8 3 15 17 18 13 VIPNEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 167 > APRIL 2014 10 9 19 4 20 17 14 7 2 VIPNEWS > APRIL 2014 McGowan’s Musings A bit more globetrotting undertaken since the Civil Rights movements, and providing a pow- those who seem to have everything going for last News, with Venice, Paris (twice) Stock- erful soundtrack to the struggle to bring at- them can be touched by tragedy; however fol- holm (just to look at the Airport…), Tallinn, tention and support to the desperate need for lowing the suicide of Mick Jagger’s girlfriend Helsinki and Edinburgh added to the 2014 social and political change, the Vietnam war L’Wrenn Scott, it seems that Jagger has decid- itinerary. was another demonstration of how musicians ed that work is the best therapy. Bob Geldof, and songwriters were prepared to speak, or the driving force behind Live Aid, also has had In the last issue we mentioned the effects on sing, out against the perpetration of wrongs, to face more tragedy recently with the death the live entertainment industry of the civil and then came Live Aid, Farm Aid etc. In the UK of his daughter, Peaches. political unrest in Turkey, Thailand and Ukraine singers like Billy Bragg supported the Miners as discussed at ILMC. The continuing problems Strike and took a stand against racism with Well, sorry to concentrate on the darker side in Ukraine and elsewhere have prompted dis- projects like Red Wedge. It seems that artists of life in this issue, but sometimes these things cussions within the music industry in general and music as an effective force for change take precedence, even in the entertainment about the role of the artist in increasingly trou- has taken a bit of a back seat for some time; business! Not everything is down though, the bled times. Back in the 60’s the term ‘protest maybe it’s harder to rock the establishment sun is shining on Brighton, though I’m sure singer’ was an often-used description, with when you’re rolling along with sponsors etc many people will be dumbfounded and disap- many artists in the US becoming involved in in a business that is perhaps more part of that pointed to hear that I will not be around to establishment than it used to be. The relation- welcome friends from the international music ship between the state and the freedom of in- business to my home town as they flock here dividuals, and music and liberty was however for The Great Escape in a couple of weeks to the fore in discussions inTallinn, Estonia at time – I shall be in Dresden and Berlin, How- COLOPHON > the opening of the sixth edition of Tallinn Mu- ever I’m sure the ever expanding event (see sic Week – see Report in this issue. report in this issue) will cope without me – just VIP-News is published by: this once! VIP-Booking 145-157 St John Street Also strange to see that the man once consid- London Ec1V 4PW ered by many to be the leading protest singer One last thing, if asked to name the first icon- Managing Director: in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, ic venues that come to mind, I’m sure many Ronni Didriksen [email protected] being accused of ‘hate speech’ – See report would perhaps mention, Madison Square Gar- General Manager: in this issue. dens, Shea Stadium, Hammersmith Odeon, Peter Briggs [email protected] and I’m pretty sure, Wembley Arena would be The ongoing living proof of how rock and roll up there for a lot of people - however prepare Writer and editorial: Allan McGowan has adapted to pretty much all levels of soci- to see this name consigned to the past with [email protected] ety, (or is it the other way round?), the original others, and say Hi to the SSE Arena. Doesn’t Writer: anti-establishment band, who caused politi- quite have the same ring does it? However I’m Manfred Tari [email protected] cians, church leaders and other pillars of the sure the shows will be good! For advertising enquiries community to warn citizens to ‘lock up their please contact: Peter Briggs daughters’, The Rolling Stones, are on the Right, I’m preparing to go to France for Print- [email protected] road again, topping festivals throughout Eu- emps de Bourges, then to Denmark for The +44 870 755 0092 rope. It seemed at one point that these dates Spot Festival, as ever I’ll report back – in the may not happen as we learned that even meantime Ladies and Gentlemen – The News! 2 VIPNEWS > APRIL 2014 Bob Dylan BOB Dylan ‘Hate Speech’ Charge Dropped Allan McGowan [email protected] French television news station France24 has Ivan Jurasinovic, a lawyer for the organiza- reported that a French court has dropped tion, insisted that the French Croats were the preliminary charge entered in Paris not seeking money or punishment, but last November following what a Croatian rather hoped that Dylan, described as “a organization said was hate speech. The singer who is liked and respected in Croa- Representative Council of the Croatian tia,” would apologize. But, under French Community and Institutions in France main- hate speech laws, his comments could have tained that Dylan had compared Croats to resulted in a year in prison and a fine of up Nazis or the Ku Klux Klan. to €45,000 ($62,000). However the judge ruled that Dylan himself had not authorized The French government filed the charge after the publication of the comments in France, the Organisation complained about Dylan’s dismissing the case on this technicality. comments in a September 2012 interview in That leaves Marc Birnbaum the French pub- Rolling Stone magazine in which the singer/ lisher of Rolling Stone in the firing line, The songwriter discussed racism in the United Wall Street Journal reported that he could States. He remarked that Afro –Americans now face the prison or fine penalties having could sense if whites had slave-master blood been charged with violating France’s anti- “just like Jews can sense Nazi blood and the discrimination laws. Serbs can sense Croatian blood.” 3 3 VIPNEWS > APRIL 2014 Heidi Aho Heidi Aho Appointed Managing Director of Fullsteam Allan McGowan [email protected] Fullsteam’s long-term Chief Production Manager Heidi Aho has been appointed as the Helsinki based company’s Managing Director, ef- Juha Kyyrö said, “Heidi has had an important role in Fullsteam be- fective 1 May 2014. Prior to joining Fullsteam in 2008, Aho worked coming the best promoter in Finland. I especially appreciate Heidi’s for Vantaan Festivaalit Oy as festival coordinator at Ruisrock and An- strong leadership skills, and I am convinced that under her lead, Full- kkarock. steam will become an even better cooperation partner and working community.” According to Aho, her main objective is to support the development of Fullsteam’s existing expertise as well as the company’s growth and Fullsteam is an independent music company whose activities include reputation as a reliable actor in the industry. She commented, “Full- event planning, concert promotion and artist booking, record releas- steam has an amazing staff with an enormous amount of expertise, ing as well as management and publishing activities as separate com- which makes this appointment a great honour. I intend to further panies. Within the last couple of years, Fullsteam has been the largest strengthen Fullsteam’s vision and innovative business culture. The promoter of foreign artists in Finland in the number of shows. In 2013 number of our employees has grown radically during the last couple the company presented altogether over 1,100 concerts. The parent of years and hopefully I will be able to offer support and help to en- company Fullsteam Records Oy made 8.7 million euros in revenue in sure a creative environment in the future as well.” 2013, and currently the Fullsteam corporation employs 23 workers. Fullsteam’s founder and main owner Juha Kyyrö will continue as HYPERLINK “https://client.ukfastexchange.co.uk/owa/redir.aspx?C= Chairman of the Board and minority stakeholder Johannes Kinnunen a8395146deee4599aaf587ed128a424f&URL=http%3a%2f%2fw will focus on administrative management and public relations in the ww.fullsteam.fi%2f” \t “_blank” www.fullsteam.fi future. Virpi Immonen will continue as Managing Director of Full- steam Management Oy. 4 2014 CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK May 6-10, 2014 Toronto, ON • www.cmw.net VIPNEWS > APRIL 2014 The Concert Market in Finland Manfred Tari [email protected] An Interview with Juha Kyrro of Fullsteam: How is the concert market in Finland cur- Does the current market situation de- improve the situation for those kind of rently doing? mands change in your business strategies shows? – Right now I think the concert market is or do you prefer to proceed as usual? – Introducing new artists has always been a struggling a bit. In general ticket sales are – We are very strong in our every-day busi- challenge, but I actually think that currently lower and not many shows are sold out. ness so I think that as long as we keep our the main challenge in the market is to avoid focus on what we can do the best, we will the established artists overplaying the market. According to other players, competition do fine. When there are so many “promoters” trying seems to be growing in Finland. Would to get a slice of the cake, artists tend to come you agree with this? Does it became more difficult to promote back more often, which can lead to unsuc- – There are definitely more and more compa- concerts with newcomer artists and if cessful shows.