VIPNEWSPREMIUM > VOLUME 176 > FEBRUARY 2015
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3 14 6 13 VIPNEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 176 > FEBRUARY 2015 16 4 7 14 11 2 VIPNEWS > FEBRUARY 2015 McGowan’s Musings I know I should have been at home in and the answer in this particular case, was, magazines. It’s hard for a print magazine Brighton on Valentine’s day coping with in the well appointed venues of Norrköping, to not be just replicating the news that can the sacks full of cards which the Royal Mail a very attractive city. Considering that the be found so easily on-line, the New Musical struggled to bring to my door (OK – a slight country has an undoubted track record Express to give it it’s full title now sells less exaggeration, but I’m sure you Ladies of the of producing music for the international than 14.000 copies per issue. Old chaps like live music industry meant to send them? markets, from the days of ABBA, to EDM me, particularly ones who have a stab at No? Oh well I can dream!), and arranging super band Swedish House Mafia, and any writing the odd article, will be sad if NME candlelit suppers etc, but I wasn’t, I was in number of highly talented producers and and others do disappear completely, but, Sweden. Actually Peter Briggs and I were writers, it’s surprising that it’s taken this apparently - that’s progress! attending the very first edition of ‘Where’s long for there to be a showcase/conference the Music?’ A good question, you might say, event – everywhere else has one, or in some Whilst talking of Awards, I see that another cases two! It’s also interesting that the of the legendary, yet still working, managers, instigators and producers of ‘Where’s the is to be honoured at this year’s Artist & Music’ are FKP Scorpio, a German based Manager Awards on March 26th, organised company, with a Dutch founder, and now an by The Music Managers Forum. Jim Beach, established Swedish office. The event was long time manager of Queen will receive considered a success by both the organizers the award named after the legendary Led COLOPHON > and those attending, and as she told us in Zeppelin manager Peter Grant who did so a welcoming speech, the Mayor of the city. much to reconstruct the whole business of VIP-News is published by: (See report in this issue.) artist management in the 70’s Peter Grant VIP-Booking.com Award. A lawyer by profession, Jim has 20-22 Wenlock Road London N1 7GU Either there’s a spate of Trade events, or in been involved with Queen since 1975. United Kingdom +44 870 755 0092 this case, Awards, – people either love them Managing Director: or hate them! The live touring magazine We always need good managers; in fact Ronni Didriksen Pollstar handed out it’s 2015Concert I could do with one to make sure I get to [email protected] Industry Awards in Nashville, the Brits did meetings on time! Just about to jump on a General Manager: Peter Briggs pretty well! (See winners listing in this train to London for ILMC meetings, which [email protected] issue). The Brits are due to take place, or by the way, makes me realise how we cover Writer and editorial: probably by the time you read this having the history of this business, I started these Allan McGowan [email protected] taken place, on Wednesday February 23rd. Musings talking about the very first edition Writer: The NME Awards were recently handed of a music trade event, then conclude with Manfred Tari out, and much as there was a good reference to the upcoming 27th edition of [email protected] turnout of industry folk, and it’s always one of our industry’s major gatherings. Time For advertising enquiries please contact: pleasing to get a ‘gong’ fom a respected moves on - must rush - we shall report back Peter Briggs [email protected] source, it’s difficult not to note the decline in the next issue! – +44 870 755 0092 in the fortunes of this, and other, once indispensable music trade papers and Ladies and Gentlemen – The News! 2 VIPNEWS > FEBRUARY 2015 ‘Where’s the Music!’ Premieres in Sweden Allan McGowan [email protected] The very first ‘Where’s the Music?’ took these clubs and halls were in walking in charge of Scorpio’s Nordic operations, and place in Norrköping between 12th and 14th of distance of each other, always a bonus at Scorpio MD Stephan Thanscheidt, and guests. February. FKP Scorpio organized the festival these showcase events! Folkert admitted to some nervousness about and conference together with the tourist the attendance of the shows on Thursday, office, Experience Norrköping. FKP Scorpio The two-day conference featured an but in the end a last minute walk up saw was established in 1990 by Folkert Koopmans impressive line up of international panelists, most of the tickets sell, as they did on the and is currently one of the biggest festival and covered a good range of topics, ranging Friday and Saturday. Later Folkert stated that promoters in Europe. With the Head Office from the informed way to approach touring he was, “…very happy with the outcome of based in Hamburg, the company was also in the US, to the outlook for new headliners the festival, the amount of festival visitors established in Sweden in 2011, promoting at festivals, and cooperation between local and delegates. With 410 delegates and 4689 both concerts and festivals such as Bravalla and international promoters and agents. festival visitors the first edition of Where’s Festival in Norrkoping and Getaway Rock in the Music? was a great success. Our goal was Gavle. There were three keynotes: I had the to introduce new talented artists to a wider pleasure of interviewing someone who audience, but also to talk about current For a first time event the Conference and very rarely, if ever, puts himself forward for subjects and offer a platform for discussion Showcase did very well, leaving both these things but was apparently coerced by and exchange and with a comprehensive organizers and delegates confident that Folkert Koopmans. Paul Boswell, founder and eventful conference agenda create Sweden now has an industry meeting and of Free Trade Agency in London, has new collaborations. With the first year festival that should become a fixture in the represented some great acts since starting of the festival we have accomplished our calendar of these gatherings. in the business in the 70’s, ranging from The goals. I am especially pleased that so many Beastie Boys, to The UK Subs, Hanoi Rocks, colleagues and people from the industry 4689 festival tickets were sold and 410 and many others, and these days represents from all over the world came to the festival. delegates took part in the conference. Over international stars like Ed Sheeran and James The conference part of Where’s the Music? is the three days 144 mostly Scandinavian Blunt. He told some great stories and should an exciting, energetic and interesting part of artists, with some upcoming internationals do more of these things! Someone who is Where’s the Music?.” performed to full houses in ten impressive never backward in coming forward is the venues. As well as being well appointed, legendary Australian promoter, manager and www.fkpscorpio.se impresario, Michael Chugg; Chuggi talked for an hour about his career, from his beginnings Michael Chugg in the business in Tasmania to the success of ABBA in Australia, to constant international traveling these days as manager of the highly successful Australian act, Shepherd, he could easily have talked for another hour. Anders Larsson, founder and CEO of United Stage, which is one of the largest companies in the Nordic entertainment industry, completed the trio of keynotes, and emphasised the growing opportunities in the Swedish and Nordic territories. I spoke to Folkert Koopmans on the Thursday Paul Boswell night at a dinner with Juha Kyrro who is now 3 VIPNEWS > FEBRUARY 2015 Key staff change at Academy Music Group From VIP-Daily News UK based venue owner and operator Academy Music Group Birmingham; and has previously worked at The Old Fire Station, (AMG) has appointed 3 new managers. Bournemouth University’s Student’s Union venue, with whom AMG has an existing management agreement. Nikki Miles (pictured) has moved from Academy Music Group’s South Coast venue, O2 Academy Bournemouth (cap. 1,800) to “Both General Managers have experience within AMG, become General Manager of O2 Academy Oxford. Nikki has an particularly the application needed within the club business as excellent reputation and hands on experience in live music and well as live music; and Students’ Union partnerships.” stated clubs, having worked in operations across bars and venues in AMG’s Chief Operating Officer, Graham Walters. “An integral Bournemouth for several years prior to joining AMG in 2009 as part of our business, their knowledge of a diverse range of Bars Manager and more recently, Venue Manager. markets and running multi-room formats with busy diaries will certainly benefit their teams and client relationships in their Will Dore-Dennis (pictured) will be moving from O2 Academy respective positions.” Leicester (cap. 1,400) to take up his position as General Manager of O2 Academy Bournemouth as of Monday 3rd February. Prior to Also within AMG, Sean Flanagan has become Assistant General Leicester and over the last five years, Will has held management Manager at O2 ABC Glasgow and O2 Academy Glasgow, with positions within the Group at O2 Academy venues in Oxford and Keryn Ward now Bars Manager across both Scottish venues.