Mcgowan's Musings: the VIP-Booking European Live Entertainment Book

www.vip-booking.com

VIP- News›› ›› premium Vol. 131 DECEMBER 2010

McGowan’s Musings:

So here we go with the very last News of prices because presumably in an uncertain the year, also the last of the first decade of economic climate people didn’t have dis- the twenty first century. They say time flies posable dollars to spend?! Oh well Jon’s got when you’re having fun so at the rate this lots of disposable dollars of his own now to last year seems to have shot past I must do as he wants with, and more to come as be having the time of my life! I’ll probably the tour when it finishes in Portugal on 31 consider that when I’m snowed in some- July 2011, will have played 135 shows in 30 where for Christmas. Of course one of the countries. worst things about snow is that it provides perfect camouflage for seagulls – they can Allan McGowan So it seems that some people are definitely creep right up on you before you know and still making money out of playing live even they’re famous for pecking the eyes out magazines have dropped off in all areas though worldwide figures indicate a 26.4 of snowmen! Well, they’re not really, but I during the economic crisis, but of course percent decrease in gross, a 12.3 percent just thought I’d have another go at them to the music industry has been particularly hit decrease in attendance and a 14 percent wind up the year! with the demise of the majors and the space decrease in the number of shows reported. left where the new album release full pages It was not an easy year, but it should still be It’s not been the greatest year for everyone used to be is harder and harder to fill. remembered that these worrying figures in the live music industry, particularly in the still report concert attendances of slightly US. However it’s not been too bad for Bon Still back to Bon Jovi who sold 1,591,154 more than 65 million people. That’s a big Jovi who were the most successful live act tickets for 69 gigs between 20 November market! The US figures were down by twice of the year with takings of $146.5m. The 2009 and 28 November 2010 on their ‘The the drop off reflected in global numbers. hard work on coming up with these and Circle’ tour, they were also the highest- But even there some still reported suc- many other sets of figures, which the indus- grossing live act of 2008, having taken cess, Certain sectors, including country, try finds fascinating and useful, is often un- $210m (£133.4m) on its Lost Highway tour. most major festivals and tours by super- dertaken by Billboard magazine, but even Jon Bon Jovi is reported as saying that fans stars in pop, urban and dance/electronic- this seemingly rock solid journal of the mu- bought tickets “because they’re willing to performed well and whilst Live Nation lan- sic industry is having its problems and had spend their disposable dollars”. Which is guished AEG had one of its best years yet. announced the closure of its London office. a bit strange when the likes of Live Nation As AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips says. “If an Advertising revenues, the lifeblood of print spent the better part of last year cutting artist is hot, people are motivated to find a

The VIP-Booking European Live Entertainment Book Advertising in the VIP Book will make you visible to 10.000 business professionals all over Europe. You will find no better place to expose your company to the whole European Live Entertainment Industry. ›› Reserve your ad now on www.vip-booking.com 1

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

way to go. If they’re not, I don’t care how Interview with much money you spend on marketing or how you package things, it’s not going to Ticketscript work.” Allan McGowan [email protected]

So the live music industry, for so many Ticketing has become a tough market, years now, the sector that others in the software for distributing tickets is some- music industry looked to for salvation, thing everyone can make easily nowa- enters 2011 leaner and more wary than it days. has for some time, but maybe this is not such a bad thing, There are pitfalls to be So what does it take to be a player in this looked out for, such as alienation of fans competitive market? through overpricing in both primary and definitely secondary ticketing, and the Ticketscript is a fast growing operator in fact that younger fans are dropping off Europe, VIP-News asked CEO Frans Jonk- in attending live shows, and maybe as er about the way to success… an industry more concentration will be brought to bear on these areas, which VIP-News: Please give us a few facts on will be good for the future. your company; you have offices in Ger- many, UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, So, lets start the new decade on a posi- right? tive note, we wish you all a great holiday and health and prosperity in the New Frans Jonker: Ticketscript is a European Year. And as ever, let us know what you’re market leader in the next generation of doing, there is no News without you! ticket sales through SaaS (software as a service) solutions. Ticketscript is a multi- national company as a result of mer-ging Ticketscript (pan European) with Trinity Mobile, the leading UK mobile ticketing platform provider. Ticketscript now operates across 5 European countries. A new office has recently opened in London and we will soon be operating out of Manchester as well. In addition Colophon ›› to this, we have offices in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Berlin and Dusseldorf VIP-News is published by: in Germany and Antwerp in Belgium. VIP-Booking 26 York Street London W1U 6pZ The company provides events with an online plug-and-play ticket shop for sell- Managing Director: Ronni Didriksen ing e- and mobile tickets from the event’s [email protected] own website. The company is actively in- volved across music events, nightclubs, General Manager: Peter Briggs pop venues, festivals, fairs, sporting and [email protected] other events. Ticketscript was runner-up in the 2008 Accenture Innovation Award Writer and editorial: Allan McGowan and has been nominated for the Van [email protected] Speijk Innovation Prize.

Writer: Manfred Tari VIP-News: In a world with a lot of compe- [email protected] tition in the ticketing market, why should a promoter choose your service instead For advertising enquiries pls. contact Peter Briggs [email protected] of some of the other service providers? or +44 870 755 0092 Frans Jonker: To receive our service, Lay-out: Pekaye Graphics, Phuket – Thailand there is no cost to set up the ticket- [email protected] shop and no hidden costs at all. We also

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

boast very low service fees. Our service Frans Jonker: Since our recent merge, our includes mobile ticketing so all custom- focus has turned to increasing the usage ers need to do is bring their phone to of mobile tickets across Europe and utiliz- the event and not worry about any paper ing the mobile database for event promo- tickets. Through mobile ticke-ting we can tion/customer contact to drive ticket sales. collect data on ticket buyers for marketing Ticketing is the ideal product for mobile purposes. phones, it is efficient and there is no need to see it, try it out or anything else before Customers are able to set up their own on- you buy! Not only that, we will be able to line ticket shop. There are over 50 national offer mobile marke-ting capabilities, the and inter-national payment methods for ability to buy tickets via mobile phones transactions. We can also connect your and provide mobile entrance Apps. ticket shop with social media networks to promote ticket sales. We provide free en- We feel that over the next two years, mo- trance solutions and an unmatched per- bile will be very important and big in the sonal service for our clients. Payout is also ticketing and event industry. extremely fast. VIP-News: What is your goal for the future, Frans Jonker Since its launch in 2006, more than 2000 do you intend to expand to the rest of Eu- event organizers across the Netherlands, rope or will you fo-cus on the countries you have a presence in at least one more large Belgium, Germany, Austria and UK have uti- are now represented in? European destination. Our goal is to re- lized ticketscript’s free web application. main one of the market leaders in Europe. Frans Jonker: Having recently received We will be a pan-European company but VIP-News: Mobile ticketing, will that be the significant investment, we will continue to our solution and service for each location next big thing or what do you think? grow in 2011 and by the end of 2011 will will be tailor-made for that country.

ThE hALL DUO IN NEckArpArk

UNIQUE AND DOUBLY GOOD

STUTTGArT cATchmENT ArEA: mOrE ThAN 3 mILLION pEOpLE • hANNS-mArTIN-SchLEYEr-hALLE: Up TO 15,500 SpEcTATOrS pOrSchE-ArENA: Up TO 7,500 SpEcTATOrS • 2010: ...WhITNEY hOUSTON, DEEp pUrpLE, rONAN kEATING, chrIS rEA...

Tel. +49 (0) 711/9554-40 [email protected] Fax +49 (0) 711/9554-500 www.hallenduo.de

AZ_in_stutt_VIPbook_RZ.indd 1 23.11.2009 18:17:54 Uhr 3

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

German Promoter Fights Fake Tickets Resellers Manfred Tari [email protected]

The upcoming three Take That shows in conditions that go with Take That-tickets le.de also benefits indirectly very well from Germany in July 2011 have set new stand- are well displayed on the website of Smart the upcoming Take That tour. The search ards in many terms. Except for the Munich Tickets and MCT, there are, as usual, lots results for the tour are spiked with several show all ticketing is handled exclusively of overpriced tickets on sale at the men- advertisements of questionable ticket sell- by Smart Tickets and as such excludes not tioned resale platforms. ers that certainly can’t be considered as only the market leader CTS Eventim and legal ticketing platforms at all. its rival Ticketmaster.de from selling Take When asked about this Scumeck Sabottka, That tickets, apart from a small number of MD of MCT said: “MCT and our assigned As regards the business terms of MCT and high price VIP-packages. law firm CMS Hasche Sigle will take action Smart Tickets for this tour, Google simply against every unauthorized vendor that is misdirects punters to non-eligible ticket- MCT, the German promoter of the three offering tickets.” To further confirm that ing platforms for this tour. Adapting the shows in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Mu- Seatwave & Co aren’t eligible to sell Take search words ‘Take That’ & ‘tickets’ & ‘Düs- nich have undertaken a promising attempt That tickets, Sabottka said: “There are, seldorf’ bring up at least two referrals to to exclude secondary ticketing platforms. apart from Tickets.de and München Ticket press articles in the newspapers Rheinische (Munich Ticket) no other authorised plat- Post and the tabloid paper Bild, warning Smart Tickets provides a state of the art tick- forms.” about extortionate prices for Take That- eting platform and MCT is using all possible tickets by not only the usual suspects. features to make the ticketing for these In reference to the legal consequences concerts very different. All tickets will be arising from the unwanted resale of tick- But this is only the case for search resold personalized and ticket buyers need to ets, Sabottka said: “There are manifold le- sults for the show in Düsseldorf. Top ten produce ID-cards at the shows. Another re- gal options, which we prefer not to make search results by Google.de for shows in markable move involves the business terms public in detail.” Hamburg and Munich do not display any that accompany purchase of these tickets. articles warning about the strict business Conditions for the resale of tickets are clear- One problem is communication 2.0. In the terms that are linked with these tickets. ly defined and can only be done through beginning when tickets went on sale for a ticket exchange provided by Smart Tick- the tour, the German version of the search The main problem is that punters can’t see ets. Resale is made consumer friendly by engine Google ranked the official website on the first view who legally sells these restricting surcharges to a maximum of 15 takethat.tickets.de in places five to seven tickets. Besides this, normal concertgo- percent of the original purchase price. in the top ten search results. ers in general have no idea how secondary ticketing works and they are fooled by But what has upset many promoters since Meanwhile this has changed and the offi- touts on many of these platforms. resale platforms such as Ebay, Fansale.de, cial ticket sale website is in first place. But Seatwave and Viagogo entered the ticket- with Seatwave and Viagogo placing online Having asked Sabottka about the coming market has happened again. While all advertisements at Google linked with the munication strategy regarding the busi- the afore mentioned business terms and match words ‘take that’ & “tickets”, Goog- ness terms he said: “Before the pre-ticket sale started a press release with information about ‘regulated pre ticket sale’ was send out. Additionally on our website mct- agentur.com we display information about this too. Furthermore we are going to do interviews regarding this matter.”

While Seatwave has a disclaimer on the web site informing that Take That tickets are only sold personalized, Viagogo only inform purchasers about this restriction after they have bought a Take That ticket. But that’s it. Both companies actually un- dertake no efforts to inform that they are actually not allowed to sell Take That-tickets. And of course, ticket prices are rising on these platforms. The most expensive ticket for a single ticket in the standing room in Hamburg is 550 Euro plus a serv- Take That

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

ice charge of 82.50 Euro for Viagogo plus to be the very first promoter that is able to Grönemeyer 2011 tour there are already postal service charges. cut out ticket resellers. tickets available for just only 36 Euro, this is very reasonable for a stadium concert com- However, the law firm that Sabottka have Unfortunately other promoters like Marek pared to U2 or other international artists” engaged is an international company that Lieberberg do not seem to back Sabottka’s employ 600 lawyers and is specialized in efforts in doing something against second- Lieberberg furthermore says in Musikwo- antitrust and competition right. Bearing ary ticketing. In the trade paper Musikwo- che that he does not work with these tick- this in mind and considering the very strict che Lieberberg said in a press conference eting platforms. Whatever he means by terms and conditions that apply for Take regarding the upcoming Herbert Gröne- that, the fact is that Viagogo and Seatwave That tickets in Germany, Sabottka seems meyer tour in Germany in 2011, “On the are selling tickets for this tour as well.

A Viagogo View on Secondary Ticketing and the German Take That-Tour Manfred Tari [email protected]

Peter Feldmeier is the national manager of resold and protect fans from online fraud Viagogo’s own research confirms that the Viagogo in Germany. He has had a career and ticket scams by offering a safe and se- majority of consumers agree, that if they in economic science and of course was a cure place to buy and sell tickets. cannot use a ticket, they should have the banker for a short time before he started right to recoup the cost of that ticket. working for Viagogo. VIP-News: Has Viagogo experienced a Viagogo believes that T&Cs that prevent change in terms of consumer behaviour people from reselling their unwanted tick- VIP-News: How would you describe the recently? ets are unfair on consumers. Consumers secondary ticketing market these days? would not accept such restrictions on any Feldmeier: Prior to Viagogo, there was little other item, why should they accept such choice for consumers who wanted to pur- restrictions on tickets. »Over the last four years, chase tickets to sold-out events. Many con- the secondary market has sumers met touts on street corners or dingy VIP-News: Has Viagogo had to lay off any been widely embraced by pubs with no idea if the ticket was ‘fake’ staff in the last couple of months? major sporting, music and and/or how much to pay for the ticket. festival organisers« Feldmeier: As highlighted above, Via- - Peter Feldmeier The service Viagogo offers has been widely gogo has grown in multiples as opposed accepted by consumers as they understand to percentages in the past four years and that they if they buy a ticket on Viagogo that now operates local language websites in Peter Feldmeier: Since Viagogo launched they are guaranteed to get the ticket they 26 countries and local offices in the UK, in 2006, the business has grown in multi- paid for in time for the event. This level of Germany, France and Holland. Viagogo is ples as opposed to percentages which is a service and security didn’t exist before and headquartered in London and employs testament to how much consumers value consumers have welcomed this change. over 100 people in the UK. the safe and secure service viagogo offers in the secondary market. VIP-News: The German promoter for the upcoming Take That tour included in his Over the last four years, the secondary mar- business terms that the resale of tickets ket has been widely embraced by major for these three concerts in Germany, other sporting, music and festival organisers and than at Tickets.de, is forbidden. Are you this is evident from the partnerships Viago- concerned that more tour & concert pro- go has formed. Viagogo holds partnerships moters might adopt such a sales policy? with many of Germany’s leading sports, music and publishing properties, including Feldmeier: Viagogo believes that once a FC Bayern Munich, Kaiserslautern and Bild person has purchased a ticket, it is their and has partnered with artists such as Ma- property and they should be allowed to donna on major European concert tours. sell it if they wish. In the same way that someone who has purchased a book or a By working with Viagogo, event organisers car that they no longer need can resell it are able to manage how their tickets are on, they should be able to resell a ticket. Peter Feldmeier - Viagogo

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

Joybringer Concerts Celebrates 40 Years In Business Allan McGowan [email protected]

To survive in a business as volatile as the promoting concerts as being fun rather Live Music Business is something that not than just being a business. many people do but to survive for 40 years with the same company and with the same VIP-News: Which concerts, artists or may- man at the helm is an achievement worthy be stage riders have provided you with of recognition. VIP-News asked Dragan the most remarkable memories in your Nikitovic, the man behind Joybringer career? Concerts, about his experiences along the road from 1970 – 2010. Dragan: We did a show with the Rolling Stones in the late eighties. In their stage VIP-News: How did you come into the rider they requested 40 phone lines on concert business and what was your first the site. We had to go all the way to the show? former Post Minister to fulfill this request, as everybody at the Deutsche Telekom Dragan: I started promoting shows al- just laughed about it and asked us, “do ready when I was at school. We started the Rolling Stones want to play a con- Dragan Joybringer in 1970. Our first show was a cert or do they just want to make phone concert with the German act Guru Guru calls”? Dragan: In fact there aren’t that many dif- on November 3, 1970 at the University in ferences between these markets as our SAARBRÜCKEN / Germany. VIP-News: Who are the artists you’ve en- offices are located close to each other. But joyed working with for many years? since ten years back we have also been VIP-News: What have been the major promoting shows in the East in countries changes in the business from the early Dragan: BB King and Joe Cocker. After such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and days until today? many concerts BB King gave us one of his also in Albania, Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia. guitars as present. The guitar is named Dragan: Due to the technical evolution Lucille and has been hanging in my office VIP-News: Are there differences in terms and the development of communication ever since. of the audience’s demands and in particu- tools the promotion of concerts has be- lar also in terms of their behavior in these come much easier and more effective. Do- VIP-News: Joybringer runs offices in three markets? ing concerts in the Seventies used to be markets. Please tell us about the differ- much more adventurous. We considered ences between these markets. Dragan: At the end of the nineties there was a strong demand only for classic rock acts in Eastern Europe, artists who had their biggest success in the seventies and eighties. But over the years this has changed and now the audience over there wants to see the same acts that are popular in Western Europe.

VIP-News: As a local promoter you are mainly active in provincial regions. Is this an advantage business wise in these times and if so why?

Dragan: No, I wouldn’t say so, it is almost the same as in more urban regions.

VIP-News: What kind of productions do you like the most, small or big ones?

Dragan: Small, because these kind of concerts are more intimate and personally I enjoy this. I feel like the music is near to the people... Elton & Dragan

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

VIP-News: Would you say that business has become more competitive over the years?

Dragan: Yes.

VIP-News: Joybringer is an independent company. What is your opinion of corpo- rate concert companies?

Dragan: We have to persist alongside those companies and nonetheless have to find interesting artists we are able to do business with.

VIP-News: What are your personal recom- mendations to newcomers in the Live Mu- sic Industry?

Dragan: The concert industry is now much more difficult than it was 40 years ago. To- day there is a lot of competition and new players on the market have to bring loads of money with them in order to launch a new concert company successfully. Dragan with his wife and son

ILMC 23 to ‘Explore the Unknown’ Allan McGowan [email protected]

The 23rd edition of the International Live vival. A mysterious place where fortunes ness since the dawn of time! For those of Music Conference will again take place at are to be won and lives lost... you who don’t know, The Arthurs are the The Royal Garden Hotel, London, UK from awards for the international live music in- 11th – 13th March 2011. In March 2011, the International Live Mu- dustry which started off as a bit of irrever- sic Conference (ILMC) is launching its 23rd ent fun but recently have become highly As usual the ILMC which has seen at- major expedition – a voyage of discovery sought after accolades. tendance grow every year for last three to explore and chart this realm beyond editions, will continue its tradition of the imagination. With 1000 of the most balancing the serious intent of the Con- celebrated and intrepid adventurers on ference Agenda with a tongue-in-cheek the planet expected to land at the adven- approach to the look and feel of the dé- tures starting point in London we expect cor and dressing of the conference rooms the journey to be a perilous undertaking. and related events. Next year’s theme will centre on ‘Lost Worlds’. The following With a year of doubt ahead of us the po- press release says it all really…. tential perils and pitfalls will be discussed across the reaches of the ILMC’s home the Legend tells of a lost world cut off from Royal Garden Hotel. With three days of civilization by the towering cliff face panels, networking events and awards of a forgotten plateau and the impen- dinners the journey should be a memo- etrable jungle that surrounds it. Forever rable one. shrouded from curious eyes by a veil of mist, it is a land where for aeons time has The “Lost Supper and Arthur Awards” stood still, where the once great edifices will be at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in of long lost civilizations now lie in ruins Knishtsbridge, London and promises to and where savage prehistoric beasts still be the biggest celebration of the lead- roam, feeding on each other for their sur- ers in the international live music busi- Martin Hopewell as Indiana Jones at ILMC 23

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

Market Features

ITALY: An Overview Allan McGowan [email protected]

Continuing our occasional series of spot- Politics, right or wrong certainly appear In November this year, Attilio Perissinotti lights on European Markets, we take a to figure prominently in music industry of Virus Concerti was presented with the brief look at the state of the live business events in Italy; recently The European official Italian independent music prize in Italy, with the help of Claudio Trotta Commission investigated the spending of PIMI 2010 at the 14th edition of the annual of Barley Arts and Attilio Perissinotti of approximately 600,000 euros of European M.E.I (Independent Labels Meeting Festi- Virus Concerts. We also feature an article Union regional development funding on val). The Award recognises his work as an by guest writer, Christoph Storbeck of an Elton John concert held in Naples last Agent, and a promoter, over the last twen- Striker Entertainment. year. The organisers of the Piedigrotta fes- ty years. His roster includes Il Teatro Degli tival, of which the concert was part, claim Orrori, Linea 77, T.A.R.M., Casino Royale, A recent (Oct. 26), report produced by Mi- it helped promote Naples, and brought One Dimensional Man. In the mid 1990’s lan-based university Libera Università di in new custom for local businesses, but he started the Music in Village Festival Lingue e Comunicazione (IULM) in associa- controversial right wing Euro MP Mario and the Beach Bum Rock Festival. He pro- tion with collecting societies SIAE, SCF and Borghezio from the north of the country, motes Italian and international artists such publishers trade body FEM, estimated the says the gig was a “shameful” misuse of EU as Placebo, Simple Minds and Iggy & The total financial worth of the Italian music in- funds. The money may have to be repaid. Stooges. In 2007 he founded TIJ Events dustry in 2009 at €3.7 billion ($5.1 billion) in London, to bring the best Italian musi- - a 9% decline on the previous year. The Professionals’ Point of View: cians, such as Ligabue, Roberto Benigni, Franco Battiato, Giovanni Allevi, Beppe According to the report the 2009 turnover Claudio Trotta of Barley Arts is one of Grillo, Tiromancino, Negramaro, Vinicio on physical music sales retail of €375 mil- Italy’s most established and well-known Capossela to the city. lion (518.2 million) indicated a drop of 25% characters, having promoted some 5000 from the previous year. On a more positive concerts in a thirty-year plus career. Italy VIP-News asked Claudio and Attilio to give note IULM professor Luca Barbarito, who was not seen as an organised or trustwor- us their views on business in Italy today presented the report’s finding’s in Milan thy market by US and UK agents when he and in the future: yesterday identified growth of 13% in the started making offers for international digital market with online sales generat- acts. But starting off with mid-level acts VIP-News: Currently the live industry is ing €44 million ($60.8 million) in 2009. But, he built up trust in both his Company and facing problems in certain sectors and he noted that despite the growth in sales the territory, and soon progressed to pre- particularly in certain territories. The US revenue, the market remained “a tenth the senting major artists such as Bruce Spring- and some European territories are suffer- size of the British market and a fifth of the steen, Kiss, Elvis Costello and many others. ing due to the economic downturn. How French and German markets.” do you see the overall state of the market in Italy at the moment? The Report produced overall figures for the live industry indicating an overall worth of €781 ($1.07 billion) in 2009, an »The Italian Music Market is increase of 3% on 2008. However Bar- suffering a public crisis due barito cited an increase in ticket prices as to a lack of investment by the a key factor in the sector’s growth. Government, particularly in small capacity venues« Commenting on the report Claudio Buja, - Attilio MD of Italian publisher Universal Music Ricordi Publishing, noted that the French music industry, “…which has reported Claudio: Quite bad, most of the shows are growth for the last four quarters, is clearly not selling out and not even getting close doing better. This is not because their in- and I believe the worst has still to come... dustry is better than ours, but because their politicians actually help it. Politics in Attilio: The Italian Music Market is suffer- Italy is, across the spectrum, pure dema- ing a public crisis due to a lack of invest- goguery.” He continued, “We need leg- ment by the Government, particularly islation that will help the music industry in small capacity venues. Concerts with and we need responsible politicians who capacities of 4000 and more are doing aren’t scared of the electorate.” pretty well. Attilio

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

VIP-News: Are certain sectors doing particularly well, or particularly badly at the moment? It appears to me that Italy should be a good territory for Festivals, but apart from Arezzo Wave and some City events the Festival market seems to be, shall we say, inconsistent? What is your view?

Attilio: Alternative music is doing well now, but has never been a good territory for festivals. There are a lot of new free events under 5000 capacity that are doing well but are really unlike events in the rest

of Europe. It’s a problem of our culture, Claudio Trotta with Springsteen and I don’t think it’s only a matter of music culture! Attilio: Club and mid-size venues are clos- as a key factor in the sector’s growth. Do ing or book cover bands. It’s unlikely that you agree with this and do you feel that Claudio: Italy is NOT the country for fes- anyone receives subsidies from the Gov- the live market is actually growing? How tivals...people are too conservative and ernment. is your own business at the moment? Have snobby, locations are not guaranteed for you had to adapt the way you do things re- years as they should be to create a real Claudio: They are suffering, no support or cently or is business much the same? following, not dependent only on headlin- subsidies, sponsors are only on big acts ers. On the top of this HEINEKEN JAMMIN and they do not support new music and Attilio: The Market is not growing , the FESTIVAL have illogically overpaid acts for newcomers at all ticket price yes! My own business has in- the last 10 years, going nowhere, and us- creased by 45% in 2010 because all of our ing wrong sites, like the one in Venice re- VIP-News: How is the market for local acts? artists toured across Italy, three of them cently. This all makes it impossible for real Are there many Italian acts becoming ‘ex- with great new albums. entrepreneurs to develop events based on port-ready’? reality and not on simply throwing money Claudio: It is not so easy to change the way away...the only sectors still doing well are Claudio: Now the only new acts breaking you work as a booking agent but we are a few big Italian acts, a few new acts, out- are the ones from reality shows like X Fac- developing some projects with sponsors, standing rock superstars like Bruce Spring- tor, Amici and so on. Most of the time they as well as expanding beyond Italy setting steen, AC/Dc, Bon Jovi and Iron Maiden, do not have any skill or personality unfor- up offices in major European capital cities. and a few high class acts performing in tunately and I personally hate these hor- high class venues both in and outdoors. rible TV shows and the way they treat mu- Claudio: Yes it grows only because of the sic and musicians. Not really any new acts crazy ticket prices we all charge. My busi- VIP-News: How are major concerts doing - ready to be exported, we still have only a ness is stable but all is so very very dif- is there a worry as elsewhere that there is few acts with international appeal, Laura ficult and the costs are too high to make a lack of headliners, or that the available Pausini, Eros Ramazotti, Paolo Conte, Zuc- real money and to think happily about the headliners are trying to play the same cit- chero and that’s it... future. ies too often? Attilio: At the moment there are some new VIP-News: How do you see the future? Claudio: Yes, it is getting worse with a lack acts that could be ‘exportable artists, that of acts able to play arenas, stadium and don’t sing in Italian or produce a specific Attilio: Hard for new acts and promoters open air sites and I guess this is an interna- ‘melodic’ sound. Acts such as Crookers, will not be so big. tional issue and not only an Italian one Bloody Beatroots, ZU, Aucan, Motel Con- nection, Heike Has The Giggles are surely Claudio: Tough, tough and tough! Attilio: Major Concerts are going well, but the new generation of music that is ready, yes, there is a lack of headliners or better and European Promoters are becoming Christoph Storbeck new bands/artists that could be future aware of it. Striker Entertainment: headliners. VIP-News: A recent IULM report (see intro) For several years now, I have been tour- VIP-News: How is the club and middle- said that although the overall music mar- ing and running around international fairs sized venue circuit doing? Do any of these ket had declined, Italy’s live music industry and events; either for my own artists and venues receive subsidies or other support? was worth €781 ($1.07 billion) in 2009, an business, or representing the interna- Is sponsorship still readily available in increase of 3% with respect to 2008. The tional affairs of AudioCoop, MMF Italy, or Italy? report cited an increase in ticket prices of course being hired as a booker or tour

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

manager. Exchanging opinions about Ital- important festival in Italy, with exclusive gifted voices. Some songs appear to be ian music and culture with people from all acts and international first class booking, squeeze thousands of years of melodra- around the world has been inspiring and which generated a huge turnover in that matic history into three-and-a-half min- has raised one question in particular: What little northern Italian region. To deny the utes. Eros, Gianna, Laura, Tiziano… like it is needed to generate hope in the midst licenses and to finally expel the festival or not: it is undeniably well produced and of a cultural and economic crisis, not just the organizers were accused of promoting succeeds in international markets. specific to the music industry? drug abuse.

Politics and music Cultural distinctions

Italy is generally threatened by bureaucrat- Besides the cultural and geographical dif- ic and political problems. Public funding is ferences between north and south, there’s an obscure experience. The FUS, the pub- another problem that comes to light when lic funding for performing arts and music, promoting acts abroad. The music man- has been widely discussed by politicians. It agement educational programs have only

has been increased, decreased and might been introduced within the past few years, Bloody Beetroots be totally cut. Right now almost half of it so there’s still a lack of professionalism in supports Opera, and less than 14% goes the industry. Also the artists, and not only There are a lot of Italian acts that definitely to all other kinds of music. In Italy a public the Italians, have to decide: Stay in the box could make it internationally. Some have funding of popular music through the FUS or get out of it. done well so far: The Crookers and the will probably remain at best science fic- Bloody Beetroots are definitely poster tion, or even more remote regarding the For international export, the language boys of a let us call it ‘Italo-Dance’ revival. tendency towards constant cuts. barrier is still a problem. Especially in the Reggae-Star Alborosie attracts huge at- contemporary rock/indie scene, English tention in the reggae community world- A dubious driver of the current Italian Live is a must. Artists that are accepted both wide. Lacuna Coil has always had a huge business are the free public funded shows in Italy and in English speaking countries fanbase abroad. For international success staged in squares, streets, town parties are rare. To succeed, the only card they can it seems important to have some particular and at religious events. Here the artists play is to be seen as cool and exotic. international link like heritage, residence perform as a grand finale and are mostly or management. Funnily enough most of pretty overpaid. This business often suf- For a long time the Italian market has been these international careers do not auto- fers from favouritism and supports only self-sufficient. Realizing that markets other matically include national success within the commissioners, which include political than Italy are necessary partners and that Italy. Yet there is hope. and other organizations. the rules are not made in Italy must be a shock. Here is another: To play a role in the Today the number of international careers There is no official export bureau. Past 21st century, the Italian music market has starting from an Italian career increases. initiatives between the trade associations to change. If it does not, sooner or later the You might know the excellent Jovanotti, have come to a bad end. Any public fund- international business, and potential audi- Vinicio Capossela and Carmen Consoli ing through other entities like the cham- ences, will move on and it will be a matter who frequently perform in the US and ber of commerce, the Ministry for Youth, of “next please”. have gained some serious media coverage appears erratic – so it’s best not to count (NY times, NPR). For all three the same NY on it. Artistic and business criteria are of- Excellent! PR and marketing-company MG Limited ten secondary and success is often related does a great job. Also ‘Very Italian’ Roy to how good the political connections are. However there are many good things Paci, Bandabardò and Modena City Ram- about Italy, everybody loves Italy! Bill Em- blers tour pretty successfully abroad, as As in some other European countries, a mott former director of the English jour- do Italo-Alternative #1 Afterhours some- huge drift to right wing, ultra conservative nal The Economist obviously does so and times. and sometimes just profit-oriented power makes some supportive suggestions on politics have been affecting Italy for quite Italy’s development in his new book ‘For- Lately, Italo-stadium-softrocker Vasco some time now. This obviously hinders za, Italia’. According to him, Italians need Rossi filled out the Tempeldrome in Berlin concerts, Milan for example, has an almost to gain a positive ‘can-do’ attitude. It is and Italian ‘Bruce Springsteen Ligabue has ridiculous dB limit of 78 (!). not surprising that at a music conference his eye on foreign countries as well. Vasco- organised by AudioCoop/MEI at Sangiorgi ‘UK’-shirts are sold at the Italian mega- A recent fatal example is the migration of in north-Italian Como the consensus was stores and the news speak about the “con- Rototom Sunsplash from Osoppo to Beni- pretty much the same. quering of foreign lands”. This sounds very cassim in Spain: After 16 years, Europe’s promising but let us take a look behind biggest reggae festival was kicked out of The Italians excel in producing romantic the scenes: Thanks to discount airlines the country. Rototom had been the most love songs delivered by outstandingly fans can follow their idols all over Europe.

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

It is quite common for crowds of Italian fans to jump on a plane for the chance to meet face to face with their Italian su- perstar in a small club in London, Paris

or Berlin. The recruitment of the strong Second Grace Italian ex-pat communities plays an important role, too. insights on that in all-italian onlinemag www.rockit.it) True or false - it is the news of ‘Italy touring the world’ that encourages Italian Definitely a place to be is the Sicilian musicians and that can generate a ‘real’ Ypsigrock festival which is set up in the international audience in the end. medieval castle of Sicily’s most avant- guard town Castelbuono. The festival Thanks to the increasing interest, Interna- surprises with a selective indie/electro/ tional promoter TIJ Events very success- rock-line up and has built a fine reputa- fully promotes Italian artists around Eu- tion over the last years. rope. Italo-music promo event Hitweek looks into the States (LA and NY, for 2010 Those of you who already have been in the two weeks before CMJ) and fea- touring in Italy will confirm: For the ma- tures big names, supported by FIMI (major part it’s good fun, nice clubs, great jor record company association), trade food and cool people. And these days commissions and government as well. you get paid as well, even if you’re almost unknown! The problem for the artist is how to make up in a short time for what has not been How to become rich and wealthy treated properly in the past. So thumbs up to those, who have the courage to For sure Italian artists can refer inherited set up international careers from the be- assets such as their understanding of ginning: Ghost Records who have great melody and vocal traditions, which are returns; Calibro 35 who have just been to their comparative advantage, and to merged into RED with Bruce Willis and my mind, something to be proud of. Do Mojomatics who must be exhausted af- Italians write the better songs? Not nec- ter touring the globe. essarily, but including the Italian heart and soul in a business-plan seems a Highlights in Italy good idea to me.

Let get to heart of the aspiring Italian It is necessary to open up and under- music business where the Indie-Label La stand where the actual status quo in the Tempesta provides excellent taste and international network: Being ‘Famous spirit. Having a strong focus on Italian in Italy’ doesn’t really matter right now. language, La Tempesta has been sign- Considering foreign culture and habits ing many of the most popular Italian in everyday business is what I am trying speaking Indie/Rock music. Their port- to do in my small, grass roots business folio might turnout as the jackpot. (More with Second Grace, Waines and others.

Installing a solid ground in the home country through a change of politics and offering good international education to professionals could definitely improve the situation, particularly for working abroad.

Anyway, if I had already found the passe- par-tout-solution I would probably be rich and wealthy, instead of muddling through all the time, but I believe myself, and Italy, to be on the right track. Calibro 35

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

Business News Manfred Tari [email protected]

Music In Shares – the Annual Round Up

Live Nation – Looking Forward to 2011

One year ago the share price of Live Nation was $8.0. Until April 26 the share price only went up, even reaching the level of $16.70 before melting down on August 16 to $8.17. But since then the share price was on the rise again and recovered up to $11.50.

Live Nation still is alive, but a bit less kicking as the company has constraining demand, we believe that the North American con- had to dismiss staff. In the Netherlands the subsidiary Mojo Con- cert industry is losing the young concert-goer. Roughly 2/3rds of certs laid off 11 of the 90 staff. The attempt by Live Nation to set the acts that made up the top 50 tours in 2009 were over the age up an office in Germany failed. However, in a research report by of 45.” Goldman Sachs from the beginning of December the share price recommendation for the next 6 months was $12.50. In addition to this the analysts prdict, “After an expected double- digit attendance decline for the industry in North America in 2010, In reference to Live Nation and the concert market in general the we do expect attendance to grow modestly in 2011, especially as analysts came to some interesting conclusions. One is: “Further U2, Prince, Lady Gaga and Kenny Chesney return to the road.”

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

CTS Eventim – Moving Up

As usual, the share price of the German market leader is on its way up. One artist avails ›› year ago at 33.10 Euro, the share is now at 45.50 Euro. After maintaining its price level until end of February, the share maintained from March onwards to mid July when it dropped down to 34.40 Euro until August. But since then it Alannah Myles - Acoustic/Unplugged Tour has climbed more than 11 Euro. Territory: Europe Period: 1/3/2011 - 30/4/2011 Agency: ARM Entertainment The financial market seems to be impressed by latest business reports and Phone: +1 651 483 8754 forgets that CTS Eventim once intended to become a global ticketing concern E-mail: [email protected] due to its deal with Live Nation. Now the company is focusing on expansion Homepage: www.alannahmyles.com in Europe only, but nevertheless is able therewith to compensate income ex- Sass Jordan pectations linked with that deal. Territory: Europe Period: February / March Agency: Paperclip Agency Agent: Hilde Spille Phone: +31 24 323 9322 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.paperclip-agency.com

Admiral T Territory: Worldwide Period: 2011 Agency: CARAMBA Spectacles Agent: Clotaire Phone: +33 1 4218 1718 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.caramba.fr

DEAG – The December Increase LA Guns (feat. Phil Lewis & Steve Riley) Territory: Europe Period: 1/9/2011 - 30/11/2011 It took the DEAG share until the middle of August to raise the price level. In Agency: ARM Entertainment 2009 on December 15 the share was just hitting the two Euro border at 2.01. Agent: Dana Strutz Phone: +1 651 483 8754 On May 24 it even went down to 1.6 Euro, but on November 30 the share E-mail: [email protected] climbed up to 2.74 Euro before it went down until November 15 to 2.47 Euro. Homepage: www.armentertainment.com

Basically the share prices of these three companies are better than one year Ledfoot Territory: Europe ago. While the market in the US appears to be experiencing more difficult Period: March - August times than in Europe, it is the case that market over here is also shifting. Lower Agency: Vox Artist sales of high price shows and in general less stadium and arena shows have an Agent: Eivind Brydoy impact on the big ones of this industry. So far it is too early to do an outlook E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.ledfoot.no for 2011 but it seems to be like 2010. The announcements for very big shows in the top segment of this business are not in sight yet except for a very few Martha Reeves and The Vendellas such as Take That. Territory: Europe Period: 15/02/2011 - 30/03/2011 Agency: Sport Star Management ApS However, the progress of these companies in the last two years is already a Agent: Carsten Hilding Larsen good sign because it is not so long ago that the world economy was consid- Phone: +45 4071 7722 ered crushed. E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.sportstarmanagement.dk

More Artist avails on: www.vip-booking.com

Post your Artist avails on: www.vip-booking.com

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News News - August - December 2005 2010

Monthly featured Artist ››

NEIL BROPHY BAND

Origin: England Agency: Brophy Bookings Style: Folk Roots Rock / Celtic Name: Neil Brophy Tour period: Summer 2011 Email: [email protected] Territory: Scandinavia / UK / Benelux / Germany Phone: +45 2023 7149

EIL BROPHY BAND (based in Copenhagen) performance with their anthemic choruses Festival Reviews would like to play at your festival in 2011. and catchy melodies fronted by Neil Brophy and his charmful approach to personally Oysterbands Big Session Festival: NEIL BROPHY BAND are currently record- delivering his songs to the audience. ing new tracks for next years CD RAG & Following Curtis is Denmark based Neil BONE. Some of these tracks are taken from THE RECORD COLLECTOR 7” EP was re- Brophy. Neil is a man with a unique voice, the solo album ROOTS BOOTS & BARS. leased on International Record Store Day versed in the traditions of English folk and in april and received some great reviews Dylan-esque protest. His songs talk of a Earlier on this year The Record Collec- and national airplay in Denmark & the UK land where the Devil can be found in a tor 7” EP Red Vinyl Single was released where it was played on BBC 2’s Glory Days whisky jar and brave honest local lads de- on Record Collector 7. on international program hosted by record producer Pete fend their jobs and homes against wicked Record Store Day. This label will also be Waterman. Iron Masters. Its great stuff, entirely pre- releasing all of Neil’s back catologue on dictable, and all the better for it. CD and MP3. “Another gem from one of the unsung www.virtualfetsival.com heroes of English songwriting. Essential NEIL BROPHY BAND 2011 listening for everyone who enjoys proper Levellers Beautiful Days Festival: music.” - GRAHAM JONES author of Last Songsmiths, Crowdsmiths, Folksmiths & Shop Standing (Whatever Happened to Neil is known for his English/Celtic acous- Rocksmiths are what make this band boil. Record Shops?) tic folk anthems, catchy, lively charm- Both Brian Armstrong & Martin Dale are ing songs that have been going down a tradesmen of live performance coming One to watch, On this 4-track EP. Brophy’s storm across Europes festivals. His char- from a rich woolly background of folk / rock Billy Bragg-like social commentary cov- ismatic stage presence oozes warmth, and backed by the driving rythms of the ers collecting records, football and life in the songs push out the melody and the native New Zealander Sharne Nathan. The general, Paul Rigby’s Most Wanted. - THE choruses are irrepressible. Flitting across band always deliver an energetic upbeat RECORD COLLECTOR the musical mores, a little folk here, a little rock there a lot of fun everywhere, he is a real crowd pleaser.

Middlewich Festival

So, Neil Brophy, not only one of the nice guys in the business but a competent per- former who’s songs paint pictures. He’s your real contemporary folkie not out of place on folk club or main stage and he has been around a bit, seen a bit of life and sings about it because it means something to him, a genuine professional. He opened up for Nick Harper at Middlewich this year and audience wanted more. Main stage for Neil next year without a doubt.

...... Liz Rosenfield Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival Event Organiser Niel Brophy Band

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - December 2010

Member presentation ››

In this section we offer members of VIP-Booking.com some space to present their company to VIP-News readers. If you would also like to present your company please contact Peter Briggs at [email protected]

Christopher Entertainment

Christopher Entertainment is a Danish owned management, promotor and booking agency, established in 1986.

Christopher Entertainment has over the years presented some of the world’s finest artists such as: Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Santana, Boyzone, The Corrs etc. As a booking agency Christo- pher Entertainment has delivered artists to major festivals such artists: Stig Rossen, Gudrun, Jacob Andersen etc and we repre- as: The Roskilde Festival, The Midtfyns Festival, The Langeland sent Andrew Strong and Barrage in Scandinavia. Festival, The Skanderborg Festival, The Jelling Musicfestival etc. Christopher Entertainment is management for mostly Danish For more info please see www.christopher.dk

About Our Company

VIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest data- Today VIP-Booking offers a range of tools for the industry – inclu- base for the European Live Entertainment Industry www.vip-book- ding VIP-News, VIP-Booking, VIP-Book and VIP-Contract. ing.com developed as a tool for industry professionals. Since it’s launch in the year 2000, we have consistently offered our subscrib- Please visit vip-booking.com for further information. ers the very best in database services and now boast subscribers in over 30 countries. Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

vip-booking.com

VIP-BOOKING.COM