VIP Newsletter June.Indd

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VIP- News›› ›› PREMIUM VOL. 82 JUNE 2006

Fullsteam Ahead in Finland McGowan’s Musings: Allan McGowan [email protected]

So let’s get the bad news out of the way VIP-News talked to Juha Kyyrö, who first, the Grim Reaper has been far too ac- earlier this year parted company with tive of late and as I write in early June we Risto Juvonen’s Welldone Agency to regret the passing of several highly impor- Allan McGowan set up his own agency, promotion, tant figures in our business in the space of management and records operation the last couple of weeks. Our condolences Certainly in Germany the live music sched- under the Fullsteam banner. go to all friends and family of US Agent ex- ules will not be exactly business as usual, and traordinaire Ian Copeland, seminal Danish they’ve even had to lose the Stones dates in promoter Eric Thomsen, champion of the Nuremberg and Leipzig, although we’re all VIP-News: How did you first get into blues Clifford Antone, and longtime ambas- glad to hear that Keef’s head will be back to- this business. sador of reggae and ska Desmond Dekker. gether in time for them to restart their Euro- pean tour in Milan on July 11. I worked with Ian Copeland in the late 70’s Juha: I got into music business, as in London at Sherry Copeland Artists (John many people do, through my own Sherry is also no longer with us) and he was By the time you read this I will hopefully be band. It all started with helping other a great character. Clifford Antone founded enjoying the Andalusian sun, but before I Antone’s club in Austin Texas and I spoke leave I’m trying to figure out a way of staying bands with getting shows, and in with him at the club just a few weeks ago away from my emails without coming back 2001 I started a company called Si- after SXSW. Personal contact obviously to literally thousands of spam messages! Is it truunamaailma. The first shows I pro- makes one’s reactions more poignant, but just me, or has there been an enormous in- moted, were for Swedish bands Blind- crease of late? How much Viagra can one man none the less all these gentlemen will be side and Plastic Pride. Soon after that I sadly missed. need? Is Yasser Arafat’s widow really going to was already working with most of the reward me for looking after her money? Did Scandinavian agents with bands like On a happier note summer finally seems to I ever have a bank account with them in the have kicked in here in Brighton, hopefully first place? Porn again – and again! A mort- Looptroop,Turbonegro, Nine, Flog- this is the case wherever you are and that gage from spammers – Nein Danke! – Where ging Molly, Skindred and many others. the sun stays around for the Festival season, will it all end, who is sending it and when will I was also booking agent for a small particularly for those that suffered from last they bloody well get the message that we’re roster of Finnish alternative bands. year’s interminable rain. However in a lot of not interested!..... I think dear readers that cases both festivals and concerts won’t be you can tell that I need a holiday! I was approached by Welldone first in battling with the weather, but more likely 2002 and then again in 2003. I finally FOOTBALL! Promoters, bookers and bands We’ll all be taking a break for July, but we’ll all over the world must be desperately be back in August, so please let us have your started working for them in 2004 as it checking the schedules to try and avoid go- summer news, festival reports etc so that we felt like the best set-up at the time. In the ing up against vital matches and big event can let everybody know, in the meantime, meantime I had also started a record screens will regularly feature more than one success, happy times, and most of all good type of player. health to all of you.

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label called Fullsteam Records, which has now grown to be one of the main independent record labels in Finland (awarded twice for best in de- pendent record label by Musiikki & Media, the biggest music business conference over here).

VIP-News: How long were you at Welldone and what acts did you work with there?

Fullsteam Agency Juha: I worked for Welldone for 2 years, I worked with all of the bands I had been working with whatever I want with my job, and that wasn’t before and obviously continued promoting possible at all times at Welldone. shows for more and more foreign bands all the time. My Finnish roster is actually smaller now VIP-News: What is the structure of Fullsteam, than when I started at Welldone, but at the who will you be working with, and which acts same time I am managing one band, Disco En- will you represent? Will you be working interna- semble, and concentrating mostly in promot- tionally or concentrating on local and national ing shows for international acts in Finland. business. What are your aims and goals for the company? VIP-News: When did you make the decision to leave and start up on your own and what Juha: Of course, we are heavily concentrat- prompted this? ing on developing as a company at the moment, so I would have a better answer to this Juha: I guess being independent has always ﬁve years from now, but right now Fullsteam been really important for me, but starting up Agency consists of two promoters/agents, one on my own again for the live side of what I was production guy and an assistant. I am also doing actually felt like the easiest solution, as I extremely happy to tell you that Anne-Mari already had my own company, the record label, Harinen from Trinity Concerts in Germany Fullsteam Records, with 6 employees who were joined us in May, she is actually Finnish and is already involved in some of the shows I did. For moving back here. I will also have more news me the main reason to go on my own again for you later on this year about our structure. COLOPHON ›› was just the fact that I wanted to be free to do The goal is nothing less than being the best promoter in Finland, which is what we al- VIP-News is published by: ready are for alternative music, at least in my VIP-Booking opinion. Our main business at the moment is 26 York Street London W1U 6pZ promoting concerts for international artists in Finland, but we do represent a bunch of Finn- Managing Director: ish bands, for example the recent Eurovision Ronni Didriksen [email protected] Song Contest winners Lordi, Disco Ensemble and Rotten Sound. General Manager: Peter Briggs [email protected] VIP-News: How do you see the state of the business at the moment? Sales Agent: John Ainsworth [email protected] Juha: Live music is doing extremely well in Fin- land, and we have been lucky (or good!) to suc- Writer and editorial: ceed on the record label side as well. As long as Allan McGowan [email protected] we concentrate on artists that we truly believe in, I cannot see any problems ahead. Writer: Juha Kyyrö Manfred Tari [email protected]

For advertising enquiries pls. contact Peter Briggs [email protected] or +44 870 755 0092

Lay-out: Pekaye Graphics, Phuket – Thailand [email protected]

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Channelﬂy Group Open New London Bar Allan McGowan [email protected]

The Channelfly Group has been busy of be installing plasma screens. We have a The Channelfly Group is one of the UK’s late, following on quickly from organis- basement room for hire with full technol- leading independent music businesses, ing the three day trade and showcase ogy available. It’s a perfect space for the with interests in live music venues, art- event The Great Escape in Brighton as business to hold record launches, video ist management, producer management, reported in last month’s issue) the Com- playbacks and receptions. By day it will recording and publishing. The Channelfly pany have opened a new bar in London’s operate as a café/restaurant and by night Group includes the Barfly chain of live New Oxford Street. it will be an ideal place to meet before venues; SuperVision, an artist manage- gigs and to hear new tunes. We’ve called ment company, SBM, a record-producer The Fly as it will be known, intends to at- it The Fly, like our magazine which will be management business, Animal Noise, a tract a regular clientele made up of music available in the bar, to distinguish it from recording company and The Fly, one of industry and music fans. Executive Di- our other live venues, all known as Barfly. the UK.s widest distributed music maga- rector Jeremy Ledlin told VIP-News, “The At the moment we won’t be putting on zines. Fly has great facilities such as video pro- live entertainment but in the future we jectors and sound systems and we will may well extend the licence to do this.”

FIB Heineken – Benicassim Festival 2006 Sells Out Allan McGowan [email protected]

At the time of writing only one day tickets day sometimes with an extended stay in the Un-Pop Classik, a European music project, were available for the FIB Heineken Be- area, or as the starting point for other Span- led by the FIB Heineken which gathered nicassim International Festival, this increas- ish destinations. four bands, four orchestras and four major ingly popular and ever expanding event festivals to prove that pop and rock are not has now sold out of all 3 and 4 day tickets Benicàssim is also the only music festival incompatible with classical music. for July 20-23. in the world that offers summer courses in subjects such as Radio Fiction, Comics and This year’s headliners include Scissor Sis- The first edition took place in August 1995, Animation Documentary Film, and the Mar- ters, The Pixies, Echo & The Bunneymen, and since then its stages have featured –: riage of Film and Music, in collaboration The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Morrissey, The Stone Roses, The Jesus and Mary Chain, with the Universidad Jaume I these have Depeche Mode, Madness and Placebo. Re- Cranes, Silvania, Autechre, Belle & Sebastian, been highly, and surprisingly, successful. cent changes to the bill include the cancella- Los Planetas, Suede, Saint Etienne, Björk, tion of Beth Orton who has postponed her Pizzicato Five, Astrud, Massive Attack, The The Festival organisers have also branched concerts in Europe due to the extension of Cure, Manta Ray, Suicide, Echo and the Bun- out to instigate separate but connected her American tour, and the Editors change. nymen, Migala, Goldfrapp, Fangoria, Ein- events. From the 27th of April to the 7th of from Saturday the 22nd to Sunday the 23rd stürzende Neubauten, Polar, Pet Shop Boys, May this year week in Brussels, Les Nuits du of July. Brian Wilson, Franz Ferdinand, Kraftwerk, Botanique” the first of four festivals Last, four Kaiser Chiefs, Devendra Banhart. surprising concerts marked the launching of More Information: www.fiberfib.com

With Glastonbury resting whilst organiser Michael Eavis allows the fields of Worthy Farm to recover, FIB Heineken - Benicassim has attracted festival fans from all over Eu- rope to make this their summer pilgrimage. Certainly many in the UK have discovered that a combination of cheap flights, much cheaper on site catering and camping, pret- ty much guaranteed good weather, beaches for sea swimming and a vibrant and exten- sive music, theatre, film, fashion, arts and social programme offers them all and more than is available at home for the same or less outlay. Many now treat this event as a holi- Madness headlines Benicássim 2006

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Dates For 21. Edition of the Summerjam Download Festival Festival In Manfred Tari [email protected] Boston & Klaus Maack, managing director of Bob Marley’s sons on the same stage to- Contour music agency and promoter of gether with Andrew Tosh, the son of Peter San Francisco the Summerjam Festival is dedicated to Tosh. And I think this was a good thing Manfred Tari [email protected] reggae music. The agency roster con- to do because Damien Marley especially sists of course of other artists that are has a very good album on the market not strictly reggae or dancehall as he and he has started a very strong interna- has also been working for many years tional career. with artists such as Nick Cave and New Model Army. Nevertheless he has a pas- VIP-News: Did you have problems to get sion for reggae music. sponsors for Summer Jam 2006 due to the World Cup? VIP-News: What are your expectations for Summer Jam 2006? Maack: Yes, in general we have prob- Klaus Maack: The ticket sales are devel- lems to get sponsors because it is a sort oping in the same way as they did in the of music festival that is generally not very year 2005. And in the year 2005 we were interesting for sponsors. Then we had the sold out. So I hope that we will reach this usual sponsors. But for the first time we 311 to play Downloads Festival point this year again. will have the TV on board. They will do a ninety minute special about the Summer The festival that was launched in 2003 in VIP-News: Was it more difficult to get the Jam festival which will be broadcasted on the UK will now be exported to the US. billing together this year? the ZDF and also in Arte. While the UK Dates for the event are set for June 9 to 11, the US Dates are August Maack: It was more difficult because VIP-News: You are one of the first German 20 in Boston and September 30 in San last year our pulling acts were the strong festival promoters to extensively promote Francisco. German league acts like Seeed, Gentle- your festival abroad. Any new develop- man, Patrice. And this year we had to go ments on promotion in foreign countries In Boston the festival will take place in the more international and I followed up my you have already realized now? Tweeter Center and will feature acts such dream since many years to have two of as 311, Dropkick Murphys, G. Love & Spe- cial Sauce, Jurassic 5, The Wailers, Pepper. While Live Nation announced the Shore- line Amphitheatre as the location for the edition of the event in San Francisco, no information had been made yet regarding the line up for that show. Charlie Walker, President of Music for the corporate concert company said “Live Na- tion is a world leader in festival ownership. Our goal is to import the skill set and successful festival brands we currently own in Europe into our venues in the United States. Expanding Download into another market here in the States is a great step in that direction.”

For more information please check: www.downloadfestival.com

Klaus Maack

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Maack: Yes, getting stronger. We have had ad- Maack: It’s a key. It’s a key thing. I mean we are and six thousand people in Stuttgart. Damien vance ticket sales in France last year for exam- selling one fourth of the total advance tickets Marley and Morgan Heritage at the Stadtpark ple of approximately 1000 tickets. It looks like sales from our website. And it’s continuously in Hamburg I think we will sell approximately we will double this figure this year. And we have growing. This shows how important it is and I three and a half thousand tickets. The same got a lot of demands from Scandinavia, from think our website is quite good. You can find with Gilberto Gil. Holland and also from the UK. It is easy to do everything on our website. now because there are computer tickets system VIP-News: How did the World Cup affect your you can work with. In earlier years we did this VIP-News: Don’t you think it would be neces- business? all by mailing, sending out original tickets from sary to have a French language or a Dutch lan- our office which was very difficult because of guage version of the website. Maack: I don’t know yet, it starts today. First of custom rules and things. But now through the all it was difficult because there are many art- modern computer ticket systems we are able to Maack: No not on our website. But if you do out- ists who didn’t want to come because of some sell tickets in all markets. lets, if you work with the club scene in Paris or in reason. The second difficulty was that there is Amsterdam or in Stockholm wherever. We could a lot of offers from the city councils and from VIP-News: Do you doing marketing over there? do it in English (French), but I think it also gives people who use public money to present enter- the people a good feeling if they can read the in- tainment for the World Cup fans. It is hard for Maack: Oh yes. We are doing marketing in the formation in their own language on the flyers. commercial promoters if you have to charge usual outlets and the magazines and also we ticket prices like 30 Euros for Gilberto Gil. In gen- are doing marketing for the festival with the VIP-News: How are your other shows doing at eral the World Cup has harmed the business friend promoters in the UK and friend promot- the moment? because the early summer period is not as busy ers in Scandinavia. as it used to be for the commercial promoters. Maack: We are doing shows with Ziggy Marley, On the other side I worked together with some VIP-News: Does this mean you spend money we are doing shows with Alpha Blondy because of the FIFA people and we were selling some of on advertising and promotion activities? the Ivory Coast Team is in Germany and doing the acts in our home city especially. shows in Cologne, Mainz, Stuttgart, München, Maack: Yes, we send posters, we even do fly- Nürnberg. I’m doing a show with Sean Paul in VIP-News: Have you been able to charge better ers in the language of the country where we Stuttgart, Gilberto Gil and shows with Damien fees? work with promoters. And we are doing ad- ‘Jr Gong’ Marley. vertisements in French and Scandinavian Maack: I wish that I had charged more, but it’s magazines. Yes we are spending money for VIP-News: Are they selling well? o.k. advertisement. Maack: Yes. Alpha Blondy will sell out all four The Summerjam-Festival takes place on the VIP-News: How about your online site? Do you shows, approximately 1.500 capacity, it’s Muf- Fuehlinger See in Cologne from July 14 to 16. think it’s become more important to have a fathalle, Mainz, Kurtz open air, Stuttgart Zapa- For further information please check www. website like yours? ta. For Sean Paul I think we will get between five contour-music.de and www.summerjam.de

London Calling The Music Industry Allan McGowan [email protected]

Another addition to the increasing number than 15 hours of panels and presentations Delegate packages are available at of trade conference and showcase events discussing Future Technologies & Innova- www.Londoncalling2006.com ranging will take place on 29th and 30th June 2006 tions, Brands & Bands, and New Business from exhibition-only access through to full at Earls Court, London when London Call- Models. The speaker line-up includes key ‘Access All Areas’ VIP passes. ing hits town. London has of course long spokespeople from organisations suchas been an international hub for the music Heineken, IFPI, MTV, GCap, TNS, Orange, business but until now has not success- Sony BMG and Mashboxx. The exhibition fully hosted a large scale industry event show ﬂoor features over 100 participating – London Calling 2006 aims to change that companies – including Emusic.com, The with Nokia, Sony ATV, MySpace, MTV, O2, Orchard, HMV Digital, Ministry of Sound, Sony BMG, Last.fm, Kontor and SK Telecom Nokia, Apple, IODA, CD Baby, Positiva and amongst others joining the line-up. many more.

The London Calling education programme The event will also feature two live perform- will focus on three themes.40 speakers ance areas – featuring upcoming bands, from more than 10 countries will share acoustic performances and international DJ their experience and expertise in more sets.

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12,000 Extra The Neutral View On The tickets for Festival Season T in the Park Manfred Tari [email protected] Allan McGowan [email protected] Asking festival promoters about Which are the interesting newcomers Big Day Out, Organisers of the T in their business is quite a usual thing. on the festival market in Germany? the Park festival were able to release As the live entertainment business 12,000 extra tickets for sale online and witnessed a growth period over at Welsing: I would say the open air Wer- by phone after some were recovered in least a decade also the periphery den in Essen is becoming more and an anti-touting operation, the extra al- has grown. In particular these are more popular and they have excel- location sold out in 10 minutes. They in- in Germany specially dedicated lent bands: Also the Rheinkultur still cluded admissions that were cancelled publications that report about Festi- has the monopoly of these kind of free after music fans flouted a two-ticket- vals only. The Music magazine Intro festivals, but that’s already established per-person rule. launched with Intro Festival Guide so I would especially highlight Werden the first publication of it’s kind. as being excellent. Also I would say Geoff Ellis of DF Concerts and Big Day VIP-News has once again become a Rock am Deich, Omas Teich. Coming Out in his role as a member of the Con- media partner for the Intro Festival- to Switzerland the Gurtenfestival and cert Promoters Association has been camp at Popkomm 2006 in Septem- open air St. Gallen are always excel- very actively involved with the cam- ber in Berlin. lent. If they continue this well they paign which has been taken to Gov- could attract more people from Ger- ernmental level in the UK to stamp out This time VIP-News spoke to Philipp many as well. ticket touting and to control secondary Welsing, who is the editor in charge ticket sales. He said: “It’s great news for of the Festivalplaner release by mu- VIP-News: Have you seen a develop- us that there is now a system in place sic magazine Visions. ment where foreign festival promoters to help identify and eliminate touts and promote their shows in the German once again we would urge fans not to VIP-News: How would you describe the market now as well? buy from unofficial sources trends for the festival season 2006? Welsing: During the last four years it’s Permission has also been given to in- Philipp Welsing: I see a big upward kind of stayed the same. Even Roskilde crease capacity at the Scottish two-day trend. Festivals seem to get really which is not really close to Germany, July festival, sited at Balado in Perth- popular not only in the UK but also in has always been connected to the Fes- shire which this year features bands Germany. Festivals like Hurricane and tivalplaner and some Belgium festivals The Who and the Red Hot Chilli Pep- Southside were sold out far ahead in too. Aerodome is not happening but pers. 75,000 people will now attend the advance and even faster than in previ- there are other festivals in Belgium, July 8 & 9event each day. Those without ous years. Also I think there are lots of which try to kind of reach German tickets have been warned to stay away German festivals that were newcomer visitors. At the same time it is hard to from the festival site, which will be sur- festivals in 2004 or 5 that have since cooperate with them because it �s not rounded, by a ‘fortress fence’ and an ex- then established themselves in the a German speaking area. As a maga- clusion zone. midrange field and I think that this is zine or the Festivalplaner it �s difficult really positive trend. Also some of the to cooperate with them or to present According to the BBC a new report has big festivals will not take place in 2006 those festivals. But I would say it’s kind estimated that Festivals is worth £18m because the World Cup is on, because of stayed the same from the festivals to to the country’s economy. The study of problems with acts that didn’t turn and how they want to communicate says T in the Park brings in £7.5m to the up in Europe. to the German audience. local economy in Perth and Kinross and another £10.5m to tourism through VIP-News: Would you say the general VIP-News: How much are you cover- worldwide media coverage. number of festivals is the same as in ing dance events? previous years? Welsing: The Festivalplaner has elec- Welsing: Maybe a little bit less but this tronic events like the Juicy Beats festi- does not have an impact on the over- val in Dortmund, which is excellent in all quality of the festival landscape. the Westfalenpark. We have Phono- pop festival which is excellent. I would VIP-News: Which festivals would you say that about 10 percent of the festi- highlight as really worthwhile and vals in the Festivalplaner are electronic interesting that have been estab- festivals. lished on the German market recently?

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VIP-News: What is the total number of things that go wrong. They always try to they exchange a lot on the internet. So I festivals covered within the Festivalplaner refine their line-ups and concerning Hur- would say concerning festivals it may be this year? ricane and Southside, to give the audience better for promoters to advertise online, a wide range of genres. I would say yes. you know to concentrate more on online Welsing: In the Festivalplaner 2006 we on the right platforms. Festival goers like cover about a hundred and ten festivals. VIP-News: It appears that at the moment, to exchange, they want to drive together there are a lot of promoters that still adver- to the festival and back. It’s a big commu- VIP-News: What about advertising. Is that tise in print but not so much online. Don nity that communicates on the internet, the same as in previous years? Do festival �t you think online advertising is much so promoters should maybe focus more promoters put ads in your newspaper or more important than print these days? on the internet. your publication? Welsing: Not more important, no. Actu- For further information please check: Welsing: Oh yes they do. No major chang- ally concerning festivals, the festival au- www.festivalplaner.de by Visions or es observed there. I think that stayed the dience is always a big community and www.festivalguide.de by Intro. same really. But I’m not into the marketing side you know. Better ask Bunky or Stefan to check that.

VIP-News: When it comes to the audience, are there any particular developments you have realized? When people go to your website is there any special event they are looking for?

Welsing: I think people are more open minded to rock music right now because rock music has established itself in Ger- many like German speaking dance. I would say that Rock has come very close to mainstream right now. So I would say that rock festivals attract more people than they maybe did two or three years ago. But that is not really a change in the audience of the festivals. Maybe festivals like Hurricane or Southside which were indie festivals before, now attract a more mainstream audience.

VIP-News: How about Rock am Ring?

Welsing: Rock am Ring is so established that I don’t think there are any changes to the audience. But I cannot really comment on that because I have only been there once two years ago.

VIP-News: Do you think the quality of festivals has improved over the last couple of years?

Welsing: I would say yes because festival promoters always try to refine their con- cepts concerning camping and sanitary facilities. I think they are constantly developing. They learn from lots of things, Phillip Welsing

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Robbie Williams The Future of GermanSounds Tour Sponsors Manfred Tari [email protected] At the beginning of this year the fu- from GermanSounds were more or Announce ture of the German music export of- less fruitless and talks with other Mobile Williams fice was very uncertain. As expected sources in the hope of getting some Manfred Tari [email protected] the state ministry of culture and me- sort of official comment about the dia (BKM) pulled out of the group of status of negotiations lead to no financiers of the organisation. The concrete results. Nevertheless there other core financiers were the GVL have been various activities by the (society for performing rights) and the people involved that could be best copyright collection society GEMA. described as hidden diplomacy.

As reported in the March issue of On several occasions VIP-News asked VIP-News the BKM only subsidised for any sort of information that could GermanSounds during a start up pe- be used for publication and several riod limited to three years. The GVL at times members of the organisation that stage supplied a further 20.000 announced dates when they would Euro to ensure that GermanSounds put out a press release describing Mobile Williams could go on at least until May. the status of affairs. But such a press release was never released. When it The product range of the exploitation GermanSounds is organized as a came to the point of public interest, of concert presentations reaches new plc company. Shareholders of the active players involved in this proc- levels. T-Mobile and Sony Ericsson are organisation are amongst others ess acted as if they were members the main sponsors for the upcoming the German leg of IFPI (Bundesver- of the secret service, trying to hide Robbie Williams tour. The companies band Phono), V.U.T. (association of their most ambitious activities sup- now declared their ideas for value independent record companies), posed to save the world. added sponsoring. Besides the usual IDKV (Association of German concert branding opportunities via posters, promoters), MMF (Music Manager However, off the record it quickly screens and advertisements T-Mobile Forum Germany), The German Music became apparent that not all of the and Sony Ericsson undertake some spe- Council and the music conventions shareholders were pleased with the cial efforts that refer to core business of Popkomm and Womex. work of GermanSounds. Certainly those companies. GermanSounds managed to achieve In the meantime several other bodies similar results to many other export Sony Ericsson will release the new mo- have been working for the continua- offices. But the criticism was often bile phone W300i, the Walkman®-Phone tion of GermanSounds. But the proc- directed at the personalities involved with a preinstalled video clip of Mr. Wil- ess of political groundwork hasn’t in the organization. liams. T-Mobile offers mobile broad- been easy. Already in January the casts via UMTS of each concert during newly appointed head of the Ger- These criticisms were mainly linked the tour, starting on June 9 in Dublin, man IFPI Michael Haentjes (CEO of to Peter James, the CEO of German- Ireland. The Telco even launched a edel records) said in interviews that Sounds. Haentjes played the role new channel entitled Tour TV that will there is no need for such an export as archrival to James, but Haentjes screen backstage features and reports office, as there are many music com- was not alone in his dissatisfaction. about the ongoing tour. Furthermore a panies that do this job themselves. Reproaches that were made referred WAP-page on robbiewilliams.com, wall- This statement by a political heavy- to the strategy of GermanSounds, papers, ringtones and exclusive down- weight indicated very clearly how in practical and political terms. Be- loads completing the digital virtual difficult the procedure for finding a sides concerns regarding the practi- sponsor enviroment. In real life manner common solution was going to be. cal work, a very basic political point the sponsor team arrange competitions Efforts to get an official statement that actually had nothing to do with before each show entitled “Supernatu- ral Carnival”.

The sponsor engagement that started already in July 2005 will last 18 months and will in particular cover 29 shows.

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GermanSounds was that James also held interim Managing Director. Furthermore the position of Chairman of V.U.T. Certain GermanSounds will leave its former office There are many speculative elements members of the V.U.T. voted that the asso- and will be relocated in the offices of the within this story so referring to an un- ciation should pull out of the German IFPI Berlin Fair, the mother company running doubted fact gives an extraordinary end- country group. Popkomm. ing. This fact being that it was James who was the leading driving force in the past This move had an indirect but significant At least until Popkomm in September this making GermanSounds possible. So it’s affect on the future of James as CEO of should be an interim solution. James will ironical that it is James who now seems GermanSounds. For the moment the de- supposedly go back to the V.U.T. and will ap- to have become the scapegoat. When parture of James as CEO is unconfirmed parently intend to continue undertaking fur- everything unfurls as described in this ar- but it is more than likely that James will ther lobby activities from there. What’s inter- ticle, GermanSounds will hopefully finally retire from this post, with Rosita Kürbis, esting in relation to this, is that some sources release a press release shortly after June who currently works as a project man- pointed out that the lobby work for German- 19 that will at least confirm some of those ager for the organisation becoming the Sounds wasn’t as good as it should be. things mentioned in this story.

Jazz Festival Moers pulled 8000 visitors Manfred Tari [email protected]

The 35th edition of the Jazz Festival Moers pop avant-garde. And to reduce a little bit in all most of the writers are very confident and gained 8000 visitors. It was the first edition the amount of folk and world music, of tra- really content with the changes. under the leadership of Reiner Michalke as ditional ethnic music which is not the music the new artistic director for the event. Bur- I’m looking for the Moers Festival. These are VIP-News: How does the future form look in khard Hennen, founder and for 34 years the main changes regarding the program. 2007? mastermind of the festival quitted in 2005 There are a lot of other changes in the or- after having difficulties with the involved organisation and the operation of the festival. Michalke: O.k. I think good. I read a very good ganisations such as the public radio station I moved the stage in the middle of the tent so review in the Süddeutsche Zeitung. They wrote WDR and the city council of Moers. that the audience is sitting around the stage that the Moers Festival not only has a long past VIP-News spoke to Reiner Michalke about and has a better view of the stage. This also but that it also has a very promising future. this year’s edition: allows us to create a completely new situa- Which is something to really go for. I’m work- tion for lightning and for the sound system, ing over the program for 2007. I will follow the VIP-News: Are you pleased with the results of which was very good; this year we took a lot way I started. The way to really present high this year’s Moers Festival? of care for that. And a lot of small details, we cuts, music that ranges from very very loud to had music within the breaks composed by very very silent, which is very important to me, Reiner Michalke: I’m very pleased. Everything Ara Hendrickson, artist in residence. And we which is also something that happens these went well and we had a good crowd. Even the displayed photos from the day before on a days. This is what the musicians are going for. thunder was sold out which was very surpris- big screen during the breaks just to entertain ing cause the weather was very cold. I’m very people a little bit. These are little tiny changes For further information please check: pleased with the overall results. to the last year. www.moers.de/festival

VIP-News: What were the biggest changes VIP-News: How was the reaction of the audi- and amendments you undertook since taking ence for the people who have been going to over? Moers for many years?

Michalke: I think there were a lot of things. I’ve Michalke: You will never know who is a fre- tried to restrain the whole program structure. quent guest and who is new there. The guest- I aimed to make the history of the festival vis- book of the festival is very interesting cause ible, seen in a way by referring to the old days we now have 150 guests comments there. of Moers and invited Peter Brötzmann, who is That is really lovely. So there were very strong marked as a relic but as a real vivid example responses on the program and on the festival. for a certain style of improvised music in Eu- And that’s interesting, there was a very wide rope. And he was there with a young rhythm range of people who were there since the sev- section that worked very well and made sure enties, they were really happy with the chang- that it was real contemporary music of today. es. Some others are a little bit sceptical about That was one thing. The other thing was that this pop music. They missed African dance I tried to open the festival to ambitious sing- night or folk music. There’s a very big range of ers, songwriters, let’s say to the ambitious diﬀerent expressions in the guestbook. But all Reiner Michalke

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Live Nation Links with CPI Allan McGowan [email protected]

In a big move that more formally unites Michael Rapino and Arthur Fogel with Michael Cohl, Live Nation announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in legendary, Toronto-based Concert Productions International (CPI). Founder Cohl will also join the Live Nation board of directors. CPI is a leading innova- tor in global touring for acts like the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and U2, having produced some of the largest grossing tours in history.

Live Nation CEO Rapino commented, “Under Michael Cohl’s leadership, CPI has established and impressive track record of expanding the relationship between artists and fans beyond the live event...this deal allows Live Nation to enhance its leadership position in world touring, fueling our distribution network to maximize revenues for the artist and Live Nation.” Michael Cohl

New Appointments At Live Nation New York Manfred Tari [email protected]

The New York branch of Live Nation ap- the addition of these two live entertainment to be joining the Live Nation family. As native pointed new bosses. Bruce Moran who pre- veterans will allow us to continue to grow our New Yorkers, both Phil Ernst and I are looking viously worked as CEO for OCESA Presents/ operation in New York City. They are the per- forward to the challenges ahead and making CIE USA Entertainment and before that as fect ﬁt for our company in one of the world’s sure that concert audiences in the greatest Vice President of Music for Madison Square most important markets.” Moran concluded city in the world are provided with the great- Garden had been appointed as President regarding his career step: “We are delighted est entertainment the world has to oﬀer.” of Live Nation New York.

As Senior Vice President for this subsidiary Live Nation appointed Phil Ernst, who has worked with Moran since 2000.

Charlie Walker, Live Nation’s President of Music commented “We are conﬁdent that Live Nation

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International Brass Tacks: - Basic Strategies for International Touring Allan McGowan [email protected]

This issue’s guest contributor from the US ly – with preparation; asking questions, knowledge, things seemingly otherwise is Sam Heineman. He is now a freelance doing research and making plans. Being insurmountable can be conquered. consultant, working out of New York and prepared and accepting the responsibil- occasionally Berlin. Previous to this he was ity for being so are the most important Money vs. art, work vs. personal time - Director, International Touring/Internation- contributing factors to a successful en- whatever inner demons cause daily strife, al Marketing Sony Music Entertainment, deavour. “Rolling with the punches” is it is important to accept the mantle of NY, responsible for all international promo- probably the next most important trait to personally managing one’s career. Be tional touring, production, artist riders and posses. it a manager, tour manager or the artist logistics, visas and permits tour budgets, himself, certain basic practicalities should databases, accounting and billing for Co- Communication, information and con- be kept in sight. Research, budgeting lumbia, Epic, Classical and Legacy artists. tacts are more accessible than ever and and application are three fundamentals Over the years he has provided his produc- no excuses can be made for ignorance. that, when integrated well, will provide tion and logistics skills to Companies such Business, technology and culture have the greatest benefits of any venture. as Mean Fiddler, and Festivals including Lol- evolved together providing the key tools Challenges like increased flight costs, lapalooza and Roskilde. and information to research and develop dwindling promo budgets and increased a career literally at one’s fingertips. With marketplace competition demand that all the tools available, one can take the professionals view virtually each minute Working internationally is a challenge. It’s reins and steer business and career in decision as its own business venture with a real game and should be played serious- any desired direction. With fortitude and a cause-and-effect mentality.

It’s crucial to set rules and create and adhere to realistic budgets. Every dollar/ pound/euro/zloty/etc counts. Visa costs, foreign taxes, and duty surcharges are just a few budget elements so often over- looked which can easily escalate especially when touring with a sizable party. Un- derstanding and allowing for extra costs is absolutely necessary because surprises happen and budgetary Hope can turn to Disillusionment in a heartbeat. Smart professionals can be found and hired to help develop and maintain touring plans and they should be utilized.

Cultural education also should never be undervalued. It’s pointless to say “they loved us in Philadelphia, New York and Boston” without knowing why. The same is true about Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Berlin and Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney. It is incumbent upon those who are serious about their international scope to under- stand the markets they’ve targeted.

For example, touring in the US must be undertaken as regional tours. Because the US can really be viewed as nine separate ‘nations’ within North America (see The Nine Nations of North America - Houghton Miﬄin, Boston - by Joel Gar- reau) it’s crucial to plan tours accordingly Sam Heineman

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - June 2006

based on cultural as well as logistical rout- rage of questions and demands, person- aim is territorial longevity and progress ing. Time is anyone’s most valuable asset ally managing one’s success as well as the and the best laid plans and research and the strictest rule of thumb should be success of those whom one represents is can’t compare to what is gleaned while that, if it doesn’t make sense, don’t do it. vital. It’s essential to review and approve actually in the territory. Time should be promotional schedules in advance. Not all taken to ‘get local’; get the regional pub- Culture and venue are just half the re- people in different countries and cultures lications regardless of the language. It’s search pie. When working with an agent, respect the approval process and rarely possible to get a sense of the vibe and record company, promoter, etc, it is place someone else’s wishes above their scene (not trying to sound “yea, groovy, equally important to really know what own. In more than a few instances, stage baby” here) just by checking the ads, i.e., they’re about. Although the majority are plans can be thoroughly ignored and the who’s playing, how they’re billed, what dedicated to developing an artist’s ca- artist arrives to find him-/herself staged acts play together, etc. If working with reer, there are, unfortunately, those more bizarrely – standing alone on a three-foot a tuned-in local representative, it’s wise concerned with their agency’s corporate square, five-foot high chartreuse pedestal to ask to get radio play lists including bottom line than nurturing that which with his guitarists sitting on a pile of flow- those outside of the genre in to which ultimately feeds it. There are individuals ers and the drummer not even remotely an artist falls. within these industry entities who know close to the stage. Sometimes a TV show little more than to balance the over- director will just plain lie, agree to every- Long-range planning is necessary but all company rosters and base decisions thing and not give a damn once the art- each step during a career journey should solely on which act would best fulfil their ist has already traveled 6,000 miles to find be assessed and each subsequent step company’s immediate goals and, frankly, nothing is as promised. Part of any good moulded accordingly. Within all of the keep their ass in the job. preparation is also planning contingency analysing, planning, meetings, strategy as well as practicing diplomacy; getting and occasional bouts of poverty, it is most It can be detrimental to accept “I don’t the job accomplished without pissing off important to enjoy what you do. There is know,” “we’ll try” or “we’ll see once you ar- your hosts. also an adage that can keep one ground- rive” as an answer unless absolutely nec- ed through most work trials: working in essary. Although it’s also not advisable to It’s important to always keep planning the entertainment industry is a privilege, become an annoyance by issuing a bar- for the second round. Obviously the not a right.

Having the right tools for the job is often the key to success. Through our ongoing communication with key Live Entertainment Industry Professionals, we have developed a range of services to meet the demands of agents, promoters, talent buyers, venue bookers etc. It’s no coincidence that we are now considered to be the No. 1 information provider for this thriving industry.

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VIP-Booking.com The VIP-Book VIP-News Launched nearly 5 years ago, VIP-Booking.com is now the most The ultimate print directory for the Eu- Written by our highly merited journalists, Al- widely used online information service for the European Live ropean Entertainment Industry, packed lan McGowan and Manfred Tari, with over 50 Entertainment Industry with subscribers in over 25 countries. with contacts and easy to use. An es- years of experience between them in the En- Using the latest technology and state of the art tools, the service sential reference book for every oﬃ ce tertainment Industry, VIP-News brings the lat- provides in-depth information streamlining the day-to-day opera- providing basic contact information est news and views directly to your computer tions of industry professionals, saving both time and money. and a solid overview. keeping you up to date at all times.

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GOSSIP ››

Ronni Didriksen [email protected] Things that make you smile How is the day for a VIP Em ployee - see for yourself! ARTIST AVAILS ››

Amerie Territory: Worldwide Period: 2006 Agency: A&M Entertainment Agent: Mike Coates Phone: +1 (516) 620 1216 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.amentertainment.com

Beverley Knight Territory: Worldwide Period: June ‘06 - March ‘07 Agency: Concorde International Artistes If you see him dance on the beach pls call VIP!! Agent: Paul Fitzgerald / Mark Cowan Phone: +44 207 602 8822 E-mail: [email protected]

Bronco Buster Territory: Europe Period: September Agency: Paperclip Agency Agent: Hilde Spille Phone: +31 24 323 9322 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.paperclip-agency.com

Manfred Tari impressed by the speed of sport East 17 Territory: Worldwide Period: June ‘06 - March ‘07 Agency: Concorde International Artistes Agent: Paul Fitzgerald / Mark Cowan Phone: +44 207 602 8822 E-mail: [email protected]

Kid Creole & The Coconuts Territory: Worldwide Period: 2006 Agency: Owit Music Europe Agent: Niels Estrup Phone: +45 4640 8718 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.livemusik.nu The VIP football team preparing for Germany Nils Lofgren Band Territory: Europe Period: July/August/September Agency: Paperclip Agency Agent: Rob Berends Phone: +31 24 323 9322 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.paperclip-agency.com

the VIP team doing business outside our new head ofﬁce MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM

POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM 13

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- -News News - August - June 2005 2006

READERS PAGE ››

Speak out - participate in the debate. The VIP-News Reader’s-page is open for letters and contributions from readers. Consider the VIP-News Reader’s-page, as your “speaker’s corner” towards professionals in the entertainment industry all over Europe. The purpose of the Reader’s-page is to encourage more interaction and to allow our readers to voice their opinions about the many aspects of our industry. Contributions should be emailed to [email protected].

Thank you !

Thank you so much for all the warm letters, emails, phone calls and ﬂowers we have received after ET’s passing.

Kind regards, Pernille Moller Pedersen ET Concert Promotion

Letters to VIP-News, with the writer’s name and email address together with a photo (if available), should be emailed to readerspage@vip- booking.com. Anonymous letters will only be published if the sender is known to VIP-Booking. Erik Thomsen - Parken April 2005 VIP-Booking ApS reserves the right to a) edit contributions for reasons of space or clarity b) deny publication c) add comments where ap- propriate. Please aim to limit your letters to 250 words.

NOTICE BOARD ››

Another new service in the improved and redesigned VIP-News is the Notice-board, which is available for all readers. Reader’s messages will be posted on the Notice-board as a free service, passing on announcements, job postings, buy- ing and selling notices, inquiries or alike. Announcements should be emailed to [email protected]

>>>>>>>>>>>>> WE ARE MOVING! <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

From Monday 26th June 2006 our new contact details will be:

The Primary Building 10-11 Jockeyπs Fields London WC1R 4BN Tel: +44 (0)20 7400 4500 Fax: +44 (0)20 7400 4501

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT MYSELF AND MARTJE WILL BE AT SONAR VIP-Booking ApS cannot be held responsible for loss or damages FROM WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE TILL TUESDAY 20 JUNE. incurred as a result of transactions with individuals or companies through the notice board. We recommend all to make the necessary enquiries before entering into any agreements. Decked Out VIP-Booking ApS may not, for reason of space, be able to post all James Mac announcements received. Announcements should be emailed to [email protected], including name and email address. Please shorten your message to the extent possible, to make room for as many notices as possible.

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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]

Festivalbussen tourservice

Festivalbussen tourservice is Swedens largest travelagency concentrated on journeys to concerts and festivals in Europe. After several years in this business it’s time to expand for new grounds, therefore Festivalbussen tourservice was started. The company is a subsidiary to Festivalbussen.com and the objec- tive is set to be one of the major actors even in this proﬀession. With our knowledge and experience we can guarantee that we will help you make your journey as conveniant and comfortable as possible.

We are at the moment expanding our ﬂeet with 2 new buses and also two minibuses. Festivalbussen tourservice is situated outside Gothenburg in southern Sweden, but we are eﬀective everywhere in Europe! Today we own two”nightliners” and two minibuses

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions Our number is +46 (0)771 - 190 490.

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. How To Contact Us Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

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