and Flemming Brian Nielsen success of our festivals should not stand Myllerup, who founded the agency in the way of that. in 2004, took the action after Roskilde (83,500), “As a consequence of my sale, the four festivals Smukfest (29,000) in Skanderborg, Jelling have lifted the boycott.”

(25,000) and Nibe (14,000) – said they would Tinderbox, a collaboration between Nielsen, no longer book artistes from Skandinavian, German pan-European festival organiser FKP suggesting its dual role as festival promoter and booking agent amounted to a conflict of interest. Scorpio and Mads Sorensen’s Beatbox Booking, will take place at Tusindarsskoven in Odense on “I decided to sell my agency to my agents,

26-28 June. Nielsen and FKP have already worked together on Denmark’s NorthSide Festival (30,000).

“I will now solely concentrate on developing our current festivals and the new festival projects in close cooperation with Mads and [FKP Scorpio’s] Folkert Koopmans and his team,” says Nielsen, who also owns a stake in Beatbox.

Tinderbox also came under fire after the local council agreed to contribute 23.4m krone ($4m) to the venture.

UK-based international multi-event organiser Festival Republic went as far as to blame Tinderbox for its decision to cancel next year’s Hove Festival (15,000) in Tromoy, Norway (see Audience issue 177).

Country comes to New York UNITED STATES Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) and Founders Entertainment (FE) have agreed a 50/50 partnership deal to launch New York City’s first ever country music festival.

With a capacity of 40,000, FarmBorough is set for 26-28 June on Randall’s Island with headliners Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and Brad

Paisley. Three-day passes start at $225.

“We’ve been dreaming about bringing a country festival to New York for a long time, and we feel like the time is right now,” says Brian O’Connell, LNE’s president of Country Touring. “We have the perfect partner in Founders and the perfect location on Randall’s

Island to really bring fans and artistes something special.”

FarmBorough will share infrastructure with FE’s Governors Ball Music Festival, which already uses the site and is set for 5-7 June. Headliners this year included OutKast, Phoenix, Jack White, The Strokes, Disclosure, Bastille and the 1975.

Kylie heads home

www.audience.uk.com

20 years of providing aircraft charter for music tours and festivals worldwide Offices in London, New York and Sydney T +44 1293 558080 E operations@premieraviation.com www.premieraviation.com

world news

WORLD Pop princess Kylie Minogue has attracted glowing reviews for her current Kiss Me Once Tour, which heads to her native Australia in 2015.

The European leg began in September, taking in venues such as The UK’s Echo Arena (cap. 11,000) in Liverpool and The O2 (18,000) in London, Switzerland’s Hallenstadion (12,000) in Zurich and France’s COVER ARTISTE Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (17,000).

“It’s such a thrill to be working with Kylie. I have a smile on my face from the moment she takes to the stage,” says her international agent Emma Banks of CAA in London.

The tour will in March, with dates at Austrlia’s Perth Arena (14,000), Adelaide Entertainment Centre (12,000) and the Qantas Credit Union Arena (11,500) in Sydney.

“Kylie’s one of the hardest working women I have ever met and has a fabulous group of people around her, with various members of the crew having been with her for over a decade,” adds Banks.

In the US, Minogue is represented by Rob Light of CAA’s Beverly Hills office. She is managed by Jay Brown, Desiree Perez, Nadja Rangel and Kelly Cornut of Roc Nation, which has offices in New York, Los Angeles and London.

5

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

world news

DEAG reveals new festival expansion 2013 (issue 162), was key EUROPE Promoter, to its festival expansion. venue operator and The organisation of record label Deutsche Rock in Vienna is Blue Entertainment Moon Entertainment, a AG (DEAG) is signifijoint venture with music cantly increasing its manager Katrin Edtmeier, presence in the festival launched in Vienna last market with the launch Peter Schwenkow year, with DEAG holding of events in Germany an 85 per cent stake (issue 165). and Austria.

“We wanted the best site The German-based conglomerin Europe and we believe we ate had already announced the have found it in Danube Island,” launch of 80,000-capacity Grune says Schwenkow.

Holle at Nurburgring (see Audience The German and Austrian events issue 173) as well as Rock the Ring will all be headlined by Metallica, in Hinwil, Switzerland, the latter of Muse and KISS. which will feature acts such as Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Nightwish and Toto, from 19-21 June.

DEAG has now added Rockavaria (68,000) for 29-31 May at Munich’s Olympiapark, and Rock in Vienna (65,000) from 4-6 June at Austria’s Danube Island resort.

“We have been looking for Rock the Ring site locations and created DEAG secured a five-year deal Rockavaria in Munich because it for Grune Holle’s Nurburgring is a very good city for this kind of site, which had hosted the Marek event,” says DEAG chairman and Lieberberg-promoted Rock am CEO Peter Schwenkow.

Ring (RaR) for 29 years, after Schwenkow tells Audience that Lieberberg failed to agree terms DEAG’s acquisition of a 51 per cent with the site’s new owner Capstake in UK promoter and festival ricorn. Lieberberg is relocating organiser Kilimanjaro Live earlier his event to Mendig Airfield, just this year (see issue 172) and a 30km from its former home, and 75.1 per cent holding in German has announced a bill including Foo promoter Wizard Promotions in

Fighters, Die Toten Hosen and Slipknot.

Grune Holle was set to go head to head with RaR on 5-7 June, but has been brought forward to 29-31 May. Tickets with camping cost €169 ($210), while RaR’s are €185 ($230).

DEAG is launching its own ticketing platform, Myticket.de, for German-speaking countries, and has also secured a long-term distribution deal with Ticketmaster Deutschland (TMD), in which it has sold its 10 per cent stake to TMD’s parent company Ticketmaster NVH Inc, registered in Delaware, USA. The company says the combination of its own direct distribution platform and “proven distribution partnership” with TMD will result in “high margins” for DEAG. Meanwhile, in the UK, Kilimanjaro Live and DEAGowned classical music promoter Raymond Gubbay (RG) have taken over the running of Kew The Music, an annual series of 7,500-capacity, open air concerts at south London’s Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Previously programmed by Neil O’Brien Entertainment, artistes appearing this year included Simple Minds, Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, and Elvis Costello.

Newsbites USA Tour manager and director Patrick Stansfield, regarded as one of the pioneers of the concert touring industry, died of kidney failure on 28 October. He was 70. Beginning his career as a stage manager for the late promoter Bill Graham, artistes Stansfield worked with during his career include the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, George Harrison and Bob Dylan. Stansfield is survived by his wife, two daughters and three grandchildren.

USA Stubhub president Chris Tsakalakis abruptly resigned from the company earlier this month, with North America lead Noah Goldberg and chief financial officer Ajay Gopal stepping in as interim co-leads. Tsakalakis led the company’s shift to “all-in” pricing which had the total price, including fees, in purchasing concert and event tickets. No reason was given for his departure.

USA Boston-based Ted Kurland Associates has been rebranded as The Kurland Agency, which leaves its initials continuing as TKA. With an agency roster that includes Wynton Marsalis, Ute Lemper, Pat Metheny, Bobby McFerrin and Gary Burton, the company also manages acts such as Metheny and Burton.

6

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

Ticketmaster in Seatwave takeover

a loss of £1,596,000 ($2.52m) the EUROPE The determined drive into previous year. It declared accumulated the ticket resale market by Live losses of £37.6m ($59.3m) at the Nation Entertainment (LNE) and its 2013 year-end, with Seatwave Inc Ticketmaster (TM) division has moved committing to fund the business for at up a gear with the acquisition of the least another 12 months. operating assets of pan-European Rapino hails the deal as, resale site Seatwave. “accelerating this [resale] strategy The takeover, believed to have been Michael Rapino across Europe and we will continue initiated by LNE president and CEO investing in our platforms to provide Michael Rapino in the US, gives TM an fans the best ticket buying experience”. established resale platform in around 10 new Founded in 2006 by Joe Cohen in the UK, markets, including Austria, Belgium, Germany, Seatwave became embroiled in controversy Ireland, Italy, Spain and France. Financial details when it was featured in a Channel 4 TV have not been disclosed. documentary Dispatches: The Great Ticket Seatwave’s UK-based CEO Ajay Chowdhury Scandal in 2012, which revealed underhand stepped down on 14 November and it is underpractices by the firm and Viagogo (see Audience stood that TM’s MD of resale Christoph Homann issue 147). It has also been hit by a number of has taken over the running of the business. fake ticket scams.

A TM spokesperson tells Audience that In Germany it has faced legal actions from the Seatwave, which has been locked in a fierce country’s leading promoters, as well as agents battle for market share with TM-owned Get and promoters’ association BDV, which won a Me In!, Viagogo and eBay-owned StubHub, will battle to have personalised Robbie Williams’ continue to operate as a separate entity for the tickets removed from the site earlier this year time being, but declined to comment further. (see issue 169).

Accounts filed in the UK show Seatwave Ltd, a Among Seatwave’s UK assets is a retail outlet subsidiary of Delaware, US-registered Seatwave located near to the entrance of The O2 (18,000) Inc, made a loss of £1,191,000 ($1.88 million) in London. on revenue of £7,858,000 ($12.4m) in 2013, and

In the US, TM has launched TM+, where it lists primary tickets alongside those offered for resale and at alternative prices.

SANITARY SYSTEMS 

GRANDSTANDS 

BARRIER SYSTEMS 

SECURITY GATES 

TURF PROTECTION 

GROUND PROTECTION 

SEATING 

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT 

7

… with infrastructure from eps We offer a wide variety of rental equipment and services for concerts, festivals and further productions.

Find out what eps can do for you. Get in touch!

North America Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, DC america@eps.net

South America Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo brasil@eps.net

eps_Anzeige_Audience_204x128,5mm_2014.indd 1

www.audience.uk.com

Australia Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth australia@eps.net

Europe Cologne, Munich, Berlin, Copenhagen, Udine, Winterthur, Wroclaw europe@eps.net

world news

Make each event your best …

UNITED KINGDOM Pharrell Williams receives an award from London’s The O2 ahead of his two shows at the 18,000-capacity arena last month. Williams is pictured with his agent John Giddings of Solo Agency and the venue’s general manager Rebecca Kane.

Learn more about us: www.eps.net

26.08.2014 17:04:24

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

Atlantic City incentives for Live Nation UNITED STATES Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) will potentially be able to earn a bonus of up to $500,000 in a single year if it can deliver 12 or more successful events to the 14,770-capacity Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The incentive is part of a package agreed between LNE and the venue’s

operator the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA).

“We recognise that top entertainers and large events are key to bringing visitors to Atlantic City,” says CRDA board chairman James Kehoe. “We want to drive visitation and provide economic impact by offering more of these visitor opportunities throughout the year.”

The deal gives LNE a graduated incentive package for the year beginning April 2015, renewable for two additional one-year periods, with the bonuses starting once six shows have been booked at the Global Spectrum managed venue.

Upcoming shows feature Usher, Linkin Park, Fleetwood Mac and The Who.

Lollapalooza heads to Europe germany The Lollapalooza festival brand, which began in the US and expanded to South America, is to launch in European next year at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport.

Lollapalooza Chicago

The two-day festival will be held from 12-13 September and will be produced by the UK’s Festival Republic (FR) – promoter of the Reading and Leeds festivals (caps. 90,000 and 75,000), and Germany’s Melt!

Booking, which organises the Melt! Festival (25,000), held in the city of Gräfenhainichen.

FR is a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment, which has been in talks to secure a majority stake in Lollapalooza’s promoter, Texas-

based C3 Presents (see Audience issue 177).

“Lollapalooza is more than ready to break new ground and bring the experience to new audiences,” says FR MD Melvin Benn Melvin Benn, while Melt! Festival booker Stefan Lehmkuhl was unavailable for comment at press time.

Lollapalooza began in the US as a touring festival in 1991, but settled in Chicago’s Grant Park (80,000) in 2005, when C3 partnered with booking agency WME Endeavor and the event’s creator, Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell. This year’s festival featured Eminem, Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon, Skrillex, Lorde and Calvin Harris.

Events are also held under the Lollapalooza banner in Buenos Aires in Argentina, Santiago in Chile and Sao Paulo in Brazil.

world news

Concert tragedy leaves 16 dead SOUTH KOREA Sixteen people died after falling through a ventilation shaft at an open air concert in Seongnam, north of Seoul, during a concert by girl group 4minute.

It is understood the shaft gave way as

people sought to get a better view of the concert, with the victims falling almost 20 metres. Nine others were injured.

The event, held last month and organised by business news provider EDaily and the

Institute of Science and Technology (IST), attracted around 700 people.

An IST official committed suicide after being questioned by police in relation to the tragedy, reports the Associated Foreign Press.

KEEPING MUSIC LIVE IN SWITZERLAND SINCE 2006

8

We would like to thank:

Concerts Booking Production Communication Consulting audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

Alborosie - Alex Hepburn - Aloe Blacc - Archive - Arno - Asaf Avidan - Asian Dub Foundation - Ayo Birth of Joy - Chinese Man - Deluxe - Fat Joe - Gentleman - IAM - Israel Vibration James Taylor Quartet - Justin Nozuka - Jazzmatazz - King Charles - Lisa Hannigan - Malia - Mattafix Max Romeo - Milow - Mobb Deep - Mos Def - Nada Surf - Nas - New Model Army - Nneka OneRepublic - Patrice - Puggy - Sexion d’Assaut - Shaka Ponk - Skip The Use - Susheela Raman Talib Kweli - Tarrus Riley - Trixie Whitley - Woodkid - Yoav - Yodelice - Youssoupha Yuri Buenaventura - and many more...

Soldout Productions Rue Enning 2 CH - 1003 Lausanne

Tel: +41 21 312 40 60 Fax: +41 21 312 40 59

info@soldoutprod.com www.soldoutprod.com

www.audience.uk.com

Bigger is better for EMAs UNITED KINGDOM Featuring one of the biggest stage sets in the history of MTV’s European Music Awards (EMAs), the event’s 20th edition, held on 8 November at The SSE Hydro arena

MTV EMA at SSE Hydro

in Glasgow, showcased acts such as U2, Ed Sheeran and Nicki Minaj.

Measuring 50m wide by 20m high and backed with a giant high resolution LED screen. the show was based around a time travel theme created by German stage and set designer Florian Wieder, who was also responsible sets for the EMAs in Munich in 2007, Liverpool (2008), Berlin (2009), Frankfurt (2011) and Amsterdam (2013).

Other artistes performing live included Ariana Grande, Enrique Iglesias, Royal Blood, Kiesza and Charli XCX, while Ozzy Osbourne received the Global Icon Award.

A total of 30 HD cameras were used to shoot the show, with 40 TV screens and 600 pyrotechnic devices used during the main show.

The 10,000-strong audience included 2,000

world news

The Agency goes electronic

10

UNITED STATES The Agency Group (TAG) has acquired New York-based Bond Music Group, an agency devoted to electronic music bands and DJs. Bond Music Group (BMG) represents 115 acts including Moby, Dirty Vegas, Chus + Ceballos, Francois K, MNDR and Autograf.

BMG CEO Kristopher Krajewski, who started the agency in 2009 with 13 artistes, joins TAG as vice-president and head of electronic music.

Agents Adam Ogushwitz, Jake Bernstein, Alan Blancato and Eli Glad are joining TAG’s New York and Los Angeles offices, along with their respective artiste rosters.

“We had been talking with Kris for a while about some form of strategic tie-up,” says TAG CEO of operations Natalia Nastaskin. “With the major changes that have done so much to transform The Agency Group over these past 18 months, it became apparent that the time

was now optimum for our companies to finally come together.”

(From left to right) Adam Ogushwitz, Kristopher Krajewski and Jake Bernstein

local fans from schools and campuses, while general tickets were available through a ballot process at £40-65 ($50-81).

The 2015 EMAs will be held at Italy’s Mediolanum Forum in Milan, the first time it has taken place in the country since its Rome event in 2004. It will form part of the activities surrounding world fair Expo 2015, which will also take place in the city.

“The 2004 show in Rome was a huge success.

Now, we’re looking forward to delivering an even bigger and better experience with the 2015 MTV EMAs in partnership with Expo, bringing thousands of people from around the world to Milan,” says Raffaele Annecchino, executive vice-president and MD South Europe, Middle East & Africa for MTV’s parent company VIMN.

Second year for Rock Summit

UNITED STATES International conference and showcase event the Global Rock Summit will return for its second year to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles from 24-25 April.

The event is organised by A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO founder Sat Bisla and will feature speakers such as Australian promoter Michael Chugg and South African multi-festival organiser Carel Hoffman of Hilltop Live.

Bisla says that more than 200 delegates attended this year’s Global Rock Summit.

Early-bird registration costs $275.

Meanwhile, the 11th edition of music and media conference MUSEXPO follows at the same venue from 26-29 April. Acts to have showcased there in their formative years include Katy Perry and Jessie J.

House of Lords debate on secondary ticketing UNITED KINGDOM Proposed amendments to the Consumer Rights Bill, which would require secondary ticket sellers to give detailed information about tickets and sellers, have been debated in the House of Lords.

The session followed the AllParty Parliamentary Group on Ticket Abuse (APPG) report earlier this year, which included recommendations to improve transparency in the resale sector (see Audience issue 172).

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

They included requirements that secondary ticket platforms publish all ticket information “in a prominent and clear way”, such as the seller’s name, the face value of the ticket and seat number, where applicable.

“The report stressed the need for an open and transparent system for ticket reselling, with clear and appropriate regulations,” said Liberal Democrat Lord Tim Clement-Jones. “The new clauses address those shortcomings and

Lord Tim Clement-Jones

would increase consumer confidence in the secondary market.”

Labour’s Lord Stevenson of Balmacara, who moved the amendment in the House of Lords, described the current regulatory structure as “a bit of a joke”.

“I really cannot understand why the Government are happy to be accused of standing by while consumers are being exploited,” he said.

The topic will be revisited by the House of Lords at a later date. www.audience.uk.com

Live Nation expands to Indonesia indonesia Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) is expanding its presence in SE Asia with the launch of PT Live Nation Indonesia, a joint-venture with Java Festival Production.

Jakarta-based Java was established by Peter Gontha and is run by Dewi Gontha and Paul Dankmeyer.

It has promoted Java Jazz Festival at JI Expo Kemayoran (cap. 33,000) since 2005, which has featured acts such as Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole and Jamie Cullum.

“Indonesia is a country where we see a significant opportunity to grow the live music market – initially in Jakarta, but then into other cities across the country,” adds Alan Ridgeway, LNE’s president of international and emerging markets.

Gontha adds, “There is an increasing demand for live entertainment in Jakarta and the

Alan Ridgway

rest of Indonesia and we look forward to working with the team at Live Nation to satisfy that demand.”

Java also stages SoulNation at Istora Senayan (15,000), which has featured artistes including James Morrison, and Rockin’Land at Carnaval Beach (20,000), which has welcomed Thirty Seconds to Mars, among others.

ILMC scheme to support young business talent UNITED KINGDOM The International Live Music Conference (ILMC) – the world’s biggest gathering of international promoters and agents – is launching a bursary scheme to support young professionals who should be attending the event, but perhaps do not have the resources.

Backed by companies such as international insurance broker Robertson Taylor, the initiative is also designed to nurture future executive talent.

“The scheme came about from various con-

versations with ILMC members after this year’s conference,” says ILMC head Greg Parmley, who took the reigns from founder Martin Hopewell earlier this year. “It’s designed to encourage younger companies and individuals who have not yet been to the conference, but who should be attending, and who have a voice to add to the mix.”

Some places have also been reserved for members of industry bodies including international festivals association Yourope, the UK’s

Association of Independent Festivals and Music Managers Forum, and the International Music Manager Forum.

The closing date for applications is 30 January, with successful entrants notified in the first week of February.

ILMC 27 will takes place at London’s Royal Garden Hotel from 6-8 March, with registration open from early December. Organisers say the 2014 event sold out, attracting around 1,000 delegates from 62 countries.

for clever people From touring sound to fixed installations, audio professionals spec NEXO for the high levels of performance and reliability that come only from a truly innovative approach to speaker system design.

Find out more at www.nexo.fr

www.nexo.fr #40930 - Install Brand Ad Half - Audience.indd 1

www.audience.uk.com

Thinking. Inside the box.

02/09/2014 09:31

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

world news

Smart speakers

11

Golden future for Red Frog

UNITED STATES Goldenvoice, a division of AEG Live, has entered into a joint-venture with Chicagobased Red Frog Events to run the 40,000-capacity Firefly Music Festival.

Founded in 2012, the four-day event is held each June at The Woodlands at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware, with this year’s bill featuring Foo Fighters, Outkast, Jack Johnson and Arctic Monkeys.

“We are so impressed with what they have created in such a short time, how could we not want to be a part of it?,” says Goldenvoice president and CEO Paul Tollett.

Red Frog Events founder and CEO Joe Reynolds adds, “This partnership will continue to propel the success of Firefly for years to come.”

Goldenvoice also produces events such as Coachella Valley

Paul Tollett

Music & Arts Festival (96,500) and Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival (63,400), both in Indio, California, and FYF Fest (18,500) in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, in the UK, two key staff from national promoter Metropolis Music have defected to Goldenvoice, as part of an AEG Live relaunch of the brand in the market.

Laura Davidson, who spent five years with Metropolis as a promoter for artistes such as Ellie Goulding, Disclosure, alt-J and Sam Smith, becomes vice-president at Goldenvoice UK, while Oscar Tuttiet, who worked with acts such as Palma Violets and Drenge, joins as a promoter.

Both will also work with the AEG Live promoting team of Simon Jones and Mags Revell, while Davidson has joined the AEG Live management group, reporting to chief operating officer Colin Chapple.

In the UK Goldenvoice focuses on emerging artistes and developing acts from scratch.

USA Agents Stephen Brush and Terry Rhodes have launched New York-based Patriot Artists Agency (PAA). Both spent years at International C reative Management (ICM) and Rhodes was most recently at Resolution starting in January 2013, while Brush launched International Artists Agency in 2004. The new agency starts with nine artistes including Bryan Adams, Jo Dee Messina and Blackmore’s Night.

USA Veteran promoter Ron Delsener, chairman of Live Nation Entertainment New York, has been inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame for his contribution to Long Island’s musical heritage.

Delsener’s induction was performed by Roger Waters at a 23 October ceremony, held at The Paramount in Huntington, New York.

world news

Tour plans, pages 36-41

Newsbites

12

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

ST. VINCENT (USA)

IMAGINE DRAGONS (USA)

MAC MILLER (USA)

GOGOL BORDELLO (USA)

WIZ KHALIFA (USA)

ACTION BRONSON (USA)

HOT CHIP (UK)

SYSTEM OF A DOWN (USA)

LANA DEL REY (USA)

RUSH (CAN)

ANNA CALVI (UK)

DISCLOSURE (UK)

SWANS (USA)

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS (USA)

OFF! (USA)

MICHAEL BUBLÉ (CAN)

RUN THE JEWELS (USA)

J MASCIS (USA)

MY BLOODY VALENTINE (IRL) SIGUR RÓS (ISL)

KNIFE PARTY (AU) A$AP ROCKY (USA)

DANIEL JOHNSTON (USA)

JUSTIN BIEBER (CAN)

CARIBOU (CAN)

SINEAD O’CONNOR (IRL)

OPETH (SWE)

BLACK LIPS (USA)

FRANK TURNER (UK)

TURBONEGRO (NOR)

LILY ALLEN (UK)

PET SHOP BOYS (UK)

ASKING ALEXANDRIA (UK)

CAT POWER (USA)

FUTURE ISLANDS (USA)

NELLY (USA)

ROBYN & RÖYKSOPP (SWE/NOR) TELEVISION (USA)

TAME IMPALA (AU) JONATHAN WILSON (USA)

THE RAVEONETTES (DK)

TESTAMENT (USA)

THE NATIONAL (USA)

BUZZCOCKS (UK)

THE FALL (UK)

... AND HUNDREDS MORE

This year we have worked with over 300 artists on over a 1,000 shows and won the Music & Media Industry Awards in the following categories: AGENCY OF THE YEAR | AGENT OF THE YEAR (Toni) | MANAGER OF THE YEAR (Carla)

Thank you for being a friend!

market focus

market focus: finland

Finland

14

FINLAND Population (million): 5.3 Language: Finnish Per capita GDP (US$): 35,900 Internet users (million): 50 Broadband households (million): 1.7 Economic growth (%): -0.6 Total music revenues per capita (US$): 12.9 Currency: Euro

Provinssirock Festival

Known as much for its impressive festival scene – one being the joint oldest consecutive festival in Europe – as its inconvenient location in the far north of the continent, the country’s live music scene is still suffering from economic recession. However, promoters in Finland are resourceful and optimistic about the future. James Hanley reports

A

member of the European Union since 1995, Finland was the first Nordic nation to join the euro when the currency was introduced four years later.

Having previously relied on farming and forestry, it was transformed into a highly industrialised market in the second half of the 20th century, and can count Helsinki-based Nokia is one of its major success stories, specialising in exports of mobile phone technology.

It is also strong in the gaming and information and communications technology sectors.

Its GDP per capita is among the highest in western Europe, although an economic slump over the past couple of years has taken its toll.

Unusually for the country, there were no stadium concerts by international acts this year, but two Live Nation Finland (LNF) shows

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

(30,000), headlined by Metallica with One Direction are confirmed for and Slayer.

Helsinki’s 44,000-capacity Olympic LNF also brought Green Day, Stadium next year. Tickets are priced Rammstein, Queens of the Stone Age €69.50-79.50 ($86-99). and Thirty Seconds to Mars to the “There has been some decline in venue for its Rock The Beach festival. the economy over the last two years, Forthcoming events feature Katy with small growth predicted for Perry at Hartwall Arena, with standard 2015,” says LNF head promoter Scott Lavender tickets at €79.50-109.50 ($98.50-136), Scott Lavender. with Usher at the same venue (tickets at €41“But overall ticket sales have still been 72, $50-90), and Slipknot at the 8,200-capacity strong, so we just have to be more concerned Helsinki Ice Hall (tickets at €58.50, $72.50). with appropriate ticket pricing.”

Lavender says the average ticket price for an Successes for LNF over the past 18 months arena event in the country is around €65 ($81). include Bruce Springsteen at Turku’s HK “In the early years when the economy was Areena (cap. 11,820), Elton John, Enrique very strong there was scope to be a bit more Iglesias and Roxette at Helsinki’s Hartwall aggressive with ticket pricing,” he says. “We Arena (15,500) and the Finnish leg of tourcertainly have to think very carefully about ing festival Sonisphere at Hietaniemi Beach www.audience.uk.com

how we price shows these days.

“Overall business has increased over the last decade but we can’t afford to become complacent.”

LNF emerged from WellDone Agency & Promotions, established in 1990, which was bought by Live Nation predecessor Clear Channel Entertainment 10 years later and was renamed LNF in 2008.

However, the company posted a €1.1 million ($1.4m) loss in 2013, a year in which the LNF sold 540,000 tickets for around 600 concerts – Including some of the biggest at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium – and generated revenue of €41m ($51m). As a result, LNF had to undergo a significant restructuring earlier this year (see Audience issue 173).

LNF CEO Nina Castrén told Audience at the time that the company was reviewing all departments and would have to cut the number of staff.

Multi-faceted Fullsteam Agency – which encompasses promoting, a booking agency, record label, music publishing and management – has emerged as a major player, working with acts such as Justin Bieber, Lana Del Rey, Sigur Ros, The National and Pet Shop Boys.

In September it was announced its live interests had been acquired by German panEuropean festival promoter FKP Scorpio, as well as FKP using Fullsteam to take a 65 per

Domestic talents

Its domestic scene is also particularly strong, with rap artiste Cheek making history earlier this year by becoming the first Finnish act to sell out Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium.

The two concerts were organised by Warner Music Live (WML), a division of Warner Music Finland, which has been Cheek’s record company for seven years. Tickets ranged from €39.50-59.50 ($49-74).

WML was created from Popgram Agency, which the label acquired in 2007, and is the country’s biggest promoter of domestic acts. It has staged shows such as Chisu at Tampere-Talo (1,800), Logomo, and Helsinki’s Kaapelitehdas (2,700), Fun. and Jason Derulo at The Circus (1,500), and Vesa-Matti Loiri, Kaija Koo and Vain Elamaa Live at Hartwall Arena and Barona Arena (7,500).

“Somehow it’s been harder to push our own artistes to international markets – we don’t have our own Abba or Roxette – and maybe it’s easier to recline to safe language and culture,” says WML promoter and development director Samppa Hartikainen.

“From our side, live markets are still good, even if we have some challenges with the economic situation,” says Hartikainen. “But we will get support from Warner’s A&R and marketing teams with new artistes, which is one big difference compared to other agencies in Finland.”

market focus: finland

Steaming ahead

cent stake in the country’s 28,000-capacity Provinssirock festival at the same time (see Audience issue 176), The deal also saw Fullsteam founder Juha Kyyro become CEO of FKP Scorpio Sweden, with responsibility for the Nordic region. “I believe this move will make us even stronger in securing artistes for the festivals we work with,” he says. “The new set-up should also make us more effective on the touring side.

“I’d say Finland is still going through the downturn and there are not too many signs of economic recovery locally yet, unfortunately,” reports Kyyro.

On the topic of ticket pricing, he says, “I think we hit the peak on ticket sales during the last two years, and now prices haven’t been going up so aggressively. Artistes returning to the market and looking to increase their fee will definitely face challenges.

“Not many artistes are actually ready to invest time in building up a career in such a small market as Finland,” suggests Kyyro. “They only seem to be interested in playing a goodpaying festival, instead of really building up a fanbase that would commit to the artiste for years to come.”

Now majority owned by Fulsteam/ FKP Scorpio, Provinssirock was founded in 1979 and has featured headliners such as Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, The Cure and Red Hot Juha Kyyro Chili Peppers in recent years.

15

www.audience.uk.com

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

LNF’s Lavender points out, “If you go back five years you wouldn’t see domestic acts playing bigger venues than clubs, now you have Cheek playing a stadium, which was quite historic, and more local artistes playing at arena level. It is very healthy.”

However, as Kyyro notes, there is a flipside to this. “The market for international acts has been more difficult recently with not many big shows selling out and it seems to me that the big international pop acts are suffering the most, probably partly because the local market is doing so well,” he says.

Production base

market focus: finland

Promoter and event production company Eastway was formed in 1986 and merged with Norwegian production company Avab CAC in 2011, to form the Eastavab Group, which went on to acquire Swedish production company Starlight.

Its live music events brand Eastway Live has been operating as a separate company since 2013, run by original co-founder Juha Hytti.

As well as bringing Leonard Cohen to Helsinki’s Sonera Stadium (10,770), it has worked on projects such as the Rockin Hellsinki Festivals in Kaisaniemi Park (10,000), featuring ZZ Top and Motley Crue, Roxette at the Korka Maritime Festival (6,000), Kivenlahti Rock (7,500) and Nightwish and Scorpions at Hartwall Arena.

I think this has now come to an end.

“With domestic acts, ticket prices Moderate ticket prices must return. are typically around €40-50 [$50-63], “As Finland is a very small country, with international acts the prices are with a population less than many tending to get higher €60-120 [$75major European towns, it’s a very 150], of course depending on the tough business for everyone. artiste,” says Hytti.

“You must be able to turn down “The Finnish economic market is in deals that don’t make sense and use very bad shape at the moment and it your head, not your heart,” he says. will probably be years before a better Antti Einiö future is in sight. Pricing is therefore a very delicate question – there is actuFacing competition ally more pressure to lower the prices,” A relative newcomer to the sector, RL he adds.

Concerts has been active since 2008, “There is still a lot of activity in promoting artistes such as Ice Cube the market – but a question arises, is at Nosturi and LMFAO, Lindsey Stirling there already too much happening, and Rise Against at The Circus, along especially in the summer? I think the with the Weekend Festival (25,000), John Rugemalira market is quite full at the moment, which has featured Jennifer Lopez, especially after Scorpio’s landing in Finland.

Adam Lambert and the Backstreet Boys.

“The current situation in [nearby] Russia “The market is getting more competitive may also diminish the amount of foreign acts but there seems to be space for all the bigger we attract.” promoters,” says the company’s head promoter Antti Einio of Best Concerts, which rose from John Rugemalira. the ashes of veteran promoter Showco in the On artiste fees, he adds, “They don’t always late ‘90s, now works as a partner and consulmatch with the artistes’ actual market value tant with Eastway. here. There are acts that can sell out arenas “The main worry is the rapid downfall of the in UK or elsewhere in central Europe but are Finnish economy, which will of course affect barely at 1,500-capacity level in Finnish. ticket sales,” says Einio.

“Also, many European tours are sold as pack“As artiste fees have increased in a big way ages to one-two promoters, so it’s challenging during the last few years, promoters have had to compete against that too.” to increase ticket prices in the same way, but Founded in 2002, management and agency

16

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

Into the country

Hartwall Arena

operation King Foo Entertainment will cease trading at the end of the year, with partner Jouni Markkanen set to concentrate on his Grey Beard Concerts & Management firm.

“My King Foo partners have set up a new business, so there were two possibilities for me: either continue as a partner at King Foo, with my roster and minor shareholding, or start my own business,” he explains.

Markkanen is also a partner of Finnish Metal Events, which runs Tuska Open Air Metal Festival (11,000) in Suvilahti, Helsinki, where performers have included Megadeth, Volbeat, Slayer and Anthrax.

“Our biggest successes are with our touring artistes – Nightwish globally, Amorphis and Children of Bodom selling their shows out in Finland, and Newcomer Lost Society breaking Kari Possi

Agent and promoter Rowan Rafferty’s Nem Agency has worked with acts such as Cradle of Filth at Klubi (450) and Asian Dub Foundation at Dubtober Fest, Pakkahuoune (1,200), both in Tampere, and has a roster of 25 domestic artistes.

“The really big acts generally stick to Helsinki and Tampere, but we have booked shows for international acts in other cities like Turku, Jyvaskyla, Kuopio, Oulu, Lahti and Kouvola for example. Certain areas are accusthrough like a rocket,” says Markannen. tomed to certain music,” explains Rafferty.

“Most international bands just visit Helsinki Rafferty, who will present forthcoming tours but my aim is to make at least two to three

by Amaranthe, Freak Kitchen and The Ukukele shows with all the acts I bring to the market.”

Orchestra of Great Britain, offers advice on Operating as a booking agency for close to navigating the country. “Finland’s roads are 30 years, Helsinki-based Blue Buddha is also good, but there are very few dual carriagea management company and recently signed ways, mostly single lane, so driving from A Steve ‘N’ Seagulls, a domestic act who have to B can take substantially longer than in say, risen to fame on YouTube.

Germany,” he says.

“On the agency side we are just beginning “When the temperature drops below cooperation with two legendary Finnish -15°C you should also have what they call bands called Popeda winter diesel in your van or bus, or the and Yo,” says CEO Kari pipes and tubes will freeze up. This Possi. “Both are iconic happens a couple of times a year to FinnRock bands.” international acts.”

Other acts on the rosRafferty also believes ticket prices are ter include Nelja Ruusua, reaching tipping point. “I think that we 22 Pistepirkko, Tuomari are hitting a stage when ticket prices Nurmio and Sir Elwoodin can no longer go up, I see them maybe Rowan Rafferty hiljaiset varit. even going down in coming years.”

Thanks to Scott and the whole team

market focus: finland

Live Nation are proud to have the best team in Finland.

17

www.audience.uk.com

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

Barona Arena

market focus: finland

Capital landmark

18

Opening in 1997, the Hartwall Arena has welcomed acts such as AC/DC, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, David Bowie, Bon Jovi, P!nk, Jennifer Lopez, Iron Maiden, Leonard Cohen and Rihanna, and also hosted the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest.

“The maximum capacity for concerts is 15,500 with the stage in the middle of the arena, and as an amphitheatre the capacity is 1,000 to 4,000,” says the venue’s CEO Kimmo Kivisilta.

Situated minutes from Helsinki city centre, next to the country’s second biggest railway station, it is home to Jokerit ice hockey team and has also staged a number of NHL games. The venue was taken over last year

by Russian oligarch billionaires Gennadi Timtshenko and the Rotenburg family, who bought the arena’s parent company Helsinki Halli Ltd for an undisclosed fee.

In Finland’s second largest city Espoo lies the 7,500-capacity Barona Arena. Built in 1999, a recent renovation means up to 900 of the venue’s guests can watch shows from their dinner tables in its second floor restaurant.

Though the arena has held shows by acts such as Alice Cooper and James Brown, CEO Patrik Ekman believes there is a lack of awareness of the facility outside the country.

“We are a good choice for artistes expecting to sell in the range of 4,000 to 7,000 tickets but I think international promoters still don’t know enough about us,” says Ekman, who hopes the venue Patrik Ekman will benefit from improved transport links.

“We are situated 12km from Helsinki city centre, easily reachable by bus, but at the end of 2016 the nearest subway station will be 250m from our arena,” he adds.

Festivals for all

One of Europe’s oldest rock festivals Ruisrock (35,000) – second only to the Netherlands’ Pinkpop (60,000), is held on the island of Ruissalo in Turku.

Its event broke its attendance record in 2014, selling 35,000 tickets for each of the opening two days and 23,000 tickets for its final day, with a line-up featuring acts such as David Guetta, Suede, Lily Allen, Example, The Offspring and Phoenix. Homegrown artistes included Cheek, Robin and Haloo Helsinki!

“I believe the enormous success of this year was a sum of many parts and a result of persistent work,” says promoter Mikko

Niemela. “In addition to excellent artistes the festival itself is a headliner and it attracts people.”

Another festival mainstay is the longrunning Pori Jazz, which celebrates its 50th edition next year and has hosted performers including Bob Dylan, James Blunt and Patti Smith.

This year it concentrated all its paid-entry concerts at the purpose-built Kirjurinluoto Arena (25,000), a venue which has welcomed artistes including Sting, Paul Simon, Iron Maiden and Santana.

Meanwhile, Flow Festival (20,000) in Suvilahti was headlined by Skrillex, The National and Outkast.

Loud ‘n’ Live Promotions, based in Seinajoki, organises festivals such as Boombox (13,000), Visulahden Juhannus (15,000), Riihimaki (13,000) and Aura Fest (8,000).

“During the last summer we organised 15 events and festivals Kalle Keskinen around Finland, with a total amount of visitors of around 240,000 people,” says head promoter Kalle Keskinen.

“Next summer we will organise two new electronic music and rock festivals, while letting go of two older festivals. The aim for the next year is nothing less than 300,000 visitors for all the festival and events,” adds Keskinen.

Mobile movers

The country’s leading ticket companies are Live Nation Entertainment/Ticketmasterowned Lippupalvelu and CTS Eventimowned Lippupiste.

“People seem to be buying tickets closer to the event day than they did previously,” states Lippupalvelu MD Ari Kuokkanen.

“They also want more added value services with tickets such as CDs and merchandise, and also VIP services.”

Kuokkanen, whose company celebrates its 70th anniversary next year, says shows by

THE BIGGEST MUSIC COMPANY IN FINLAND AGENCY OVER 60 FINNISH ACTS MORE THAN 2200 SHOWS IN 2014

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

Telephone +358 10 841 7500 | Email keikat@warnermusic.com www.warnermusiclive.fi

PROMOTION FROM CLUBS TO ARENAS JASON DERULO, GARY CLARK JR, FUN. ETC

www.audience.uk.com

WELCOME TO

FINLAND, WE’LL SELL YOUR TICKETS!

Contact us: salesteam@lippu.fi

Lippupiste is part of CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA

T0006_v3.pdf

1

14/11/2014

15:34

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

A lot is happening in 2015 .

Kalle Keskinen Head Promoter kalle@loudnlive.fi

Mikko Hansson Promoter mikko@loudnlive.fi

We Love the 90`s

Helsinki

7.2.2015

Winter Wonderland

Helsinki

21.-22.2.2015

FIM Speedway GP

Tampere

16.5.2015

Saaristo Open

Kaarina

5.-6.6.2015

Riihimäki Rock festival

Riihimäki

Kainuun Musiikkijuhlat

Kajaani

2.-4.7.2015

Pi Pioneeri Festivaali

Kouvola

10.-11.7.2015

Rakuuna Rock

Lappeenranta

17.-18.7.2015

Wanaja Festival

Hämeenlinna

17.-18.7.2015

Tikkurila Festivaali

Vantaa

24.-25.7.2015

Vauhtiajot Race & Rock

Seinäjoki

2 3.-26.7-2015

Colors Summer Festival

Helsinki

10.-12.7.2015

Aura Fest

Turku

Finland Internat. Airshow

Helsinki

15.-16.8.2015

We Love The 90`s Festival

Helsinki

28.-29.8.2015

White Out

Helsinki

3.-4.10.2015

loudnlive.fi

26.-27.6.2015

7.-8.8.2015

created via a merger of Cheek, Bon Jovi, Metallica and Music Export Finland and the Iron Maiden have been top sellFinnish Music Information ers. ”When people go to events Centre Fimic in 2012. they want to spend more “Finland is in a great locatime before the show at the tion – it is 2.5 hours away venue and then engage with from London, 1.5 hours from the show afterwards through Berlin, eight hours from New social media – there are great York and nine hours from opportunities here,” he adds.

Tokyo – with direct flights ”Mobile tickets and services from most of the key cities are becoming crucial and more Weekend Festival in the west and the east,” important than ever before. says project manager ”Generating engaging Riku Salomaa. content is also very important.

“I guess most of our Lippupalvelu has its own challenges are the same as magazine called LIVE and uses other European markets channels like its own tmBlog face. The lack of mid-sized and social media channels like venues is probably one of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram the biggest. We have great to connect with its customers.”

Jouni Markkanen Ari Kuokkanen Kimmo Kivisilta Riku Salomaa venues of 1,000-capacity Rival Lippupiste is the counand smaller, and arenas for world class money. But the big gigs still sell out in three try’s biggest ticket agent according to CEO Ari mainstream acts, but are lacking venues with to four minutes.”

Palhamo, with a 56 per cent market share.

2,000-5,000 capacity.”

He says more than half of his firm’s online “First line artistes always sell pretty well, Best Concerts Einio, a veteran of the traffic now comes from mobile devices, and but with Finland sliding into recession for a country’s live music scene, sums up the the launch of a ticketing app has proved sucthird year in a row we have to do more work situation, advising, “There is no crystal ball cessful. “The people who have downloaded for second and third tier acts,” says Palhamo. in this business but I can only hope the the app are the ones that tend to buy the “People are buying tickets later all the time economic situation slowly improves and most tickets,” he adds. and I think that is because there are more all promoters will make money instead of Dedicated to promoting Finnish music events on sale than before and people are losing it.” internationally, Music Finland (MF) was being more careful with how to use their

Arcade fire, Baseballs, Basic Element, BB King, Ben Miller Band, Billy Idol, Black Star Riders, Bo Kaspers Orkester, Bon Jovi, Boney M, Bryan Adams,

Grace Jones, Dave Edmunds, Deep Purple, Diego El Cigala, Dionne Warwick, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Dream Theater, Engelbert Humberdinck, E-Rotic, E-Type, Femi Kuti, Fran Perea, Gary Moore, Gregorian,

Gypsy Queens & Kings, Heaven and Hell, Helmut Lotti, Ian Andersson, Ian Hunter, Jean Michel Jarre, Jerry Lee Lewis, 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, Suzanne Vega, Take 6, The Cavern Beatles, The Count basie Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Guitar Conference, The Moody Blues, The Wailers, Thriller Live, Tomas Ledin, Stewie Wonder, Uriah Heep, Whitesnake, Youssou N´Dour, ZZ Top...

www.audience.uk.com

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

market focus: finland

Cecilia Bartoli, Cesaria Evora, Chigago Blues: A living History, Cliff Richard & Shadows,

21

22

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

Back in the saddle For decades Daniel Grinbank dominated the South American live music business while pioneering a new era of professionalism in a region previously seen by agents as akin to the Wild West. Now in his 60th year, the legendary promoter is on a mission to scale those challenging heights again, as Christopher Barrett reports

A

www.audience.uk.com

Daniel Grinbank with Mick Jagger

Time For Fun (T4F), Grinbank was taken on as a consultant, with the five-year deal followed by a non-compete period.

Grinbank’s operation DG Medios (DGM) continued to operate in territories including Chile, but having shaken off the shackles of that non-compete agreement he is back in action and building his Argentinean operation.

As well as Argentina, DGM now has offices in Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Columbia, along with strategic partners in Brazil. Grinbank’s broad geographical reach reflects the strength of the region as a touring destination, a region that Grinbank has done much to develop.

Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) global touring president Arthur Fogel, based in Los Angeles, first worked with Grinbank in the mid-1990s on shows by the Stones, and later U2 and Madonna.

“It is an amazing market with great fans, where you can sell a lot of tickets for the big spectaculars,” he says. “Daniel was the pioneer and primarily responsible for taking it from audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

main feature

rtiste manager, record label boss, radio station owner and DJ, music publisher and ground-breaking concert promoter – Daniel Grinbank has played a major part in transforming the music scene in Argentina and the live music business across the whole of South America.

In the 1980s and 1990s Buenos Aires-based Grinbank was the go-to man for international agents and promoters interested in tapping into the embryonic South American market, much of which was then widely considered uncharted territory.

Paul McCartney, Prince, David Bowie, Madonna, The Police, U2, Nirvana and Roger Waters are just some of the acts that he has promoted over the years.

Landmark shows are many, but undoubtedly the pinnacle was promoting the Rolling Stones performance in Rio de Janeiro on 18 February 2006 – a free concert on the beach of Copacabana that was attended by two million people.

To this day, the concert must still be the biggest single-artiste rock concert of all time.

Grinbank promoted the Stones’ first ever concert in Argentina in 1995 and continues to enjoy a strong relationship with the band and their team. Next year could well see them working together again.

The promoter’s influence in the region was so strong that in 2008, when Live Nation inked its Latin America deal with Mexico-based regional entertainment conglomerate Corporacion Interamericana de Entretenimiento (CIE). to form the partnership

23

coming to Chile.

“We now have a healthy market selling around 1.5 million tickets a year. That is a real achievement because in the beginning it was hard to convince anyone to come to South America, Daniel was the pioneer.”

main feature

Radio play to festival

24

Fernando Moya, Director of Music at T4F in Argentina, is another leading promoter that has known Grinbank since the early days.

An artiste manager in the late-‘70s and early-‘80s, Moya was among the first to sign acts such as Sweet 16 and Celeste Carballo to Grinbank’s label DG Records and went on to work at the label. In 1985 Grinbank sold the label to fund the launch of radio station Rock and Pop FM. By this time Grinbank was already earning a reputation as the number one concert promoter in South America. He started working with artistes including John McLaughlin, Weather Report and The Police and began producing the Buenos Aires music festival Rock and Pop. Moya recalls the impact of the Human Free Rolling Stones concert on Copacabana beach Rights Now! tour closing concert in October I demanded they bring me back lots of 1988. Promoted by Grinbank, the landmark the Wild West, which it was in those days, to records,” relates Grinbank. event – in aid of Amnesty International – a much more sophisticated environment in In the late ‘60s Grinbank began promoting featured a line-up including Peter Gabriel, which to do business.” shows by local artistes and in the early-‘70s, Bruce Springsteen and Sting. It was not only Sweden-based LNE chairman of was managing artistes including Vivencia, a breakthrough in terms of the number of International music Thomas Johansson first El Reloj and the folk band Arco Iris – fronted international acts featured but its message met Grinbank in the early-‘80s and their by the musical producer was particularly poignant. successes include two sell-out stadium shows Gustavo Santaolalla. By The Argentine military with Roxette in 1992.

“He knows how to ‘74, he was also managing seized power in March “I would deal with Daniel any grow emerging Sui Generis, one of most 1976 and commenced a day of week,” says Johansson. popular bands of the that would “He was the promoter in South America for markets and establish dictatorship strangle the country’s many years, he set the standard for the region.” decade in the country.

Along with and consolidate them” democratic and cultural Charly García, expression for the next Passion and spirit Barrie Marshall one of the many seven years Grinbank’s passion for music and artistes managed by Grinbank “That was the biggest event of the ‘80s in entrepreneurial spirit were evident was local rock band Avalanche. Its Argentina for international music,” says Moya. from a young age. drummer Carlos Geniso admits he Grinbank would go on to organise a South During his teenage years he proved to be a far more successful American tour for Sting that culminated divided his time between school, promoter than musician. Geniso went with a closing gig at Buenos Aires River working at his father’s cardboard facon to become a successful promoter Plate Stadium (70,000). The promoter’s tory and music. He started out DJ-ing Arthur Fogel in Mexico and it was then that Geniso relationship with the venue reached a high at school parties and aged 17, began was asked by Grinbank to run his DGM point in the early-‘90s when he secured producing his own show, Arrock, on business in Chile. exclusive booking rights for the venue and the Del Pueblo radio station.

Geniso says Grinbank has always Buenos Aires only other major stadium Velez In the years that followed Grinbank known how to treat artistes. “He tries Sarsfield (50,000). bought the radio station and rebrandto achieve the very best for artistes ed it Rock and Pop, and it became the and will fight to the last minute to country’s first 24-hour music station.

Rolling success story have an artiste’s requests complied It opened a new era in Argentinean In the years that followed Grinbank proThomas Johansson with,” he says. radio and sparked a structural and moted huge shows by numerous artistes, Recent shows handled by DG Medios ranging from Madonna to the Ramones cultural change in Argentinean media. in Chile include Thirty Seconds to Mars, While DJ-ing at Arrock, Grinbank and gained major sponsorship deals with Arctic Monkeys and two nights by primarily focused on British and corporate giants such as Coca-Cola, Visa, Michael Bublé, all at Santiago’s American pop and rock music.

Wrangler and Nestlé.

Movistar Arena (cap. 15,000).

“It was typical Top 40 music of the After many long discussions with the “Now after so many years the time, I took most of the information Rolling Stones’ international promoter market is wide open,” says Geniso. from [US music industry publication] Michael Cohl, the band finally made it to “Many of the bands used to only stop Billboard and when someone I South America. Grinbank remembers with in Argentina and Brazil, but are now knew travelled to the US or England, Fernando Moya excitement the arrival of the Voodoo Lounge audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

America,” he says. “He was the forerunner for international artistes in the region and I think Daniel will be successful in his efforts to grow his business.

“He is a very intelligent man and has always taken calculated risks. He knows how to grow emerging markets and establish and consolidate them. There is no doubt that he is going to be a major player again,” says Marshall.

main feature

The beach break

26

In 2006, Grinbank teamed up with Luiz Oscar Niemeyer, owner of Plan Music in Brazil, to present the Rolling Stones again, this time in front of two million people on Copacabana beach.

Niemeyer and Grinbank have enjoyed a 25-year working relationship and co-promoted numerous shows in Brazil by artistes including Coldplay, U2 and Bjork, but none have come close to that Stones show in February 2006.

“Despite the fact it was a huge producDaniel Grinbank tion, it ran really smoothly – there were no “He was like the problems at all,” rememTour in Argentina, with five nights booked at Godfather and the only bers Niemeyer. “We the River Plate stadium in 1995. name anyone really knew gained the support of “It was incredible, at that time there wasn’t in South America in the the mayor of Rio, who a ticketing company, so everything was done beginning,” says Zweck. provided the necessary manually by us,” says Grinbank. “We put two By the time Zweck first security and assistance shows on sale and they sold out in a couple of and it was a great night. hours. There were so many people queuing for worked with Grinbank on The band were happy, a ticket that there would have been a riot if we a South American tour, Luis Oscar Niemeyer with Mark Knopfler, it was Andrew Zweck the fans were happy hadn’t added shows.” the late-‘90s. “By then he was doing and no one got hurt.”

LNE’s Arthur Fogel, then working with Cohl, pan-continental buying,” Niemeyer says several projrecalls first meeting Grinbank in the early-‘90s says Zweck. ects, including the Stones, are when discussing the Stones first South The next deal Zweck did with provisionally in the pipeline for American adventure.

Grinbank was the Roger Waters’ In 2015, but the economic crisis in “My first impression of him, not from his The Flesh Tour. “We went to Argentina, Argentina is not helping. manner, but just from his appearance, was Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Columbia, Grinbank explains, “It is a somewhere between a gangster and a drug Peru. Daniel was the tour coordinator difficult time here right now, but lord,” Fogel says with a chuckle. for the whole continent and he found Barrie Marshall that is nothing new. I remember Despite that initial impact, the pair’s the right local partners and delivered every in 1989 making a tour with Bon Jovi, we relationship soon blossomed. “He has great time,” says Zweck. started selling tickets at $20 and finished instincts and a very good blend of financial Fellow UK-based global operator Barrie selling them for $5. Around every, 10 years and promoting skills. What impressed me from Marshall of Marshall Arts, who promotes you have a crisis in Argentina and that is the outset was his feel for the whole picture,” what is happening now, but the economy says Fogel. “He always provided good informa- international tours for artistes such as Paul McCartney and George always bounces back,” tion in terms of numbers “He has the knowledge, Michael, first met Grinbank as well as accurate in Argentina in 1989, when assessments of how well Freedom to compete the financial resources they discussed the possibil- With the expiry of his T4F non-compete a show would do, and ity of McCartney what the ticket pricing period, Grinbank is now focused on doing and the contacts” playing Argentina. should be.” a little bouncing back himself.

Andrew Zweck The result of that Along with rebuilding his Argentinean meeting was McCartney becoming one of operation, which sees Florencia Juri and Promoting status the first international artistes to play Buenos’ Augusto Tapia do the booking from the Andrew Zweck of international agency Sensible Aires River Plate Stadium. In the years since he Buenos Aires offices, Grinbank is expandEvents, based in the UK, first met Grinbank in has been a regular visitor to South America, ing his reach overseas. Along with plans the early-‘90s when he came to London to lure where Marshall says he attracts a remarkably to expand DGM’s presence in North and the Rolling Stones to South America.

Central America, with bases in Mexico City “He saw how the business was in the Northern youthful audience of predominantly 14 to 30-year-olds. and Miami in the US, hemisphere and he was one of the first to de“Daniel is a real character and very tenaGrinbank has also brought musicals velop the South American business with a level cious and he often turns up at gigs in Europe to his country over the years. In 1987 he of professionalism, to compare with working in in order to persuade artistes to come to South promoted the opening tour of Disney’s America or Europe. audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST BARRIE, JENNY, DORIS, CRAIG, BEN AND ALL AT MARSHALL ARTS.

International Agency & Concert Presentations Unit 6, Utopia Village, 7 Chalcot Road, London, England, NW1 8LH Tel: +44 207 586 3831 路 E-mail: info@marshall-arts.co.uk 路 Web: www.marshall-arts.com

Beauty and The Beast live show and has since produced South American tours for Chicago, Les Misérables and Sweet Charity, and earlier this year Grinbank finished a run of 76 sell-out shows at Buenos Aires’ Teatro Gran Rex (3,300) with the stage show of Disney TV series Violetta.

He has now teamed up with Rafael Giménez of promoter Sold Out in Spain to co-promote Violetta shows throughout Europe. Plans include 14 arena shows in Spain and six in the Portuguese capital Lisbon followed by five across the country, Then it’s on to France where shows in 10 cities have been booked.

“We have sold 180,000 tickets already in France alone,” says Giménez. “We will then take the show to Belgium, Holland, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.”

Grinbank and Giménez first worked together in ‘97 for two Spanish stadium concerts on U2’s PopMart tour, and the following year they staged a hugely successful string of shows with magician David Copperfield in Spain.

“It was the first time that an arena shows of that nature had been staged in the country,” explains Giménez.

Unlike many of Grinbank’s colleagues and associates, Italian promoter Adolfo

sure he will get back to the level he Galli of Di & Gi has only known the once enjoyed.”

Argentinean for two years.

Noting the shift in power from the One month after first discovering recorded music business to the live the Violetta character in an Italian industry, Grinbank says the role of record store, Galli received a call from the concert business is stronger than Zweck recommending that he speak ever and his intention is to be very to Grinbank about an Italian tour. involved in both the development The two hit it off and now speak on a Rafael Amaya and marketing of artistes. weekly basis.

When he started out Grinbank used “We had a great understanding the phone and telex machines to and share the same passion for the keep in touch with his international project. Daniel is like a volcano, counterparts. Much has changed and always erupting with great ideas. He he says he is eager to embrace every calls me day and night,” says Galli. aspect of new technology in an effort Violetta proved a huge hit during to grow his business and further the January 2014 Italian run, with develop the South American market.

160,000 tickets sold across 32 arena “Social media has dramatically shows. It returns to Italy next February Adolfo Galli changed the live music business and the way for 18 shows, with 80,000 of the 100,000 available tickets already sold. Such is the demand for we promote shows. We are a company that is the Disney franchise that Galli and Grinbank are 100 per cent focused on embracing the latest technology to market events,” he says. discussing a third Italian tour next September.

At 60, Grinbank may be a live music busiAsked if he is surprised at Grinbank’s level of ambition following his five year hiatus, Zweck ness veteran, but there is no sign his passion for adventure has diminished. says: “Once you have a taste of this business “Right now, my focus is on expanding our you don’t want to be retired, you want to operations in Columbia, Peru and Uruguay, be out there in the cut and thrust of the risk and putting those countries firmly on the live game, and Daniel obviously missed it. music map,” he says, hinting that a festival “He has the knowledge, the financial might also be in the pipeline for 2016. resources and the contacts and I am

main feature 29

www.audience.uk.com

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

events

The details shown below have been compiled from information provided to Audience and whilst we make every reasonable effort to ensure accuracy, we cannot be held responsible if data is incorrect

Dates

Country, City

Event

Information

Dec 7-8

USA, Texas

IMFCON www.imfcon.com

Dates

Country, City

Event

Information

Mar 6-8 UK, London International Live Music www.ilmc.com Conference

Bringing together festival organisers and related professionals.

The largest business gathering of international promoters and agents in the universe.

Jan 14-17 Netherlands, Eurosonic / www.noorderslag-seminar.nl Groningen Noorderslag

Conference and showcase festival attracting festival organisers, promoters, agents, media and European talent.

Apr 15-18 Germany, Prolight www.prolight-sound.de

Frankfurt and Sound An event for light, sound and production in the entertainment and music industry.

Jan 22-25 USA, Anaheim

Apr 26-29 USA, Los Angeles Musexpo

NAMM www.namm.com

Trade exhibition featuring more than 7,000 products from pro-audio equipment manufacturers.

Feb 18-22 USA, Memphis International Folk Alliance Conference

www.folkalliance.org

Conference for the promotion of folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional development.

Feb 19-22 USA, Harrisburg Millennium www.musicconference.net Music Conference Four days of keynotes speeches, panels, workshops and mentoring, plus a trade show.

Feb 25

UK, London

BRIT Awards www.brits.co.uk

The British music industry’s gala awards extravaganza, televised live.

Feb 28 Australia, Brisbane Un-Convention Brisbane www.unconventionbrisbane.com Forum discussions, workshops and networking events, focused on creating sustainable careers within the local indie music industry.

Daily forums of high-level discussions and evening artiste showcases at West Hollywood’s music venues.

May 1-9

Canada, Toronto

Canadian Music Week www.cmw.net

Four-day event for the music, live and broadcast industries, including seminars, keynote speeches, music festival and awards ceremony.

Jun 18-20 Spain, Barcelona Sonar www.sonar.es Barcelona’s 22nd International Festival of advanced music and new media art.

Sep 9 -11 Germany, Berlin

Berlin Music Week

Comprising two events: the WORD! conference for business and SOUND! for live events.

Sep 23- 26 Germany,

Hamburg

Reeperbahn Festival www.campus.reeperbahnfestival.com

Germany’s largest Club Festival and largest conference for the Music and Live Entertainment Industry. A new fixture for all professionals of the creative industries.

Oct 4-6

UK, London

PLASA 2014 www.plasashow.com

Trade event focusing on products and equipment for the live event, corporate, architectural and installation sectors.

events

Mar 4-7 Norway, Oslo by:Larm www.bylarm.no

Two-day annual showcase and conference promoting the Norwegian music industry, attracting around 1,800 delegates and featuring around 500 acts.

www.musexpo.net

30

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

city focus

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Audience takes a look at the world’s major cities and venues most used by international artistes Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall

Life Park

A: Şehit Cengiz Topel Caddesi, 34450 T:+90 212 285 13 13 E: info@lifepark.com.tr W: www.lifepark.com.tr Principle contact person: Cüneyt Yıldırım Policy: Hire only (outdoor) Capacity: 20,000 In-house Concert Sound System: No In-house Concert Stage Lighting: No Past/forthcoming shows: Cody Simpson, Manu Chao, Armin Van Buuren, Martin Garrix, Goldfrapp, Patricia Kaas, Jason Mraz

Volkswagen Arena

A: Huzur Mah. Maslak Ayazağa Cad. No:4/A 34396 Sariyer T: +90 212 377 67 00 E: info@vwarena.com W: www.vwarena.com Principle contact person: Uluç Dündar Policy: Hire only Capacity: 5,800 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Jack White, Blondie, Parov Stelar, Oi Va Voi, Chet Faker, Buena Vista Social Club, Pixies, Travis, Bob Dylan

KüçükÇiftlik Park

A: Kadırgalar Cad. No:4, MAÇKA T: +90 212 231 30 45 E: nkavran@kucukciftlikpark.com W: www.kucukciftlikpark.com Principle contact person: Naz Kavran Policy: Hire only Capacity: 17,000 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Scorpions, Blind Guardian, Stevie Wonder, Duran Duran, David Guetta, Two Door Cinema Club

A: Barbaros Mah. Dereboyu Cad. ATAŞEHİR T: +90 216 687 21 00 E: info@ulkersportsarena.com W: www.ulkersportsarena.com Principle contact person: Cem Şencan Policy: Hire only Capacity: 13,000 In-house Concert Sound System: No In-house Concert Stage Lighting: No Past/forthcoming shows: Andre Rieu, Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lopez, Leonard Cohen, Andrea Bocelli, Mark Knopfler, Sarah Brightman, Yanni

www.audience.uk.com

Garajistanbul

A: Tomtom Mah. Yeni Çarşı Cad. Kaymakam Reşat Bey Sok. No: 11/A Galatasaray T: +90 212 244 44 99 E: info@garajistanbul.org W: www.garajistanbul.org Principle contact person: Bülent Burgaç Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 950 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Dub FX, Solomun, Enter Shikari, At the Gates, God Is An Astronaut

İş Sanat Culture Center

Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre

A: Taşkışla Cad. HARBİYE T: +90 212 455 39 00 E: filiz.eraslan@ibb.gov.tr Principle contact person: Filiz Eraslan Policy: Hire only (summer period) Capacity: 3,972 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Sound System: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: 2Cellos, Yasmin Levy, İyeoka, Emma Shaplin, Monica Molina, Morrissey, Lisa Stansfield

Zorlu Center PSM

A: Zorlu Center, 34340, Beşiktaş T: +90 850 222 67 76 E: info@zorlucenterpsm.com W: www.zorlucenterpsm.com Principle contact person: Aslıhan Evrensel Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity:2,262 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Sound System: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Joshua Bell, Jamie Cullum, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Farid Farjad, Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman

A: İş Towers, 4. LEVENT T: +90 212 316 10 83 E: issanat@isbank.com.tr W: www.issanat.com.tr Principle contact person: Filiz Ova Policy: Self-promote Capacity: 800 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Sound System: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: The Von Trapps, Stacey Kent, Madeleine Peyroux, Mariza

Babylon

A: Sehbender Sk. No:3 Asmalı Mescit, Beyoğlu T: +90 212 292 73 68 E: info@babylon.com.tr W: www.babylon.com.tr Principle contact person: Gül Güngör Policy: Self-promote Capacity: 400 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Sound System: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Lykke Li, Avishai Cohen, Iyeoka, Michael Mayer, David Vendetta, GusGus

audience • issue 178 • November 2014

city focus

Ülker Sports Arena

A: Darulbedayi Cd – Harbiye/Sisli T: +90 212 232 98 30 E: info@crrks.org W: www.crrks.org Principle contact person: Ozan Binici Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 860 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Sound System: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Mariza, Raul Midon, Dianne Reeves, Bonnie Tyler, Kronos Quartet, Einstürzende Neubauten, Buika, Dionne Warwick

33

Production news Visual flexibility key for Il Divo James Thomas joins Milos family

WORLD The visual look of Il Divo’s A Musical Affair tour was dictated by widely-recognised theatrical conventions, says Stuart Merser of Vis-à-Vis Video, who designed its screen configuration and imagery.

The group, which visited venues such as Portugal’s MEO Arena (cap.

20,000) in Lisbon, Le Zénith (6,300 in Paris and The O2 (17,000) in London, XL Video screens in use by Il Divo opted for a classic theatre-style set, because it could be recreated by local above the set. production companies, particularly on the Asian Merser used his own Catalyst media servers leg of the tour, without compromising standards. to feed the F-11, while XL supplied a camera “With an orchestra, conductor, Il Divo and the package comprising four Sony HXC-100 HD various soloists onstage, I wanted to use video operated units, two fitted with long lenses and and moving images thoughtfully,” says Merser. “I positioned at front-of-house, and two in the pit. wanted to achieve theatrical intimacy, however “Many of the tracks are slow building and large the venue, and a simple narrative that added require skilled work from the camera operators to the music and lyrics.” and they did a fantastic job,” says Merser. “I Working with production manager Andy used a Panasonic MX45O mixer, which was is a Proudfoot, Merser called on screen specialist XL neat, compact system that fitted well into the Video to provide a Pixled F-11 backdrop screen truck. XL and [project manager] Paul McCauley measuring 20 tiles wide by 10 high, which “floated” fully understand the challenges.”

czech repuBLIC The Milos Group, owners of entertainment technology businesses such as Tomcat, Litec and Milos Structural Systems, has purchased the Anglo-American truss specialist James Thomas Engineering (JTE) for an undisclosed amount.

The company says the purchase will bring improved services and products to customers of all its businesses, with the promise of greater efficiencies as the operations are integrated.

“The acquisition can only lead to improvements,” says Paul Young, business development manager of James Thomas Engineering in Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA). “The Milos Group’s advanced truss manufacture systems are considerably ahead of our traditional methods, so we can be more efficient and economic, leading to better prices and higher quality.”

Young is responsible for integrating the JTE brand into the Milos Group operations in the EMEA regions.

Tomcat president and CEO Scott Johnson, himself a former JTE USA employee, says, “This purchase will move the group forward and provide our customers with the best trussing and structures in the industry.”

34

WORLD As Paul McCartney is recording and archiving every performance on his Out There tour, he needed a console and control system that could integrate the workflow efficiently, according to front-of-house (FOH) engineer Paul ‘Pab’ Boothroyd.

“The recordings allow the production to set levels in advance on infrequently performed songs and carry out sound checks in the band’s absence,” he says.

Boothroyd is using an Avid Everywhere system, which he says integrates “supremely” with the recording software Pro Tools. “I used one of the first

years ago. “We threw in a version of Long Avid Venue systems when they came out, and Tall Sally, which he hadn’t done on this moved to the more compact Profile System in tour,” says Boothroyd. “The recording the same range,” he says. “With Paul, we’re in a will be put away for possible future use stadium one minute and the next I’m mixing in along with the video and film footage.” a broom cupboard, so the Profile became my The McCartney tour continues in console of choice. All my effects are onboard, Paul Boothroyd Brazil through November, with shows which simplifies my setup considerably. The quality of sounds from today’s plug-ins is amazing.” at Sâo Paulo’s Allianz Parque (55,000), Estádio Nacional (69,350) in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro’s The performance at San Francisco’s Candlestick HSBC Arena (18,760), Park (cap. 69,700), scene of the final ticketed See also the feature on Paul McCartney’s world Beatles concert, saw McCartney perform a song tour in Audience issue 177, last month. also played by his former band there nearly 48

CTS,

TA TRY CON S U D N I USIC 10,000 M PHONE APP E ONE FRE suppliers s 00 event ue • Over 4,0 1,000 music ven an rs e is n a • More th rg o l contacts 0 festival an festiva • Over 50 700 UK & Europe an ts • More th ss contac 00 busine ,5 1 r s ve io O d • stu an 1,300 ervices • More th cording s re s 0 0 ,5 1 ompanie c rd • Over o c an 700 re th re o M • . oon! ch more.. coming s • And mu d and Blackberry iPa Android,

LiveUk_TradeAd.indd 1

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

D OR OW SE NLO AR CH AD U FO SIN R“ GY SH O OW UR CA iPH SE ON ” IN E Q TH R R E A EA PP DE ST R OR E

production news

McCartney gets Avid attention Out There

30/05/2012 13:14

www.audience.uk.com

Production news Guetta deploys full Nexo STM at the Palais BELGIUM The promise of improved sound coverage for both the front rows of the audience and the VIP area dictated the choice of the PA system for David Guetta’s annual visit to

David Guetta uses Nexo’s new STM system

Brussels, according to Pierre-Laurent Babuine of rental company Arto.

Guetta’s performance to a 16,000-capacity crowd at Palais 12, the first date in a world tour, saw Babuine deploy the full STM system by French manufacturer Nexo, including the company’s new M28 downfills, designed to improve the sound immediately in front of stage.

With a main PA

featuring left and right arrays of 15 sets of Nexo STM, each comprising 15 M46 Main enclosures and 15 B112 Bass Cabinets, plus 32 S118 sub-bass units, this was the first time a headline artiste has used the entire STM system.

“Before the M28, we were using additional M46 cabinets in the line to cover the front rows of the audience, which meant using non-ideal angles for the job,” explains Babuine. “With the M28, we were able to deliver precisely targeted nearfill.”

A large grandstand at the rear of the “cavernous” hall was fitted with a dedicated Nexo GEO S12 PA to provide VIPs with their own audio.

Train takes colour to new horizons Hogan placed six of the spots behind the back line to use their aerial beam capabilities, positioning the remaining four in the upstage truss to “paint” the stage with animation wheels and gobo effects.

“I love the speed Train at Radio City 1 and quality of the colour mixing,” he adds. “A fellow designer who watched the speed as I went through my palette of random colours, thought I was simply changing the colour wheel, and was amazed that it was

(Photo: Craig Mitchell)

the CYM colour mixing.

“This performance was a one-off event, so I didn’t get to use them to their full potential, but I will definitely be taking VL4000 Spot luminaires out on the Train 2015 tour,” says Hogan.

Specialist Suppliers to the Entertainment Industry

On Stage, On Air, On the Road Delivering quality equipment and professional services to the entertainment industry since 1976

NETHERLANDS Formerly two venues, Utrecht’s Tivoli Vredenburg, which has a total capacity of 7,500, has deployed DiGiCo mixing consoles across its five different performance spaces. The main venue Ronda (2,000) features Digico’s SD5 with SD 192 rack at front-of-house, and an SD8 with D2 Rack at monitors. Tivoli sound engineer Allert Aalders says, “The flexibility of the platform and the familiarity of our crew with it played a big part in the decision.” Forthcoming artistes at the venue include Machine Head and Mighty Oaks.

CHINA Belgium-based visual processing technology provider Arkaos Pro has appointed stage lighting company ACE as its local distributor.

“ACE understands the technology behind ArKaos products and has offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong,” says ArKaos MD Agnes Wojewoda. “This will make ArKaos products accessible to the market including lighting designers.”

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The eclipse Group, which has provided technical services to artistes such as Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Alicia Keys, has invested in new LED technology

by Danish lighting manufacturer SGM. The company has bought 40 P-5 low profile, high output LED Washlights from distributors TechnoPro. “When we saw the P-5s working for the first time we immediately wanted to invest in our own,” says eclipse CEO Mark Brown.

Backline Rental Amplification Brass & Wind Cymbals Drums Effects Flightcases Grand Pianos Guitars & Basses Keyboards Music Stands Organs Percussion Synthesizers Transformers Vintage

John Henry’s Ltd. | 16-24 Brewery Road, London N7 9NH | www.johnhenrys.com | e: info@johnhenrys.com | T: +44 (0)20 7609 9181

www.audience.uk.com

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

production news

UNITED STATES Lighting designer Brock Hogan was keen to avoid generic looks when San Francisco band Train launched its seventh LP at New York’s Radio City Music Hall (cap. 6,000).

So he invested in 10 VL4000 Spot Luminaires to supplement his standard rig, which among other things, he says, allowed him to mix colours without changing the fixture’s colour wheel.

“This was such an important event for the band, I wanted to use a new fixture,” says Hogan. “These types of shows can be challenging because you have to avoid generic looks.

The 10 VL4000 Spots gave me so many options.”

Newsbites

35

tour plans aa guide guide to to artistes, artistes, tours tours && agents agents Artistes Celtic Fiddle Festival

Chris Rea

Daniel Lanois

Anne Clarke feat. Herr B

tour plans

Artistes

Period

Territory

Contact

Details

All We Are Feb-Mar Europe Stephanie Clive T +44 20 7017 2501

Coda Agency stephanie@codaagency.com

Anne Clark Mar Worldwide Jeff Aug T +49 8324 933 851 feat. Herr B Maximum Booking info@maximumbooking.com

Arthur Brown Apr Germany Sabine Trunzer T +49 6861 9399827 & His Crazy World Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Banco de Gaia Mar Worldwide Dan Silver T +44 20 7704 9720

Value Added Talent dan@vathq.co.uk

Barclay James Apr Europe Sabine Trunzer T +49 6861 9399827 Harvest feat. Les Holroyd Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Billy Ocean Apr-Sep Europe Sarah Casey T +44 20 8741 4453

Leighton-Pope Organisation sarah@l-po.com

Boomtown Rats Apr-Jul Europe Alan Cottam T +44 1254 668471 with Bob Geldof Alan Cottam Agency alan@alancottamagency.co.uk

Bootsy Collins Mar Europe, Asia Nina Pernica T +43 1 914 86 15

Georg Leitner Productions gleitner@glp.at

BRNS Europe Feb-Mar Georgia Strawson T +44 20 7580 7773

ATC Live georgia@atc-live.com

Calexico Feb, Apr Europe Rob Challice T +44 20 7017 2500

Coda Agency rob@codaagency.com

Canned Heat Mar Europe Sabine Trunzer T +49 6861 9399827

Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Period Territory

Contact

Details

Apr-May Europe Chris Wade T +44 1377 217662

Adastra adastra@adastra-music.co.uk

May-Aug Europe Sarah Casey T +44 20 8741 4453

Leighton-Pope Organisation sarah@l-po.com

Apr Europe Barry Dickins T +4420 7637 6979

ITB Prue@itb.co.uk

DeWolff Jan-Apr Europe Sabine Trunzer T +49 6861 9399827

Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Doors Alive Feb Worldwide Dan Silver T +44 20 7704 9720

Value Added Talent dan@vathq.co.uk

Dub Pistols Mar-Apr Europe Serena Parsons T +44 20 7400 4500

Primary Talent Intern. serena@primarytalent.com

Earth Wind & Fire Jan-Feb, Europe Georg Leitner T +431 914 86 15 Experience feat. May-Jul Georg Leitner Productions gleitner@glp.at Al McKay

Epica Feb-Mar South America Nick Peel T +44 20 7935 9222

Miracle Artists nick@miracle-artists.com

The Orchestra Featuring Original Members of Electric Light Orchestra

Feb, Jul Europe, Asia Georg Leitner T +431 914 86 15

Georg Leitner Productions gleitner@glp.at

Ewan Dobson Feb-May North America Jeff Aug T +49 8324 933 851

Maximum Booking info@maximumnooking.com

Gheorge Zamfir

36

netherlands united states +31 30 242 82 00 +1 717 664 0158 info.nl@mojobarriers.com info.us@mojobarriers.com

Australia +61 2 9648 2097 info.aus@mojobarriers.com

united Kingdom +44 1708 687 440 info.uk@mojobarriers.com

worldwide crowd control solutions audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

a guide to artistes, tours & agents Artistes Jamie T

Jose Feliciano

Karbido

Kool & The Gang

La Frontera

Leticia

LO’JO

Marc O’ Reilly

Marko Nobre

Fragile Souls Period

Territory

Contact

Details

Jan Australia Lucy Dickins T +4420 7637 6979

ITB James@itb.co.uk

Feb Europe, Asia Harald Buechel T +43 699 1101 3302

& Australia Georg Leitner Productions hbuechel@glp.at

Jan-May Europe Ania Marzec T +48 22 8946 035

Central Euro ania@centraleuro.org

Jan-May Europe, Asia Georg Leitner T +43 1 914 86 15

Georg Leitner Productions gleitner@glp.at

Jan-Apr Europe Carlos Pinto T +351 21 274 5759

Inter-Music International Inter-music@ip.pt

Jan -Apr Europe Carlos Pinto T +351 21 274 5759

Inter-Music International Inter-music@ip.pt

Jan-Mar Europe David Flower T +44 20 7359 9232

SASA Music rab@sasa.demon.co.uk

Mar UK Matt Bartlett T +44 1458 211117

Midnight Mango matt@midnightmango.co.uk

Jan-Apr Europe Carlos Pinto T +351 21 274 5759

Inter-Music International Inter-music@ip.pt

Saving you time, money, stress and hassle • Help with planning, budgeting and routing • Hotels, flights, ferries and other travel products • Various budgets and expectations catered for • Trade only prices with financial protection • Detailed itineraries provided for all tours • Free travel advice and 24 hour support

tour plans

Marko Nobre

Travel Management Services for the Live Music Industry

www.audience.uk.com

Contact

Details

FiDO Plays Zappa Feb Worldwide Jeff Aug T +49 8324 933 851

Maximum Booking info@maximumbooking.com

Foreigner Mar Africa, Asia Georg Leitner T + 431 914 86 15

Georg Leitner Productions gleitner@glp.at

Fragile Souls Mar Europe Dan Silver T +44 20 7704 9720

Value Added Talent dan@vathq.co.uk

G3 Jun-Jul Europe Wayne Forte T +1 212 633 2600

Entourage Talent Ass. booking@entouragetalent.com

G4 Apr, Aug Europe Bennie Edwards T +44 20 8447 9411

Tony Denton Promotions info@tdpromo.com

Gene Loves Jan-Apr Europe Carlos Pinto T +351 21 274 5759 Jezebel

Inter-Music International inter-music@ip.pt

George Clinton Mar-Apr, Europe, Asia Nina Pernica T +431 914 86 15 Parliament/ Jun-Jul Georg Leitner Productions gleitner@glp.at Funkadelic

Gheorghe Zamfir Mar-Apr Europe Eyup Iblag T +90 2 12245 5962

Major Music eyup.iblag@majormusic.com.tr

Jools Holland and May-Aug Europe Nick Peel T +44 20 7935 9222 His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Miracle Artists nick@miracle-artists.com

R Q

Period Territory

Q

Artistes

tour plans

37

T: +44 (0)1904 777 217 (UK) F: +44 (0)1904 77 172 E: info@Travel4Tours.com W: www.Travel4Tours.com

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

tour plans a guide to artistes, tours & agents Artistes Period Territory Contact Details

My Brother Feb-Mar Europe Corrado Canonici T +44 20 3086 9993 Johnny Cash feat. Tommy Cash World Concert Artists corrado@worldconcertartists.org

Nina Hagen Mar Europe Georg Leitner T +431 914 86 15

Georg Leitner Productions gleitner@glp.at

Ndiale May-Jul Ireland, David Flower T +44 20 7359 9232

Scandinavia, SASA Music rab@sasa.demon.co.uk

East Europe

Omara Portuondo Apr Europe David Flower T +44 20 7359 9232 & Roberto Fonseca

SASA Music rab@sasa.demon.co.uk

Peatbog Faeries Jun Worldwide Chris Wade T +44 1377 217662

Adastra adastra@adastra-music.co.uk

Raul Rodriguez Feb- Jul UK, Ireland David Flower T +44 20 7359 9232

SASA Music rab@sasa.demon.co.uk

Renaissance Mar- Jun Asia-Pacific, Wayne Forte T +1 212 6332600

South America Entourage Talent Ass. booking@entouragetalent.com

Robbie Williams Mar-May Worldwide Ian Huffam T +44 20 7749 3500

X-ray Touring info@xraytouring.com

Rory Block Apr-May Europe Jean Tant T +32 9 2829762

Kras Artists jean@kras.be

Scott Henderson Apr-May Europe Jeff Aug T +49 8324 933 851 Trio

Maximum Booking info@maximumbooking.com

Robbie Williams

tour plans

Artistes

Period Territory

Contact

Details

Maroon 5 May-Jun Europe Rod MacSween T +44 20 7637 6979

ITB Serena@itb.co.uk

Martha Reeves Mar-Aug Europe John Hessenthaler T +44 1787-247838 and The Vandellas

OEP Live! john.hessenthaler@btinternet.com

Mirel Wagner Feb Europe Serena Parsons T +44 20 7400 4500

Primary Talent International serena@primarytalent.com

MISIA Jan-Mar Europe Henry McGroggan T +48 22 894 60 35

Central Euro henry@centraleuro.org

Shakey Graves Jan-Feb Europe Stephanie Clive T +44 20 7017 2500

Coda Agency stephanie@codaagency.com

Sharon Corr Jan-Mar Europe, Asia John Giddings T +44 20 7384 6644

Solo john@solo.uk.com

Shelly Bonet Apr - May Europe Jeff Aug T +49 8324 933 851

Maximum Booking info@maximumbooking.com

Silent Disco Mar Worldwide Dan Silver T +44 20 7704 9720

Value Added Talent dan@vathq.co.uk

Skalpel Jan - Mar Europe Ania Marzec T +48 22 894 60 35

Central Euro ania@centraleuro.org

Stars From Mar-May Europe Mark Lundquist T +44 1483 224118 The Commitments

Mark Lundquist mark@marklundquist.com

Sylvan Esso Feb Europe Stephanie Clive T +44 20 7017 2500

Coda Agency Taksim Trio Mar-May Europe Riza Okcu T +90 212 2452424

StageArt rokcu@stageartorg.com

Tedeschi Trucks Sep-Dec South America Wayne Forte T +1 212 6332600 Band Entourage Talent booking@entouragetalent.com

38

Visit us at www.celebrityaccess.com or call us at +1 877-660-6310 ~ Sign up for you FREE TRIAL today!

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

www.audience.uk.com

a guide to artistes, tours & agents Artistes

tour plans

Period Territory

The Satisfaction Mar-Apr Europe

Terry Bozzio Artistes 10cc

Period Territory May-Aug Worldwide

Contact Steve Parker Miracle Artists

Details T +44 20 7935 9222 steve@miracle-artists.com

Ten Years After Jan, Mar Europe Sabine Trunzer T +49 6861 9399827

Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com

Terry Bozzio Sep-Nov Europe Jeff Aug T +49 8324 933 851

Maximum Booking info@maximumbooking.com

The Barr Brothers Feb Europe Rob Challice T +44 20 7017 2500

Coda Agency rob@codaagency.com

The Flying Pickets Jan-May Europe Jean Tant T +32 9 2829762

Kras Artists jean@kras.be

The Hut People Mar Europe Phil Simpson T +44 1539 528 808

Regent Music ps@regentmusic.com Mar-Jul Europe Mike Tobin T +44 7917 747552

Krown Elektrik mikeboppintobin@aol.com

Jul-Aug Europe Bennie Edwards T +44 20 8447 9411

Tony Denton Promotions info@tdpromo.com

Feb Europe Serena Parsons T +44 20 7400 4500

Primary Talent International serena@primarytalent.com

The Sadies

Feb-Mar Scandinavia, Serena Parsons T +44 20 7400 4500

Europe Primary Talent International serena@primarytalent.com

Details

Serena Parsons T +44 20 7400 4500 Primary Talent International serena@primarytalent.com

The Straits

The Young’uns

Tommy Emmanuel

Tony Allen

UFO

Wyclef Jean

White Cowbell Oklahoma

Zamilska

Dec Europe Alec Leslie T +44 1829 730 488

Consolidated alecconsol@aol.com

May Europe Phil Simpson T +44 1539 528 808

Regent Music ps@regentmusic.com

Apr-Jun Germany, Sabine Trunzer T +49 6861 9399827

Switzerland, Kultopolis agentin@kultopolis.com Austria

Jan-Apr Europe David Flower T +44 20 7359 9232

SASA Music rab@sasa.demon.co.uk

Feb-Mar Europe Nick Peel T +44 20 7935 9222

Miracle Artists nick@miracle-artists.com

Jun-Jul Europe Walter Laurer T +431 914 86 15

Georg Leitner Productions wlaurer@glp.at

Apr-May Germany & Jeff Aug T +49 8324 933 851

Eastern Europe Maximum Booking info@maximumbooking.com

Jan-Mar Europe Ania Marzec T +48 228 946 035

Central Euro ania@centraleuro.org

Zodiac

Jan-Mar Worldwide

50 Cent

8:58

May-Jul Europe Harald Büchel

Georg Leitner Productions

Feb Worldwide Dan Silver

Value Added Talent

Jeff Aug T +49 8324 933 851 Maximum Booking info@maximumbooking.com T +43 1 914 86 15 hbuechel@glp.at T +44 20 7704 9720 dan@vathq.co.uk

8:58 These listing details have been compiled from information provided to Audience. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure accuracy, however we cannot be held responsible for incorrect data.

tour plans

The Korgis

The Osmond’s and David Essex

The Polyphonic Spree

Contact

41

www.audience.uk.com

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

festival news Stage set for Rock in Rio Las Vegas RedFest to grow UNITED STATES Metallica, Linkin Park, Bruno organised in partnership with MGM Resorts International, Cirque du Soleil and entertainment Mars, No Doubt and Ed Sheeran are among the magnate Ron Burkle of The Yucaipa Companies. first acts announced for the Rock in Rio festival The site will comprise three themed Rock brand’s debut in Las Vegas.

Streets, celebrating the culture and music The 85,000-capacity, six stage Rock In Rio USA of Brazil, the UK and US, while a VIP area will will be held on 8-9 May and 15-16 May at The accommodate up to 4,000 guests. General City of Rock, a permanent open-air site on Las admission weekend tickets cost $298, Vegas Strip. with one-day VIP passes priced $498.

“In order to become the biggest brand Rock in Rio Brazil celebrates its 30th in music there are two markets that are very strong, and the main one is the anniversary next year and will be held United States,” says Rock in Rio executive in Rio de Janeiro on18-20 and 24-27 vice-president Roberta Medina.

September. Biennial editions were Earlier this year SFX Entertainment also launched in Lisbon (Portugal) and acquired a 50 per cent stake in the Madrid (Spain) in 2004 and festival brand, whose US launch is being Roberta Medina 2008 respectively.

Woodstock keeps spirit free

festival news

POLAND Organisers of the Woodstock Festival have no plans to charge an admission fee, despite this year’s event attracting a record 750,000 people for its 20th anniversary.

The next event is set for 30 July-1 August at Kostrzyn on the Oder.

“What we definitely don’t want to do is to make Woodstock Festival Poland a paid and fenced event,” says organiser Jerzy Owsiak. “The open-area safety principle which we believe in has proved to

Woodstock

be very efficient.

“We have had multiple situations when the audience, having realised that medical intervention is required, move back and create communication conduits within the crowd. This greatly Jerzy Owsiak helps us perform a quick rescue action.”

Organised by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation, which raises money for children’s hospitals, past performers have included Kaiser Chiefs, Anthrax and Enter Shikari.

“It is estimated that, of the 750,000 who attended this year, approximately 500,000 people stayed at the site for at least one night,” adds Owsiak. “Toilets, washing facilities, food zones, and medical facilities – all of this is needed in great numbers.”

Artistes announced for next year include Black Label Society, Bednarek and Voo Voo.

Tour Manager Terry Tucker’s Tribulations

42

audience • Issue 178 • November 2014

by Newman-Parker

by 25 per cent

UNITED arab emirates The second edition of RedFest DXB at Dubai Media City will see its capacity increase by 2,000 to 12,000.

The Script, Iggy Azalea, Kiesza and Ella Eyre are among artistes set to perform over two stages at the venue from 12-13 February, with acts still to be announced.

Promoted by Dubai-based Done Events (DE), the festival is a joint venture with the company’s Arab Media Group stable-mate Virgin Radio Dubai.

“We are spending 25 per cent more on artiste fees and we will use the full capacity of the site next year,” says DE’s chief operating officer Thomas Ovesen. “We got 10,000 people a day this year.”

The inaugural event featured performers such as Kesha, Tinie Tempah, The Lumineers, Mark Ronson and John Newman.

“There is a lot of potential for future expansion to other destinations in the region,” adds Ovesen.

Weekend tickets cost 550 dirhams ($150), or 1,000 dirhams ($272) for RedStyle VIP tickets, offering a lounge-style seating area with views of the main stage and luxury washrooms.

Sonar advances to Cape Town SOUTH AFRICA The Sonar International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art is holding its first event in the country from 15-16 December.

The electronic dance music-focused event was launched in Spain in 1994 by journalist Richard Robles, musician Enric Palau and filmmaker Sergi Caballero.

Other festivals under the Sonar banner have been held this year in Barcelona (Spain), Tokyo (Japan), Reykjavik (IceGeorgia Taglietti land) and Mexico City.

“Since the beginning, Sonar has been creating an eclectic mix where advanced music, visual arts, electronica and technology could find its best showcase,” says the festival’s head of communications Georgia Taglietti.

Cape Town’s Good Hope Centre (cap. 7,000) will host the event, which will have a bill featuring Pet Shop Boys, 2manydjs, The Bloody Beetroots and Jon Hopkins. Two-day passes cost 895 rand ($80).

www.audience.uk.com