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VIPNEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 176 > FEBRUARY 2015 16

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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 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 ?’ 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 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 , to The UK Subs, , 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 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 , 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 , 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 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, Bournemouth (cap. 1,800) to “Both General Managers have experience within AMG, become General Manager of . 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 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 and , with positions within the Group at O2 Academy venues in Oxford and Keryn Ward now Bars Manager across both Scottish venues.

Nikki Miles and Will Dore-Dennis

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VIPNEWS > FEBRUARY 2015 Pollstar Industry 2015 Awards Winners Allan McGowan [email protected]

2015 Concert Industry Awards winners were honoured during a ceremony on Saturday February 21 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

The full list of winners:

Major Tour Of The Year – Paul McCartney Most Creative Stage Production – Comedy Tour Of The Year – Chappelle Best New Touring Artist – Major Of The Year – Austin City Limits Austin, Texas Music Festival Of The Year – Telluride Bluegrass Festival Telluride, Colo. International Music Festival Of The Year – Festival United Kingdom Nightclub Of The Year – 9:30 Club Washington, D.C. Theatre Of The Year – Ryman Auditorium Nashville, Tenn. Arena Of The Year – Bridgestone Arena Nashville, Tenn. Red Rocks Award Best Small Outdoor Venue – Greek Theatre Los Angeles, Calif. Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue – Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, Calif. Best New Major Concert Venue – Forum Inglewood, Calif. International Venue Of The Year Emma Banks, United Kingdom – The O2 London, United Kingdom Facility Executive Of The Year Booking Agent Of The Year – Sally Williams Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, Tenn. Nightclub Talent Buyer Of The Year – Roger LeBlanc Canyon Club / The Coach House / So. Calif. Talent Buyer Of The Year – Brian O’Connell Live Nation Nashville Award Promoter Of The Year – Charles Attal International Promoter Of The Year – Barrie Marshall Marshall Arts Third Coast Agent Of The Year – Kevin Neal WME Bobby Brooks Award Agent Of The Year – John Huie Creative Artists Agency Independent Booking Agency Of The Year – The Windish Agency Booking Agency Of The Year – WME United Kingdom Booking Agent Of The Year – Emma Banks Creative Artists Agency UK Personal Manager Of The Year – John Silva , , Road Warrior Of The Year – Gus Brandt Foo Fighters, Lighting Company Of The Year – Bandit Lites Sound Company Of The Year – Clair Staging / Equipment Company Of The Year – Transportation Company Of The Year – Rock-It Cargo Video Company Of The Year – Moo TV

6 VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > FEBRUARY 2015

Hopefully Never Ever Manfred Tari [email protected]

Terrorism is a hopefully unlikely threat that no one wishes to contemplate... Nevertheless, terrorism is a topic that at least is a consideration for all those who are involved with the organisation of international sport events or political summits...

VIP News spoke with Chris Kemp, who is a as Show & Event Security (SES), the O2 VIP News: What are your recommenda- leading member of the steering committee Arena, The NEC, The NIA, LG Arena, the tions on how promoters should deal of the YES Group (Yourope’s Event Safety IDTA (Worldwide), Reddawn (Australia), SOS with this issue? Group). Chris used to work as a professor Security AS (Norway) New West Fest (USA), at Bucks New University and is Head of Scotland and Web-Labs... Chris Kemp: I have recently seen a range International Centre for Crowd Management of ‘Terrorism Preparedness Reports’ for & Security Studies (ICCMSS) regarding the VIP News: How great do you consider events across the world, showing that event subject of terrorism. As a managing director the risk of potential terror attacks on managers; venue managers and promoters for Mom Consultancy he served clients such live music events? are taking this risk seriously. There is still a long way to go but people have been been Chris Kemp: The risk of potential terror attacks delivering these resources for some time. on live music events is the same as the risk of However, the risk assessment should in potential attacks on other crowded spaces. theory cover this risk but given its priority The effectiveness of the terrorist relies heavily at the moment many are going the extra on the lack of intelligence gleaned by the mile to create stand-alone documents, intelligence agencies. The recent attacks in which fold into the planning framework of Paris show that single cell mentality, where the event. there are few links to others outside the cell are the most devastating and difficult VIP News: Would you say that to stop. Nowhere is safe, it just depends on today’s health & safety concepts and the priority of the terrorist group at the time strategies for bigger music events and how beneficial to their cause they see an already address the risk of terrorism Chris kemp attack on a music event. appropriately? 7 VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > FEBRUARY 2015

Chris Kemp: Consider, theorise, strategise holistic delivery will be organised so that have been done better. Although training and operationalise are all elements which everyone has dovetailing plans. The key is and education have their place, there is no come into play here and all of which responsibility and accountability. substitute for experience. These courses differ from event to event. The strategic give people the experience to take back into delivery of this area has to be able to be VIP News: You also provided education the workplace and use. operationalised and this includes all of and training programmes for those involved in the Emergency Liaison international sport events such as the For further information on Chris Kemp please Team including the police. At any event a Olympic Games or the Tour De . check www.momconsultancy.com Please explain about the content of these programmes and perhaps let us know what live music promoters may learn from promoters of such sport events?

Chris Kemp: The key to the programmes that we provide is that they take the theories of the areas of health, safety and crowd management and put it into context. The theory is applied to everyday situations in the workplace and we look again at Event security responses to other events to see what could ImagIne if you could go to one website and learn aLL about the european Live music Industry?

WeLL you can! www.vip-booking.com

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vip-booking.com

145-157 St John Street | London Ec1V 4PWw | United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0) 870 755 0092 | Fax: +44 (0) 870 622 1953 www.vip-booking.com | [email protected]

8 THE CROSSROADS OF BUSINESS AND MUSIC ALVVAYS

DEATH LIGHTS CAB THE JESUS FOR FAITH AND MARY CUTIE CHAIN NO 30th Anniversary of Psychocandy MORE THE

Fidlar WATERBOYS Noel THE Gallagher’s BILLY ORWELLS High Flying Birds TALENT Kiesza

REGISTER TO ATTEND AT CMW.NET

CANADIANMUSICWEEK CMW_WEEK CANADIANMUSICWEEK

“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.” VIPNEWS > FEBRUARY 2015 Wonderful Music Week Anne Frank Alsted, [email protected]

During the last weekend of March, 205 on by Music Export Denmark, Throughout TMW’s existence, a number artists from 26 countries will perform at JazzDanmark, Denmark and of well-known international experts have the 7th edition of Tallinn Music Week, Rosa, is also the opening party of the festival participated in the conference panel the biggest talent festival in the Nordic- on 26th March at Von Krahl theatre with discussions, among them Seymour Stein, Baltic region from 25th to 29th March. some of the representatives of Danish pop the legendary founder and president of Sire and rock. Records (, ), influential In its seventh year Tallinn Music Week managers Petri Lunden (Cardigans, Europe), has grown into a major meeting point for TMW is part of CEETEP and ETEP programmes Edward Bicknell (, Scott Walker, Eastern, Western and Central European within Eurosonic. Tallinn Music Week’s Bryan Ferry), Peter Jenner () and music communities as well as an attractive international activities introducing Tallinn and many others. spring time travel destination for the region’s as an attractive tourism destination music, culture and food lovers. An annually of music and culture are supported by The See both festival – and conference increasing number of foreign artists – 84 European Regional Development Fund. programme on www.tmw.ee acts from 25 countries – proves the point. This year’s international line-up includes 12 TMW’s two-day music industry conference, artists from , 9 from Denmark, Latvia taking place at www.nordichotels.eu/ Helen Sildna is the and , 6 from Poland and 5 from UK, en Nordic Hotel Forum’s conference centre, founder and director of Tallinn Music Week. Sweden and Belarus. traditionally covers a wide range of topics She has been in the from local cultural policy and regional music industry for The seventh edition of the festival features cooperation to hands-on artist management more than a decade as an Estonian- a special focus on Denmark – currently one tips and global music business models. based promoter of the most exciting new music sources in Panelists include both industry professionals and artist booker. Europe. The Danish party, hosted by from abroad and local specialists.

10 VIPNEWS > FEBRUARY 2015 EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG 2016 FOCUSES ON CENTRAL EAST EUROPEAN (CEE) COUNTRIES Anne Frank Alsted, [email protected]

Eurosonic Noorderslag is preparing for its 30th edition with the Central East European regions as the focus for 2016. Each year a different country is highlighted in order to showcase the diversity of musical talent across Europe. In 2016, 13 CEE countries will be the focus region of Eurosonic Noorderslag

The focus for 2016 is the conclusion of Fruzsina Szép (former programme involved a 10 year period will come now the Central European Talent Exchange director of Sziget (HU) between to its final phase. In January 2016 we will Programme (CEETEP 2010 – 2015). Together 2009-2014, now Director of Festival unite all the positive energies and the region with 18 CEETEP festivals in the CEE region Coordination and Public Affairs which we call Central and Eastern Europe and selected CEE media partners, Eurosonic Festival and Berlin): and we will become ONE within the stages Noorderslag and co-organisers Sziget and of Europe. January 2016 at Eurosonic a long Festival, have developed a plan to “My deep wish to strengthen the circulation time dream will come true.” encourage the circulation of CEE artists of artistic repertoire and the cooperation and repertoire in Central and Eastern and exchange of know-how between the Peter Smidt (creative director Eurosonic Europe, both at festivals and in the media. cultural workers, festivals, media in the Noorderslag): By working together, the CEETEP festivals CEE region started long back in 2005. In and their media partners aim to help more 2006 the idea of CEETEP was born at the “With more or less half of the European CEE artists perform across borders within RegiON music conference in Budapest. With people living in what we call Central Eastern Central Eastern Europe, and, via shows at the strong believe that we can build up Europe, Eurosonic Noorderslag feels it is Eurosonic Noorderslag, throughout the something together for our region, for the crucial to make much more and better whole of Europe and beyond. artists by building cultural bridges between connections between Western Europe and our countries. Central Eastern Europe. We are curious for The 13 focus countries in the CEE group are: all talents in this large area and would like Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, With the great cooperation between all to facilitate much more and better business Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, wonderful people, festivals, media and relations between music professionals and Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Eurosonic Noorderslag and Exit Festival media.” Slovakia and Slovenia.

The CEE-focus will be organised by: Fruzsina Szép (HU/DE), Exit (RS), Open’er Festival (PL), Pohoda (SK), Waves Bratislava (SK), Talinn Music Week (EE), Guna Zuika (Creative Industries Council at the Ministry of Culture, Latvia) (LV) and Eurosonic Noorderslag (NL).

The 30th edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag will take place on 13, 14, 15 and 16 January Fruzsina Szep Peter Smidt 2016. 11 HOW EUROPEAN FESTIVALS AND RADIO STATIONS HELP ACTS TO BUILD A CAREER

The European Talent Exchange Programme (ETEP) helps the best European acts to build careers across borders. ETEP is a co-operation between the 100 festival members, European public radio stations (EBU), the international music press and Eurosonic Noorderslag. Since the start of ETEP in 2003 a total of 2294 shows by 810 artists were presented at 90 ETEP festivals in 30 countries (2003-2014).

In previous years acts like Ásgeir, Aurora, Benjamin Clementine, Birth of Joy, Coely, Ewert and the Two Dragons, , Ibeyi, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Jungle, , Seinabo Sey, SOAK, Vök and Years & Years played lots of festivals, kick-starting their European careers with help from the ETEP programme.

photo: Dom Moore

ETEP FESTIVALS IN 2015 AUSTRIA: Frequency Festival, Nova Rock, Waves Vienna LUXEMBOURG: Rock-A-Field : Cactusfestival, , Les Ardentes, Les Nuits NORWAY: Bergenfest, Hovefestivalen, Øyafestivalen, Slottsfjel Botanique, , Rock POLAND: Live Music Festival, Off Festival Katowice, Open’er CROATIA: INmusic Festival Festival, Selector Festival CZECH REPUBLIC: Colours of Ostrava, Rock For People PORTUGAL: Optimus Primavera Sound, Super Bock Super DENMARK: NorthSide Festival, , Tinderbox Rock, WestWay Lab Festival ESTONIA: Tallinn Music Week REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: Taksirat Festival FAROE ISLANDS (DENMARK): G! Festival ROMANIA: B’estfest FINLAND: , Provinssi Festival, SERBIA: Exit Festival FRANCE: Europavox, Le , Les 3 éléphants, SLOVAKIA: Pohoda, Waves Bratislava Les Eurockéennes de Belfort, Les Rencontres Trans Musicales SLOVENIA: MENT Ljubljana de Rennes, MaMA Event, Rock en Seine, Vieilles Charrues SPAIN: Benicàssim Festival, Bizkaia International Music : Berlin Festival, c/o pop Festival, Chiemsee Summer, Experience, Día de la Música, Primavera Sound Das Fest, Haldern Pop, Happiness Festival, Highfield, Hurricane SWEDEN: Bråvalla Festival, Malmöfestivalen, Festival, Melt!, Orange Blossom Special, Reeperbahn Festival, SWITZERLAND: Bad Bonn Kilbi Festival, Greenfield Festival, Rocco del Schlacko, Rock Am Ring, Weekender, , Montreux Jazz Festival, OpenAir St. Gallen, , Taubertal Festival Paléo Festival Nyon, Winterthurer Musikfestwochen GREECE: Rockwave Festival THE : Best Kept Secret Festival, , HUNGARY: Sziget Parkpop, Pinkpop ICELAND: Iceland Airwaves UNITED KINGDOM: Beautiful Days, , End of the ITALY: Love Festival Road Festival, Glastonbury, Green Man, Larmer Tree Festival, IRELAND: Body & Soul Festival Secret Garden Party, , The Great Escape LATVIA: Positivus Festival USA: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival LITHUANIA: Vilnius Music Week MORE INFO WWW.ETEP.NL VIPNEWS > FEBRUARY 2015 Phillips CEO of Global Entertainment From VIP-Daily News

Randy Phillips, former AEG Live CEO, is now the CEO of Global Global founder/executive president Ashley Tabor has used U.K.’s Entertainment, a newly-launched U.S. division for London-based largest commercial radio company Global Radio as a base to create Global, The Media and Entertainment Group. an entertainment company that now includes Global Television and Global Publishing (, Corinne Bailey Rae, LMFAO), The multifaceted company will include touring, label, publishing, with the latter to be part of the Global Entertainment U.S. division artist management, branding/sponsorships and marketing under Phillips. divisions, with new headquarters based in Los Angeles and a London office. Phillips will be based in LA and oversee U.S. affairs “This is a defining moment for Global as we open our first office and worldwide content for Global Entertainment in the U.S. and create a new type of content company,” Global founder Ashley Tabor said earlier this year. Phillips believes the Global model is the way of the future. “I believe “Our goal is to redefine the possibilities for a 21st century music that within three to five years, all of the major labels that exist will and entertainment company and I am thrilled to have Randy and look like Global”, he told Billboard. the team on board.”

Randy Phillips

13 VIPNEWS > FEBRUARY 2015 Bestival Goes Abroad From VIP-Daily News

Bestival has announced a new festival in “We have waited twelve years to decide waiting is over and we are so excited to be Toronto, which will take place on the city’s to launch another Bestival outside of the launching in North America in June, with Hanlan’s Point Beach on 12-13 May. UK. It took a really special city, and an even a classic Bestival line-up waiting to thrill, more exciting site, with Toronto and Toronto intrigue and party!” Founder of Bestival, Rob da Bank, says: Island, to make us take the leap. So, the The event is being launched in partnership with Canadian promoters Embrace and the ever expansive SFX Entertainment. For more information, go to: www.bestival.ca

As previously reported, Team Bestival are also expanding their UK operations, having announced back in December the launch of a new city-based festival in Southampton called . That is due to take place 23-24 May, with the first day headlined by . For more information go to: Rob da Bank www.commonpeople.net James Last: Final tour From VIP-Daily News

James Last, composer and big band leader, Last, who is thought to have sold in excess Last started his music career in the 1960s has announced his final tour. of 100 million albums with his trademark with instrumental music recordings with his “happy music”, will play the Royal Albert orchestra James Last & His Orchestra, a big The tour will include two dates at the Hall on 31 March and 1 April. band with strings and choir added. Royal Albert Hall, with the final concert on 26 April in Cologne. They will be his 89th and 90th concerts at the venue, and the James Last concerts ”will mark the end of this chapter”, Photo by Frank Zauritz the 85-year-old German artist said.

A serious illness last September apparently forced him to face the fact that “a man full of plans, needs to not just slow down but give up his life on tour altogether”. Last said it was a decision he “regrets very much” having to make.

The tour, he said, will give him a welcome opportunity to bid farewell his fans. “The main thing is that my fans have the best concerts of their lives and we will make this our `happiest` concert yet,” 14 VIPNEWS > BUSINESS > FEBRUARY 2015 MUSIC IN SHARES Music In Shares Manfred Tari [email protected]

CTS Eventim - The Legal Hassle Continues son. Within the public letter a DEAG spokesman emphasized that it was the Nürburging approaching DEAG as a new deal for the site in In the last issue VIP News reported about the complaints by the con- 2015 with MLK had not been agreed. According to DEAG the whole sumer watch dog organisation Verbraucherzentrale NRW regarding procedure at every stage has been a legitimate business move. the sales policy of CTS Eventim for nine ACDC concerts. This time CTS Eventim finds itself again confronted. The newspaper Welt Am In terms of the share price this kind of public debate had no signifi- Sonntag on February 22 reported that the German Cartel Office cant impact. Anyhow since last time reported at 7.80 Euro, the price launched an investigation about the abuse of market power by CTS meanwhile went down to 7.40 Euro. Eventim. The investigations are ongoing since November 2014. CTS Eventim received a comprehensive questionnaire from the office and Live Nation - No Evidence For An Antitrust Lawsuit confirmed that it will or already has also sent questionnaires to com- petitors. As a public institution it is compulsory for all of those who The US promoter Seth Hurwitz on behalf of It’s My Amphitheatre have received one of these to answers the questions. The investiga- Inc. failed in his attempt to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Na- tion is supposed to last at least for another couple of months. tion. The claim was filed in 2009, but according to a recent decision by the US District Judge J. Frederick Motz, did not produce enough The news itself has been intensively covered by German media and evidence to go to trial. caused over the weekend a share price drop of 17 percent. However, the Cartel Office only has two options for sanctions against the com- The newspaper Baltimore Sun quoted Hurwitz who commented, pany. One, in the case of approval, is to file a written notice against “the ruling was supposed to be about whether or not there was CTS Eventim to desist using unfair business practices, the other one enough of a case to go to trial. Plain and simple. And they success- is to file a penalty fee against the company. fully drew the judge into trying the case before that. So I have to give them that” In terms of the mentioned share price drop this at least caused no bigger impact. During Monday morning, the share price more or Live Nation published a statement regarding the claim saying: “We less recovered completely and reached on Tuesday, February 24, a are very pleased with the judge’s ruling, which we believe validates level of 27.03 Euro. On January 26 VIP News reported a share price Live Nation’s business approach and practices, and which aligns with of 25.62 Euro. our long-standing belief that the accusations made in this case were completely false. We feel vindicated that the court was able to see DEAG - No News Except One Public Letter through the baseless allegations by a rival promoter and recognize that the claims of anti-competitive conduct had no merit. Our focus The launch of three news festivals by DEAG in Germany and Austria is, and will continue to be, providing a world-class live music experi- still provokes attention within the industry and trade media. Elder ence for artists and their millions of fans.” industry statesmen Karsten Jahnke who is well known even outside Germany for his short but to the point comments about the shape Anyhow: Since the last issue the share price went up from $25.55 of the concert industry, recently ventured certain observations re- to $25.69... garding the “fight of festivals” provoking a public letter by DEAG objecting to some of his statements made earlier on in January in a SFX Entertainment - How Low Can Your Go... keynote interview at Eurosonic and later on in February in an article within the German trade paper Musikwoche. The US Rapper Ludachris released his song “How Low Can You Go” in December 2009. In terms of SFX Entertainment who we reported Jahnke argued that it is mainly because of DEAG CEO Peter Schwen- in the last issue an share price of $3.40 this song appar- kow that Germany faces a “fight of festivals” in the upcoming sea- ently seems to fit. This time it is at $3.30... 15 VIPNEWS > MISC > FEBRUARY 2015 MEMBER PRESENTATION ARTIST AVAILS

8:58 PAUL HARTNOLL from ORBITAL on Prestige MJM invitation, to perform Territory: World excl USA Period: May 2015 onwards in front of the Polish audience. Agency: Value Added Talent Agent: Dan Silver Phone: +44 20 7704 9720 It is worth to mention, that for some of E-mail: [email protected] the stars, it was the very first time to Homepage: [email protected] give a music live show in Poland. Our Prestige MJM is a team of creative company was the first one to invite: Territory: Europe young people, having a quite big expe- Jennifer Lopez, , Justin Bieber, Period: 2015 rience and being able to mix up dreams Il Divo, Manowar, Michael Buble or Jus- Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Peter Eilliot with reality. We focus on organization tin Timberlake. We are proud to admit, Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 of unforgettable live music shows of that every one of these events became E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.primarytalent.com/basement-jaxx/ the greatest artists, which will stay for a great success. a long time in peoples memory. We try Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club our best to make each new project an The events we organize, are in the Territory: Scandinavia, Eastern EU, UK, Ireland extraordinary experience and to take it public opinion, considered as the big- Period: June - July Agency: Sasa Music to the highest level. gest music shows of a current year. For Agent: David Flower , such an arrangement took Phone: +44 20 7359 9232 E-mail: [email protected] During the preparations for each event, place this year 2014, when we had the Homepage: www.sasamusic.com we take care of every little detail and opportunity to host the worldwide fa-

make our very best for it to become an mous Justin Timberlake, at PGE Arena unforgettable show. in Gdańsk. Territory: Europe Period: 2015 Agency: Primary Talent International We have already managed to success- We constantly cooperate with the main Agent: Andy Woolliscroft Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 fully run many concerts. Every single local and national radio stations and E-mail: [email protected] one of the previous events, without ex- also the national and local press and tel- Homepage: www.primarytalent.com/patti-smith/ ception, was at great popularity. evision agencies. We organize the great events at the most famous live music THE ORCHESTRA starring ELO former members Territory: Worldwide , Scorpions, Andrea Bocelli, venues in the major cities of Poland, Period: 2015 Bon Jovi, Placido Domingo or Justin for example: PGE Arena in Gdansk, Agency: World Entertainment Associates of America Agent: John Regna - Artist Agent/Manager Timberlake – these and many more are Spodek Hall in Katowice, Atlas Arena in Phone: +1 407 993 4000 the greatest artists who visited Poland Łódzand many many more. E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.THEORCHESTRAonline.com

Tricky Territory: Europe Period: 2015 Agency: Primary Talent International Agent: Ben Winchester About Our Company Phone: +44 20 7400 4500 E-mail: [email protected] VIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest­ Homepage: www.primarytalent.com/tricky/ database ­for the European Live Entertainment Industry www.vip-booking.com ­developed as a tool for industry professionals­. Since it’s launch in the year 2000, we have consist- MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON: ently offered our subscribers the very best in database services and WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM now boast subscribers­ in over 30 countries. POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON: WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM Today VIP-Booking offers a range of tools for the industry­ – including VIP-News, VIP-Booking, VIP-Book and VIP-Contract.

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