VIP-News Premium - June 2015

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JUNE 2015

McGowan’s

Musings

Well the longest day was yesterday so we’re

Midem organisers admitted that the numbers

the Foo Fighters managed to fall off the

now officially on the rundown for the rest of

were down by 11% on January ’14 figures.

stage in Gothenburg, breaking his leg in the

the year, so with that comforting thought in

However the VIP team enjoyed it and, like

process, though adopting the show must

mind welcome to this edition of the News!

others, reckoned that the decreased numbers

go on ethic, the rest of the band played a

Travels since the last issue have included visits

made it easier to do business. 2016 will

set of standards before a plastered ( not in

to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands and

apparently see the event move till later in

the drinking sense of course!) Dave returned

Paris for me, and Cannes, France for a couple

June, so we’ll see, although I can’t see many

to complete the set sitting down. However

of others in the team. The Cannes trip was

festival promoters being available at that time.

as a result the show will not be going on at

of course for Midem, still the grandfather (or The trip to Scotland for the first Xpo North was

Rock Werchter and Glastonbury. Florence

but facing difficulties as far as convincing

somewhat marred by the plane developing a

and the Machine have however moved up

music business folk to pay the still expensive

fault and diverting to Edinburgh – now I’ve

the bill to make up for things on the Pyramid

registration fees. This was the first year that

got nothing against that capital city, but

Stage. Organiser and founder Michael Eavis

the event was moved to June, great for the

hanging around for hours in any airport is

has taken it all very calmly though as you’d

weather in the sunny South of France, but

not fun, we finally argot to our destination

expect from a 79 year old who maintains that

this did not swing it for the attendance;

over 8 hours late! However, Inverness is a

the hugely-successful festival “could go in a

very attractive City, and even though the

wink” and will be outlasted by his dairy farm

mountains in the distance still had snow on

In a new film on BBC iPlayer, he reveals his

them, there were a couple of days when

proudest achievement is nothing to do with

the sun shone to rival Cannes. I also got to

the festival, but is in fact the moment he won

experience one of the best drummers I’ve

the gold cup for best herd from the Royal

ever seen and heard, Audrey Tait of Hecter

Association Of British Dairy Farmers – so he’s

Bizerk is a slight figure but as powerful as

got his priorities sorted!

COLOPHON > VIP-News is published by: VIP-Booking.com 20-22 Wenlock Road London N1 7GU United Kingdom +44 870 755 0092 Managing Director: Ronni Didriksen rd@vip-booking.com 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

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several festivals including Pink Pop, St.Gallen,

grandmother?) of all the music trade shows,

any male kit players that I’ve seen. With the absence of their bass player she and Glasgow

Now, what else before we move on! Ah

rapper Louie still produced quite a set!

yes! Van has become Sir Van, not known for always being in the best of moods, it’s not

And what of Paris you ask? Well that was for

known whether Northern Irish singer Van

the planning meetings for this year’s MaMA

Morrison cracked a smile when he got the

event in October – we’ll keep you informed!

news that he’d been knighted in the Queen’s honours list. Also a well-deserved OBE,

There’s been a couple of stage accidents

Order of the British Empire, went to my good

of late with some knock on effects, Five

friend, Keith Harris, UK manager of Stevie

Seconds of Summer’s singer (how’s that for

Wonder, amongst many other things. Oh

alliteration!) will probably be staying away

and Take That got the keys to The O2, having

from pyros for some time after setting fire to

performed on the London stage 22 times!

his hair and burning his face during a show at Wembley Arena – he has recovered you’ll

… no, I didn’t get anything, but anyway

be glad to know. Then Dave Grohl – he of

Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the News!

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2015

First Edition of Xpo North Reports Success Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

XpoNorth Director, Amanda Millen said, ‘We’re delighted with the success of our first festival under the XpoNorth banner.

This was our most ambitious programme to date, and we’re pleased that the event continues to achieve growth, both in terms The first edition of XpoNorth took place

of attendee numbers and range of content.

in the Highland Capital of Inverness across

It’s fantastic to bring such a cross-reach

the 10th and 11th of June. The event was

of industry figures together in a beautiful

known as goNORTH from 2001 to 2014

city to connect with the most exciting new

and featured content from a range of

talent in Scotland.’

XpoNorth Director Amanda Millen

creative strands including music, screen and broadcast, fashion and crafts, publishing and gaming. The event continues to be a

Xpo North 2015 Picture - Paul Campbell Photography 135

free festival due to the funding and support from Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Attracting

around

1500

attendees,

highlights from the music programme included

a

keynote

with

legendary

Australian promoter Michael Chugg, along with seminars from PRS for Music, Music Publishers Association (MPA), the Music Producers Guild (MPG) and the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA). The event also featured over 60 live showcases from acts including SAY (see below) Award winner Kathryn Joseph, KLOE, Monogram, Catholic Action, Man of Moon, Hector Bizerk and Miss Irenie Rose.

XpoNorth is one of the few events where you can get to see most, if not all, of the acts as the venues are all within walking distance. The only thing I missed this year was the late night gathering in one of the hotel bars, where as is the case as I’m sure many of you know, much of the networking is done. Seems that the hotels weren’t keen on extra bar take – in Scotland? Surely not!

Xpo North

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VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2015

Kathryn-Joseph

Scottish Album of the Year Award Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Continuing with things Scottish, on June

The winner of this year’s public vote was

18 The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY)

Paolo Nutini’s ‘Caustic Love, which won an

Award announced the latest winner of the

automatic place on the shortlist after a 72

Leonie Bell, director of arts & engagement

coveted award – having appeared at Xpo

hour public vote. The remaining nine slots

at

North Kathryn Joseph took the SAY Award

were awarded by The SAY Award’s panel of

congratulations to Kathryn Joseph as this

for her album ‘Bones You Have Thrown

independent judges.

year’s winner! The SAY Award has firmly

Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’. The event was

Creative

Scotland,

said:

“Huge

established itself as a significant celebration

hosted by Janice Forsyth and Vic Galloway

Stewart Henderson, chair of the SMIA,

of contemporary music from Scotland

of BBC Scotland, also an attendant of Xpo

said:“It’s been a flagship year for The SAY

that illustrates the talent and energy that

North.

Award, our biggest yet, so I’m absolutely

exists within Scotland’s music industry and

delighted for Kathryn. ‘Bones You Have

that emanates internationally. From the

Produced by The Scottish Music Industry

Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Shed’ is a

longlist, to the shortlist and now the winner,

Association (SMIA), and now in its fourth

beautiful, very special album. I’m just

the award is a fantastic way to celebrate,

year, The SAY Award has grown to become

incredibly proud of all the music our artists

recognise and promote the achievements of

the most prestigious music prize in Scotland.

have released over the last 15 months – and

Scotland’s talented musicians and producers

Each shortlisted album wins the artist

for The SAY Award to recognise a talent like

- of which there are many.”

behind it a £1,000 prize and a one of a kind

Kathryn, well, we must be doing something

quilt from Glasgow School of Art graduate

right. It’s shaping up well for The SAY’s fifth

Peter Leathem, CEO of PPL, said: “The SAY

Vanessa Hindshaw.

anniversary next year.”

Award is a fantastic way of supporting and raising the profile of Scotland’s world class music scene and it is a real pleasure to be associated with such an increasingly important event. Huge congratulations go to all the performers involved.”

Previous winners of The SAY Award include Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat (2012),

Leonie Bell, director of arts & engagement at Creative Scotland

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RM Hubbert (2013) and Young Fathers (2014) – who were also longlisted again this year for their album DEAD.

VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >

JUNE 2015

The Early Birds...

Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

The festival season 2015 is in progress,

Hörstmann Unternehmensgruppe (HUG),

end of last year where in her new position

delivering first results and findings.

the mother ship of the music magazine

she will also oversee the first edition of

Intro, Melt Festival and Melt Booking and

the Berlin Lollapalooza event in September

DEAG,

the Live Nation subsidy Festival Republic.

The current edition of Berlin Festival has

controversy over the inauguration of its

Berlin Music Week will be replaced by a new

attracted some positive media reports

new festivals ended with an announcement

festival entitled Pop-Kultur at the end of

by local newspaper but also some harsh

of a total figure of 160.000 visitors for its

August.

criticism for making the event cashless.

According

to

the

promoter

festivals Rock im Revier in Gelsenkirchen,

While cashless systems have been in use

Rockavaria in Munich, Rock In Vienna and

The newly appointed MD Fruzsina Szep

for some years in various football arenas in

an edition of the Sonisphere Festival in Biel

commented: “What we dreamed of creating

Germany, such as Munich, Dortmund and

in Switzerland.

in the past months, what we developed and

Gelsenkirchen, important daily newspaper

planned with the entire team, became a

such as Tagesspiegel and Berliner Zeitung

The Berlin Festival previously held in

reality. The city of Berlin has found its mirror

have criticised the organisers of Berlin

September

the

image in the Berlin Festival – all its facets, its

Festival sharply for operating the system.

music convention Berlin Music Week on

music, arts and culture, its secrets, bringing

a new date (May 29-31) in the

together Berliners and Berlin fans at a truly

A particularly sharp article appeared in

magical venue!”

the Berliner Zeitung. Under the headline

went

ahead

without

Arena

Park. According to the promoter the event attracted 15.000 visitors for its 10th

“Berlin Festival Between Consume And

anniversary. The business unit behind Berlin

Szep formerly worked as a program director

Control” and from a total of 970 words

Festival is a joint venture between the

for Sziget-Festival and moved to Berlin at the

only 50 were dedicated to the line up. The rest of the article rather featured extensive

Fruzsina Szep

descriptions of long queues and editorial comment focused on big data regarding the drinking habits of festival goers and referenced personalized tickets. Right at the beginning of the story, the US mother ship of Festival Republic Live Nation was referred to as an “Entertainment Monopolist”. Well, from a Berlin point of view this must be true.

The biggest European festival promoter by far, FKP Scorpio, is not affiliated with Live Nation but is associated with CTS Eventim.

The European leading ticketing company unlike Live Nation is not listed on New York Stock Exchange but does appear on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, reported for its events Hurricane and Southside a total figure of 125.000 visitors. According to the company Hurricane gained 5.000 visitors more than its sister event Southside with 60.000 visitors.

FKP Scorpio also chose to run this year’s edition of the Hurricane festival with an RFID

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VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY > (radio-frequency

identification)

JUNE 2015

cashless

Festival which refund the correct sum of the

payment system. After a failed attempt in

deposit the festival goers paid in advance.

2012 to make this event cashless, the current

Anyhow “cashless” is an issue that can be

implementation also encountered serious

read in various ways.

problems before improving. On the first day of the event, on Thursday, June 18, the

The German agency Four Artists who

radio communication system didn’t work

together with 0711-Entertainment promoted

have been cancelled, including events such

properly and caused long lasting queues;

for the last fifteen years the one day festival

as Crazy Week à Nice, where previously

also bar and shop staff on on the site didn’t

Mixery Hip Hop Open will not continue the

acts like Thirty Seconds to Mars, Mika,

want to service customers offering cash as

event in 2016. The current edition on July 18

Simple Minds played. According to a report

they feared being fined. (This is exactly the

in Stuttgart will be the last one. According to

in the daily newspaper Nice Matin, the

same situation as occurred on the first day

the company rising production costs, Gema

promoter Ivoire Music reported insolvency,

of the Download Festival in the UK – Ed.)

(the German copyright collection society)

blaming, amongst other costs, high concert

fees, and staff wages makes it impossible

royalties charged by the French collection

Folkert Koopmans, MD of FKP Scorpio, one

for the promoters to continue to promote

society Sacem.

of the most unpretentious promoters ever,

their event. Additionally it seems to be a

addressed the difficulties in a press release

problem in Stuttgart to find a suitable site

Amongst other endangered events are the

by the company, committing honestly:

that is also suitable for installing camping

festival Voix du Garou in Six Fours-les-Plages

The system itself was not to blame for the

facilities for the audience.

near Toulon in Southern France, which last

occurring problems, which we were not able

year presented headlining artists Placebo,

to solve until Thursday evening. However,

In line with this there is also frightening

Stromae, Woodkid, and Massive Attack.

some of our guests also had to wait for a

news from France where in 2013, according

Also the world music festival Résonances in

long time to receive their badges, for which

to a survey by industry associations SACEM

Roquefort, will stop after 20 years, having

I would like to apologize.”

and IRMA, 1400 plus festivals took place.

gained up to 20.000 visitors in previous

Public funding for music festivals has

years.

Well, the synthetic viral money exchange

been traditionally available for more than

thing is one thing. Especially when media

two decades, but 2015 seems to be a

A propos “cashless”, the football club

reports raise the question of what happens

turnaround year for many events that until

Borussia Dortmund announced for the

with the money that is not being re-funded

now benefitted from public funding.

upcoming season 2015/2016 beginning

to punters. At Hurricane for instance the

in August to abstain from its previously

re-fund was only returned in round figures,

According to the website “ cartocrise-

cashless

payment

system

and

to

a slightly different policy than at Sziget-

culture-francaise” more than 40 festivals

introduce cash payments in its arena...

re-

Festival

6

VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >

JUNE 2015

Faith No More and Royal Blood for Werchter Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com As mentioned in the Musings, Dave Grohl broke his leg during a show in Sweden, resulting in Foo Fighters cancelling this year’s set at Belgium’s Rock Werchter 2015 (amongst other festivals).

It was as you might imagine, an eventful week at the Rock Werchter office. Phone calls were made and e-mails were sent out trying to find a great alternative. (On this subject, also read wikihow’: ‘Headliner cancels. Now what?’ on www.rockwerchter.be).

Faith No More and Royal Blood graciously stepped in to appear on Thursday June 25th, adding a double dose of rock to the bill. Faith No More was in popular demand by the festival audience.

Last February, Royal Blood received the BRIT Award for best British Band which was presented to them by Jimmy Page. Plenty of reasons Wechter decided, to grant them not one but two spots on the Rock Werchter Main Stage, both on Thursday and on Saturday!

23.-26. SEPT. 2015 CONFERENCE · SESSIONS WITH WILL PAGE (SPOTIFY) · PETER RIEGER (PETER RIEGER KONZERTAGENTUR) · ALISON WENHAM (IMPALA) · THORSTEN SCHÄFER-GÜMBEL (STELLV. SPD-VORS.) · CHRIS BARTON (SHAZAM) · PAUL HASLINGER (COMPOSER) · TERRY HALL (FORMERLY THE SPECIALS) · INEKE DAANS (PIAS) · DANIEL MÜLLENSIEFEN (UNIVERSITY OF LONDON) · STEPHAN THANSCHEIDT (FKP SCORPIO) · RALPH SIMON (MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT FORUM) · JOHNNY HAEUSLER (SPREEBLICK) · FRANCINE GORMAN (NORDIC PLAYLIST) · BURAK ÖZGEN (SESAC) · BEN RODENBERG (GASTSPIELREISEN) · FIONA BRANDES (PAY OR SHARE) · AND MANY MORE · SHOWCASES · NETWORKING · MEETINGS · AWARDS FESTIVAL · CONCERTS · WANDA · SÓLEY · TORRES · MAC DEMARCO · AURORA · METZ · LÅPSLEY · XOV · JORIS · TRÜMMER · PALMA VIOLETS · VÖK · COSMO SHELDRAKE · HAPPYNESS · CRISTOBAL AND THE SEA · GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS · A.O.S.O.O.N · DAN MANGAN · ROMANO · ODDISEE · AND MANY MORE · LITERATURE · FILM · FINE ARTS - PERFORMANCES

REEPERBAHNFESTIVAL.COM Organiser: Reeperbahn Festival GbR and Inferno Events GmbH & Co. KG

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VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >

JUNE 2015

Police Defend Face Scanning at Download Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Leicestershire police force has defended

festivals they’ve paid good money for, and

or buy something at the stalls. Cash was not

scanning the faces of 90,000 festival-goers

not feel as though they’re being surveyed by

accepted at any bar, food stall, market stall,

over the weekend of 12th-14th of June,

police,” she said.

fun fair ride or merchandise stand. The tags

and checking them against a list of wanted

are also used to grant attendees access to

criminals across Europe. The force used facial

A cashless payment system was put in

different areas of the site. Early attendees

recognition technology on festivalgoers

place for the first time in a bid to cut crime,

on the first day reported problems in

at Download, staged at a rainy Donington

but the system seemed to suffer the same

topping up, with systems crashing and

Park, and say that the information gathered

teething problems as that implemented at

traders unable to take money for items.

has now been destroyed. It was believed to

FKP Scorpio’s Hurricane Festival in Germany

As attendees were asked not to bring cash

be the first time the software had been used

(see above).

and there was no fall-back system available.

at an outdoor event in the UK.

Things were resolved for the main days, Every single person on site, including staff,

headlined by Slipknot, Muse and Kiss, with

The trial was criticised by campaign group

children, RIP and VIP customers needed

main support from Judas Priest, Faith No

Big Brother Watch as “worrying”. Images of

a dog tag to get around the festival and/

More and Mötley Crüe.

people were compared against a database of criminals who target music festivals across Europe, the force said. Chief Supt Chris Haward said no one who came to the festival to enjoy themselves had anything to worry about. “The software provided an efficient and effective way of picking known offenders out of a crowd - something that officers would previously have been done using paper briefings,” he said.

But Renate Samson from Big Brother Watch said the way police went about the scheme was “a great worry”. “We’re very keen for bad people to be caught but we’re also keen for innocent people to go about their day-to-day business, have a good time at

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Download Festival

VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >

JUNE 2015

Live Sector Raises Concerns over Business Rates Being Applied to Festival Sites Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

A few days before UK Music published its

now being reassessed as rateable, and have

and piecemeal, without any clear policy

report stating that so called music tourism -

seen a number of instances where site-

framework”.

people travelling to music events - generated

owners are receiving bills backdated as far

£3.1 billion for the British economy,

as five years, in circumstances where they

The submission concludes: “This issue

representatives for the festival sector made

could not reasonably have anticipated such

requires a discussion at ministerial level

a submission to the government’s Business

bills”.

about how business rates policy will help or

Rates Review expressing concern that the

inhibit business growth. As part of this we

Valuations Office Agency, which advises the

The festival reps state their viewpoint that

believe it is essential that there is a review

tax man on the taxable value of property,

no such rates should apply to festival sites

of the evidence around the contribution

has been recommending business rates be

which are, after all, “temporary and ancillary

that festivals and events bring to the UK

applied to festival sites where previously no

uses of agricultural land”.

economy, and the rural economy; and

such payments were required.

how an increase in business rates liability Moreover, they object to the unpredictability

may

impact

business

In its submission to the review, the festival

of the VOA’s recent activity. They write:

competitiveness of the UK events industry,

sector wrote: “The festival and events

“Since there is no clear policy set out in

the cultural life of the UK and the economic

industry has significant concerns about the

the VOA Rating Manual, or elsewhere, with

and social impact on rural areas”.

current reassessment of festival and events

regard to the rateability of festival sites

sites being conducted by the Valuations

taking place on agricultural land we have no

Amongst the organisations backing the

Office Agency. As a result of this, we are

way of understanding the guiding principles

submission were the UK Live Music Group,

seeing land which has previously been

of the reassessment. It is unfair that festival

the Concert Promoters Association, the

outside the business rates regime, on the

and events sites are apparently subject to a

Association Of Festival Organisers and the

grounds of its status as agricultural land,

reassessment which appears to be arbitrary

Association Of Independent Festivals.

Need to know who is touring Europe?

investment,

the

®

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

9

VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >

JUNE 2015

Ongoing Initiative Aims to Match Best Emerging talent to Independent Festivals in the UK Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com Building

on

the

groundbreaking Introducing talent

that

matched

success

partnership has

seen

with

of

the

Larmer Tree Festival, who went on to be

Paul

with

BBC

the BRITs Critics choice, releasing a debut

said, “With the festival season rapidly

emerging

album that went straight to Number One

approaching, AIF members are proud to

in March 2015.

again partner with BBC Introducing for this

independent

festivals throughout the UK since 2012,

Reed,

General

Manager

of

AIF

initiative. Festivals play a huge role in artist

The Association of independent Festivals

Successful artists and bands are selected

development and the perpetual question

(AIF), the London based organisation that

from a pool recommended by regional BBC

is, “Who are the festival headliners of

represents over 50 of the UK’s independent

Introducing teams from across the UK. AIF

tomorrow?” This partnership is part of the

music festivals, has announced details for

then puts a shortlist to each AIF member

answer, connecting the most exciting new

this years artist and festival pairings under

festival based on genre and aims to match

acts in the UK to our most creative and

the scheme including the partnership of a

artists with relevant festivals. It is a great

successful independent festivals”.

UK artist and international festival for the

opportunity for emerging artists to be

first time.

discovered on a national level.

Jason Carter, Head of BBC Introducing said, “We are delighted to be teaming up once

The two groups first worked together at

The festivals participating in the initiative

again with the Association Of Independent

the Radio 1‘s Big Weekend in Hackney in

this year include Bestival, Blissfields, Kendal

Festivals. By pairing BBC Introducing artists

2012 to showcase emerging artists from

Calling, Larmer Tree Festival, No Tomorrow,

with a number of independent festivals,

East London in the year of the London

Nozstock the Hidden Valley, Pete The

we’re opening the doors for new acts to

Olympics. Artists who have since benefited

Monkey (France) and Village Green with

experience the thrill of playing a festival

under this initiative include Savages, The

artists such as Bearcubs, Shelter Point and

stage and being seen by whole new

Heartbreaks and, in 2014, James Bay at

Lisbon joining their lineups this season.

audiences”.

Paul Reed, General Manager of AIF

10

Jason Carter, Head of BBC Introducing

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2015

The Mastering of a Music City Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com In the May issue of the News we reported on the successful Music Cities Conference held in Brighton just before The Great Escape. At

4

the event it was announced that a report was being prepared in

Engaging the broader music community to ensure the people

Canada looking at the ways that a strong local music industry can

most affected by music policies are involved and informed.

strengthen a city’s wider culture and economy, and how these cities could encourage and enable a stronger music business community.

5

Prepared by global record industry trade the IFPI and Music Canada

Access to spaces and places for artists to practice, record, and

the report called ‘The Mastering Of A Music City’, has now been

perform at every stage of their career.

launched. Its authors say the report “provides a simple checklist to help local authorities, businesses, community groups and the

6

creative sector capitalise on the potential of music to build, grow

A focus on audience development, ensuring that there is an

and strengthen their cities”.

engaged and passionate audience for local musicians as well as international touring artists, now and into the future.

Among the tips offered to anyone wanting to master a music city,

7

are...

Music tourism or the development of a ‘music city’ brand to

1

leverage a thriving live music scene, rich music history, or

Music and musician-friendly policies, from licensing and

large music festivals in order to reap the significant benefits

liquor laws to parking and planning regulations to affordable

associated with music.

housing and artist entrepreneur training.

Launching the report, Music Canada boss Graham Henderson told

2

reporters: “A vibrant music sector delivers an extensive array of

The creation of music offices to help musicians and music

social, cultural and economic benefits to its community; from job

businesses navigate the broad range of government policies

creation and retention to city identity and music tourism, to social

and regulations that impact music.

cohesion, music can play an essential role”.

3

He went on: “Communities of any size, anywhere in the world,

The formulation of music advisory boards to engage the

can assess the extent to which they have the essential ingredients

broader music community in a collaborative way and to

for a Music City, and deploy the strategies successfully used in the

facilitate dialogue with city governments.

likes of Nashville, Melbourne, Toronto, Berlin and other renowned Music Cities, in order to enhance or grow theirs. These strategies don’t necessarily require heavy investment - addressing red tape and establishing dialogue between leaders in the music community and city officials are inexpensive ways to grow music’s contributions”.

Go to: www.ifpi.org

Music Canada, Graham Henderson

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VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2015

UK Music Tourism Generates £3.1 billion Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com UK Music has published new figures on the

The UK Music report also states that £3.1

billion to the UK economy but this report

contribution music tourism makes to the UK

billion was generated by music tourism

confirms they are truly world-class and a

economy in the latest edition of its ‘Wish

last year, while the 546,000 music tourists

powerful advert for the UK”.

You Were Here’ report.

coming from abroad spent an average of £751 while in the UK. The music industry

Speaking for UK Music itself, the industry-

The figures confirm that music tourism

group also reckons that 38,238 full time jobs

wide trade group’s CEO Jo Dipple said: “The

numbers increased by 34% between 2011

were sustained by music tourism last year.

UK’s rich music heritage and infrastructure

and 2014, with 9.5 million festival fans

has made the UK the go-to destination for

travelling to UK music events in 2014 alone.

Welcoming

the

Over half a million came from overseas,

appointed

Culture

new

report,

and the rest apparently covered more

Whittingdale told reporters: “It’s fantastic

than “three times the average commuting

news that our music industry drew in 9.5

distance” of an event’s local region in

million tourists last year but it’s no surprise.

order to attend. (I think I understand that

British music is legendary around the world

particular factoid! – Ed.)

and continues to go from strength to

Secretary

recently

live music globally and these statistics show

John

how tourism is now a bedrock of British music and the wider economy.”

strength, with UK artists now accounting for one in seven albums sold worldwide. Festivals like Glastonbury hold an iconic status on the world music scene and are one of the reasons why international tourism is booming in the UK, drawing in streams of visitors to all parts of the country. We know our UK creative industries contribute an astonishing £76.9

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale

12

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2015

PRS, STIM and GEMA in joint venture From VIP-Daily News

European Commission grants clearance for

Trusted

service

from

organisations

the establishment of a ground breaking

representing

European

result of years of productive collaboration

licensing and processing hub. PRS for Music,

repertoire with years of combined

between STIM, GEMA and PRS for Music

STIM and GEMA combine to create brand

experience of back office processing

to deliver a solution that will help the digital

new, cost efficient and one-stop service

and music licensing;

market grow.”

Reduced processing costs based on

“What this clearance means is that we are

unparalleled economies of scale;

now able to work even more effectively on

significant

European digital service providers. It’s the

across Europe on behalf of over 250,000 songwriters.

In a ground breaking move, PRS for Music

behalf of songwriters, composers and their

(UK), STIM (Sweden) and GEMA (Germany)

Full transparency for all rightsholders,

music publishers, while at the same time

have today been given clearance by the

with confidence inspired by collective

helping to develop the Digital Single Market

European Commission to set up a pan-

ownership;

across Europe.”

processing hub. It is the first combined

A major contribution to online cultural

www.prsformusic.com

offering of its kind

diversity as the new hub will bring

www.gema.de

multi-territory licensing within reach of

www.stim.se

European online music rights licensing and

This will transform pan-European music

smaller repertoires.

licensing by enabling ease of access for digital music services to music rightsas well as

The joint venture will also aim to

provide faster and more accurate payments

resolve issues related to split-copyright

of royalties to writers and their music

licensing by integrating back office

publishers, according to STIM.

processing and matching services with front office licensing services.

PRS says that benefits of the new joint venture include:

Robert Ashcroft, Chief Executive, PRS for Music said, “This is a very significant day

Faster and more accurate invoicing

for online music licensing as our new joint

and royalty payments at a time when

venture is uniquely positioned to deal with

the usage data from online services

the rapidly transforming online music market.

is growing from billions to trillions annually;

Karsten

Dyhrberg

Nielsen

CEO

STIM

added: “Today’s Competition Clearance Simplified licensing negotiations for

announcement is testament to the incredible

digital music services operating across

work that has gone into the design of this

Europe, reducing barriers for innovative

new offering, which will provide a seamless

new online services;

service for both music rightsholders and pan-

Karsten Dhyrberg Nielsen, STIM, Photo Fredrik Hjerling

13

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2015

MMF Talk Streaming in the US Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com The Music Managers Forum have just

York event and MMF Board Member Scott

completed a series of events in the three

Rodger the LA one.

main music cities in the US - New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. Titled “From a

Last year the MMF and FAC partnered

Whisper to a Stream” the seminars were

with Spotify to organise presentations and

led by Jon Webster and Jonny Dawson.

discussions about the latter’s service and

Co-Chair Stephen Budd joined the New

streaming in general in the same US cities.

Other events have also been held at SXSW and around Coachella.

CEO Jon Webster said “The seminars were

free to freemium; data and accounting;

initially themed around streaming and timed

breakage to representation; safe harbours

to coincide with the (subsequently delayed)

to the recently formed International Artists

launch of Apple Music which covers radio

Organisation”.

and fan connection as well. Managers turned up in significant numbers and it was

Artist David Byrne also joined the meeting

a great opportunity to exchange knowledge

in New York.

and express hopes and concerns with

CEO Jon Webster

14

their peers. The conversations eventually

More events are planned for the autumn

covered a wide range of issues from

and next year.

VIP NEWS >

JUNE 2015

MU Lobbies for Agent of Change Principle for Venues Allan McGowan am@vip-booking.com In the last few issues of the News we have

The MVT is now backed in this by the

aim is to overcome the increasing incidents

reported on the problems being faced by

Musicians’ Union, which has now placed this

arising from people moving in next to

certain UK venues, and indeed the closure

issue high up its agenda, lobbying Parliament

a music venue, which may have helped

of far too many for various reasons including

and government over the introduction of

make a previously undesirable part of town

noise complaints from residents of newly

the principle. The agent of change principle

attractive again, and then complaining

built neighbouring properties We have also

is the idea that if property developers erect

about the noise, often forcing the venues

featured the efforts being made by the

new residential buildings next to existing live

to cut back their music programmes or shut

Music Venues Trust to gain more protection

music venues, they should have a legal and

down entirely. In the main these grassroots

for established venues. The MVT have often

financial responsibility to provide whatever

music venues rarely have the budgets

referenced the ‘agent of change’ principle

sound proofing is necessary to ensure the

required to pay for costly sound proofing to

implemented in Australia.

venue and future residents can co-exist. The

be put in. Too many venues have faced this challenge in recent years, and several more are set to in the near future.

Commenting on the MU’s bid to introduce the agent of change principle, the Union’s General Secretary John Smith said: “Music venues across the country are vitally important - both for musicians and bands who rely on them for their livelihoods and for music fans and local communities.

Venues must, of course, stick to the terms of their licence and residents must be able to complain if they do not comply or are causing a genuine nuisance. But a growing number of well-established venues have been forced to close or to undertake expensive noise reduction work as a result of noise complaints and abatement notices served by new developments. We would like the government to consider introducing the agent of change principle in order to help protect these important cultural spaces”.

Union’s General Secretary John Smith

15

VIP NEWS >

NAMES & JOBS

JUNE 2015

Rikke Øxner new director of Aarhus City Festival

Fender appoints new CEO

From VIP-Daily News

From VIP-Daily News

Andy Mooney

The Fender company has announced the appointment of a new CEO in the form of Andy P Mooney, who joins the musical

Rikke Øxner

instrument firm from surf wear company Quiksilver.

Aarhus City Festival has hired 50-year-old

and here we have an urban space that we

Mooney also previously worked for Disney

Rikke Øxner as their new director. She joins

need to put in play”, she says.

and Nike. Confirming his new role, he said

in October replacing Jens Folmer Jepsen,

yesterday: “As a longtime fan and user of

who has headed the Aarhus City Festival

She will not transform the festival week and

Fender products, it’s a dream come true to

for nine seasons. Rikke Øxner is a very

shake all the traditions: “I have no ambition

be asked to lead a brand and company that

experienced and recognized culture profile

to turn the city festival into a music festival,

I personally have so much admiration for”.

after 20 years at Roskilde Festival, where

but I have many, many ideas”, she says.

she in the past several years has been part

She will not concretize her vision before

His new boss, Fender co-Chair Mark

of the leadership, head of booking and

the upcoming festival week is held and she

Fukunaga,

artistic director.

starts the new job.

success in connecting consumers to brands.

added:

“Andy

has

proven

His personal passion for Fender guitars and She still lives in Copenhagen, but is moving

Rikke Øxner has been hired on a four-year

the company’s long and storied history

to Aarhus soon. “I must have my base

contract. Her first task will be to help to

makes him a great fit for our culture. We are

here and have the city under my skin and

hire a new head of administration for the

tremendously excited to have an executive

I can only do that if I live here”, she says.

festival week. Aarhus Festival was first held

of Andy’s calibre at the helm of Fender and

“Both Roskilde Festival and the Aarhus City

in September 1965. Last year the festival

we look forward to great success in the

Festival are about doing events in a defined

week had 500,000 visitors.

future under his leadership”.

area. At Roskilde Festival, we had a great field where we had to create something,

17

VIP NEWS >

NAMES & JOBS

JUNE 2015

James Last dies at 86 From VIP-Daily News Big band leader James Last has died in

Born Hans Last, his record company changed

Florida, aged 86.

his name to James to make him sound less German when his debut album came out

The German-born musician`s manager said

in the UK. He was not consulted about the

he died at his home “peacefully and in the

change - but went along with it.

presence of his family”.

During his career, he charted with 65 albums “In

him,

the

world

loses

a

unique

ambassador whose expressive and all-

2 For The Road Events join ATC Live From VIP-Daily News

in Britain alone, and at his peak was creating two albums a month.

encompassing language was music.

He gained a large and loyal fanbase - but “We bid farewell to the man, friend and

was derided by many music purists who did

visionary, who by his impressive strength and

not like his middle-of-the-road versions of

openness, his professionalism, modesty and

classic tunes.

love of life served as a role model and as an inspiration for many generations worldwide.”

His illness took a “life-threatening” turn last September and apparently forced him

Last sold millions of records with his

to face the fact that “a man full of plans,

trademark “happy music” - upbeat versions

needs to not just slow down but give up

of pop and classical favourites performed by

his life on tour altogether”, That led him to

his orchestra.

announce his final British shows - his 89th

Clementine Bunel

Cecile Communal

and 90th concerts at London`s Royal Albert Last started his music career in the 1960s,

Hall - which took place in March.

making instrumental recordings as James

Agents

Clementine

Bunel

and

Cecile

Communal of 2 For The Road Events to ATC

Last and His Orchestra - a big band with

“I can`t talk about goodbye - it`s a terrible

additional strings and a choir.

feeling,” he told the BBC at the time.

Live.

Clementine & Cecile have successfully built independent agency 2 For The Road Events

James Last

over the past 5 years and bring their full roster of artists with them including Benjamin Clementine, Songhoy Blues, Stromae, Mulatu Astatke and Francois & The Atlas Mountains.

Sharing the same artist focused and creative approach as ATC Live, their artists join the growing roster that includes Passenger, The Lumineers, Half Moon Run, Shura, Soak, Curtis Harding and The Districts.

Clementine and Cecile will be assisted by Milo Steelefox.

18

VIP NEWS > BUSINESS >

MUSIC IN SHARES

JUNE 2015

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

CTS Eventim - The Winner Gains It All CTS Eventim is a cheer leader among those corporate companies

Euro. These are profit margins that really deserve the term don’t you

covered within this section. While the business figures for the first

think?

quarter 2015 only reveal a slight revenue increase from 150.4 one year ago up to 151.7 million Euro, the profit results grew significantly.

Within the live entertainment sector the revenues shrunk a little bit from 88.1 to 77.3 million Euro. The EBITDA therefore is 7.6 million

The Earnings Before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortisation

Euro.

(EBITDA) went up 11.7 percent from 32.9 to 36.8 million. The usually impressive results for the ticketing division of CTS Eventim provide

Nevertheless the share price of CTS Eventim appears to be the

an almost boringly repetitious read; revenue for this part of the

overall winner in this section. At the beginning of January the share

company went up from 69.4 to 76 million Euro. The EBITDA results

was at 23.19 Euro. On June 22 the share price was 31.74. The market

therefore grow “only” by 7.7 percent from 27.1 up to 29.2 million

capitalisation is currently at 3 billion Euro.

DEAG - The Market Shaker The turmoil has calmed down, but DEAG has managed to shake up the festival market in Germany and Austria with its three new festivals. The financial results for this attempt to launch new festival formats in an already challenging market environment apparently won’t be visible until DEAG release its results for 2nd quarter. The ones raised for the first quarter compared to Q1-2014 rose from 32.6 up to 38.96 million. The Earnings Before Interests & Taxes (EBIT) rose from 1.48 up to 1.83 million.

However, the share price of DEAG came under pressure when various newspapers reported weak ticket sales for the new festivals with acts including Metallica, Muse and Kiss. From 6.88 Euro at the beginning of the year the price was down to 5.63 Euro when this report went on to press. Earlier on at the end of February the share even celebrated a peak moment when the share went up to 8.20 Euro. The market capitalisation currently is 93.2 million and the current share price indicates that the financial community is waiting a bit until the business results for Q2-2015 will be revealed.

19

VIP NEWS > BUSINESS >

MUSIC IN SHARES

JUNE 2015

Live Nation - Investors Approve Incentive Plan And Spotted Protesters Sometimes it is surprising how emotional investors can be. At the

percent. Another incentive plan for stocks for the company top

recent annual meeting on June 10 the share holder community

management only received a positive voting of 77 percent. The

of Live Nation approved a bonus and incentive plan for the top

most exciting election results refer to that of the board of directors

notch management of Live Nation with a voting result of 99

of Live Nation:

Nominees

Mark Carleton

For

Abstained

Pass Rate

Broker Non-Votes

42,409,468

1,434,426

75 %

7,667,904

125,193

1,446,896

99 %

7,667,904

Ari Emanuel

172,305,929

129,616

870,375

99 %

7,667,904

143,928,393

Jeff Hinson

171,432,459

Jimmy Iovine

Peggy Johnson

171,733,831

Ted Enloe

Against

Jonathan Dolgen

129,462,026

27,942,341

1,435,186

83 %

426,994

1,446,467

99 %

7,667,904 7,667,904

172,250,858

185,552

869,510

99 %

7,667,904

171,484,359

375,544

1,446,017

99 %

7,667,904

171,732,462

127,573

1,445,885

99 %

7,667,904

Jim Kahan

Greg Maffei

133,823,712

38,622,845

859,363

77 %

7,667,904

Randall Mays

167,832,231

4,605,701

867,988

97 %

7,667,904

158,453

846,432

99 %

7,667,904

27,770,241

858,011

83 %

7,667,904

Michael Rapino Mark Shapiro

172,301,035 144,677,668

The incentive plans for the company management are probably a

getting as little as $9 per hour. These kind of working conditions

bit more lucrative than for those who work for Live Nation as stage

obviously caused concerns and led to an extraordinary non-official

hands. The Los Angeles Times reported the working conditions

annual meeting outside during the annual meeting of Live Nation.

for stage hands by the subcontractor Crew One Productions, a service supplier for Live Nation. Within the article among others it is

Since the beginning of the year the share went up from $26.16 to

reported “ sometimes the workers aren’t even given water to drink”

$28.73. The market capitalisation of the company therewith grows

and that “safety training is all but nonexistent” The stage hands

up $5.79 billion.

SFX Entertainment De-Listing And Plaintiffs In Sight The announcement by company founder Robert F.X. Sillerman

Well, so called “squeeze out” procedures are always good to call

tregarding his buy back of SFX Entertainment shares with the

out opponents of such measures on the plan. The main purpose

purpose of de-listing from NASDAQ has caused legal actions

of such legal actions is to increase the buy back price of shares on

by various opponents. One of these opponents is the law firm

which Sillerman set a so called “put price” of $5.25. Additionally

Brodsky & Smith, LLC, which announced that it is evaluating to

the rating agency Moody’s announced that it will take the former

launch “potential claims” against the management of the company

credit ratings for credits of 325 million under review for a possible

under the aspect of “possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other

downgrade.

violations of state law in connection with the sale of the Company” to Sillerman. With a similar intention the law firms

20

Marc S.

At the beginning of the year share price was $4.49, currently it is

Henzel also considers as undertaking potential claims against

$4.46. The current market capitalisation is $418 million, within the

SFX Entertainment as well as Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., Dunnam &

last 52 weeks the share price reached a peak of $8.67 and lost until

Dunnam, Faruqi & Faruqi and The Shareholders Foundation.

then 46.9 percent of its former value.

VIP NEWS > MISC >

JUNE 2015

MEMBER PRESENTATION

ARTIST AVAILS Noel Gallagher`s High Flying Birds Territory: Europe Period: 2015 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Ben Winchester Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: ben@primarytalent.com Homepage: www.noelgallagher.com

Roskilde Festival is the largest music festival in Northern Europe – attracting audiences from all over Europe and the rest of the world. It is an independent, non-profit festival organised by The Roskilde Festival Charity Society. Roskilde Festival presents an up to date and progressive music programme as well as lots of events, art and activities. Approximately 160 bands play at the festival. The camping areas open on the Sunday preceding the festival with upcoming acts playing the smaller stages Rising and Apollo Countdown and many activities during the days up to Thursday.

An extensive environmental programme is implemented each year including a refund system. All profits from the festival are donated to humanitarian, cultural and nonprofit projects that benefit people all over the world. The festival is located on the Festival Site, outside the town of Roskilde, 35 km from Copenhagen.

Musicians representing all conceivable genres, from all over the world, play minimum one-hour sets on the smaller stages and often 90-minutes sets on the biggest stages.

BANCO DE GAIA Territory: World incl USA Period: May 2015 onwards Agency: Value Added Talent Agent: Dan Silver Phone: +44 20 7704 9720 E-mail: dan@vathq.co.uk Homepage: dan@vathq.co.uk

Bo Kaspers Orkester Territory: Worldwide Period: By request Agency: Lifeline Entertainment Agent: Michael Henriksson Phone: + 46 70 632 00 23 E-mail: michael.henriksson@lifeline.se Homepage: www.lifeline.se

The long sets make the Roskilde Festival music experience fundamentally different from most competing festivals in Europe.

Roskilde Festival was established in 1971 and has since then presented acts like Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Beastie Boys, Björk, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Coldplay, The Cure, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Bob Dylan, Faith

DIE KRUPPS Territory: Worldwide Period: September 2015 Agency: IBD Agent: Sabine Waltz Phone: +49 (0) 8202 9049870 E-mail: sabine@ibdbooking.de Homepage: www.facebook.com/diekruppsofficial?fref=ts

No More, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Paul Kalkbrenner, Kings of Leon, Kraftwerk, Bob Marley, Mastodon, Metallica, M.I.A., Muse, My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Outkast, PJ Harvey, Prince, Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Rammstein, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Ravi Shankar, Slayer, Slipknot, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Streets, The Strokes, Talking Heads, Tiësto, Tool, U2, Roger Waters, Kanye West, Jack White, The Who, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.

THE ORCHESTRA starring ELO former members Territory: Worldwide Period: 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

Peter Doherty Territory: Europe Period: 2015 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Matt Bates Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: matt@primarytalent.com Homepage: www.albionrooms.com

About Our Company VIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest­ database­for the European Live Entertainment Industry 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 subscribers­in over 30 countries.

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

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