IN BRIEF INDEX The concert business digest
JUNE John Sharkey, executive vicepresident of European operations for leading venue operator ASM Global, announces his departure from the company after seven years. Governments in Denmark and Norway start organising large-scale test events to determine how large gatherings can take place during the pandemic. Fieldlab Evenementen reveals the findings from three months’ worth of pilot events in the Netherlands. The International Festival Forum announces a physical, non-socially distanced event in London this September, complemented by an online pass for delegates who are unable to travel. Luxembourg’s Rockhal scales up its pilot concerts from 100 to 600 people per night, as part of the Because Music Matters initiative. Barclaycard Arena Hamburg welcomes spectators for the first time in over a year for a series of tests.
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Dutch music venues are permitted to reopen from 5 June, when the country enters step three of the government’s reopening plan. Belgian live entertainment giant Sportpaleis Group is given the green light to open its pop-up arena in the coastal area of Middelkerke this July. Chinese post-punk band Re-TROS make history with the biggest rock show in China since the beginning of 2020. Finnish metal band Nightwish are joined by more than 150,000 fans from 108 countries for their virtual concert experience. Promoters buy into Oz ticket marketplace Tixel.
Laneway Festival, the much-loved Australasian touring festival, joins the TEG family. WME parent company Endeavor posts a small profit of $2.4million (€2m) in the first quarter of 2021. Hearby launches gig guide that will cover 36+ UK cities. Live Nation appoints Nicole Portwood to the newly created role of chief brand officer. UAE announces it will require proof of vaccination for live events. Jazzopen Stuttgart is on track to welcome more than 30,000 fans to open-air venues across the German city this September.
Poland’s Fest Festival is given permission to go ahead as planned, without any capacity limits, provided that attendees have had their Covid-19 vaccinations. Belgium gives green light for 75,000-capacity open-air festivals. Sky Festivals, the largest festival owner in Norway, acquires Stavernfestivalen. Barcelona-based TiketBlok says it has developed an app that makes it possible to identify everyone who attends a major event through their mobile phones. Plans are underway for a summer concert for 60,000 people in New York’s Central Park.
Paris’s Accor Arena hosts 5,000 people with no social distancing for Ambition Live Again.
The South African Roadies Association hits out at the loose regulations governing live event production in South Africa.
Israel’s successful Covid-19 vaccination programme allows event organisers in the country to operate as they did back in 2019.
A number of music businesses and associations mark the oneyear anniversary of the Blackout Tuesday/#TheShowMustBePaused campaign.
An American inventor patents a new thermometer design he says will allow the taking of temperature readings without physical contact at live events.
The UK’s live entertainment community holds its breath for the government’s long-awaited 14 June Covid briefing.
Austrian promoters and festival organisers prepare to relaunch activities in July.
UK promoter Magnitude Live launches.
French live music associations initiate a push for their members to be allowed to reopen at full capacity.
