VIP-News Premium - June 2014

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VOLUME 169

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JUNE 2014

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JUNE 2014

McGowan’s

Musings

So – that’s England out of the World Cup

very much in the running, and as for Ronni

the sector is worth $2.5 billion. It now shows

then…who to support now? As far as the VIP

Didriksen, I’m not sure what the situation is

that the live sector accounts for 34,131 em-

team are concerned Peter Briggs is of course

with Denmark. I’m usually able to hedge my

ployees. This is greater than the 20,439 peo-

English, a football fan, and I presume obvious-

bets as I also have Irish citizenship and my

ple employed in film and video as their main

ly devastated at this poor showing; Manfred

parents were born in Scotland, but as neither

job. Apart from these figures being a great en-

Tari, a Dortmund supporter, still has Germany

country qualified it would be a bit pointless

couragement to the live industry everywhere,

to start to shout for either, so it’s all a bit of

LPA’s Evelyn Richardson commented that the

a quandary (another word I rarely get to use,

live performance industry also generated less

so that’s one advantage at least!). There’s a

tangible benefits such as improved social co-

McGowan playing for Australia, but having

hesion, lifestyle improvement, diversity and

never been there I feel little connection – apart

increased creativity, not reflected in economic

from friends such as Alia Dann of ILMC fame

metrics. I find these comments encouraging in

and Chuggi etc of course, so I think I’ll be ex-

many ways, and Simon Jenkins echoed simi-

tremely English and just cheer on the chaps

lar sentiments in an article in The Guardian

that play well!

on June 20, entitled, “In this post-digital age, we still thrill to the power of live.” Amongst

COLOPHON >

Sorry about this deviation into the sports are-

other reassuring things he said, “Most marked

na, but of course there’s an almost symbiotic

is that television and the internet have failed

VIP-News is published by: VIP-Booking 145-157 St John Street London Ec1V 4PW

relationship between football and the music

to replicate the exhilaration of the live event.

biz, you have to be extremely careful about

This was supposed to mean death to concerts,

planning music conference events if they clash

theatres, lectures, football matches, even res-

Managing Director: Ronni Didriksen rd@vip-booking.com

with a big match. Also I see that one of the

taurants. Instead, these activities have fed off

One Direction combo has bought into his lo-

the web, growing and prospering. The money

cal team, Doncaster Rovers (in the North of

is ever more “at the gate”. Digital is an aston-

England), and is listed as a reserve player, now

ishing new means of communication. Yet it

there’s someone following his dreams!

has not satiated the human appetite for mov-

General Manager: Peter Briggs pb@vip-booking.com Writer and editorial: Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Writer: Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com For advertising enquiries please contact: Peter Briggs pb@vip-booking.com +44 870 755 0092

2

ing, meeting and touching.”

Talking of Australia – we were, pay attention!

So, I’ll leave you live industry folk with those

- Live Performance Australia (LPA) has released

thoughts, comforting from both a business,

some interesting figures regarding the eco-

and I’m sure a personal point of view, to see

nomic size and scope of the live performance

you through July when we will be taking a

industry. According to a second study, broader

month off. So whatever you’re doing, good

in scope than the previous issued in 2010,

luck and enjoy! Let us know how things are

and prepared by EY (formerly Ernst & Young)

going, and for now Ladies and Gentlemen –

based on the latest data available, from 2012,

The News!

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

BBC Announce Music Awards Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Chris Evans and Fearne Cotton will host the BBC Music Awards from London’s Earl’s Court

“Today`s the start of something very special for everyone who loves music­.”

BBC director general Tony Hall

The BBC has announced the launch of the

The new music strategy unveiled by the

BBC Music Awards, as part of a wide-rang-

corporation encompasses TV and radio pro-

ing new musical strategy by the Corpora-

gramming, digital services and provisions to

tion..

support emerging talent including the introduction of classical music to UK primary

Aimed at celebrating the year`s best popular

schools.

music, The awards event will be the BBC`s

“Today`s the start of something very special

biggest musical presentation after Glaston-

for everyone who loves music,” BBC direc-

bury, uniting BBC One, BBC Radio 1 and BBC

tor general Tony Hall said. “BBC Music is

Radio 2 ahead of a live show presented by

a celebration of the brilliant musical talent

Chris Evans and Fearne Cotton. The event

across our country. We`ll be joining up mu-

will take place on 11 December at London`s

sic on television, radio, iPlayer and online

Earls Court.

like never before. There`ll be new shows, new partnerships and whole new ways to

Categories will include British artist of the

enjoy music.”

year and song of the year. A panel of BBC

The wide ranging plans have been wel-

presenters and producers will select the best

comed by many, but are surprising consid-

British artist and international artist awards,

ering recent cut backs and redundancies,

with viewers and listeners choosing the win-

however the new strategy is of course posi-

ning song of the year. The awards will also

tive. There may also be some consternation

feature a host of performances to review

at the offices of the BRIT Awards, although

the year, as well as collaborations between

the BBC are making great efforts to con-

well-known artists and the BBC Orchestra.

vince all interested parties that there will be

BBC Radios 1 and 2 and The One Show will

no conflict – Watch this Space!

offer behind the scenes access to the award ceremony.

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VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

Campell and Gaga

Lady Gaga’s Management Joins Live Nation Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Live Nation have been adding to their acquisitions again, this time it’s

Lady Gaga split from previous manager Troy Carter and his Atom

Lady Gaga and her manager, Bobby Campbell, who have joined Artist

Factory firm last November, with Campbell, who worked with her at

Nation, the company’s artist management division. Confirming the

Atom Factory, staying with the artist.

agreement, Michael Rapino, president and chief executive officer of

Lady Gaga was obviously in great demand by the world’s leading

Live Nation Entertainment told Billboard.biz, “Lady Gaga is one of the

management companies so Live Nation must be very pleased to add

most iconic and highest-grossing artists of this generation, we have a

her to what is now recognised as the world`s largest management

long-standing relationship with Lady Gaga, dating back to her 2009

organization, with more than 230 artist clients from all genres and

Fame Ball tour, and we look forward to continuing to support Lady

some 16 management companies under its umbrella. Artist Nation

Gaga and her manager Bobby Campbell in their careers.”

also recently signed U2 and Madonna under manager Guy Oseary.

Campbell added, “Lady Gaga and I have had an incredible relationship with Live Nation over the last five years. Their insight, strategic

Live Nation is also producing GaGa’s current artRAVE: The ARTPOP

vision and global power have made them a truly invaluable member

Ball, one of the biggest global tours of the summer, having sold nearly

of our team. I`m ecstatic to be working even more closely with them

800,000 tickets in more than 24 countries across North America, Asia,

in the years to come as we take Lady Gaga`s career to new levels all

Australia and Europe, according to Live Nation.

around the world.”

Need to know who is touring Europe?

Go online - www.vip-booking.com vip-booking.com

4

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COOPERATION OPPORTUNITIES LEADERSHIP INFORMATION STRATEGY INNOVATIONS UNITY MODERNIZATION

September 11-14 Moscow Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre

Early bird registration: www.colisium.org

Free slots available for showcases at the main stage of the biggest music exhibition in Russia

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

Go North

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

I have to say that I always enjoy a trip to

ing the word ‘digital’ again (I threatened to

This was the last Go North – but don’t

Inverness for Go North, not that I don’t en-

put a swear box on the floor with a £1 fine

panic, its just going to change its name, or-

joy the other events that I attend, but Go

for every use of the word in my Publishing

ganisers HIE revealed that next year it’ll be

North, in keeping with the intentions of

panel!), I did learn from Neil Cartwright of

brought to you as XpoNorth. Until then the

founders like Sean Arnold and Iain Hamil-

Million Media’s presentation ‘Where Next

goNORTH Festival Tour kicks off at the end

ton, has managed to remain well attended

– The Future of Digital.’ – that’s £2 in the

of July at Wickerman Festival on the 25th &

but – compact, I suppose is the best word.

box!. Also the showcases are all easy to

26th July. www.gonorthfestival.co.uk

The panels and presentations are attended

access, and they are ‘showcases’, i.e. new

by people who want to listen and to learn –

talent that can surprise you, many of the

Of course it’ll be interesting to see if next

they ask questions! I learnt a lot more about

bigger events feature already known acts,

year’s Highlands and Islands event will take

synchronisation than I knew before from

with people fighting to get in. This year’s

place in an independent country!

this year’s very good panel on the topic,

June 4-5 edition attracted a very high profile

and much as I could do with never hear-

business delegation.

Young Fathers’ Tape Two declared Scottish Album Of The Year Also, while we’re dealing with things Scot-

Clyro, RM Hubbert, Mogwai, Chvrches and

reporters: “On behalf of the SMIA I’d just like

tish, Edinburgh-based hip hoppers Young

Edwyn Collins.

to say how delighted we are for Young Fa-

Fathers won the Scottish Album Of The Year

6

thers. ‘Tape Two’ is an extraordinary album

prize for their album ‘Tape Two’, picked

Stewart Henderson, chair of award organiser

and a deserving winner out of a phenom-

from a shortlist that also included Biffy

the Scottish Music Industry Association told

enally strong shortlist. The SMIA is extreme-

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

Young Fathers receive the Scottish album of the year award for Tape Two at Glasgow’s Barrowlands 1

ly proud to be so closely linked with The

Meanwhile Caroline Parkinson from Creative

Scotland’s talented musicians, of which there

SAY Award - a prestigious and increasingly

Scotland, which provides the £20,000 prize

are many. As a founding partner, we are de-

important­celebration of Scotland’s­quite ex-

money, said: “The SAY Award is a fantastic

lighted to support the Awards and congratu-

ceptional musical output”.

way of supporting and raising the profile of

late the winner and all the nominees!”

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VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

Canadian Music Week Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Neill Dixon

1. Afghanistan 2. Australia 3. Austria 4. Belgium 5. Brazil 6. Brussels 7. Canada A clash of dates with The Great Escape, and the fact I had to be in Dresden anyway, meant that we VIP types didn’t make it to Toronto

8. Chile 9. Costa Rica

this year, but ‘Canada’s leading annual enter-

10. Croatia

tainment event dedicated to the expression

11. Denmark

and growth of the country’s music, media and

12. Finland

entertainment industries’, grows steadily and is certainly worth mentioning.

Canadian Music Week combines three conferences; a trade exposition; a film festival; a comedy festival; four awards shows and the

13. France

Festival Director Neill Dixon told VIP News, “It

14. Germany

was great, in fact our best year to date. The

15. Hong Kong 16. India

nation’s largest new music festival, over a

17. Ireland

CMW spans a five-day period in May at the

18. Israel

Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre

19. Japan

Hotel and over 60 downtown Toronto venues.

change of date helped both the conference and the good weather boosted public attendance.”

One innovation interested me in particular, as I very much like the ideas of Cities ‘twinning’ to promote their music and creative

20. Netherlands

talent. A special panel discussion highlight-

21. New Zealand

ing the world’s first inter-city musical alliance - between Toronto and another great music

The figures are impressive:

22. Norway

3000 Delegates

23. Peru

Texas - also took place during the three-day

400 Speakers

24. Portugal

Music Summit. Mayoral candidate John Tory

950 bands

25. Singapore

67 venues

26. South Africa

4275 musicians 8 nights of performances 160,000 fans 630 accredited media Countries – 33 (including Canada)

city and of course home of SXSW, Austin,

used CMW’s International Marketplace as a platform to announce his plan to turn Toronto into an internationally recognized music city.

27. Spain

Tory’s vision is based on successful models al-

28. Sweden

ready established by cities like Austin, Texas

29. Switzerland

and includes the establishment of a standalone Music Office and direct communication

30. Taiwan

and feedback from key players in the local

31. United Arab Emirates

music industry.

32. United Kingdom 33. United States of America

CMW will return to Toronto for another week of conferences, awards, film, comedy and music from May 5 to 9, 2015.

8

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

MIDEM

to Change Dates

Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

For many years music business professionals flocked to the South of France in January to attend what was for most of those years the industry’s biggest trade event, and hopefully for blue skies and sunshine. But things have changed, numbers have dropped off for Midem, and often the weather seemed to take a turn for the worse.

However all is to change, as the event is to

as well as being partially open to the general

Now it seems pretty certain that the sun will

push back 6 months to 5-8 June.

public. We believe the result of the changes

shine, but what of hotel availabilities, and

will be a bigger, more vibrant MIDEM, with

high season prices for what was always the

There will be other changes, MIDEM Director

more participants from more countries. All of

most expensive of events, particularly in the

Bruno Crolot: “MIDEM 2015 will have a new

this and a move to a June date when Cannes

bars? We shall see…

look, new content and a new atmosphere,

is at its best”.

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9

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JUNE 2014

Yet Another UK Grassroots Venue Under Threat Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Following our report in last month’s issue of UK

the venue, have put in an application to re-

Also The Music Venue Trust: http://music­

venues being threatened with closure by noise

view our license, with the direct intention and

venues.org.uk/ was formed in January of this

complaints from new neighbours, the Boiler-

request that the council revoke our license

year to look at a number of issues facing small

oom Guildford is in the same precarious posi-

with immediate effect. Their message is very

to medium sized venues, the breeding ground

tion as Manchester’s Night & Day, Brighton’s

clear: they want to shut us down. They believe

of UK music. Patrons of the trust include musi-

Blind Tiger, and The Fleece n Southampton.

we are in breach of our license conditions. We

cians from all aspects of the live music scene,

believe we manage the venue to a high stand-

including established stalwarts such as Andy

The Boileroom venue in Guildford faces losing

ard with significant consideration for the local

Dunlop of Travis and David Gedge of the

its licence because a newish neighbour - who

community”.

Wedding Present, Jeremy Pritchard of The Times Breakthrough Artist winners Every-

chose to move into a property next to the performance space - has filed a complaint with

The petition goes on to note that The Boile-

thing Everything and Kerrang Award win-

the local council. More and more venues are

room routinely hosts events for local schools

ners Enter Shikari, alongside rising stars such

in fear of neighbours moving into new resi-

and charities, alongside free community

as Moya and Savages. Musicians are joined

dential developments near their buildings, be-

events and matinees for under eighteens, and

by cross party parliamentary political support,

cause noise complaints to could result in the

has always gone out of its way to abide by

MPs Mike Weatherley (Conservative, Hove)

local authorities shutting them down, even

noise and event management rules, and to

and Kerry McCarthy (Labour, Bristol) and

though these venues were there first.

engage with the locals. So much so venue

Lord Tim Clement Jones (Lib Dem), and by

owner Dominique Frazer was presented with

senior music industry figures such Barry Dick-

The Boileroom have a set up an online peti-

the Trude Adler award from the Noise Abate-

ins (ITB) Geoff Meale (The Agency), Paul

tion, and have stated, “We have put together

ment Society in 2010.

this petition to save our venue, Guildford’s

10

Buck (Coda) and Scott Thomas (XRay).

The Trust’s petition has reached 10,000 signa-

only alternative and independent live music

You can sign the petition in support of The

tures and must now receive a formal response

venue. “Our family run venue was opened in

Boileroom here. You can also still sign the sep-

from the Department of the Environment. The

2006, and is managed by a collective of peo-

arate petition calling on Secretary Of State For

Trust is continuing to push for more signatures

ple who believe the venue provides a much

The Environment Owen Paterson to “carry out

to reach the goal of 100,000, when it will be

needed creative space for the local commu-

an urgent review of noise abatement legisla-

called for debate in the House of Commons.

nity; encouraging and supporting local bands

tion” which is threatening grass roots venues

You can view and sign the petition here:

and nurturing upcoming talent. Our fairly new

who enjoy good relations with the vast major-

www.http://qr.net/sign

neighbours, who rent the house adjacent to

ity of their neighbours. here.

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

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See you next year Early bird registration and act submission open May 1, 2014 Act submission closes September 1, 2014

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38,500 3,275 39 337 36 11 307 30 89 419

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

Pussy Riot activists give speech at Roskilde Festival Anne Frank Alsted aa@vip-booking.com

Roskilde Festival presents two of the former members of Pussy Riot. The women are now iconic figures on the international political stage.

Pussy Riot was on everyone’s lips as several of its members were imprisoned after a punk happening in Moscow’s largest church. Today the two former members Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alyokhina have been released from prison, and they are campaigned on freedom of speech, prison reform and human rights worldwide. And soon, also in Denmark. You can meet the two previously imprisoned women, Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alyokhina when they give a speech at Roskilde Festival’s Gloria stage Friday 4 July at 17:30.

Roskilde Festival Charity Society has donated DKK 300,000 (EUR 40,000) to the two Russian women’s newly formed NGO called Zona Prava (Zone of Rights). The organisation aims to monitor conditions for prisoners in Russian prisons and focus on the suppression of human rights.

Read more at http://roskilde-festival. dk/news/singlenews/pussy-riot-activists-give-speech-at-roskilde-festival2014/#dzjAsBxUdVFZZEhq.99

Pussy Riot

12

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

FKP Scorpio – 3 festivals in 3 countries and 1 anniversary Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Stephan Thanscheidt, MD, and Folkert Koopmans, CEO, of FKP Scorpio

The second weekend of June was a busy but successful time for Hamburg based promoters FKP Scorpio, seeing the Company present

The storms stayed away and 25.000 fans turned up to enjoy perfect

three festivals in three countries, starting with the 10th edition of the

weather conditions in the Netherlands for this year‘s Indian Summer

Greenfield open air in Switzerland on Thursday, June 12th.

festival. A mixed bill of acts including Tom Odell, Lily Allen, Underworld, Chrystal Castles, Invite and

Rock legends Iron Maiden, Linkin Park and Soundgarden helped the

Single & Feestje, kept fans dancing till early morning.

event celebrate its anniversary and 24.000 fans joined the party, ignoring the occasional thunder and rain storms. Stephan Thanscheidt,

An innovation at this year‘s event was the festival wristbands cash-

Managing Director of FKP Scorpio said, “It was a great festival and

less payment system. Stefan Rosenau, Managing Director of YouChip

an amazing atmosphere. I really want to thank the Greenfield visi-

GmbH said, “Our system, the first online and offline system of its

tors and artists for an unforgettable weekend.” Over the past decade

type in the world, is now up and running. Everybody, the audience,

years the Greenfield festival has attracted almost a quarter million

the festival staff and the promoter, were all completely satisfied by

people!

its operation and convinced that this is the way forward. We would

13

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

like to say a big thank you to the whole team and look forward to a prosperous relationship in the future.”

The third festival was Northside in the Danish city of Århus, which featured bands like The National, Lana Del Rey, Franz Ferdinand, Arcade Fire and Queens Of The Stone Age, attracted 30.000 people, and sold out in May. A feature of this year’s Northside was a focus on sustainability, with huge efforts being made to both separate and prevent waste. Also, the food on site was mainly organic.

Folkert Koopmans, CEO of FKP Scorpio commented, “Three festivals in three countries during one weekend is a logistic challenge and also a strenuous effort for the people involved. With this in mind, looking back and realizing that everything worked out and that we had a successful weekend feels really good. Each of these three festivals has evolved in a very positive way. We were able to optimize some processes and to improve the experience for our guests through the use of new technologies. Now, we will take two days to recover and then we are looking forward to next weekend with the sold out Hurricane and Southside festivals in Germany and the Best Kept Secret in the Netherlands.”

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VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

133.000 visitors for Hurricane & Southside Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

FKP Scorpio also reported good returns for its sister festivals Hurricane and Southside on June 20 to 22. The combined visitor figures were 133.000 of which 60.000 went to Southside. Both events progressed smoothly without any notable incidents, to the point that the magazine Laut.de reported the biggest risk when attending Southside was sunburn.

The Company also announced the extension of the lease contract for the Take-Off Gewerbepark Southside site until 2020. For Hurricane FKP Scorpio launched, among others, a new green initiative called the ‘Hurricane Bicycle Club’ where visitors cycled together to the festival from Hamburg and Bremen The ticket presale for the 2015 editions of events started straight away on Monday, June 23.

Southside

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VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

Waves Vienna Meets Bratislava Music Conference Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

The opening sentence of the announcement regarding the collabo-

October 2 in Vienna, with the second day taking place in Bratislava

ration of Waves Vienna and the Bratislava Music Conference reads:

on October 3.

“The exchange between Eastern and Western Europe will this year be manifest in the choice of location”.

For the first time the Vienna conference will take place in the University Of Music and Performing Arts, alongside the Vienna Music Busi-

This innovation is very interesting; both cities are only 54 km apart

ness Research Days. This conference is quite interesting as it combines

but the definition East/West still seems to indicate a meeting between

the world of science and academics with that of the music business.

two different worlds. Anyhow, Waves Vienna and the Bratislava

Invited speakers among others are Paul Resnikoff of Digital Music

Music Conference are strengthening their collaboration; previously

News (US), Peter Jenner (UK), Keith Harris of PPL (UK), and our own

the cooperation has been primarily focused on the exchange of the

Allan McGowan.

showcase program between the Cities, but for the upcoming edi-

16

tion the conference program will also take place in Bratislava… The

Further information can be found on: http://www.wavesvienna.

conference schedule now sees the conference program starting on

com/en/update/artikel/waves-vienna-bratislava-music-conference-1/

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

Youtube - A Tactical Power Player Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com The Google subsidiary Youtube intends to enter the new market for

The answer is simple: a trend that has already manifested itself over

music streaming services. In recent years Youtube became one of the

more than one decade now, basically rising fees and ticket prices!

most important platforms for promoting music and apparently would

The live music business has been compensating artists for their drasti-

like to extend its position in the mar-

cally reduced income from recorded

ket joining other recently established

music for years now. On the one

players such as Spotify, Deezer and

hand promoters, artists and agents

Wimp...

benefited from rising visitor figures and ticket prices. On the other hand

Youtube’s mother ship Google cur-

the question remains what does this

rently has a market cap of $375 bil-

development mean for the live music

lion and is known for delivering im-

industry in the long run?

pressive business results such as the $59.8 billion revenue and net income

The music business is a fast changing

of $12.9 billion reported for 2013.

industry that continues to re-invent

Google does not declare business re-

itself. It is evident that the regular

sults for Youtube within its financial

introduction of new technologies

reports.

has caused significant development, amendments and innovations, from

However, the results itself are certain-

the invention of the Gramophone,

ly satisfyingly for shareholders but may cause exaggerated demands

the shift from shellac to vinyl records to CDs, the rise of radio and TV,

from those who produce and supply the raw material for what ac-

and lately the digital distribution of recorded music via online outlets.

tually makes Youtube popular. In terms of the business agreements with the market suppliers for streaming services, the decision takers

Yes, the live music sector has benefitted and experienced a long last-

at Youtube seem determined not to overpay some of these content

ing boom in recent years. Yes, Youtube reached agreements for its

providers.

new music service with Sony, Warner and Universal Music. But the latest news as reported in the Financial Times on June 17 is that You-

In fact Youtube is already quite well known for holding on to the

tube is “about to begin a mass cull of music videos by artists including

bucks. A bit like Apple or Amazon, Adidas or Burger King, and oth-

Adele and the Arctic Monkeys, after a number of independent record

er usually corporate companies that often attract media awareness

labels refused to sign up to the licensing terms for its new subscrip-

when it comes to allegations of poor working conditions or other

tion service.”

questionable business practices.

These reports undoubtedly indicate that Youtube is a tactical power In terms of questionable business practices Youtube is now confront-

player. Using its powerful position to obtain better conditions for its

ed by protests from independent labels who simply do not want to

new service. But while the live music industry currently is only indi-

sign the license agreements proposed by Youtube for its new stream-

rectly affected by these kind of business practices by players such as

ing service. According to the trade organisation WIN (Worldwide

Youtube, it is only a question of time until one of the corporate tech

Independent Network), the contractual demands are considered by

& online giants such as Google, Apple or Facebook will reach out

many labels as, ‘highly unfavourable’, setting out non-negotiable

and launch services such as ticketing systems or media platforms that

terms, undercutting existing rates in the marketplace from partners

perhaps will be as demanding and onerous for the live music sector.

such as Spotify and Deezer.

With this in mind, it might be time that particularly the live music It is already well documented that in particular less well known artists

industry sends a signal of solidarity towards those that are already

receive less per year in license fee payments from streaming services

facing the power of Youtube and their business associates. And for

than a busker normally earns per day. But what do these ongoing

those power players within the corporate concert companies it might

developments mean for the live music industry community?

be helpful to bear in mind, that the profit results of Google alone are twice as much as the overall revenue returns of Live Nation...

18

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2014

An Event Site As Battle Ground Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

For the public the news, just a few days before the festival took place,

made by him in the news magazine Spiegel, claiming that he had the idea

that the current edition of Rock Am Ring is the last one to be held at

for Rock Am Ring and for the brand and that the brand was not owned

Nürburgring came as something of a shock. Though insiders were not so

by the Nürburgring.

surprised, as some told VIP News that MLK.com had already started to search for a new location last year.

The administrators argue that the Rock Am Ring was launched 1985 as a joint project between Mama Concerts of which Lieberberg was a stake-

To cut the story short, from 2015 the Nürburgring event site will have a

holder and the Nürburgring GmbH. Until the recent edition the Nürbur-

new management and owner. The famous motor racing site previously

gring GmbH acted as co-promoter of Rock Am Ring and is party to former

operated by Nürburgring GmbH had already filed for insolvency in July

agreements in 2003 and 2007 that apparently state that the company is

2012. The company was owned by the German district government of

a co-owner of the brand rights for the event.

Rhineland-Palatinate and suffered financial collapse after the political stakeholders failed in their ambitious plan to develop the site in to a tour-

Nürburgring GmbH additionally announced the intention to file an official

ist hot spot. The financial loss for taxpayers is estimated to exceed 500

case against Lieberberg in order to protect its rights to the brand.

million Euros.

The official databank of brands by the Deutsche Patent- und Markenamt After a call for bids at the beginning of March 2014, the administrators

reveals that the brand Rock Am Ring is registered twice According to the

declared that car supplier company Capricorn had submitted the success-

rights for brands, they can be registered in various classes. The first regis-

ful tender, committing to a payment of 77 million Euros. However, the

tration of the brand ‘Rock Am Ring’ was filed in October 1993 by MLK in

whole insolvency procedure already was dogged with many legal aspects

the classes 41 and 9 according to the classification of brands defined by

that are still ongoing. The European Commission officially launched an

the so called Nice statutes, and covers the right of the owner of this brand

investigation of Germany regarding the wrongful declaration of 486 mil-

to promote concerts and release records under this name.

lion Euros in subsidies for the site that were in violation of EU regulations.

Entangled in this legal mess, Capricorn as the new owner of the site

The second registration was undertaken by the Nürburgring GmbH

started at a very early stage to negotiate with MLK as promoter of Rock

in August 1997. The second entry protects the brand name within the

Am Ring about the lease conditions for the site in 2015. Capricorn then,

Nice-classifications 16, 18, 25, 28, regarding amongst other permissions,

according to media reports, cancelled the lease contract while Marek

the production of print products, photographs, sunshades and walking

Lieberberg complained that Capricorn was asking for a higher profit par-

sticks...

ticipation than he had agreed.

At the moment no further news about the future of Rock Am Ring is conThe news that Rock Am Ring won’t continue to be staged at Nürburgring

crete. Lieberberg meanwhile stated in media reports to move the currently

gained massive media attention and gained further interest with the news

unofficially entitled event as Rock Without Ring to a site in Monchenglad-

within the news that Capricorn had teamed up with DEAG in order to

bach or to a airport in Mendig...

develop a successor event in 2015 on the same dates previously planned for Rock Am Ring entitled “Grüne Hölle” (Green Hell).

On June 23 the first hearing of the case by the district court in Koblenz decided that the name Rock Am Ring belongs to both parties. For MLK

And if that wasn’t already enough, on June 12 the administrators of the

the ruling means that Lieberberg is not the sole owner of the brand as

Nürburgring GmbH put out a press release confirming the filing of an in-

he has a partnership under civil code with the Nürnburgring GmbH as a

terim injunction against MLK and Marek Lieberberg regarding statements

co-promoter of the event.

19

VIP NEWS > BUSINESS > JUNE 2014

MUSIC IN SHARES

Music in Shares Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

CTS Eventim

Live Nation

In the last issue VIP News reported a share price for CTS Eventim of

Lady Gaga became a management client of Live Nation while the

41.71 Euro. This time it is 23.18 Euro. Shocking? No, it is just theesult

share price is nevertheless on the rise. On May 23 VIP News reported

of the Company’s previously announced share split with the conversa-

$24.01, this time it is $23.57. However, in the 52 weeks comparison

tion rate of 1:2. At the beginning of the year and with the share split

the gain is like the one of CTS Eventim at 54.9 percent.

in mind, the share stood at 19.75 Euro. In the so-called 52 weeks comparison the share gained a plus of 54.9 percent.

SFX Entertainment

DEAG

Who says Google became evil unless this role within the serious con-

Last time one DEAG share cost 5.66 Euro. In the meantime the share

nies? Besides a share price of $7.02 and the poor results for Q1-2014

gained more than 50 cent and stand now at 6.24 Euro on June 23

as reported in the last issue, this time the share is on its way up. To-

when this report went on to press.

gether with its new secondary ticketing partner Viagogo, who agreed

cert industry is dedicated to questionable secondary ticketing compa-

a sponsorship deal worth $75 million for the next five years the current share price rose to $8.35…

VIP-Magazine: The most In-Depth B2B Magazine for the people of the LIVE Music Industry.

To read the VIP-Magazine or book your advert – go to www.vip-booking.com

20

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VIP NEWS > MISC > JUNE 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

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

MOJO Concerts was founded in 1968 and since then has become one of the largest and most important entertainment companyís in the Netherlands.

The main activity of MOJO Concerts is the organisation of concerts and festivals, artist­bookings and the devellopment of new and innovating events.

Besides that MOJO Concerts is engaged with the corebusiness resulting in extra activities­like production, theatre, management and publishing.

About Our Company VIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest database­for the European Live Entertainment Industry

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/

www.vip-booking.com­developed as a tool for industry professionals. Since it’s launch in the year 2000, we have consistently offered our subscribers the very best in database services and now boast subscribers in over 30 countries.

Today VIP-Booking offers a range of tools for the industry­– including

MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM

VIP-News, VIP-Booking, VIP-Book and VIP-Contract.

Please visit vip-booking.com for further information.

Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

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Orbital