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VOLUME 168
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MAY 2014
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VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
McGowan’s
Musings
I haven’t mentioned seagulls for a while have
for The Spot Festival (see report in this issue),
I? My nemesis, Shitty, has kept himselfto
becomesCity of Culture in 2017.
himself for a some time, preferring to send his squawking offspring to continue the
There are though areas in which the live music
annoyancefactor, but it could have been
business could well do with help from other
him that I saw swoop upon an unsuspecting
departments of the City authorities. Clubs
Spanish student in the centre of Brighton,
throughout Europe, and no doubt elsewhere,
snatching his lunch out of his hand without
are suffering from the effects of urban
so much as a “Gracias Senor!” Those of you
development ; as previously industrial areas
that were here for The Great Escape may have
are ‘gentrified’ and new apartment blocks are
had your own encounters, if so, please let me
built, many existing venues are receiving noise
know. For the first time I wasn’t here for the
complaints from new neighbours, and even
event, which brings so many international though in many cases the clubs have been opmusic people into the City, and though I
erating for years, they can be forced to either
hear the weather wasn’t great, I must admit
undertake extensive and expensive sound-
I missed it and the particular energythat it
proofing, or shut down completely. We report
generates in the City. Our reporton what
on a recent case in Brighton in this issue, and
VIP-News is published by: VIP-Booking 145-157 St John Street London Ec1V 4PW
many seem to think was the best edition yet
whilst in Hamburg I was told of incidencesof
is of course somewhat short due to my non-
this throughout Germany where the club as-
attendance, but next year is the tenth, so I
sociation Livekomm are attempting to raise
Managing Director: Ronni Didriksen rd@vip-booking.com
won’t miss that!
public awareness to help club and venue
General Manager: Peter Briggs pb@vip-booking.com
My reason for being away from home was a
Please let us know if anything like this is
trip to Berlin and Dresden as part of my music
happeningin your area.
COLOPHON >
Writer and editorial: Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
2
ownersand operators.
publishing duties, in fact I have seen a lot of Germany recently, what with a press trip to
Right, as I’ve been writing this whilst suffering
Hamburg to see how the City is developing
from a terrible cold, I’ll wind up, I’d hate to
Writer: Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com
and getting behind its creative population. In
think I was spreading germs on-line. Off to
fact the support of music and other creative
Invernessin a couple of weeks for Go North,
For advertising enquiries please contact: Peter Briggs pb@vip-booking.com +44 870 755 0092
industries by City authorities has taken up a
the Scottish Highland air will either kill or cure!
lot of my attention recently. Brighton backs
As ever I’ll report back.
The Great Escape, Berlin supports Berlin Music Week, Hamburg highlights Creative Industries
In the meantime, Ladies and Gentlemen – The
and Aarhus in Denmark, which I attended
News!
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
Survey Reveals Problems of Tent Dumping at Music Festivals Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com The
Love
Your
Tent
BuckinghamshireNew
campaign University
and have
publishedthe results of a survey of festivalgoersabout the waste left by punters on festival sites, an increasingly big issue for the festival sectorwith logistical, environmental and commercial ramifications, and something previously highlighted by the A Greener Festival organisation. Juliet Ross-Kelly has set up the Love Your Tent initiative on the back of environmental work she has done with the Isle Of Wight Festival, and aims to discourage an increasingly common practice amongst festival-goers in the UK and beyond, buying a dirt cheap tent for attending a festival, with the intention of just leaving it in the camping field at the end of the event. So that someone else has to dispose of it. Isle of Wight Festival organiser John Giddings has talked about the tent problem at various festival industry events over the past years. Ross-Kelly’s work at the Isle Of Wight Fes-
from the work that we’ve done with the Isle
In the survey of 1200 festival-goers from
tival has included inviting festival-goers to
of Wight Festival, we know it’s achievable”.
multiple countries, 60% admitted to dis-
sign up to a commitment regarding tak-
carding tents at the end of festivals, with a
ing responsibility for their waste, and their
third then saying they intended to continue
tents, pointing out that by camping along-
doing so, and another third unable to say
side similarly committed people festival-
for certain they wouldn’t do it again in the
goers will be able to stay in a much more
future. This despite the fact 86% of those
pleasant campsite for the duration of the
surveyed recognised waste was a major en-
event. She is encouraging other festivals
vironmental factor at festivals.
to introduce similar measures, with a bid to reducing campsite waste at festivals by
3
According to Bucks New University’s Tere-
10% year on year. She said, “Thanks to the
sa Moore the research confirms a growing
great support and work by Bucks we can
problem not just confined to the UK. As
see how much work still needs to be done
tent prices get cheaper, more are discard-
to encourage a change in audience behav-
ed at festivals. She called for retailers to
iour. By targeting festivals to reduce their
take their share of their responsibility and
campsite waste by 10% year on year we are
work with event organisers to tackle this
leading a change that will help to protect
problem.
festival culture for future generations and
3
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
Gunnar Madsen
SPOT 2014 th
20 Anniversary Edition Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
As usual SPOT was formally opened by the Mayor of Aarhus, Jacob
pad for their messages: Believe Digital, the MaMA Festival and Berlin
Bundsgaard. As well as being one of the youngest looking Mayors I
Music Week – just like SPOT has collaborated with the M’era Luna-
have ever met, he appears to know his music business, and he is obvi-
festival and FKP Scorpio.
ously genuinely enthusiastic about the event . and its importance to the City. The success of the event over the last 20 years has obviously
The highest number of English record labels attended, alongside the
helped in the securing of the appointment of Aarhus as City of Cul-
biggest delegation from France in SPOT history, and once again the
ture in 2017. In fact Mayor Bundsgaard had so much to say that SPOT
German industry with more than 150 delegates boasts the biggest
founder and organiser Gunnar Madson of ROSA, was able to cut down
international delegation by a mile.
his following speech as so many points had already been covered. Gunnar Madsen, head of SPOT Festival, commented, “It has been Over the 1st-4th of May, more than 6000 music fans, industry peo-
the most comprehensive festival programme so far and with great
ple, guests, musicians, volunteers, etc. made Aarhus a hotspot for
turn-up - and everything has run smoothly. If we have lived up to the
music, film and interactive. Also thousands of Aarhus citizens joined
expectations or exceeded them, we are happy. If we have made mis-
the free SPOT party outside the gates at the new, big outdoor SPOT
takes, we are determined to correct them for next year. We are all ex-
Royal Stage as well as at the free SPOT Film Festival. The Agenda
tremely grateful for the serious interest in Danish and Nordic music.”
included 165 concerts, approximately 40 films and the same number of seminars.
Some of the international delegates had the following to say: “It’s been very exciting. Well-organised, Good stages, and everything
4
More than 1100 Danish music industry people met 350 international
on schedule – that makes it easy to be at a festival. Byrta was excel-
colleagues at networking sessions, which were in great demand.
lent. Sekuoia would be great on the Primavera Festival stage at three
Both those which had been arranged by the Danish music business
o’clock in the morning. Kill J are so ready to be exported.”
and those where the international parties used SPOT as a launching
(Dario Manrique, Rolling Stone Magazine, Spain)
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
“The essence of SPOT Festival lies in it’s name: SPOT. It is a fantastic
Go Berlin frontman – that man needs a stadium! I can’t see him in a
opportunity to spot new talent and meet Danish and international
small club…”
people in the music business. SPOT is the perfect mix of business,
(Helgi Sigurdsson, Morgunbladid, Iceland)
networking and enjoying music.” (Frank Lenggenhager - Lautstark, Switzerland)
“It’s my third or fourth time here and I always enjoy it. Here I know that I’ll always find some acts to bring back to Hungary. I really love
“I really like the new big, free outdoor venue at SPOT – now the fes-
the festival. It’s a really well organized, very eclectic bill. It’s also really
tival seems less hidden. It’s up front. It’s in your face. It’s happening.
nice to meet the colleagues too. I’ve met a lot of my German col-
This year you have put on a wider range of styles. The quirkier bands
leagues this year. And Aarhus is a really nice city!”
have become quirkier than before. Byrta were outrageous, Penny
(Fruzsina Szep, Sziget Festival, Hungary)
Police and the choir was special, Elin Kåven... People are stretching themselves. I like that.”
“Amazing Festival. It’s my first time here. People are beautiful and the
(Kieron Tyler, Mojo/The Arts Desk, UK)
weather is beautiful. There’s a very relaxed atmosphere compared to other festival like this, and that’s really great.”
“People are happy. There’s a good feel. I have seen many fine shows.
(Natalie Judge, Matador Records, UK)
The concert in the Rainbow at ARoS, Spillemændene, and the Go
5
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
The Great Escape ’14 Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
Founder Martin Elbourne
WATCH THE OFFICIAL TGE14 FILM: http://youtu.be/55gwtIXOIl8”http://youtu.be/55gwtIXOIl8 I asked founder Martin Elbourne for his overview of this 9th edition, his reply was short and to the point,” Clearly the best ever!” Kat Morris, festival director commented, “What a brilliant year, truly the best yet. We are proud to have presented more artists and more secret shows than ever before, produced another industry leading convention programme, and the festival sold out for the second year running. TGE14 was the perfect foundation for next year’s 10th anniversary. Whilst we can’t quite believe it ourselves after three, wonderful days, we’ve already started work on making the 10th birthday very special. We can’t wait to see everyone there.”
The Dome Photo by Tori Clarkson
The Great Escape, again took place in Brighton on the South Coast of England, and these were the results of this 9th edition: TGE 2015 will be mark the event’s 10th birthday and will take place on 14th-16th May 2015. Super Early Bird delegate passes will go on sale in early June. Festival - 2014 was the 2nd sell out in a row - Over 400 artists performed over the weekend - 15,000 festivalgoers attended over 3 days - 35+ venues were used - Over 300 bands performed in over 30 venues as part of The Alternative Escape. Convention - 3,000 industry professionals attended from 41 different countries - 14 official delegate parties were hosted - 14 targeted speed networking events took place Convention activity was staged over 8 walkable venues Highlights included a surprise set from Kaiser Chiefs thanks to Amazon Live Lounge, and a record number of secret shows – Peace, Chloe Howl and Klaxons amongst others - around the city, to a pure celebration of 50 years of pirate radio at the TGE convention, to a set from Jon Hopkins.
6
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
Major Press Quotes included: “The perfect ending to a festival that just kept on giving.” – 4*, Daily
“The Great Escape is not about big moments, but chance discover-
Telegraph
ies” – 4*, The Times
“The festival is fast becoming a haven for real-life fans searching for
“The UK’s most comprehensive new music festival.” – Digital Spy
the festival vibe without having to do battle with a tent.” – 4*, The
Independent
“The Great Escape is fantastic on the ears, but goddamn we need to
rest for a week now” – CLASH
Yearly Music Convention Awards Presented The Yearly Music Convention Awards 2014 took place on the final day of The Great Escape, celebrating the showcase festival and music convention season just gone, with hosts - Great Escape co-founder Martin Elbourne and Louder Than War’s John Robb - donning Abba costumes for the event (Abba’s Eurovision win 40 years ago having occurred in TGE’s flagship venue Brighton Dome, just in case you wondered). Sponsored this year by Brighton’s own ACUMEN MEDIA LAW, new talent and music business events from all over the world took home YMCA trophies, while a new annual prize - the Brighton Legend award - went to Charlie Myatt from 13 Artists, the leading booking agency based in the city.
And here is the full list of YMCA winners. Best Networking Event Or Service: Wide Days Edinburgh bus tour (UK) Best Delegates Bag:
BigSound (Australia)
Best Delegates Bar:
M&M Finland
Best Convention Centre:
Eurosonic (The Netherlands)
Best App:
Reeperbahn (Germany)
Best New Showcase Festival:
Nouvelle Prague (Czech Republic)
Best Showcase Or Party:
Aussie BBQ at Canadian Music Week
Best Export Office:
New Zealand Export Office
Best City Champion:
Tallinn Music Week (Estonia)
Convention Junkie:
Michael Chugg
Brighton Legend in association with ACUMEN MEDIA LAW:
Charlie Myatt, 13 Artists
Brighton Pier
7
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
Jason Thomas, Ticketscript
Ticketscript continue to march through Europe
Anne Frank Alsted aa@vip-booking.com
Recently the European ticketing company, launched a new ticket-
The other one is the #sellmore reporting suite, enabling event promot-
ing innovation in the UK market called “ticketscript box office” and
ers to understand their sales patterns, customer demographics and
”the #sellmore reporting suite”. Since the company was established in
analyze their online marketing through to point of sale via Analytics
2006, ticketscript has grown at a rapid rate - and now has offices in
Connect.
London, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona and Berlin. The last year has seen ticketscript sell around 11 million tickets for its clients and provide
How do you see the development of the European Ticketing
ticketing services to 70,000 events.
Market in the future? I’m sure the emergence of smaller, technology led companies will con-
VIP News spoke to Jason Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at
tinue as an increasing number of event organizers realize that they do
ticketscript.
not need the large outdated traditional ticketing companies anymore. However within this new ticketing model I’m sure there will be larger
Can you give us a short description of ticketscript?
players hopefully such as ourselves.
Ticketscript is one of Europe’s biggest self-service digital ticketing
It remains to be seen though how many remain fiercely independent
company and we provide event organizers with solutions, tools and
like ourselves, or succumb to merging with larger, more traditional
technology that enable the industry to sell more tickets directly to
and often non-European companies wanting to gatecrash the market.
their audiences and communities. ticketscript works with a range of music events, festivals, trade fairs, exhibitions and sport events includ-
Do you have any messages to the other sectors of the European
ing Awakenings, Dance Valley, i-Motion, Secret Cinema, Hed Kandi,
Live Music Industry on how to change in order to improve tick-
Waterstones and Truckfest.
eting? They should become less reliant on the outdated distribution of physi-
What are, according to you, the reasons for your success?
cal tickets - all statistics point to the fact that customers are not willing
I believe the reason why we have grown in such a rapid rate is because
to wait or pay for this service anymore - neither online or instore.
we enable our clients to produce successful and profitable events
They should come to understand the importance of owning their own
by returning the power and independence to them. Our business is
data & not allowing agents to send details of rival events to YOUR
to grow their business. We have also instilled the ‘sell more’ culture
customers.
throughout our business and this drives us to deliver the latest, innova-
Finally, I would like to say: Do not underestimate the importance of
tive ticketing technology. An example on this is our recently launched
a slick and professional entrance management solution at the event.
2 industry firsts.
You can kill your brand by a bad customer experience on the day of the
There’s ticketbox, Europe’s 1st on-the-door box office sales app. It is
event - and with instant social media they can spread their dissatisfac-
a simple, portable, high tech, no investment solution for on-the-door
tion whilst still in a long queue!
ticket sales. Read more at http://company.ticketscript.com/uk”ticketscript
8
14 - 17
januarY 2015
groningen, nl
The
European
music platform The
The
European
music platform
The
European
European
platform
platform
music
Thank you for attending
EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG EUROSONIC WORDT GEORGANISEERD NOORDERSLAGWORDT DOOR WORDTGEORGANISEERD GEORGANISEERDDOOR DOOR
Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014
See you next year Early bird registration and act submission open May 1, 2014 Act submission closes September 1, 2014
SPONSOREN
music
Previous edition in numbers Total amount of visitors (sold out) . . . . SPONSOREN SPONSOREN Conference visitors (sold out) . . . . . . . . Nationalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Number of stages @ Eurosonic . . . . . . Number of stages @ Noorderslag . . . . Media & journalisten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EBU radio stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ETEP festivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International festivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38,500 3,275 39 337 36 11 307 30 89 419
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
FKP Scorpio Announce New Addition to the Conference Showcase Calendar Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
a 52,000-capacity sellout. Sell outs are also
Folkert Koopman
expected for Denmark’s 30,000 capacity Northside, started in 2010, and the 27,000 Greenfield started in Switzerland in 2005. The new event is to be called, Where’s the Music? FKP Scorpio say that this title is their way to describe what state the music business is currently at and where it is heading. Their press release goes on to explain: This is best done live and through discussion. The platform is a combined showcase festival and music industry conference, focusing on new music, new collaborations and new solutions. Where’s the Music? is a festival with two purposes, one obviously being the music where we aim at having new artists in focus and presented to a curious and excited industry ready to get into new projects. The other being a comprehensive conference program processing and exploring subjects related to the industry. The festival will include artists performances as well as lectures held by people in the music industry, sharing their stories and experiences. The combination will make a platform for networking, where national
10
Whilst interviewing Folkert Koopmans at
told Billboard, “We’re speaking to 18 venues
and international music industry will ex-
SPOT I was already aware that this outwardly
in Norrköping and we can use several that
change experiences and ideas, explore new
calm and even reserved man always appears
are within walking distance of each other,
artists and find new collaborations, through
to have some new project on the go. Not
just as Reeperbahn does in Hamburg and Eu-
lectures and personal meetings.
satisfied with upcoming tour dates with the
rosonic does in Groningen.”
100 or so artists and 16 festivals in 4 coun-
Things are already looking good for FKP
Folkert Koopmans, CEO of FKP Scorpio is
tries that his Hamburg based Company is re-
Scoroio’s outdoor festival business,
with
excitedly looking forward to launch his new
sponsible for, he already had plans in place
its major twinned German festivals, the
festival in Norrköping. “We have found a
for a new conference and showcase event in
73,000-capacity Hurricane and 60,000-ca-
great and trustworthy partner in Upplev
Sweden.
pacity Southside, having already sold out
Norrköping while promoting Bråvalla Festi-
FKP Scorpio is joining the showcase confer-
with a couple of months to spare. Folkert
val in 2013. It feels great to come back to
ence circuit by creating a Swedish event in
also expects to sell out the second edition
Norrköping with the new concept, Where’s
Norrköping during its Bravalla Festival. He
of Bravalla, which kicked off last year with
the Music?, so that we can show interna-
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
tional professionals in the music industry
sic city and bring us even closer to its vision to
from one stage to another in just a few min-
what Sweden is well known for in Europe –
become the Music Capital of Sweden”.
utes. Our ambition is to make this festival the
to find and bring up interesting new artists and innovative technical solutions.”
best one in the Nordic countries and attract FKP Scorpio will, in collaboration with Upplev
thousands of visitors to Norrköping.
Norrköping, create an annual festival that ”It feels great to develop the collaboration
will be held in various public locations in the
Where’s the Music? is scheduled for 12-14
with FKP by creating a new festival togeth-
unique area called Industrilandskapet in the
February 2015. This is about a month after
er, says Stefan Papangelis, CEO, Experience
central of Norrköping. This location adds to
Eurosonic, a couple of weeks after Midem,
Norrköping. “Where’s the Music?” is going
the experience of the festival as being more
and pretty close to By Larm – a lot of profes-
to improve the image of Norrköping as a mu-
intimate and the visitors will be able to walk
sionals could be very busy early next year!
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22.11.13 09:09
11
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
Brighton’s Blind Tiger Venue Forced to Close Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
Brighton is to lose one of its mainstay live music venues with the closure of the popular Blind Tiger. The venue has been forced to close as the result of a dispute over noise complaints from a resident who moved into the same building as the pub about a year ago. The complaints have led to the issue of a noise abatement order from the local council. In https://client.ukfastexchange.co.uk a post on their official website, the venue’s management describe trying to resolve the situation with their neighbour following complaints on several occasions about noise levels. These efforts failed resulting in the neighbour complaining to the local
Apparently attempts to find a new home for the neighbour, and for the
police, followed by the issue of a ‘notice to abate a statutory nuisance’.
club to take over the residential part of the building failed.
Breaching this order, which the staging of a gig would automatically do, would result in court action and a possible fine of £20,000.
A petition against the council’s order had accumulated 9000 signatures (there may be more by now). One petitioner commented, “Only an idiot
The venue’s attempts to deal with the problem by imposing stricter noise
would move into a flat above a live venue and then complain about the
controls in the venue failed, as even drums with no mics were enough
noise. Brighton & Hove Council, don’t pander to idiots, please”.
to cause problems upstairs. The installation of soundproofing was not an
option due to the substantial expense involved. The venue, like so many
Understandably councils have a duty to deal with residents noise com-
others, admitted that as a business it was not in good financial shape.
plaints, nobody wants to endure all night parties going on in the house
The Blind Tiger Club
12
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
next door for instance. But in cases like The Blind Tiger, where the site on
in the surrounding streets has meant the venue has been able to offer
Brighton’s Grand Parade has hosted live music since the 1850’s and oper-
live music seven nights per week and club nights until 4am at weekends
ated as a fully equipped gig for the last thirty years, it is reasonable to say
without disturbing anyone. “During its entire history The Fleece has not
that the venue and the gigs were there first. Brighton has already lost The
had any issues with noise complaints. “If the huge office block located
Free Butt in a very similar case 4 years ago and The Night and Day venue
right next door is given the green light to be converted into approx 80
in Manchester faced the same situation earlier this year.
privately-owned flats we would anticipate a deluge of complaints as
soon as people move in.”
The Fleece Bristol Threatened with Closure:
Just before going to press with this issue of The News the BBC published
Developer Edenlaw Ltd was granted a change of use from offices to
this report of yet another club threatened by residential development:
residential last November but the council was unable to take noise into account during the process.A noise survey carried out on behalf of the
The owners of Bristol music venue The Fleece say it may have to close if
developer said the Fleece had been “identified as a source of noise af-
a plan for new flats is approved, as they would be too close to the stage.
fecting the proposed development” but claimed glazed windows would
The flats, planned for an old office block on Victoria Street, would place
insulate most of the sound from the venue.Council planners are due to
bedrooms within 20m (65ft) of bands playing at the venue.
vote on proposed external alterations to the plans, including changes to
the facade and the addition of balconies, at the end of the month.
In www.change.org online petition calling for the council to turn down
There are a growing number of these cases in which established venues
the plans gained 17,000 signatures in 12 hours.The firm behind the plans
cannot defend their right to continue business as there appear to be no
said it wanted to “satisfy a gap” for flats.The Fleece has hosted many
statutory rights, no matter how long they have operated. Organisations
famous acts since it opened in 1982 including Oasis, Radiohead, Amy
like Livekomm and DMA in Europe are investigating the situation and
Winehouse, the Manic Street Preachers, The Killers and the White Stripes.
Mark Davyd of The Forum in Tunbridge Wells in the UK has also set up an organisation which aims to gain some form of ‘listing’ to give established
Owner Chris Sharp said: “The Fleece has thrived as a venue for 32 years.
venues some form of protection.
One of the key factors in its success is its location. “The lack of residents
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13
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
> INDEPTH STORY
The Socialisation of Ticketing Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com
No there isn’t a revolution going on but it seems a sort of a progressive
how to involve them with new ways of contact, I think the companies
evolution is under way as ticketing benefits from new technologies and
that are doing this now are going to be more successful, and I think
consumer trends.
that will be the difference for the future. That is one of the most interesting trends, it’s nothing new, but the change is that the companies
VIP News spoke with Jan Willem van der Meer, COO at the ticketing
really understand it now.
service provider Paylogic, a company that belong to the stock market listed EDM-Imperium SFX Entertainment...
In which part of the event genres is Paylogic most successful? – As we started in the Netherlands there was a very big electronic music
Which trends are you currently seeing within the ticketing busi-
culture for years. This market is pretty revolutionary and very progres-
ness?
sive, so when we started, this was one of the easiest growing markets
– There are a lot of them, I think the most important one is that for
that we could enter. That is why we are selling the mostly these tickets
years people have been talking about consumer information and
worldwide. I guess that half of the tickets sold by Paylogic could be con-
‘knowing your customers’, but it was more about using the instruction
nected to electronic music. Sure, we ticket other kinds of events, tours
when you don’t really know what it means. Now, the years of 2013
and venues, but that is not our focus market at this point.
and 2014 are the years where the event organizers are really begin-
14
ning to understand the values of their own relationship to their visitors;
In the German market mobile ticketing is less important in terms
they’re doing everything to build the strongest relationship possible.
of the overall share of tickets sold for concerts. When do you
That didn’t just come about through selling a ticket or having a new
expect mobile ticketing to also speed up in Germany?
headliner on the event, it’s about knowing the people that like your
– I think most of the buying of tickets is done trough the desktop internet
brands and knowing how to interact with them. By knowing them and
or laptop internet. Especially in the USA, the UK and also in the Nether-
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
> INDEPTH STORY
lands you see that nearly eighty percent of the event discovering happens on mobile, through social media or discovering with several apps or the mobile internet. In the US the conversion rates of mobile payment are growing incredibly, so they are just one step ahead of Europe. I’m not sure, but I guess the most important reason that not so many tickets are sold by mobile right now, is that the solutions that are offered are not very user-friendly. That is one reason, on the other hand the main players that are well known for ticketing in the German market do not focus on it and push it at all. They don’t inform their customers, if they did they might sell a lot more tickets with better solutions on mobile. For example, a few years ago as the e-commerce started on the European market, the Netherlands were already selling eighty percent of the tickets online, in Germany still over forty percent of the tickets are sold by retail. I think it might be the case that although the technology does not lag behind in Germany, the consumer behaviour does if you compare it to the Netherlands or the US. So, I think it will be a normal way of buying tickets in Germany in 2015. “Big Data” is a buzzword in terms of the exportation of consumer and consumer behaviour data. What kind of data is really useful and how do you evaluate it, or how does the promoter evaluate it? – I think the most important thing is, if you are in a direct relationship with the consumer, with the fan, then you can get more and more information on how they investigate and how they make decisions, how they are buying their tickets. If you see that a consumer is always buying
Jan Willem van der Meer, COO Paylogic
tickets on the first day you’re on sale, then you know what kind of consumer that is. So, if you can also connect to his social environment and you see that he is engaging with your event or even alerting others to your event, then you can call him an ambassador or an influencer. Every
How much is social ticketing only a buzzword or already reality?
brand, especially event brands are being pushed a lot by these influences.
– Well, social ticketing is a buzzword, that doesn’t mean that it is not
Now, if you get contact to these people and give them some extra poten-
something that I think of. I don’t think that social ticketing is only on
tial, some exclusive information and you connect them more strongly to
Facebook, I think Facebook is a tool like many other social networks are
your brand or your event that is what we call customer ownership. If you
tools. You should connect those in your entire strategy to get a relation-
give them some extras and they can share it, then they actually sell the
ship to your visitors. What I call social ticketing is to make sure that peo-
tickets for you. Like everything in the world, if people who are paying for
ple could take their relations, their friends, into the same event. You can
something themselves promote something, it has a much stronger effect
help this in a digital way, so that could be social ticketing, it could be a
than being promoted by someone selling something.
group buying process. If people buy a ticket and they have the possibility to tell their friends ,”Hey, I bought a ticket for this event, would you come
About eighty percent of the people who are going to an event are
with me?”, that is social ticketing. But you should not concentrate on
going there because someone else is going too. So, who is the first
one platform, because a user on Facebook in the first way is a Facebook-
one who makes the decision? If you find out who these people are
user, not a user of your brand.
and how they make the decision, if you can connect these people and then connect them to your brand, this is very important. You can have
Do you remember the first big social network from the US? It was Mys-
statistical data about how many women, how many men, how many
pace, and after Myspace collapsed, there were about thirty or forty
people are coming by public transport, that’s also interesting and I’m
bands that completely went out of business, because the only access to
sure you can use that. But that is more interesting for the planning
their fans was through Myspace. So they lost their fan base completely
of an event; if you want to know how to boost the event, how to
because they didn’t realize that they were so dependent on Myspace. I
sell more tickets and get sold out earlier, then you need to know the
think, it is sure important that you use Facebook but it should not be the
influencers and connect to them.
only destination to connect your visitor.
15
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
What kind of plans and innovations do you have in mind, techni-
plays in there is something like “Intel inside”, it’s not about us. You should
cal or strategically, for Paylogic in 2014?
just be able to sell and to buy the ticket on every platform.
– I think the main focus for us is to be able to create strategies to get access to more people, using a lot of different technologies in order to
Okay, but the reality in these days seems that if you have tickets
connect. But it’s just what we discussed about social ticketing, we want
available on various platforms, promoters end up having a couple
to connect and understand our consumer. Together with our customer
of terminals or printed data-lists at the door, trying to figure out
we make a strategy plan in which we point out a list of dates and mo-
where the visitor bought the ticket.
ments in which we make the right contact points with the visitors to get
– I think what we do, is exactly what it needs to solve this problem. What
them connected with the brand. That’s going to be well before the ticket
happens right now is that you work with one consumer brand ticket-
sell starts, for pre-registration, for different kinds of contacts. Everybody
ing platform like Ticketmaster, Ticketonline, CTS Eventim or anyone else.
wants a special product and everybody wants special conditions for it. I
This brand has the goal to find audiences for you as an event organizer.
think, by letting our customers understand that within the tools of Pay-
So you sell seventy percent of the tickets there, but then you decide to
logic you can have so many more contact moments, so many more ways
sell tickets on Facebook or on Songkick or wherever. So, what we try to
to be connected to the event, you can do so much more than just putting
explain is, that we are not a destination platform or a consumer plat-
the ticket on sale. We did this from the start, but now we feel that our
form, you don’t buy tickets by Paylogic.com or on our mobile app, we
customers are really getting it and they like it. As I said at the ILMC, it’s
don’t have that. We are the technology in between the consumer, the
much more important to become a strategic partner to your customer
event organizer and any platform that they want to partner up with. We
than just an online cash register.
give them access in one standardized technological way, to make sure that everybody has the best service, the consumer, the event organizer
Another thing that we going to do, we have now connected many ways
and the promoting platform. And they would be able to make a deal
to RFID (Radio-frequency identification) because I think it is very impor-
together.
tant not only to know what the customer is doing at home, behind the PC or the laptop, it’s also very important to know what the customer’s
Let’s say, Songkick gets one euro of every sold ticket or Songkick gets
doing at the event. When you know what the customers are doing at
fifty percent of every ticket that’s sold in the last week before the event.
the event you can be much more successful, it can bring much more
You know, we are compared to CTS Eventim or Ticketmaster because
feedback and it can influence the entire event, this is very important for
people think that we have the same goal as they have. But we don’t. We
us. I think mobile becomes more and more critical, we talk a lot about
don’t want to have our own relationship with the consumer; we don’t
“mobile first”, which means that whatever you think about in your strat-
want to be the promoting party. We are the technology facilitator; we
egy, you think about how it could be visible on mobile.
want to make sure that in the entire e-commerce system these three different roles can work perfectly together. No problems at the door, no
16
We want to assure our customers that it is possible and important that
problems with being sold out on one platform but not sold out at the
the people are able to buy different products on one website, it can be
other, because we make sure that the technology works. And also we
music, it can be a ticket or something else. Right now it still looks like you
make sure that everybody gets paid. When we collect the money from
promote an event on your website and you divert people to the website
the visitor for the event, also the platform like Songkick will get paid
of, let’s say, CTS Eventim or Ticketmaster and the people have to buy their
immediately and not have to involve the event organizer. We distribute
tickets there. This is a little bit old fashioned, because buying a ticket is a
that money with our technology. With this B2B market place that we are
very simple process and there is no reason to buy it on a separate plat-
creating, the ticketing platforms as we know them will change. It will
form. So, actually it has to be available everywhere. The role that Paylogic
take a little while, but we think that’s what the market wants.
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
Tales of the City – A Trip to Hamburg Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
My invitation from the Media Relations Dept
the Hotel’s brand new Wi-Fi system clearly
Basically this visit aimed to give us an intro-
of Hamburg’s Marketing Dept to join a Press
didn’t want to have anything to do with the
duction to the creative scene of Germany’s
Trip to become better informed about Crea-
rooms, I complained of course, it’s in my ag-
second largest city,covering not just Music,
tive Hamburg was somewhat last minute; in
ing nature…. However, stay with me – things
but Design, Media, Games and Fashion The
fact I was in Dresden when I agreed to take
definitely got better!
other journalists on the jaunt, an interesting
part, then in Berlin. However the sensible
group of people easy to get on with, were
routing was not for me – as usual! Rather
This trip around a fast developing City, with
concerned with these sectors and Archi-
than staying in Berlin for an extra day then
a great trading and docklands tradition,
tecture, Travel and Lifestyle. So we were to
taking a leisurely train ride, I returned to
which I’d already become quite fond of from
cover a wide field of Creativity. However my
Brighton, had a day at home, then flew to
my distantly remembered days of booking
first impression that only a few stops on the
Hamburg at an hour normally associated
bands into still operating venues like the
tour would be relevant to my area of experi-
with going to bed at the many music trade
Markthalle, and several visits to the Reeper-
ence, and hopefully, expertise, were wrong,
events that I’ve still not learned to be sensi-
bahn Festival, was not in any way exclusively
and this trip has reinforced my observation
ble at! Things weren’t looking good when
to do with music.
and contention that music, and all the music
Elbphilharmonie
17
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
industry’s multiple methods of production
creatives. There is also a brand new Univer-
a multifaceted, modern and cosmopolitan
and development of its product are connect-
sity which we visited, where I was struck by
programme of classic, jazz and world music
ed with pretty much all areas of creativity,
the image of a young student concentrat-
in about 100 concerts each season.
and even more so in this digital age that on
ing on the construction of an architectural
the one hand has caused so many problems,
model somehow seemingly not distracted by
Further visits included the very impressive
but on the other has forced all areas of the
a spectacular view through the huge floor
IF Design Exhibition, and the still under
industry to embrace change..
to ceiling window of large ships entering the
construction offices of designxport.
harbour.
25 Hours Hotel, is described as a maritime
Of course Berlin is Germany’s largest city,
design Hotel, but could definitely qualify
and the competition between the two is
Hafen City also gave us our first view of a de-
as a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel with its highly im-
more than easily detectable. However, Ham-
velopment specifically concerned with mu-
aginative design, much of it explained to
burg is recognised as Germany’s design
sic. The nearly completed and very beautiful
us by the English designer, Stephen Wil-
capital with more than 14,000 designers
new concert hall - the Elbphilharmonie,
liams. I wish we’d been staying there!
living and working there. According to Ed-
situated right on the waterfront of the river
www.25hourshotels.com
gar Ruhe, CEO of Hamburg Creative Gmbh,
Elbe, on the western tip of the Hafen-City.
80,000 people work in the Creative Indus-
The glass structure is built upon the massive
Visits to buzzing and attractive areas of the
tries in Hamburg, 8% of the total work
red brick construction of the former ware-
City like Schanzenviertel reminded me a lot
force, producing a turnover of €10.5 billion.
house known as the Kaispeicher A and rises
of The Laines in Brighton and parts of East
Hamburg is also financially better off than
up to a height of 110 metres. The Hall con-
London like Dalston. The energies shown
Berlin, and apparently has 42,000 million-
tains a world-class concert hall with a seat-
by the new businesses, assisted in terms of
aire inhabitants, whereas the once divided
ing capacity for 2,100 guests and a height
start –up advice and support through ac-
City has only 10,000. However Berlin is way
of 50 metres, plus two smaller concert halls,
cess to funding, including crowd funding,
ahead on business ‘start-ups’, though Ham-
along with a hotel, a restaurant, 45 residen-
and provision of affordable work, and re-
burg is fast catching up and determines to
tial flats and a plaza with a 360° panorama
hearsal, space reminded me of the ways
use ‘old money’ to finance ‘new start-ups.
view which is open to the public. The project
that the music industry in the UK is finally
is currently guaranteed completion of the
beginning to receive support from parts of
Our first guided tour was around the spec-
whole building on 31.10.2016. The opening
regional and national government.
tacular and still under construction Hafen
will probably take place in Spring 2017. The
City Hamburg – Europe’s largest inner-city
Elbphilharmonie and the prestigious hun-
We met with Hamburg Startups at cowork-
development project. The city is currently
dred year old Laeiszhalle in the city centre
ing space Betahaus Hamburg, and were told
turning old harbour warehouses into atel-
are under one management. The concert se-
about Eifflewerk, a new centre for cowork-
iers and event venues especially for the city’s
ries ‘Elbphilharmonie Konzerte’ will present
ers specialising in digital media startups.
The
Hamburg by Night
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VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
I asked how many applicants referred to
over properties in the area to develop spac-
sat with on a panel that I moderated at last
themselves as operating, or intending to, in
es for creative use alongside the facilities
year’s Reeperbahn. He explained some of
the music business. No actual figures were
originally provided to attract needy sailors
the work his organisation was undertak-
available, but the sector is well represented,
and now curious tourists.
ing to help live clubs in Hamburg and be-
though currently it lags behind games.
yond, there was some good news, but still
It seems that as the ever growing number
problems, including the loss of Hamburg’s
I was surprised by the number of references
of music conference and showcase events
long established Molotov Club due to the
to SXSW, although we at VIP generally think
develop they are attracting more delegates
rebuilding in the area of Spielbudenplatz
of the Austin event as specifically a music
and exhibitors, from gaming and other
(many of you who attend Reeperbahn
and artist showcase, (which of course it was
digital media companies, including the new
regularly will know about this.) The clubs
till a few years ago) Kreativegesellschaft,
companies and individuals, the sort of start-
are having their problems but fighting back
HYPERLINK
“http://www.kreativegesells-
ups being backed by the City of Hamburg.
using initiatives like Die Nacht der Clubs,
chaft.org/” www.kreativegesellschaft.org
It appears that music which has always
The Club Night will take place on Septem-
the funding and advisory body operated by
provided content for all forms of media,
ber 5th, with shows in 25 clubs all available
Hamburg Creative, saw it as an event of-
marketing and entertainment, now also
for entrance with one ticket. HYPERLINK
fering export opportunities to a wider raft
provides promotional outlets and vehicles!
“http://www.dienachtderclubs.de/” www.
of creative companies. They had in fact fi-
dienachtderclubs.de
nanced attendance in Austin, using a varie-
Our full on tour took in visits to the ADC
ty of means including EC social and cultural
Festival which celebrates and awards best
I haven’t told you all; Fancy dancing in one
funds, for a Hamburg delegation including
practice in German Advertising, Product
of the biggest clubs I’ve ever seen – once
the Reeperbahn Conference and Festival.
Design and Creative Communications, and
a fish market? Need a stuffed camel or a
Jung and Matt, one of Germany’s most suc-
huge portrait of Elvis, or the prow of a gal-
They were also working with the Reeper-
cessful advertising agencies.
leon perhaps? Just visit Hanseatische Mate-
bahn Festival Conference to integrate non-
rialverwaltung for whatever props you may
music companies to the exhibition areas of
Other music related stops were at a brand
need for your creative project – another
the event. Co-founder and organiser Detlef
new and impressive recording studio run by
successful startup…As I say, it was a very
Schwarte, well known to VIP, explained
Micky Berg of The German Wahnsinn Team,
full three days!
the history of the event to the journalists.
Micky explained that they had located this
(We will catch up on plans for this year’s
state of the art facility close to the Reeper-
My thanks to Lu Yen Roloff and Matthias
September edition in the next issue.) The
bahn to benefit from the music activities,
Beer of Hamburg Marketing for arrang-
staging of the Festival, started by promoter
and the access to the growing number of
ing the trip, and for feeding, watering and
Karsten Jahnke, in the red light Reeperbahn
local musicians.
looking after us all. I suggest you all book
district was quite an initiative in changing
a weekend in Hamburg, or I’ll see you at
the reputation of the area, and it could be
We also met with Karsten Scholerman of
Reeperbahn – just ask me anything about
said, helped give the green light to take
Clubkombinat and Livekomm, who I had
Creative Hamburg…!
Need to know who is touring Europe? ®
Go online - www.vip-booking.com vip-booking.com
19
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
Latest ETEP Results Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com The third set of results of the European Talent Exchange Programme 2014, the initiative of Eurosonic Noorderslag to stimulate the circulation of European repertoire on festivals, radio and media in Europe. www.bumacultuur.mailotron.com www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl have been announced: ETEP: 234 confirmed shows by 88 artists from 19 different European countries. Also the Orange Blossom Festival (DE) has been announced as a new ETEP member! www.orangeblossomspecial.de For more information about ETEP: www.etep.nl (How it works and All ETEP festivals) Download your ETEP and CEETEP logo’s here: www.bumacultuur.mailotron.com (and check out the website> maps, ETEP scores per year, sort on country, festival or act). Top-scoring countries / top scoring act: 1. UK, 16 artists, Royal Blood 2. The Netherlands, 15 artists, Birth of Joy 3. Ireland, 7 artists, Kodaline 4. Sweden, 7 artists, Elliphant 5. Germany, 6 artists, Milky Chance
Royal Blood, UK
20
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
This is the complete list of ETEP artists and bookings at this point. Next ETEP and CEETEP press release will follow 25 june 2014: Royal Blood
UK
13
La Pegatina
ES
Jungle
UK 12
I Am Legion
MØ
DK 8
George Ezra
UK
Milky Chance
DE
Kodaline
Afterpartees
NL 1
UK/NL 3
Kensington
NL 1
Girl Band
IE
3
KiT
NL 1
7
Kate Boy
SE
2
La Femme
FR
1
7
Lonely the Brave
UK
2
Le Galaxie
IE
1
IE 6
Mariam the Believer
SE
2
Luca Sapio
IT
1
Wild Beasts
UK
6
Nadine Shaw
UK
2
Melanie DE Biasio
BE
1
Mighty Oaks
DE
6
Thomas Azier
NL
2
Pablo Nouvelle
CH
1
Birth of Joy
NL
6
Truckfighters
SE 2
Repetitor
RS 1
Pional
ES 6
Bondax
UK 2
Scarlett O’Hanna
BE
1
Circa Waves
UK
5
Denai Moore
UK
2
Slick Shoota
NO
1
Ballet School
DE
5
Farao
NO 2
Taymir
NL 1
Hozier
IE 5
Kid Karate
IE
2
Tensnake
DE 1
Jaakko Eino Kalevi
FI
5
Linkoban
DK 2
The Opposites
NL
1
Larry Gus
GR
5
N’toko
SI 2
The Wands
DK
1
Benjamin Clementine
FR
4
Russkaja
AT 2
traumahelikopter
NL 1
Emilie Nicolas
NO
4
The Mispers
UK
Hermigervill
IS 1
Lulu James
UK
4
NoNoNo
SE 2
Noah Kin
FI
The Strypes
IE
4
Jenny Wilson
SE
Djaikovski
MK 1
Baby in Vain
DK
4
Afterpartees
NL 1
Drenge
UK 1
The Animen
CH
4
Baskerville
NL 1
Rhodes
UK
1
Elliphant
SE 4
Brother & Bones
UK
1
Manu Delago Handmade AT
1
Kadebostany
CH 4
C + C = Maxigross
IT
1
Seward
ES 1
Alice Boman
SE
Cairo Liberation Front
NL
1
Mozes and the Firstborn
NL
1
Claire
DE 3
Charity Children
DE
1
Mister and Mississippi
NL
1
Coely
BE 3
DJ Pravda
IT
1
Reverend Shine Snake Oil
DK
1
East India Youth
UK
3
Electric Eye
NO
1
Ásgeir
IS 1
Sam Smith
UK
3
Gudrun von Laxenburg
AT
1
Bo Saris
NL
Hudson Taylor
IE
3
Ja Panik
AT
1
3
3
2
1
1
1
21
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
IMMF Moves to Strengthen the International Voice of Managers & Artists Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
2014 sees the International Music Manag-
operations will be coordinated and admin-
ers Forum (IMMF) taking big steps on the
istered by Daria Wabnitz, while the agency
way towards strengthening the international
FACTORY 92 will be taking over the inter-
voice of music managers and artists. With
national press relations. Committees are the
a new seat in Luxembourg, strengthened
cornerstone of IMMF’s new structure work-
secretariat, new international committee
ing as labs in order to draft ideas, enhance
structure and several new members the
international cooperation and strengthen
IMMF umbrella now represents the interests
policy work, within the following areas:
of national associations from more than 20
– European Committee
countries, with an organizational infrastruc-
– Live Committee
ture able to leverage this ever growing rep-
– Copyright Committee
paper on the issue. The position paper stat-
resentational weight.
– Marketing and promotion Committee
ed the importance of copyright legislation
– Funding Committee
harmonization across the EU in order to give
– Training and Education Committee
a legal answer and a framework for the mass
Kari Karjalainen, lawyer and chairman of the IMMF Copyright Committee explains one of the core drivers for strengthening the IMMF:
usage of content. The position paper also IMMF is moreover experiencing growing in-
underlined the necessity of an international
ternational membership demand. In March
song database in order to build a global and
“…People need music, and in order to sup-
2014 the IMMF thus welcomed MMF Esto-
efficient monitoring tool.
port music making, music creators seek au-
nia as its newest national member. MMF
diences for, and income from their creations.
Latin America is furthermore being estab-
In March 2014 IMMF also attended the Music
For some time the market for music has not
lished and welcomed into the IMMF. MMF
Biz Association summit 2014 at Musikmesse
functioned either fairly or efficiently, imbal-
Latin America will unite managers from Ar-
Frankfurt in Germany where executives from
ances affect the creation of new music, one
gentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay,
several major stakeholder organizations pre-
of the core problems is that the marketplace
Uruguay, Panamá, Costa Rica, Guatemala,
sented their concerns and opinions on recent
for music rights does not work. The grow-
Mexico, Perú and Venezuela.
worldwide evolutions within copyright, EU
ing ambition of IMMF is thus no coincidence, but a necessity...”
22
Karl karjalainen, lawer and chairman of the IMMF Copyright Committee.
matters and international collecting rights. CURRENT POLICY & REPRESENTATION
Representatives from pan-European and
ACTIVITIES
international umbrella organization within
THE NEW ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The IMMF Copyright Committee took part in
music industry areas such as entertainment
The new IMMF has been registered as a non
the EU Copyright Consultation at the begin-
law, music publishing and concert venues at-
profit organization in Luxembourg. The daily
ning of March 2014, presenting its position
tended the event alongside IMMF.
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
In general 2014 has thus far seen IMMF be-
through them the artists (performers and
CONTACT:
ing represented and featured across a wide
authors) they manage. The core mission of
General inquiries:
range of international music stakeholder
the IMMF is to defend the economic and
Daria Wabnitz: daria@immf.com
events from Sun Breathe Music Conference
legal interests of artists on an international
Press:
in Cape Town (South Africa) over SXSW in
scale. The IMMF’s vision is to create better
Christian Hald Buhl: buhl@factory92.eu
Austin (US) to Tallinn Music Week in Tallinn
international trade conditions for all artists
Links:
(Estonia).
across the world. The IMMF today repre-
www.immf.com
sents National MMF Organizations from 21
immf.us3.list-manage.com:
ABOUT IMMF
countries.
(IMMF digital licensing position paper,
The International Music Managers Forum
Musicbiz Association Summit,
(IMMF) represents music managers and
FACTORY 92).
The Council at the General Assembly at Midem 2014. First row: Brian Hetherman (IMMF Chair), Volker May (IMMF Vice-Chair). Second row: Daria Wabnitz (IMMF Project Manager), Nathan Brenner (MMF Australia), Natalia Talayero (MMF Spain), Patricia Hermida (MMF Spain), Christoph Storbeck (MMF Italy). Third row: Stephen Bond Garvan (MMF US), Olivier Toth (IMMF Executive Director), Kari Karjalainen (MMF Finland), DidierZerath (MMF France), Toomas Olljum (MMF Estonia). Last row: Jake Beaumont-Nesbitt (IMMF Policy Flow), Nuno Saraiva(MMF Portugal), Keith Harris (MMF UK).
23
23
VIP NEWS > BUSINESS > MAY 2014
MUSIC IN SHARES
Music in Shares Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com
CTS Eventim – The Growth Story Continues:
Euro will eventually have to be paid by DEAG according to a successrelated bonus scheme that goes along with the take over.
Again in the first quarter of 2014 CTS Eventim is able to maintain
DEAG furthermore filed an interim injunction against the Senate of
reasonable growth rates within all relevant key figures. In the busi-
Berlin regarding the renewal of the lease deal for the open air arena
ness report for Q1/2014, CTS Eventim reports an increased revenue
Waldbühne in Berlin by CTS Eventim.In 2008 CTS Eventim won a call
result of 24 percent, from 121.1 million Euro in Q1/2013 up to 150.4
for the management of the location. The Berlin Senate intends now
million Euro.
to renew the deal with the arch rival of DEAG without announcing a new call for bids. The injunction filed by DEAG is opposed by the
The Earnings before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation
Senate and will now lead to a court ruling on June 12.
(EBITDA) went up from 28.7 to 32.3 million Euro. Interestingly the Live Entertainment Division of the company grows stronger than its
Shortly before this issue of VIP News went to press, the trade paper
Ticketing leg. The declared revenue for the Live Entertainment seg-
Musikmarkt reported that the currently not existing call for bids has
ment moves up 37.9 percent from 60.3 to 83.2 million Euro. The
prompted a consortium of the Berlin based concert companies Four
results for the Ticketing unit are 69.4 compare to 62.3 million Euros
Artists, KKT, Loft Concerts and New Berlin Konzerte announced to
in the same period one year ago.
join forces to submit a joint bid for the Waldbühne Berlin, too.
In the last issue VIP News reported a CTS Eventim share price of 45.91
The previous reported share price was 5.65 Euro, this time it is 5.66
Euro. The time share price on the day this report went to press is
Euro.
41.71 Euro.
DEAG – Growths By Take Over:
24
Live Nation – A Bit of a Different Growth Story: Like CTS Eventim Live Nation also reported impressive growth rates
The UK concert company Kilimanjaro Live now belongs to DEAG. On
for the Q1-2014 but as usual produced a net loss even though it cut
May 9 DEAG reported that for 4 million Euro it bought 51 percent
its losses by half. The revenue rose about 22 percent from $923.7
of the company behind the Sonisphere festivals. Another 2 million
million up to $1.127.3 billion. The revenue gained by the Concert
MAY 2014 > MAY 2014 VIP NEWS > BUSINESS
MUSIC IN SHARES
division even went up by 29 percent, from $513.5 to $662.5 million.
F.X. Sillerman is quoted ,as saying: “Throughout the first quarter we
The Ticketing unit gained a plus of 9 percent, from $325.1 up to
made continued progress toward creating what is now the largest
$354.5 million.
global producer of world-class live events and leading digital enter-
The Artist Nation department was able to increase its revenue result
tainment content focused exclusively on EMC. While it is the season-
by 44 percent up to $72.6 million, Sponsorship & Advertising went up
ally slowest period of the year, the first quarter served as a microcosm
from $40.1 to 45.4 million.
of our approach. Total festival attendance more than doubled
The net loss went down $64 to $30 million, the loss per share result from $0.33 to $0.16. The net long-term debt on March 31 was $2.836, compare to $2.255 billion in the same period one year ago. From the previous reported share price of $21.17 until May 23 it nevertheless went up to $24.01.
year over year, on a pro forma basis, with half of the growth coming from new festivals, while repeat festivals saw attendance growth of 9% year over year and revenue growth of approximately 10%. Our festivals will grow by approximately 30% in 2014 to more than 70, compared to the 54 held in 2013. Much of this growth will be in North America, as we bring highly popular festivals like Mysteryland
SFX Entertainment
to the U.S. for the first time and bring Electric Zoo to Mexico. We are
– A Totally Differently Growth Story:
in the Netherlands and the Hudson Project in Saugerties, New York.
SFX Entertainment also reported its Q1-2014 results. In the first three
Additionally, we see opportunities for further festival schedule expan-
months the company gained revenue of $33.3 million and produced a
sion in North America, South America and Asia in 2015 and beyond.”
also introducing entirely new festivals, such as Don’t Let Daddy Know
net loss of $63.6 million, resulting in loss per share of $0.73. Since the last issue from $7.33 the share price this time is down to In the period SFX Entertainment completed 14 events of this year’s
$7.02.
17–20 SEPT.
2014
total scheduled number of 76 festivals. In the report SFX-CEO Robert
HAMBURG/GERMANY
Organiser: Reeperbahn Festival GbR and Inferno Events GmbH & Co. KG
INTERNATIONAL
25
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CONCERTS, MUSIC & DIGITAL SESSIONS, NETWORKING, ART PROGRAMMES 30,000 VISITS; 3,000 PROFESSIONALS
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VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
MU to Remain Neutral on Scottish Independence Issue Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com
With just over three months to go until the Scottish independence referendum, the Musicians’ Union (MU) has announced its decision to remain neutral in the debate. The decision follows the MU’s forum on ‘The Future of Music in Scotland,’ which was held on 11 April 2014 at Glasgow City Halls. MU General Secretary John Smith says: “The debates that were had in Glasgow were extremely informative and our Scottish members were able to express their differing views, whilst also having the opportunity to question industry specialists on what independence might mean for music and musicians in Scotland. “The variety of views expressed means that the MU Executive Committee has decided to take a position of neutrality on the question of Scottish independence in order to respect the positions of our 2,200 members in Scotland.
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MU General Secretary John Smith
VIP NEWS > MISC > MAY 2014
MEMBER PRESENTATION
ARTIST AVAILS Chloe Charles Territory: Europe Period: September/October Agency: Paperclip Agency / Agent: Hilde Spille Phone: +31 243239322 E-mail: hilde@paperclip-agency.com Homepage: www.paperclip-agency.com
ORBITAL ñ 25th year anniversary tour in 2014 Territory: The World excluding USA Period: May onwards Agency: Value Added Talent / Agent: Dan Silver Phone: +44 207 704 97 20 E-mail: dan@vathq.co.uk Homepage: www.vathq.co.uk
TRAIN TRAIN is a privately owned live venue and nightclub placed in the central of Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. TRAIN is appointed as a regional live venue by the Municipality of Aarhus and The Danish Agency for Culture. TRAIN is a fully professional venue and has been running succesfully since 1. april 1998. TRAIN is one of Denmarks largest regional venues and nightclubs. The concert capacity is 850 guests for live concerts and 1700 guest for nightclubbing. There’s no agelimit for live concerts at Train. TRAIN presents a broad program of music, covering many different genres and styles. Throughout the years a lot of international and national artists have been perfoming on the stage. Artists like Snoop Dogg, Iggy Pop, Suede, Bryan Ferry, Motörhead, The National, The The, N*E*R*D, Patti Smith, Kaiser Chiefs, Babyshambles, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and many many others.
Alan Parsons Live Project Territory: Worldwide Period: 2014 Agency: World Entertainment Associates of America Agent: John Regna - Artist Agent/Manager Phone: +1 407-993-4000 E-mail: JPR@JohnRegna.com Homepage: www.AlanParsonsTourPromo.com
Glasvegas Territory: Europe Period: 2014 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Ben Winchester Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: ben@primarytalent.com Homepage: www.glasvegas.net
THE ORCHESTRA starring ELO former members Territory: Worldwide Period: 2014-2015 Agency: World Entertainment Associates of America Agent: John Regna - Artist Agent/Manager Phone: +1 407-993-4000 E-mail: jpr@johnregna.com Homepage: www.THEORCHESTRAonline.com
Afro Cuban All Stars Territory: East Europe, Middle East Period: July Agency: Greensmith Agent: Dragan Greensmith E-mail: dragan@greensmithltd.com Homepage: greensmithltd.com/artistprofile/ afro-cuban-all-stars/
The clubscene has been honoured by perfomances by artists like Major Lazer, DJ Shadow, 2ManyDJs, Modeselektor, Benga & Skream, Andy Fletcher, Simian Mobile Disco, Peaches, Kele Okereke, Moderat, Cassius, Zombie Nation and many many more.
MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM
Orbital
27
VIP NEWS >
MAY 2014
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