IQ123 preview

ASERIBE E L P SC ION SUB S VERET TO L L U .N E F MAG H T QFOR TO I GO

THE HABIT HE CAN’T BREAK Louis Tomlinson’s

Faith in the Future world tour

ALEX BRUFORD: A remarkable 20 years in music

123 AN ILMC PUBLICATION NOVEMBER 2023 | £25 | €25

ILMC 36 LAUNCH Getting mission

ready for an out-of-thisworld edition

SPHERE VEGAS OPENS U2 extends

groundbreaking run

ALL ABOARD! All at sea with

the operators of live music cruises

LET’S Denmark DANSK

market report

ADVERTISING ARTWORK

ILMC

ON

M ES

ALL

S T EP FOR DEL

EG

AT E

S

IQ123 CONTENTS Cover photo: U2:UV opening weekend at Sphere in Las Vegas © Rich Fury

ON

24

06

EG

IAN

T LE AP FOR LIVE

MU

SI

C

36

58 NEWS

FEATURES

COMMENT AND COLUMNS

14 16 20

06

22

Index In Brief The main headlines over the last month Analysis Key stories and news analysis from around the live music world New Signings & Rising Stars A roundup of the latest acts that have been added to the rosters of international agencies

24 36 40 58 64

ILMC 36: One Giant Leap for Live Music Previewing the various events and gatherings planned for the out-of-thisworld 36th edition of the International Live Music Conference The Habit He Can't Break Behind the scenes of Louis Tomlinson’s Faith in the Future world tour IFF 2023 A review of the 9th International Festival Forum from its new south London base Transforming the Industry Landscape Gordon Masson talks to Alex Bruford about his first 20 years in music and the philosophies behind his ATC Live agency All Aboard!

Taking to the high seas to explore the growing live music cruise business Let's Dansk Adam Woods talks to professionals in Denmark for this edition's market focus

23 76 78

Ten Lessons from Ten Years of The Fair Nick Morgan reveals some of the key takeaways from a decade of producing and organising festivals The Revolution of Protective Ownership Rachael Flaszczak explains how MVT’s Own Our Venues project helped save her grassroots music venue for future generations Members’ Noticeboard ILMC members’ photographs Your Shout What is the scariest experience you’ve ever had?

Thousands of professionals read IQ every day. Make sure you get the whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE MagazineHERE 3

LONDON | 27 FEB–1 MAR 2024

EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS IN THE LIVE MUSIC BUSINESS ILMC 36 IS IN ORBIT WITH OUR GRAVITY-DEFYING PARTNERS

REGISTRATION

PLATINUM

ASSOCIATION

FEATURES

GOLD

SERVICES

SILVER

MEDIA

KILLING FIELDS

W

hile even the most civilised conversation about Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank can cause tension depending on the allegiances of the participants, the atrocities committed on 7 October should be condemned by everyone. No ifs or buts.

It should not matter which side of the fence you sit on, the barbarism involved at Supernova and elsewhere on 7 October was beyond evil.

As a journalist working for a trade magazine, I’m certainly in no position to preach or point fingers, but some responses from people who should know a lot better have been shocking. My significant other has Arabic roots and is often dismayed by the lack of coverage, care, or condemnation when it comes to the situations in Syria and Lebanon. For me, this extends to the massacre at Supernova. Remember the universal reaction to the terror attack at Bataclan in 2015? Images of French flags across home pages on social media were ubiquitous. Compare that with the response to the attack on Supernova Festival – a celebration of peace and love – where scores of young people were murdered…

What the future impact will be on Israeli festivals, and live music in general, remains to be seen, and it will no doubt be a long time before we find out. But the nightmare scenario of a terror attack on a festival, oft discussed at ILMC in recent years, has now happened, and the ramifications for the global business require some thoughtful debate in the months ahead.

Our news editor James Hanley reports on the Supernova massacre in our news analysis section (see page 16). He also takes a look at U2’s ongoing residency, which opened the remarkable Sphere venue in Las Vegas – an arena that “will have an impact on the whole of live entertainment” according to at least one critic.

Elsewhere, we salute Alex Bruford, who is marking his 20th anniversary in the music business (page 40) and learn about the philosophies behind the creation of ATC Live and his goal to make the agency a genuine home for career artists.

Talking of which, we hit the road to hear from some of the professionals who are helping Louis Tomlinson achieve his ambitions with his Faith in the Future world tour (page 24). And we also take to the high seas to discover why more and more acts are being lured aboard cruise liners to entertain well-heeled fans (page 58).

Adam Woods turns his focus on Denmark, and the city of Aarhus, for this issue’s market report (page 64), where he is told that promoters are finding it difficult to book enough talent to satisfy the demand from eager Danish live music fans.

We also report on some of the activities at September’s International Festival Forum (page 36), while, as you’ll find by turning the page, we’re giving the 2024 edition of ILMC an out-of-this-world theme (page 6), which more than a hundred of you have already registered for, selling out our super early-bird offer. But there are still discounts aplenty available for early-bird delegates, thanks to a January deadline on that deal.

ILMC 36 is going to be an important gathering, where the discussions could shape the international live music sector for future generations, so we’re hoping to see as many of you there as our capacity will allow.

ISSUE 123 LIVE MUSIC INTELLIGENCE IQ Magazine Unit 31 Tileyard Road London, N7 9AH info@iq-mag.net www.iq-mag.net Tel: +44 (0)20 3743 0300 Twitter: @iq_mag Publisher ILMC and Suspicious Marketing Editor Gordon Masson News Editor James Hanley Deputy News Editor Lisa Henderson Sales Director Gareth Ospina Design RND Studio Sub Editor Michael Muldoon Head of Digital Ben Delger Digital Content Executive Hanna Ellington Contributors Rachael Flaszczak, Nick Morgan, Adam Woods Editorial Contact Gordon Masson gordon@iq-mag.net Tel: +44 (0)20 3743 0303 Advertising Contact Gareth Ospina gareth@iq-mag.net Tel: +44 (0)20 3743 0304 ISSN 2633-0636

Thousands of professionals read IQ every day. Make sure you get the whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE Magazine 5

E

GI

AN

US

ON

IC

ON ES

S TE GA

EP FOR D T S L EL L A E M

TL

E A P F OR L

M E IV

27.02.2024–01.03.2024 MISSION DOSSIER FOR DELEGATES’ EYES ONLY

T H E I N T E RGA L AC T IC LU NA R M I S SION C ON T ROL (I L MC)

6 iq-mag.net

T E P F O R DE

LE

IC

S

O NE

SM

LS

AN

M

E

GI

US

ON

Control (ILMC) is inviting you to The Intergalactic Lunar Mission tiers, topics, and markets for fron join a mission to explore new February–1 March 2024. And the live music business from 27 stratospheric new heights, with the global industry reaching ic professionals will embark mus live top over 1,400 of the world’s be out of this world. on a journey that promises to promises unique perspecILMC is a three-day journey that ty of first contacts. And with tives on the business and plen xy of cosmic events, it’s a supermassive debates and a gala gravity-defying schedule. aster Hotel for a second ILMC 36 returns to the Royal Lanc e, r space. And speaking of spac edition in this beautiful five-sta ting zones mee ate priv in ease incr nt 2024 will see a significa satellite events such as Futures around the conference, while Entertainment Live and a Forum, the new one-day Touring case night (see page 10) show ng Calli don fast-expanding Lon me ever. make it ILMC’s biggest program journey strictly limited, don’t llar rste With ‘space’ on our inte ion badge. So dust your helmet delay in signing up for your miss ready for launch with Planet off, strap yourself in, and get venues, managers, astronauts, nts, age Earth’s top promoters, and deep (space) thinkers.

AL

TE GA

THE 2024 MISSION

TL

E AP FOR L

E

ILMC returns to the Royal Lanc aster Hotel in 20 newly revamped 24, the five-star hotel just moments fro Central London m that boasts vie ws of Hyde Park bedrooms and . All 400 suites in the ho tel are reserved ly for ILMC deleg exclusiveates, with gene rously discount on all room type ed rates s.

Given that so mu ch of ILMC take s place within th hotel, or just se e conds from it (in cluding most lat events) we stro e-night ngly recommen d staying at th The room rates e hotel. increase the clo ser to ILMC we ge rooms do sell ou t, and t in advance, so to stay in the ma ference hotel, it’ in cons advisable to bo ok as early as po The hotel also off ssible. ers a range of su ites that can be booked for priva te meetings du ring ILMC, and ca for (contact lou tered isef@thetourc ompany.co.uk fo information on r more these).

36 .ilmc. com/ac commodation

ILMC 36: Mission Dossier

SPACE STATION LANCASTER

IV

YOUR MISSION ES… BADGE INCLUD

esentations, ILMC panels, pr ● Access to all ts. s, and most even networking area d Touring tures Forum an ● Access to Fu March).

1 ay rid (F E LIV Entertainment the industry’s list restricted to ● An invitation shakers. top movers and coffee breaks. ches and tea & ● Five-star lun odation rates. ounted accomm ● Heavily disc g Scheme. e ILMC Networkin ● Access to th Guide, tters Conference ● The Globetro tion for ma contact infor which includes all delegates. ate bag. ● An ILMC deleg ndon shows across Lo ● Free entry to C. throughout ILM luxurious s facilities of a ● The first-clas London hotel.

Events & entry to Green ● Discounted king place the (ta nference Innovations Co C). day before ILM proceeds s to be won with ize pr nt ● Significa . going to charity an you e space puns th bl na tio es ● More qu . at ergalactic stick can shake an int

MISSION PARTNERS

kindly stepped A stellar lineup of companies have ion. miss 4 202 's ILMC port up to sup Co-op Live, the Platinum partners this year are its doors in April ns ope that a aren new Manchester who return for on 2024, Ticketmaster, and Live Nati ing. runn r an incredible 19th yea -standing This year's gold partners are long al, who will Glob supporter CTS Eventim, and ASM ILMC on at ls ona essi prof ng also support 30 you . Meanwhile, eme Sch ary Burs t Swif n Dan the Alia G Entertainment our silver partners are AXS, DEA c. wse Group, and Sho To find out more about partneri marketing@ilmc.com +44 (0) 203 743 0302

FRIDAY IS THE NEW… There are two very good reasons to have Friday 1 March at ILMC in your diary in 2024 with two full-day events taking over the programme, and all ILMC delegates encouraged to take part.

Firstly, ILMC 36 sees the launch of Touring Entertainment LIVE, a full-day conference ded icated to the global business of big-brand live entertainmen t, exhibitions, and touring family shows. Steered by a com mittee of content experts from across the globe, Touring Entertainment LIVE will feature multiple panel discussi ons, keynote interviews, and presentations of shows and projects. The whole day is included in your ILMC delegate pass, and takes place in a dedicated 1,000m2 ballroom in the Royal Lancaster Hotel.

And Friday 1 March also sees the four th edition of Futures Forum, the one-day event that brings together the people who currently define the busines s with the emerging execs who are driving its evolution. Futu res Forum mixes connected discussions with immersive wor kshops, TED-style ‘Soapbox’ presentations by thought lead ers, peer-to-peer networking, and career-boosting mentorin g.

8 iq-mag.net

ng with ILMC 36:

ILMC BURSARY SCHEME

The Networking Scheme allows delegates to communicate with each other in advance of the conference in order to pre-arrange meetings.

To take part, please tick the relevant box when registering. Once live, registered participants will be sent details of how to access the passwordprotected Networking Scheme area.

The contact details for all delegates will be listed in The Globetrotters Guide (which you will receive upon your arrival at ILMC), but the Networking Scheme is the only way to access each other’s details in advance.

The Networking Scheme goes live in January 2024, with details updated weekly until the conference takes place.

36.ilmc.com/networking-scheme

ILMC 36: Mission Dossier

The Alia Dann Swift Bursary Scheme offers a complimentary conference pass and mentoring opportunities to 30 young professionals in 2024, courtesy of ASM Global. The scheme is intended to provide a route for live music’s brightest upcoming executives to participate in ILMC for the first time and build their network.

The scheme is supported by ASM Global’s corporate social responsibility platform, ASM Global Acts, whose aim is to protect the environment, invest in people, and strengthen communities around the globe.

Each bursary place holder will be twinned with a dedicated industry mentor and benefit from additional networking opportunities both during and after ILMC via the ASM Global family. The scheme is a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge and ideas and to build new contacts within the industry. The scheme is open to international applicants and encourages applicants from a diverse background.

Places in the bursary scheme will be allocated in three rounds. The first round is available to apply for now, with a closing date of 24 November.

Details of all successful applicants will remain strictly confidential.

36.ilmc.com/bursary

LMC NETWORKING SCHEME

MEETING SPACE There is even more networking ‘space’ available than ever at Space Station Lancaster this year, including the Nine Kings Foyer, The Park Restaurant, and Strangey’s Bar (aka The Black Hole), which is this year hosted by ASM Global.

Each of these areas include comfor table seating, tea & coffee, or bar service.

Additionally, for information on booking private suites throughout ILMC, please contact louisef@thetourcompany.co.uk.

Magazine

9

TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY

WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY

GREEN EVENTS & INNOVATIONS CONFERENCE

10:00–1 8:00 ILMC’s full programme of panels, debates, workshops and keynotes will be announced in the coming weeks. If you have a speaker or topic suggestion, please get in touch (hello@ilmc.com)

09:30–2 1:00 Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI) is the longest-standing, worldrenowned event for leading discourse on sustainability for the live events sector.

With a conference programme that includes presentations, case studies, and debate, GEI addresses the role and responsibility of the event and entertainment industries in tackling the challenges of our transport, food, and power systems; and design and materials usage for circularity. Sessions will also cover topics such as equality and inclusivity, climate justice, biodiversity, communications, and much more.

GEI takes place the day before ILMC begins and in the same venue in Central London.

Entrance to GEI is with a separate delegate pass, but all ILMC delegates can take advantage of a discounted registration fee.

36.ilmc.com/gei

THE ‘WE HAVE LIFT-OFF’ OPENING PARTY

17:30–1 9:30 Houston, we have an opening party! As the official start of ILMC 2024, the supermassive opening party is a major live music industry gathering, all rocket-fuelled by hosts Live Nation.

ILMC’s opening night will welcome hundreds of live music professionals on the eve of the conference, and with two hours of complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks, it’s the perfect launchpad for the space mission that follows.

A chance to reunite with friends and colleagues and a voyage of discovery to make first contact with others, it’s a great way to start your conference.

ACCESS ALL AREAS

19:00–l ate Your ILMC delegate pass gives you access to a host of shows and events happening around London throughout the week. Details will be published in February.

10 iq-mag.net

CONFERENCE SESSIONS

THE GASTRO-NAUTS’ LUNCH

12:30–14:30 This two-hour culinary experience will give space travellers time to enjoy a long lunch that should have their taste buds flying to the moon and back.

Prepared by the Royal Lancaster Hotel’s fivestar chefs, it’s an epic spread of mouth-watering dishes, including vegetarian and vegan options, and sumptuous sweet treats. Some might even say it’s a ‘spice odyssey’…

HAPPY HOUR

18:00–1 9:00 Details of Wednesday’s Happy Hour are coming soon… but with 60 minutes of drinks and hundreds in attendance, it’s the best way to get the evening started.

LONDON CALLING

20:00– 00:00 ILMC’s central London showcase returns for its second edition with a superb lineup of new and emerging artists presented by leading organisations across the business. London Calling is expanding to six Soho venues in 2024, all within a short walk of each other; and with 24 artists performing, it’s going to be a must-attend night.

Your ILMC pass guarantees entry in every venue, and all venues are a ten-minute ride away on the Underground. Details of this year’s London Calling will be announced closer to the event, but be sure to make ‘space’ in your diary…

36.ilmc.com/london-calling

‘THIS IS PLANET-TURF’ TABLE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

23:45– 03:00 A late-night game of quick reactions and occasionally even skill, The Table Football Competition sees players compete in pairs for both international glory and the world’s tiniest trophy.

The game takes place on two custom, match-grade foosball tables in Strangey’s Bar, the late-night hub of ILMC, which is hosted by ASM Global in 2024.

THURSDAY 29 FEBRUARY WOMEN IN LIVE MORNING MIXER

09:3 0–10 :30 all female-identifying An informal networking hour for up, meet, and enjoy Turn 36.

ILMC at live music execs and pastries as ILMC’s some complimentary coffee, tea Thursday begins.

CONFERENCE SESSIONS

10:0 0–1 8:00 debates, workshops ILMC’s full programme of panels, the coming weeks. in ed and keynotes will be announc on, please get in esti sugg c topi or ker If you have a spea touch (hello@ilmc.com).

THE PRODUCTION & NETWORKING

LUNCH

12:3 0–14 :30 lunch offers an epic ILMC’s complimentary delegate including vegetarian es, dish ing ater th-w mou spread of opportunity for the an also and vegan options. And it’s bookers, promoters, with t mee to ty erni production frat agents, and more.

W THE NIKOS FUND GRAND PRIZE DRA

13:3 0–14 :00 small donation for a Swap your business card and a s. A ride on Virgin Galactic? chance to win some huge prize home? Body wash? take to Your very own moon lander be as we raise will s prize ’s year this t Who knows wha s Ukraine.

Save ic funds for ILMC 36’s charity, Mus

19:0 0–l ate you access to a host Your ILMC delegate pass gives around London of shows and events happening ils will be published Deta . throughout the conference in February.

TBALL MATCH OF THE (LIGHT) YEAR FOO

19:00–23:00 iness’s The international live music bus – will be best-loved awards – The Arthurs Gala-xy g’ Ban Big ‘The handed out during top live ld’s wor the of 450 with And Dinner. , nce nda music professionals in atte affair. it’s bound to be a truly cosmic from With thousands of votes compiled ur Arth The ld, wor the professionals around s star ing shin the sees y mon Awards cere a handful of the industry recognised and of the one e hom ng taki of lucky winners es. uett stat ed cherish , agent, And as if seeing the top promoter ive rece e mor and ter ticke venue, festival, event will the , ugh eno n’t was ion gnit reco rnova Emma once again be compered by supe r hiatus.

-yea one a r afte rns retu Banks who e plac ng With the Gala-xy Dinner taki ce chan no e’s ther , ship her within ILMC’s mot can sts gue as e, spac in lost ing of gett the lavish beam themselves directly into an interwith out g han to e Suit Westbourne ellers. trav e stellar gathering of live biz spac gne mpa cha a with The evening begins four r, -sta five a by wed follo n receptio g innin rd-w course feast prepared by awa n The s. wine fine of n ctio chefs, and a sele s of mind the test will quiz pop ual the ann before the even the smartest cosmonauts, ins. beg urs Arth The to countdown all ticket Immediately after the awards, selves to them le shutt to holders are invited until the y part ow r-sh afte and oke the kara early hours.

36.ilmc.com /gala- dinner

ILMC 36: Mission Dossier

ACCESS ALL AREAS

‘THE BIG BANG’ GALA-X Y DINNER & ARTHUR AWARDS

19:3 0–2 1:30 see the UK pit itself This annual football match will in a 90-minute display erse univ the against the rest of ss. Buses will shuttle of epic skill and spacial awarene aster Hotel to the Lanc al grass-tronauts from the Roy y opportunity ever ing allow in, aga k grounds and bac k trip to the quic a Or for bragging rights afterwards. first-aid office…

THE ‘ABSOLUTE ZERO (TALENT)’

KARAOKE

22:3 0–0 2:30 rds after party is The ILMC karaoke and Arthur Awa aural sins. With of e itud always the scene of a mult iration, this lateinsp for d han on s ume props and cost the kind of event not is night scene of fun and silliness ’re sober). you rse, cou of ess, you want to miss (unl

Magazine

11

FRIDAY 1 MARCH TOURING ENTERTAINMENT LIVE

10:0 0–18 :00 a new one-day ILMC 2024 sees the launch of business of bigal glob the to ed icat ded t even ons, and touring ibiti exh t, brand live entertainmen t LIVE will bring men rtain Ente ing Tour s. family show ibition exh and together the world’s top show rs, and rato ope e venu ers, hold producers, rights k in that space. wor who s oter prom the tly, importan ee of content The day is steered by a committ will feature and e, glob the ss acro experts from interviews, and ote multiple panel discussions, keyn . The event is a ects proj and s presentations of show for the leaders and much-needed annual assembly sector and ollar originators of this multibillion-d of an ILMC part as ded inclu is entrance to the day s. pas delegate ainment-live 36.ilmc.com /touring-entert

FUTURES FORUM

10:0 0–18 :00 t for the next Futures Forum is a one-day even leaders to forge stry generation of live music indu with all ILMC s, idea e ang exch relationships and day takes The nd. atte to ged oura enc s delegate the people ther toge ging place as part of ILMC, brin with s ines bus the ne defi y that currentl ing its evolution. the emerging execs who are driv discussions ted nec con s Futures Forum mixe le ‘Soapbox’ -sty TED ps, ksho wor e ersiv with imm r-to-peer pee ers, presentations by thought lead g. torin men ting oos er-b care networking and years include nt rece from s light high aker Spe s (Lucy Dickins, Ben Dua Lipa , Team Mumford & Son Wasserman Music’s and ), ope Tudh m Lovett and Ada play, Janelle Mar ty Diamond (Ed Sheeran, Cold 3.

202 Monáe and more) in Futures Forum Young professionals can attend all ILMC e whil et, as a separate day-only tick ion. sess y ever nd delegates can atte 36.ilmc.com /futures-forum

12 iq-mag.net

CH FRIDAY’S ‘SUPER-MASSIVE’ LUN

12:3 0–14 :30 w it… An out of It’s lunch, Jim, but not as we kno ctic explorer or this world buffet fit for any gala l… live music professiona

THE ‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’ CLOSING DRINKS

18:00–19:00 res Forum, To wrap up both ILMC and Futu es of inut 60-m delegates are invited to continue to nce cha a It’s ks. drin networking ute -min conversations, make a few last n dow k bac met plum introductions, and h. to Eart

SCHEDULE TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2024 09:30–18:00 09:30–18:00 09:30–21:00 17:30–19:30 18:00–19:30 19:00–00:00

Private Company Meetings Private Association Meetings Green Events & Innovations Conference The ‘We Have Lift-off’ Opening Party International AGF Awards Access All Areas Shows

WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2024

09:30–11:00 The ‘Zero Gravi-Tea’ & Coffee Break 09:30–18:00 Private Association Meetings 10:00–10:30 New Delegates’ Orientation 10:00–18:00 Conference Sessions 12:30–14:30 The Gastro-Nauts’ Lunch 18:00–19:00 Happy Hour 20:00–00:00 London Calling 00:00–03:00 ‘This Is Planet-Turf’ Table Football Tournament

THURSDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2024

Women in Live Morning Mixer The ‘Escape Veloci-Tea’ & Coffee Break Conference Sessions The Production & Networking Lunch Nikos Fund Grand Prize Draw Feld’s ‘Milky Way’ Ice-Cream Break Private Association Meetings Even Happier Hour Access All Areas Shows Match of the (Light) Year Football ‘The Big Bang’ Gala-xy Dinner & Arthur Awards 22:30–02:30 The ‘Absolute Zero (Talent)’ Karaoke 09:30–10:30 09:30–11:00 10:00–18:00 12:30–14:30 13:30–14:00 16:00–17:00 16:00–19:00 18:00–19:00 19:00–00:00 19:30–21:30 19:30–00:00

FRIDAY 1 MARCH 2024

The Friday Tea & Coffee Break Conference Sessions Futures Forum Touring Entertainment LIVE Friday’s ‘Supper-Massive’ Lunch The ‘Mission Accomplished’ Closing Drinks 19:00–00:00 Access All Areas Shows 09:00–11:30 10:00–17:30 10:00–18:00 10:00–18:00 12:30–14:30 18:00–19:00

ILMC 36: Mission Dossier

THE NOT-SO- SMAL L PRINT A full list of terms an d conditions can be found online but please note: ● ILMC conference sessions may not be videoed or record ed ● Children and pets are not allowed in the conference are as ● Conference passe s must be worn at all times ● Lost conference passes will incur a replacement fee

Magazine

13

IN BRIEF INDEX The concert business digest

Bluedot festival announces a fallow year in 2024, to allow the festival site to fully recover from the impact of adverse weather at this year’s event.

The debut edition of Brazil’s The Town festival generates R$1.9bn in economic impact for the host city of São Paulo.

Beyoncé’s record-breaking Renaissance World Tour officially wraps after earning more than $579m worldwide at the box office.

Foo Fighters become the latest act to confirm a 2024 stadium tour, announcing a slate of US dates for next summer.

UK promoter Kilimanjaro Live announces the opening of a new office in Wales, headed by former Orchard Live boss Pablo Janczur.

Wasserman completes its acquisition of sports marketing company CSM Sport & Entertainment.

Livestreaming platform Veeps unveils new subscription service All Access, which offers fans unlimited access to all its live shows, on-demand content, and special artist exclusives.

14 iq-mag.net

Post Malone is confirmed as the opening act at another new Las Vegas venue – The BleauLive Theater – at the end of this year.

Music Venue Trust chief Mark Davyd hails a “huge moment for grassroots music venues” after the UK organisation announces the first acquisition under its Own Our Venues scheme.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment boss James Dolan says the company’s controversial MSG London Sphere scheme is “moving forward.”

CTS Eventim projects group revenue in excess of €2bn for 2023 after delivering a strong quarter led by its ticketing division.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert film grosses more than $100m in advance ticket sales over a week before its premiere.

At least 260 people are killed and others abducted in an attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel’s Supernova festival. Event organisers say they are “shocked and pained” by what is believed to be the deadliest-ever assault on a music event (see page 16).

Coldplay countersues their former manager Dave Holmes for £14m , alleging that he failed “adequately to supervise and control” the budget for the band’s Music of the Spheres Tour.

Ticketmaster launches a charity upsell option for the UK’s Music Venue Trust to coincide with its sponsorship of October’s Venues Day. Concerts and festivals are credited with driving the recovery of cultural tourism in Spain, the Association of Musical Promoters (APM) reports, citing data from the Resident Tourism Survey and the Tourist Expenditure Survey.

Warner Music Group acquires India-based live events and artist management company E-Positive.

Stadiums Queensland’s annual report reveals record attendances across the Australian agency’s nine venues in the 2022/23 financial year.

U2 frontman Bono pays tribute to the victims of the Supernova festival massacre in Israel while on stage in Las Vegas.

Afro Nation co-founder Obi Asika discusses his ambitions for the pioneering festival during Easol’s new masterclass series.

Indie pop group Easy Life say they will play two final shows before changing their name after being hit with a trademark infringement lawsuit by the owner of the EasyJet brand.

Major League Soccer stadiums in the US are in line for a concert boom after teaming up with artist management and production company Terrapin Station Entertainment.

The 1975’s Matty Healy defends kissing his bandmate onstage in Malaysia, during a ten-minute speech delivered at their concert in Dallas, Texas.

Ed Sheeran is unveiled as the first headliner of Rock in Rio Lisbon’s 20th anniversary edition.

The family of a long-serving KISS guitar tech who died after contracting Covid-19 while on tour launch a lawsuit against the band, alleging negligence and wrongful death.

Thousands of professionals read IQ every day. Make sure you get the whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Analysis

FALLOUT FROM SUPERNOVA FESTIVAL MASSACRE CONTINUES

A

t least 260 people were killed and others abducted at a festival in Israel by Hamas on 7 October in what is believed to have been the deadliest-ever assault on a music event.

Psy-trance gathering Supernova Sukkot was being attended by around 3,000 people in the desert near Kibbutz Re’im, not far from the Gaza Strip, when armed terrorists stormed the event on motorcycles, trucks, and paragliders as part of a surprise offensive by Hamas.

More than 1,400 people were killed in a series of coordinated attacks, leading Israel to formally declare war on the organisation the following day. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “crush and destroy” Hamas and said every member of the organisation was a “dead man.”

At press time, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 7,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes.

The Tribe of Nova presents Supernova was held under the Universo Paralello brand, which was launched 23 years ago in Brazil. Israeli producer Artifex was performing on the main stage when the attack started. The festival’s international lineup also included Aladin, Astral Projection, Flare, Jackalon, Jumpstreet, Kido, Libra, Man With no Name, Noface, Protonica, Rocky Tilbor, Shove, Spectra Sonics, Swarup, and Wegha.

Executives from Israel’s live music industry called the massacre the “biggest-ever disaster at a music festival” and say business will be paused for the foreseeable future.

16 iq-mag.net

“This is the hardest moment in Israel’s history,” Hillel Wachs of local promoter 2b Vibes tells IQ. “This will significantly set back the live industry and clearly complicate our efforts to promote shows. I imagine 2024 will be relatively quiet.

Our biggest hope now is that everyone returns home safely and this ends as soon as possible.

Our thoughts are with the families of victims.”

Jonathan Lipitz, founder of local promoter Yellow Brick and owner of Tel Aviv-based club Kuli Alma, lives a 120-minute drive from where the festival took place and says he heard a siren go off around dawn, warning of rockets.

“This is the biggest tragedy my country has ever faced,” he says. “I’m more shocked than scared, and I’m more enraged than sad. I’m not really digesting what my eyes and brain are seeing. This will take a lot of time.”

Festival organiser Tribe of Nova said it was “shocked and pained” in the aftermath of the tragedy and expresses its “sincere and heartfelt condolences to all the families, friends, partners and couples who have lost their loved ones or have been affected by the tragic events.”

“What was planned to be the happiest and largest electronic music festival of the Nova Tribe has turned into a scene of unspeakable tragedy, an inhumane war crime, an unprecedented violation of the most basic human values,” it says in a statement. “This is the epitome of pure and unbridled evil, the horrifying and senseless murder of countless innocent angels, whose only ‘crime’ was being Jewish and living in Israel.

“It’s no wonder that these agents of darkness

target this joyous gathering of children of light, for their sole and singular purpose is to bring darkness upon the world. But we won’t let them do that! We will keep fighting until we reach our objective adorned on our tribe’s flag: to spread light throughout the world, with the help of the holy people of Israel and the Nova Tribe.”

The Kibbutz Re’im festival site was still not entirely secure even after days of fighting, with Tribe of Nova working “day and night” to assist with search and rescue operations.

Entertainment industry leaders signed an open letter released by the non-profit entertainment industry organisation, Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), condemning Hamas. Signatories included Full Stop Management CEO/ chairman Irving Azoff; CAA CEO Bryan Lourd and co-chair Richard Lovett; chair of UTA’s board of directors Jim Berkus; and Endeavor co-founder Rick Rosen.

The German Music Council, the Music Industry Forum, GEMA (Society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights), and GVL (German copyright collection society) also declared their solidarity with the people of Israel.

“The German Music Council and the Music Industry Forum join the German Cultural Council’s call for solidarity with the people of Israel and are horrified by the attacks on civilians,” says a joint statement. “[The Hamas] terrorist attack and the suffering it has brought to people are beyond words and a new, terrible wake-up call that anti-Semitism must have no place in our society.”

Meanwhile, the 60,000-cap Bruno Mars concert scheduled for 7 October at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park was cancelled amid the escalation of the conflict. The US star had played his first-ever show in Israel just three days earlier.

In a statement regarding the cancellation, Live Nation Israel said: “We stand with the residents of Israel, IDF fighters, and the security forces in these difficult moments.”

“Entertainment can wait,” adds Lipitz. “First, we need to be focused on people’s lives.”

The 2023 MTV EMAs, set to take place in France at Paris Nord Villepinte on 5 November, as well as concerts by The B-52s and The Comet Is Coming, were also cancelled amid the escalation of the conflict.

“Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life,” says a statement from EMAs organiser Paramount.

“The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration Thousands of of global music. As we watchprofessionals the devastatingread events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, IQ every day. Make this does not feel like a moment for a global celsure you get the ebration.”

whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE

NEW SIGNINGS & NEW MUSIC Tracking the acts that have found representation at booking agencies around the world.

A

scion of Haitian musical royalty, Paul Beaubrun was destined to play on a global stage. Weaving rich guitar and vocals together with musical ingenuity and cultural history, he fuses his cultures through his music, performing in English, French, and Creole, the native tongue of his Haitian roots.

The singer and multi-instrumentalist has played alongside an array of artists, including Ms. Lauryn Hill, Jackson Browne, and Arcade Fire with whom he embarked on a world tour last year. In 2023, Beaubrun played shows across Europe and North America, while next year, he’ll tour and play festivals around the globe. His continued accomplishments make him one of the few Haitian artists to garner worldwide success.

THIS MONTH

LAST MONTH

1

-

IÑIGO QUINTERO (ES)

2

1

RICHARD CARTER (UK)

3

8

ARTEMAS (US)

4

11

LAY BANKZ (US)

5

35

GLASS BEAMS (AU)

6

-

ALIYAH'S INTERLUDE (US)

7

3

DYLAN GOSSETT (US)

8

2

SNOW WIFE (US)

9

4

ALEX FAVELA (US/MX)

(UK)

10

55

FLYINGFISH (US)

Charly Beedell-Tuck | Solo

11

-

FLOWDAN (UK)

12

10

AMIRA ELFEKY (US)

13

100

RUNDOWN SPAZ (US)

14

-

MITCH ROWLAND (US)

15

6

1017 ALYX 9SM (US)

G!RLBAND AGENT

A

n all-female alternative trio, the aptly named G!RLBAND are referred to as “three mesmerising voices into one rebellious package.” Despite not having any music released, the Nottingham trio have gained an organic fanbase and following. They played a variety of festivals this summer, including a mainstage performance at the Isle of Wight Festival and big-top slots at Bingley Festival and Splendour in Nottingham.

No stranger to the big stage, these rockstars are due to join Jake Bugg on his UK dates this winter and have supported James & Happy Mondays, L Devine, The Oozes, and Durry. Recently signing a deal with EMI North, 2024 will be a breakout year for the group as they embark on a UK tour and venture into Europe for a handful of festival performances.

20 iq-mag.net

OCTOBER 2023

Ryan Soroka | Wasserman Music Fastest growing artists in terms of music consumption, aggregated across a number of online sources.

AGENT

HOTTEST NEW ACTS

(HT)

ARTIST

Thousands of

PREDICTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

CASSO (UK), TOWA BIRD (UK), professionals read PRECIOUS PEPALA (UK), SKUX (AU), IQ every day. Make SHALLOW ALCOVE (US) sure you get the Artists not in the current top 15, but growing quickly

PAUL BEAUBRUN

whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Comment

“The move to protective ownership is nothing short of a revolution; a real-life story of what can be achieved when a community rallies behind its cultural treasures”

RACHAEL FLASZCZAK | THE SNUG

T

he Snug is a grassroots music venue hidden away in the heart of Atherton, Greater Manchester [UK], and for years, we have championed new and emerging artists. We created a place that welcomes everybody, and we cater for all. Our 100-capacity, distinctively cosy livingroom-style space invites the world to come in, grab a brew or a beer and relax whilst appreciating those future up-andcoming household names.

Unfortunately, our landlord put the building up for sale, and with the impact of Covid, [it sadly] meant we weren’t in a position to purchase our beloved Snug, so we turned to Music Venue Trust for advice. This was fortunate, as they were just about to launch the Own Our Venues project. We were then accepted into their pilot scheme along with eight other shortlisted venues all at risk of closure. The number of venues that applied to be part of the pilot scheme highlights how real the problems are in the grassroots music venue community.

We are overjoyed that The Snug has become the first of many grassroots music venues to be put into a protective trust with Music Venue Properties [MVP]. Delightfully, the news went viral, and we cannot express the positive impact this development has had in the local area and beyond. As further venues come under the protection of the Music Venue Trust, they will hopefully also achieve the same results and positive impact in their areas.

The protection of grassroots music venues like The Snug, offers the space to nurture local talent but also provides a platform for varied work experience for local young people interested in the music industry. The security this provides us furthers our sense of community, and the pride of ownership in our venue is immeasurable.

The MVP model needs to be adopted in every country in the world. It’s heart-breaking to read how many venues have already closed and how many more are in immediate danger of closing,

being lost forever. The move to protective ownership is nothing short of a revolution; a real-life story of what can be achieved when a community rallies behind its cultural treasures.

Other communities and cities can look at MVP and see a model worth building and investing in. The message is clear: grassroots music venues are not for sale to greedy commercial landlords who don’t care what the business is, as long as they can squeeze more rent from tenants while spending little to no money on maintaining or improving the buildings.

We have to ‘own our venues,’ they are the research and development departments for the future of music. They are cultural treasures for everyone. For creative people to flourish and spaces for musicians to hone their craft, obtain feedback from audiences, network with other local musicians, make new friends, or even sell merchandise to fund recording-studio time. Grassroots music venues are essential to a thriving ecosystem of the music industry.

Without these venues, there will be no more stars of tomorrow. Who will be playing the arenas in 30 years’ time?

Who will be the future stars to inspire the younger generations? Who will headline festivals when the Rolling Stones have left the planet?

Let’s not forget, the Rolling Stones started in grassroots music venues.

Imagine a world without music, where the next generation of musical talent has nowhere to grow and develop. This is what will happen if our grassroots music venues are not protected.

The world can learn from The Snug’s journey, by realising that cultural preservation is a collective responsibility and that grassroots music venues deserve to stand the test of time.

Rachael Flaszczak is managing director of The Snug

“Who will headline festivals when the Rolling Thousands of professionals read Stones have left the planet?”

IQ every day. Make sure you get the whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE Magazine 23

Feature_Louis Tomlinson

24 iq-mag.net

Having completed his first solo world tour in September 2022, Louis Tomlinson delighted fans and promoters alike by hitting the road again in August with his Faith in the Future outing. Now, with recently announced stadium shows in Latin America on the routing, some of the key protagonists helping Tomlinson realise his dreams talk to Gordon Masson.

All photos © Joshua Halling

THE HABIT HE CAN’T BREAK

U

Louis Tomlinson_Feature

sually, when an act completes a world tour, they come off the road for an extended period to rest, record new material, and then typically two or three years later the wheels are set in motion for an album release, promo, and tour dates.

Louis Tomlinson did not get that memo.

His first solo tour ran late due to the pandemic restrictions, meaning that by the time it concluded in September 2022, his second album, Faith in the Future, was scheduled to drop and tickets for the associated tour were ready to go on sale.

“This tour went on sale last October or November – basically a year in advance,” explains agent Holly Rowland, who represents Tomlinson alongside Alex Hardee, internationally, while Wasserman Music colleagues Marty Diamond and Ash Mowry-Lewis do likewise for North America.

Despite that quick turnaround between tours, Rowland reports that ticket sales for the current tour are going very well indeed. “The first leg went through Scandinavia before doing the Baltics and Eastern Europe – Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece – places that most people, especially arena-level acts, don’t really go. And the second leg, which is more mainland Europe, started on 2 October.”

The tour is big. Very big for just a second outing in his own name.

Between May and July this year, Tomlinson played 39 dates in the US and Canada across a mix of amphitheatres, arenas, pavilions, and stadiums. In August, he returned to Europe, where he is currently is in the midst of another 39 dates in arenas across the continent and the UK, which will take him to 18 November. Then, in early 2024, the Faith in the Future tour goes to Australia for two outdoor dates in Melbourne and Brisbane, before he takes the show to the country’s biggest indoor venue, the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

And, as IQ went to press, Tomlinson released dates for a return to Latin America in May 2024 for a mix of indoor and outdoor shows, including stadia, across Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay.

“We’re going to Australia and part of Asia early next year,” states artist manager Matt Vines of London-based Seven 7 Management.

“We then go into Latin America in May and June. And then we’ll handpick a selection of festivals next summer, before we draw the line on the campaign at the end of the summer.”

Rowland comments, “The tour before obviously was a Covid tour where theThousands dates had toof be chopped and changed. professionals The positive aspect read of that was that we were ableIQ toevery upgrade venues day.

Make where that made sense. But it was really nice to sure you get the start from scratch on this tour to make sure the

whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE Magazine 25

T

he 9th edition of International Festival Forum (IFF) took place at a new campus location in London Bridge. With 1,000 delegates from around the world and a packed schedule of showcases, meetings, panels, and events, it was the largest edition of IFF yet.

This year’s edition was presented in association with TicketSwap and took place in Omeara and surrounding spaces. And with the weather mostly holding off, the main campus courtyard was a hive of meetings and social events over both days. IFF kicked off with a jam-packed opening party at Flat Iron Square, hosted by CAA and Rock Werchter, while the days that followed saw numerous events such as hosted drinks by WME and Wasserman Music, and 37 artists performing live across three venues.

IFF has always been an invitation-only event specifically for music festivals and booking agents, and this year’s edition kept that focus firmly in place. IFF saw 460 individual festivals represented at the event, alongside hundreds of booking agents including teams from IFF’s 13 partner agencies such as UTA, Earth Agency, Solo Agency, Primary Talent, X-ray Touring, Pure Represents, One Fiinix Live, ATC Live, ITB, and Playbook.

To a never-to-be-repeated backdrop of trains trundling south, panel discussions included challenges experienced during the 2023 festival season, headliners, and audience engagement. But the overriding theme from both speakers and delegates was one of optimism.

“Compared to last year, 2023 has seen more experienced crew and staff, logistics are a lot easier now than they were last year, and global headliners are combining their tours with festival performances,” said ATC Live’s Alex Bruford. And with this year’s IFF pulling together the festival business in Europe and beyond, and in larger numbers than ever before, that optimism translated into this year’s event with gusto.

36 iq-mag.net

CAA and Rock Werchter hosted the IFF Opening Party

IFF’s campus courtyard was busy throughout

IFF2023 Report_Feature

Gurriers at The International Showcase

Lowes at Earth Agency showcase

WME’s Andy Duggan chaired the big headliner debate

Antony Szmierek at the Primary Talent show

Magazine

37

Feature_IFF2023 Report

MIKE & EMMA HOLD COURT One of IFF 2023’s standout moments was the keynote conversation with CAA’s Mike Greek and Emma Banks, as the powerhouse duo shared the conference stage for the first time ever.

The 60-minute session covered the history of Helter Skelter, the formation and growth of CAA’s London office, ticket prices, artist fees, headliners, and what keeps them both motivated.

“There’s a constant festival opportunity,” said Greek, “and it’s not always concentrated on the May to July months. You see all these festivals changing and evolving alongside their host countries, and despite audiences wishing for better facilities or bigger lineups, I see huge growth across different territories all over the world.”

Both Banks and Greek argued for greater transparency on festivals’ profits, in order to properly recompense artists.

“When there’s no transparency, we’re going to push for as much money for our artists as we can,” Banks said.

See Iq-mag.net for a full review of this year’s IFF Keynote.

FKP’s reception to mark Stephan Thanscheidt’s 25 years in music

Mike Greek & Emma Banks delivered this year’s IFF Keynote

English Teacher at the ATC Live showcase

IDestroy at the ITB Showcase

Big Special at the X-ray showcase

38 iq-mag.net

IFF2023 Report_Feature Kawala at the One Fiinix Live show

Maika Makovski at The International Showcase Joalin at The International Showcase

SHOWCASES IFF’s busy showcase schedule took place across two stages in Omeara and nearby Amazing Grace where UTA kickstarted proceedings on the Tuesday night with Art School Girlfriend, Le Boom, and SILK. Agency showcases ran from lunchtime onwards on both days, with many standout performances throughout.

Wednesday 27 Sept saw shows from Playbook (Lily Lyons, John Francis Flynn), Solo Agency (Bernhoft, GIRLBAND), X-ray Touring (Big Special, His Lordship, Murdo Mitchell, The Hoosiers), and One Fiinix Live (Blair Davie, KAWALA). And this year’s International Showcase saw Music from Ireland (Gurriers, Enola Gay, Lucy McWilliams) team up with The Spanish Wave (Maika Makovski) and Music Finland (Joalin).

Thursday 28 Sept saw shows from ITB (Telenova, IDestroy, Iraina Mancini), Primary Talent (Lost Romantic, Sipho, Cathy Jain, Antony Szmierek), and ATC Live (O., Divorce, Silhouettes Project, English Teacher). And Music Venue Trust’s ‘United by Music’ Mixer drew the showcase schedule to a close with Aine Deane, Vlure, Alex Amor, and Michael Aldag.

THANK YOU

With a big venue move and costs increasing as much as any other delegate event, this year’s IFF could not have happened without the support of several key partners.

TicketSwap returned as IFF’s title partner this year (while also hosting their own part and DJ), while other key supporters were platinum and primary ticket partner Ticketmaster and associate partners FKP Scorpio, DEAG, TVG Hospitality, Tysers Live, and Intent.

Additional supporters on the event (not already mentioned earlier) included The Jockey Club Venues, Fan Engagement Group, Stack Cup, DAM Good Media, Amplead, Showsec, Megaforce, EFM Global Logistics, eps, Festyvent, Roadie Medic, Universe, Nordic Wristbands, John Henry’s, Aloompa, and Shindig – all of which deserve a very big thank you.

Art School Girlfriend at the UTA showcase

Party on the TicketSwap Terrace

Magazine

39

40 iq-mag.net

Having toured globally with indieelectro headliners Infadels, Alex Bruford has first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to be a working musician and has used that experience to establish and develop ATC Live as an agency that puts its clients front and centre. Thousands of professionals read Gordon Masson speaks to Bruford IQ every day. Make sure you get the as he celebrates 20 years in music… whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE Magazine 41

L L A !

D R A O B A

Feature_All Aboard!

58 iq-mag.net

All Aboard!_Feature

While the cruise industry took a bit of a battering during the pandemic, floating resorts have bounced back strongly, and more and more acts are including dates on the high seas as part of their live careers – allowing them to strengthen bonds with superfans on hyperbranded voyages. Gordon Masson reports.

S

tories of thousands of holidaymakers being isolated on their ships and of vessels being turned away from ports battered the cruise industry in the early days of the pandemic. But a programme of vigorous health screening and positive marketing to prospective passengers has seen the business re-float spectacularly in the past couple of years, while the concept of high-end vacations with your favourite act is one that is winning converts with bands and artists, as well as the superfans who dote on them.

With the largest cruise ships in the world being able to cater for up to 7,000 passengers at a time, entertaining those aboard has always been a preoccupation with the companies who operate cruises, and with passengers paying thousands of dollars, euros, pounds etc per head, expectations are that there will be some recognisable names among the on-board performers.

Meanwhile, other acts have taken cruising to a new level through chartered voyages in their own name to give fans unique and intimate access.

And that niche business is growing fast, as more and more artist managers and agents tap into the cruise sector as a way of connecting with su-

perfans, who appear very happy to part with significant sums of cash to holiday with their idols.

For example, in Europe, the success of Full Metal Cruise will see two sailings around Scandinavia in 2024, with prices ranging from €1,199-3,499 per person for the four- or five-night voyages.

Departing from the UK, meanwhile, P&O has the likes of Sailing with the Stars, while the popular Back to the 80’s Cruise, sailing from Southampton takes guests on a Royal Caribbean vessel for a week-long voyage stopping at Bilbao, Vigo and Lisbon, with performers such as Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley, ABC’s Martin Fry, Belinda Carlise, and Kim Wilde aboard to provide entertainment, from prices starting at £649 (€749) per person.

Also tapping into growing demand, Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages now has four ships offering adventures around Europe, the Caribbean, Australia & South Pacific, as well as Transatlantic, for prices starting at under £1,000 per cabin for two-night sailings, all the way to more than £21,000 per cabin for New Year bookings.

The likes of KISS (The KISS Kruise), Bon Jovi (Runaway to Paradise), Backstreet Boys (Back at the Beach), Kid Rock (Chillin’ the Most), Mega-

Thousands of professionals read IQ every day. Make sure you get the whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE Magazine 59

MARKET REPORT DENMARK

MARKET REPORT DENMARK

LET’S DANSK Denmark’s post pandemic recovery has been so heavily fuelled by domestic artists, that some promoters say expectations on emerging talent now far outstrip supply. Adam Woods reports.

64 iq-mag.net

MARKET REPORT DENMARK

“It’s golden days for Danish artists coming up… I don’t know if that hailed out of Covid, but the local scene is stronger than ever” Xenia Grigat | smash!bang!pow!

A

Gearbox took Amyl and the Sniffers to Gutter Island Festival © Per Lange

pandemic has many unpredictable consequences, but no one could have foreseen that this one would catapult a 6’7” Kurdish-Danish pop singer to local stardom so dramatically that it made the New York Times predict an international breakthrough for Danish-language pop.

Last year, however, songs from Aarhus-born Tobias Rahim’s second album, Når Sjælen Kaster Op (When the Soul Vomits), topped Denmark’s singles charts for nearly 40 weeks, and in 2023, he capitalised with a headline show at Copenhagen’s 17,000-cap Royal Arena and prominent slots at key Danish festivals Tinderbox, NorthSide, and Roskilde.

“That’s kind of an Ed Sheeran-type story,” says Rahim’s promoter Brian Nielsen, CEO of DTD Group. “As a new artist, he went straight to arenas from airplay. With the way the audience is finding new music, primarily via streaming, the movement is so much faster. We’ve seen a big change with Danish acts playing bigger venues than they used to, and Tobias is a really strong example.”

Denmark, with a population of around six million, assumes a natural slot between Germany and Sweden on the European tour route.

But when Covid forced the Danes to do without international imports for a while, domestic artists rose to fill the gap, and the signs are that they are sticking around.

Rahim is far from the only focus of a fresh wave of Danish talent that includes artists such as masked musician D1MA, singer-songwriter Andreas Odbjerg, Danish-Welsh star Drew Sycamore, funky pop foursome Blæst, and big-hitting

homegrown rappers including Gobs, TopGunn, and Lamin.

“It’s golden days for Danish artists coming up,” says smash!bang!pow! senior promoter Xenia Grigat. “I don’t know if that hailed out of Covid, but the local scene is stronger than ever.

It doesn’t mean there isn’t room for international artists, but if you look at the top 20 tracks on radio or in the charts, it will probably be 80% Danish artists. And, of course, there is a high demand from festivals for those artists, but it also means that for [up and coming] Danish acts, there is a huge focus on trying to find the next big thing.”

In the increasingly standardised world of live music, such local colour is a welcome thing, especially when, in other respects, the story of the business varies so little from one market to the next. In Denmark, the other themes are familiar ones: high costs, big demand for the top-level stuff, soft in the middle and lower down.

“Live music ticket sales in total have bounced back in 2023,” says Kasper Busch Lund, CEO of Copenhagen’s 4,600-cap K.B. Hallen.

“However, there are significant differences below this top line.

Festivals, stadiums, and big events might be selling out, but small and medium-sized indoor venues are still affected throughout 2023 by fewer shows on tour, combined with unimpressive ticket sales – which of course is the result of the increased production costs, combined with tight private finances.”

Anderz Nielsen of the independent Gearbox Agency, who has booked Chuck Prophet and Steveof Thousands Wynn and others on Danish professionalstours read in recent months, the marIQ believes every day.

Make ket will take patient rebuilding at sure you get the its lower levels.

whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE Magazine 65

Your Shout

What is the scariest experience you’ve ever had?

TOP SHOUT On 27 May 1990, in Roermond (Limburg) in the Netherlands, two Australian tourists were killed by members of the IRA, who mistakenly thought they were British soldiers.

On 22 August 1990, we did a concert with Irish guitarist Gary Moore in Kerkrade (also in Limburg). Gary had just started the show when a call came into the venue: someone with an Irish accent said there was a bomb underneath the stage. Police took it extremely seriously and insisted that the show should be stopped, and everyone (2,500 people) should be evacuated.

In my bravest hour, I just said: “I’ll have a look,” and with my heart in my throat, took a torch underneath the stage, Gary playing above me. There was no bomb, and I walked back to the police (who were ready to run themselves) and calmly said: “No bomb.”

Gary – God bless his soul – never knew about it!

Leon Ramakers | Mojo Concerts

That’s easy. It was in October, in Dubai, at C’est la Vie restaurant. Everyone forgot to mention it was on the 54th floor and outside – worst moment of my entire life and I have never been so scared.

Gary Howard | UTA Being told by an unpleasant little man from Hackney Council that Rough Trade East didn’t have a live licence, on the day that I’d arranged for Radiohead to do a surprise gig there – circa In Rainbows… The memory of it still makes my stomach get that hollow feeling of fear. For readers of a more sensitive disposition: all worked out in the end; we got the gig and loads and loads of unexpected news coverage, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Ruth Barlow | Beggars Group In 1993, I was working for Tim Parsons and Stuart Galbraith at MCP, and we were promoting

78 iq-mag.net

Metallica at Milton Keynes Bowl. The key imagery used on the poster was the usual Metallica scary-shit artwork they did back then. I got a call from a newspaper, who said that parents had been complaining that the artwork we used on numerous bus ad-shells was giving their kids nightmares and would I like to comment? I asked Tim Parsons what he thought, and he said, “Speak to Peter Mensch and ask him.”

So, I got hold of Peter at Q Prime. His response: “If you think the band poster is scary, you should meet the fucking manager.” Happy Hallowe’en!

Richard Beck | Supernova Entertainment Ltd Being in a 14th-floor hotel bedroom in Los Angeles, with glazed external walls, when all of a sudden, the windows and floor started to ripple, and the whole building began to shake.

I was on the phone to a mate in Philly who,

from half the country away, said not to worry, “Go stand in the bathroom doorway – it’s the safest place.” So, I went there, hearing the screams and panic outside my room, only to realise the bathroom door was a sliding one with a full mirror attached, and the door wouldn’t stop sliding.

Eventually, the tremors stopped. And minutes later, the hotel PA announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have just experienced a mild (!!) earthquake. There is no damage to the hotel, please go about your normal lives.” How the hell did they know there was no damage to a 20-storey building after two minutes?

Picking up a few valuables, I left the room.

Obviously, the lifts were not working, so I went into the emergency staircase, which no longer seemed to be attached to the walls or door entrances – it was freestanding, with a gap between the handrails and the walls. And trust me, it was a long way down.

Naturally, I went about my normal life after that, by standing in a park across the road for an hour or so along with a couple of hundred other guests. Not an experience I want to repeat...

Carl A H Martin | cahm.uk La Réunion, about 25 years ago. I was hiking in a deep tropical forest with a friend. Things didn’t go to plan… we ended up in the middle of nowhere as night fell, and because we hadn’t planned to sleep out, we decided to press on through the forest in the dark without torches, or anything really, just a compass and an inadequate map.

It was a [shamanic author Carlos] Castañeda moment; the forest was alive with animals, birds, and bugs, and everything was wet as we walked, unable to see a thing except shadows, just relying on instinct and adrenalin.

Eight hours later, we stumbled ontoThousands a country of road not far from civilisation, and I immediately professionals read twisted my ankle after having made it through IQ every day. Make rough forest all night in the dark. sure you get the Nick Hobbs | Charmenko

whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE

ADVERTISING ARTWORK

Festival

ADVERTISING ARTWORK www.megaforce-international.com

Thousands of professionals read IQ every day. Make sure you get the whole picture…

SUBSCRIBE HERE