The VIP-Booking European Live Entertainment Book Advertising in the VIP Book Will Make You Visible to 10.000 Business Professionals All Over Europe

www.vip-booking.com

VIP- News›› ›› premium Vol. 127 AUGUST 2010

McGowan’s Musings:

Like many of you – although I know a lot tell from Ticketmaster’s industry number, of you are workaholics and rarely take time for them to be down 15-16% across an in- off from your efforts of achieving live mu- dustry, that would tell you it would have sic industry domination (!) -. I have been to hit all segments of the industry.” Rapino on holiday, and were you able to see me also warned that the second half to 2010 you would I’m sure be impressed by my could be slow. Cheaper tickets seem to be suntanned and relaxed good looks, but the order of the day for tat least the rest of you’d have to make it quick – the pasty the year. Watch this space white chap with the harassed demeanour will be back in this seat soon! The holiday Allan McGowan The picture is not looking quite so bad in was great, I thoroughly recommend the the UK, the recently released Adding Up joys of the Greek island of Ikarea, but not warned that increasing ticket prices for big The UK Music Industry 2009 report from so the Athens Metro where some light fin- name artists would eventually backfire on PRS indicate that Live music revenues have gered bastard lifted my wallet on the very the live sector, though it never quite hap- increased 9.4% to £1.5bn including direct first day! pened, now it seems that the chickens have ticket sales, secondary ticketing and ‘on come home to roost and the US live indus- the night’ spend. However this increase has Oh, and while I’m having a moan - the try is struggling this year as a result of ever slowed from 2008’s outstanding growth of seagulls, yes you remember Shitty and his increasing ticket prices combining with 13%.< crew, have been dive bombing people, the continued impact of the recession. As and are now a recognised menace as far a result the giants of the concert industry Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden believes inland as London – I’m not making it up, are contemplating emptier pockets, their years of ticket price hikes are to blame for it’s in the newspapers! I tried to warn them, own, their investors and those of the ticket the number of major gig cancellations that but would they listen? – These screeching buyers. But they are not the victims of pick- have taken place this year, especially in the raptors live on rubbish and refuse and use pockets on crowded Metros, according to US live music market. He is reported as say- newly washed cars as toilets, so this is an Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino a drop in ing, “It’s a massive commitment to come ideal world for them! (Calm down!- Ed.) ticket sales is hitting all segments of the to see a band. They [the fans] deserve not market, “The bottom line across all busi- just a great show but they deserve a rea- Anyway, back to the wonderful world ness, whether it’s a club or an amphithea- sonable ticket price. Other people have of live music; for years now many have tre, was fewer tickets per show - as you can inflated ticket prices to obscene levels

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

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

and it’s just not right. It’s a rock n roll show, it’s not a cash cow.” Popkomm Showcase Although the festival market – with a few weeks still to go – seems to be faring Festival 2010 reasonably well, Spain’s summer music Allan McGowan [email protected] festival, Benicassim (FIB), purchased out- right this year by Vince Power, suffered Having been absent from the interna- a 40% slump in attendance this year, tional music market calendar last year, dropping to 127,000 from the record Popkomm returns to Berlin in Septem- 200,000 at last year’s 15th annual event. ber under the umbrella of Berlin Music International attendance dropped 10% Week. and Spain’s economic problems, including high unemployment, are likely to The Popkomm Showcase Festival will have affected Spanish attendance. take place in the Berlin suburb of Kreuz- berg on 8 and 9 September 2010. 60 Well, after that we should really con- artists and bands will be featured over clude the Musings with some festival the two days at 14 locations on the site good news. A couple of issues back we at the legendary Tempelhof Airport in reported on the first of the Association Berlin as well as in the adjoining neigh- of Independent Festivals twinnings, bourhood. pairing Norway’s Bergenfest and Sum- mer Sundae in Leicester, UK. After the This year a number of bands that are success of Bergenfest in May, organiser appearing at the Showcase Festival can of its twin, Rob Challice tells me that, also be seen on the main festival stage: “Summer Sundae went incredibly well. Cast of Cheers, De Staat, Jesse, Rich Au- We had over 17000 attendees over the coin, Spleen United, The Megaphonic weekend. Despite heavy rain on Friday Thrift, Therese Aune and Yes Cadets and Saturday the site held up well. The will also be on stage on 10 September sun came out Sunday and we had our at Tempelhof Airport during the Berlin biggest crowd ever for Mumford and Festival. The rest of the showcase line- Sons. up features bands from Scandinavia Our Bergenfest twins arrived on Satur- such as Familjen, I Got You On Tape and day and had a great time, vowing to be Murmansk, as well as Iiris from Estonia, Colophon ›› back next year. All in all a very successful Film from Greece, and Budam and The 10th Summer Sundae.” Ghost from the Faroe Islands. VIP-News is published by: VIP-Booking 26 York Street It’s good to hear about people coop- The Showcase gigs will be available to London W1U 6pZ erating and things going well! So, with Popkomm delegates and tickets Fes- that uplifting thought, Ladies and Gen- tival are available to the public for ten Managing Director: Ronni Didriksen tlemen - The News! euros. Tickets for the Berlin Festival on [email protected] 10 and 11 September also entitle hold- ers to admission to Popkomm on 10 General Manager: Peter Briggs September. [email protected] More information: Writer and editorial: Allan McGowan www.berlinfestival.de [email protected]

Writer: 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] Popkomm at Tempelhof

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

Everything is new at Popkomm 2010, new tainly new for you in your role as part of the As a visitor to previous Popkomm events, I location, new partnerships, new aspira- team. What exactly is your role and how did personally felt it was a sprawling jumble of tions, and a new team. Paul Cheetham has you come to take it on? parties, gigs, fairs, conferences and events been appointed to head up the manage- all over the city which was always great fun ment of the Showcase Festival. VIP-News Paul Cheetham: I was recommended to but ultimately difficult to achieve anything talked to him about this new challenge in Popkomm by the guys behind Berlin Fes- from a business perspective. So now I want his varied career. tival, which is one of Popkomm’s partners to give the programme a definite epicentre under the new Berlin Music Week umbrella. of usefulness and significance for the visit- VIP-News: What, briefly, is you background I saw the offer to work on the event as an ing delegates, in order for them to do busi- in the business, I know you’ve worked in opportunity to try to make a positive contri- ness effectively and immediately. various territories for some time now, was bution. The job involves all the aspects I en- it always your intention to move around, or joy – live music, promoting, artist develop- First, the number of slots for Popkomm art- did it just work out that way? ment, and communicating with people all ists is drastically reduced to only 60 places. over the world. Although I was aware there This gives us the possibility to introduce Paul Cheetham: I’ve been involved in the would be obvious difficulties in bringing firm criteria to raise the quality of artists, as business for almost 20 years as a promoter, the event back, I accepted this as the kind well as the opportunity to promote each agent and artist manager. I worked in Lon- of challenge I thrive on. Initially I took the artist effectively. don for the Mean Fiddler before moving to role of Festival Coordinator on a one-off ba- Scandinavia 11 years ago and working for sis to help organise the music segment of Second, these are all showcasing artists the EMA Telstar group that eventually be- Popkomm 2010. As things progressed, I got who are in the position of wanting to be came Clear Channel. When it was bought more involved, and was able to introduce a seen and heard in order to find partners by Live Nation I left to set up my own man- clearer, more defined direction for the fes- and opportunities to get to the next level in agement consultancy and worked as an tival to take, and became Festival Manager this, and surrounding, markets. advisor for several Finnish artists, includ- with a view to overseeing the overall organ- ing The Rasmus and The Crash. In summer isation and development of the festival into Third, we are building a festival location 2009 I relocated fulltime to Berlin. After a the near future. around Tempelhof airport and the vi- decade of Nordic darkness I was ready for a brant Kreuzberg neighbourhood of Me- change and Berlin is a city I have always felt VIP-News: Have you adopted a particular hringdamm and Bergmannstraße that is at home in. It’s a great place to be based for booking policy for acts appearing at Pop- new, intriguing, and with endless room geographical, economic and social reasons komm, and as far as you know is this very for development. We have some untested so the move made a lot of sense. different to the way things were arranged venues and it will be a challenge to fill them, for past editions? but I’m confident that over the next couple VIP-News: Popkomm has a long, varied and of years these venues and this location will illustrious history but particularly follow- Paul Cheetham: We’ve taken a quite radical give Popkomm the strong new identity it ing last year’s cancellation this edition is in approach to the music programme this year needs to have. many ways an entirely new event. Although in order to break the perception of what I know you have attended many previous Popkomm was in the past and to introduce Other major differences this year are that editions as a delegate, this Popkomm is cer- a concept of what it can be in the future. Popkomm is tied closely with Berlin Festi- val as our live music partner, incorporating some of our artists on to the Berlin Festival programme, as well as everything being promoted under the umbrella of Berlin Mu- sic Week, which aims to bring together the diverse energies within Berlin and is a very positive direction.

VIP-News: Are you dealing mainly with agencies, managements, artists or export offices, or is it a mixture? - Are Sonicbids involved at all? How are the acts selected?

Paul Cheetham: There is lots of talk with the music export offices and similar organi- sations, as they are particularly important to the structure of Popkomm. But overall it has been a complete mixture. Sonicbids is an official partner this year and we also Paul Cheetham

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

selected artists through the Sonicbids for no additional charge, otherwise there received very positive feedback. Working system, as practically all events do. I have will be a 2-day combi-ticket available for an with Berlin Festival has been a highlight involved the local showcase partners in se- advance price of only 10 euros, all subject and I’m looking forward to continuing that lecting the final line-up for their events, so to venue capacity. We want to help people relationship in future as I see a lot of pos- VISIONS magazine, Karrera Klub, Nordic By discover these new artists in this new loca- sibilities to grow Popkomm alongside it in Nature, for example, were all given a short- tion and have created an easy environment the way people would appreciate. list of appropriate acts for them to choose in which to do that. their final line-ups from. That helps in terms VIP-News: Are you finding this work very of promoting each event. Essentially, though, we want the showcase different to your previous experience? festival to be about generating business for VIP-News: Will the festival be aiming at at- all those participating. Ideally, every artist Paul Cheetham: The job perhaps involves tracting punters as well as professionals, will go away with real results to show for more lines of communication than any- and if so are you booking established acts their efforts and we need to involve the thing I’ve done before so information has as attractions, alongside newer ‘export delegates as much as possible to be able to been flying at all angles. Popkomm is a big ready’ talent? achieve that. name and attracts massive interest from all over the world so getting on top of all that Paul Cheetham: The showcases will start When it comes to bigger, more established has been overwhelming at times and I must at the airport venues in the afternoon and acts then it made sense for us to let Berlin develop an effective system to handle the extend into the evening using some of the Festival take the lead and not get in the increased workload. Otherwise, the work other venues in the area and will be targeted way of them building the strongest line-up involves all the things I have experience in. at both delegates and members of the pub- available and for us to benefit by becoming lic. Delegates are, of course, able to access a sort of feeder event for their festival. We VIP-News: What do you think a successful any showcase event and we are allowing arranged an excellent situation where we appearance at this event can do for the ca- anyone who has purchased a Berlin Festival are able to include eight Popkomm artists reer of a new, or even established, act, and ticket to get into the Popkomm showcases on the Berlin Festival line-up, which has do you think Popkomm and other showcase

ThE hALL DUO IN NEckArpArk

UNIQUE AND DOUBLY GOOD

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

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

AZ_in_stutt_VIPbook_RZ.indd 1 23.11.2009 18:17:54 Uhr 4

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

events are now an established and useful Paul Cheetham: I am particularly pleased Popkomm brand in the eyes of the industry part of the live industry? to be able to involve some strong local part- and audience. For example, we are planning ners in the programme, such as Four Artists a monthly Popkomm club night in Berlin for Paul Cheetham: The aim with the shaow- - one of Berlin’s premier booking agencies, some of the new artists we hope to bring case festival is definitely to create a plat- and Karrera Klub – the Kreuzberg kings of in next year, as well as taking this concept form for artists to benefit from their appear- indie-disco club promoting. Canadian Blast to partnering showcase events around the ances. It is essential that they achieve their is always sensational. I’m delighted with world in future. This year of transition is a goals and Popkomm can develop its own the inclusion of The Great Escape and ways perfect opportunity to try new ideas and success stories from that. we can cooperate at each other’s events in put well thought-out plans into action. future, and we have a very impressive load These kinds of events have become increas- of Scandinavian acts that I am a big fan of ingly crucial to the business. The perfect already. But my time will be spent meeting For more information and updates showcase event should be a combination as many people as possible and showing check the Popkomm Showcase Fes- of a high concentration of talented acts them around the location, explaining the tival blog at: and a dense presence of effective decision- plans we have to develop things next year http://popkommlive.com makers from the business, all taking place and getting their feedback. in a compact, user-friendly environment. Follow on Twitter at: Between now and Popkomm 2011 we will http://twitter.com/popkommlive VIP-News: Are there any parts of the pro- continue to build personal relationships gramme that you are particularly looking with all those we wish to cooperate with on Paul Cheetham - Festival Manager forward to, and is there anything else you’d a local, national, and international level and [email protected] like to mention? work on ways to continuously freshen the

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

New visitor record for M’era Luna Festival Manfred Tari [email protected]

For the first time the FKP Scorpio promot- cebo. The first edition of M’era Luna was are in predominately in black. Besides ed M’era Luna Festival attracted 24.000 in 2000. It is remarkable that the festival the line up and the fashion extravaganza visitors. The festival is well liked by fans billing offers a wide range of various mu- a medieval market completes the basic of so-called Gothic and Dark Wave music sic genres that seem to meet the inter- configuration of this festival. and takes place at the Drispenstedt air- est of this target group. In particular this port near Hildesheim. audience is pretty much into styling and The dates for M’era Luna 2011 are August fashion, and it could almost be said that 13th & 14th. The festival has two stages and was head- the festival is a sort of beauty contest for lined this year by acts such as Unheilig, people into high heels, latex & leather For more information please check: The Sisters of Mercy, In Extremo and Pla- and other fashion items, as long as they www.mera-luna.de

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

Loveparade 2010 – Dimensions of a Disaster Manfred Tari [email protected]

The facts are horrifying and inescapable; 21 fatalities and more than in Duisburg covers about 300.000 square meters. After very early 500 people injured at Loveparade in Duisburg, Germany, one of the announcements that approximately 1.4 million visitors were ex- biggest tragedies in the history of live entertainment events. pected to visit Loveparade, three weeks after the event the mayor of Duisburg Adolf Sauerland told the news magazine Spiegel, that The July 24 event on is understandably still attracting extensive the actual number had been much lower. In the current statement media attention as the latest reactions and new information about he said that he had been asked by Lopavent to announce the 1.4 the tragedy are examined. The disaster is still moving minds and million visitor figure for marketing reasons. moods in an incomparable manner. Shortly after the event the main question was how did this happen and who was responsible Several politicians demanded that Sauerland should resign, but for this tragedy. With are no clear answers to these questions yet the mayor claims he would like to complete internal investigations the situation still appears to be something of a witch-hunt. There before taking steps concerning his own position. He has been have been many politicians, officials, even promoters, normal citi- sharply criticized for this approach. Other sources says that he is zens, bloggers and journalists that have put forward their opinions not resigning to avoid defaulting on a law that would mean the of what happened. loss of his pension entitlements if he were to step down from his post as mayor. Some of those directly involved fear legal consequences and have more or less stopped saying anything, as they know that it is likely Rainer Schaller, the owner of McFit, a chain of gym studios, bought that every statement could lead to accusations against them. the Loveparade brand in 2006 from the former promoter Planet- There is no lack of people making accusations and apportioning com in Berlin, then founded Lopavent to be the company that then blame for what happened. There are many self appointed prosecu- promoted the event. In 2007 the event was moved from Berlin to tors and sometimes it seems that majority of these are not aware Essen in the Ruhr district in West Germany. McFit became the main of their lack of feeling for the friends and relatives of those killed sponsor for a Loveparade projected to have a production budget and injured. of around 3 million Euros. The move to Essen was linked to the RUHR2010, the name for the European capital for culture 2010 in Shortly after those directly involved with the running of the event, the Ruhr district. The original plan foresaw that five cities within Lopavent, the police, the fire brigade and the local authorities in the Ruhr district would become Loveparade hosts. The 2008 edi- Duisburg started to accuse each other. One of the very few facts tion took place in Dortmund, while in 2009 the city of Bochum that has become evident is that the entrance situation on the site cancelled the event due to safety concerns. Dieter Gorny, head of wasn’t properly managed. The audience were intended to enter the German IFPI branch and also one of four creative directors for the site via one tunnel and a ramp, while a second ramp just a few the RUHR2010 was one of the leading proponents in brining the meters away supposed to be used as an emergency exit was obvi- Loveparade to the Ruhr district. ously closed and these factors, in combination with communication failures created a death trap for those trying to enter the site. Currently official investigations are still ongoing. Although many details have been reported in the media, the entire picture is still It is still not known what went wrong in the communication chain, not not clear. But several politicians are already demanding new neither is it clear who was in charge of logistical decisions before regulations for health & safety laws for public events. and during the event. So far only Carsten Walter, a psychologist acting as the crowd manager in charge, admitted responsibility As a result, it is to be expected that the German live music industry and told the news magazine Spiegel, that it took him 45 minutes to will directly or indirectly, soon or later, be affected by the follow up get hold of a decision maker at the relevant police unit. of the Loveparade tragedy.

Walter, together with a subordinate police offer, was sitting in an office container on the ramp near to the place where the people died. From the container Walter apparently tried to direct the flow of people entering the tunnel before progressing to the event location via the ramp. The police officer simply had no walkie-talkie with him, as communication between the crowd manager and the police at the tunnel entrance was supposed to be being conducted via cell phones. But as more and more people arrived at the site, the cell phone network collapsed.

But this seemed to be only one aspect in a row of various factors that combined to lead to the tragedy. The location for the Loveparade, a former freight yard just next to the central station Loveparade 2010

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

The 2011 ediTion is my 25Th birThdAy! Are you Coming To my pArTy?

euroSonic noorderSlag The European music conference and showcase festival

25th Anniversary edition - focus on The netherlands

The European EuroSonic EuroSonic Noorderslag Border Breaker Conference ConferenceGRONINGEConferenceN Awards THE NETHERLANDS & GRONINGEN THE NETHERLANDS The European Festival Awards

Conference registrations The conference registrations for EuroSonic Noorderslag are now available. The early bird registration is available till 18th of June 2010.

Artist submissions Showcase applications are available through www.eurosonicnoorderslag.nl and www.sonicbids.com. Deadline for application is 1st of September 2010

www.euroSonic-noorderSlag.nl

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

Market Features

In response to various requests VIP-News will in future include occasional European Market Fea- tures. Here is the first – we hope you find it interesting and useful. Please let us know if there are territories that you’d particularly like to see covered.

Switzerland Allan McGowan [email protected]

With a population of approximately 7.8 mil- the closure of both the EMI and Warner Audiences tend to stick to the events in lion people, Switzerland is one of the rich- Music offices in Geneva. Sony Music still their own sectors, which could provide est countries in the world. The main cities retains an office in Lausanne as does Uni- some explanation for the large number of Zürich and Geneva have respectively been versal in Geneva, but effectively these are events across the whole country. Antonin ranked as the cities with the second and now just smaller promotion units. All main Rousseau from Festi Concept, organisers third highest quality of life in the world. branches of the record companies are of the Festineuch Festival in Neuchatel in Switzerland has a somewhat unique make based in Zurich. the French sector, comments, “ Swiss cul- up, comprising three main linguistic and tural life has to deal with a complex geo- cultural regions, German, French, and Ital- A Land of Festivals: graphical situation. What could been seen ian, plus the Romansh-speaking valleys, as a constraint is actually an advantage: a and is a federal republic consisting of 26 However, as in most other European mar- stunning variety of musical productions cantons, with Bern as the seat of the fed- kets, it’s the live music industry that still are coming to life in a small but so diversi- eral authorities. As such the Swiss people generally appears to be in good shape, fied country.” do not form a nation in the usual sense of buoyed up mainly by the festival market. a common ethnic or linguistic identity, but Switzerland is light heartedly referred to there is a long history of cooperation, the as a land of mountains, cheese and cuckoo establishment of the Swiss Confederation clocks, but in live music industry terms we is traditionally dated to 1 August 1291. may just as well describe it as a land of festivals. Christof Huber, organiser of Open In music terms then Switzerland displays Air St. Gallen and also Secretary General quite a unique picture, with artists from of Yourope, the pan European festivals as- the French speaking area rather tending sociation, told me that he would put the to seek their audiences in neighbouring number of festivals staged in Switzerland France, whilst acts in the German lan- at around 300, this includes the eleven ma- guage area address their efforts to the jor events (see box) but does not include German market. This seems to be quite a substantial number of locally organised typical for Switzerland and is also mirrored City and town events. in something known as the ‘Röstigraben’, a language divide between the Romands (French speaking Swiss) and the German Avo Session Basel, Basel speaking Swiss. Blue Balls Festival, Lucerne Caribana Festival, Crans / Nyon Antoni Rousseau In the last couple of years the downsizing Greenfield Festival, Interlaken of the local subsidiaries of major record Gurtenfestival, Bern Being located in a land of mountains lends companies has lead to an erosion of op- Nox Illuminata, Basel some spectacular backdrop to the festi- portunities for domestic repertoire caus- Open-Air St.Gallen vals; one of the smaller events, Caprices, ing major concerns within the Swiss Mu- Open Air Frauenfeld for instance, is a four-day event present- sic Community. These fears are especially Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux ing all styles of music, artists as diverse as prevalent in the French language part of Paléo Festival, Nyon Robert Plant, Texas, Morcheeba and Deep Switzerland, more so than in the German Verbier Festival, Verbier Purple have played the event, located in speaking area of the country, following the French sector in the ski resort of Crans-

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

Montana in the Swiss Alps. More than 80 some effect. Also we had been instructed fied with our 2 other festivals, Heitere Ope- artists play on three live stages and two to introduce a new limit on the amount of nair Zofingen and Openair Lumnezia– all 3 clubs with DJs playing all night. The main drink that people could bring on site and of our festivals again sold out in advance club at the top of the slopes is 2,200 me- that led to a certain group of people trying in 2010.” ters high with a view of the highest moun- to veto the festival! Our other smaller 2 day tains of Europe. event, Summer Days at Arbon by the Lake The Paleo-Festival in Nyon on Lake Geneva of Constance, August 27-29, will sell out, is regarded as one of the best festivals in St. Gallen (in the German sector) was down 10,000 people will attend each day.” Europe. The festival sells the majority of its on last year’s attendance this year, but still tickets in Switzerland and France. About averaged 24,000 people on each of the 4400 volunteers, mainly from Nyon and four days. Christof Huber says, “We had »All 3 of our festivals again neighbouring towns, work within the pro- good weather, but we were up against sold out in advance in 2010« duction of the event. The managing direc- other events like Sonisphere, which was - Andy Locher tor of this very exceptional festival, Daniel only a week before, and the World Cup had Rossellat even became the mayor of Nyon. This year’s event took place on 20 - 25 July, The Open Air Frauenfeld Hip-Hop event and yields some interesting facts and fig- did particularly well this year. Andy Locher ures: Budget: CHF 22,200,000, 230,000 of Frauenfeld organisers Pleasure Produc- spectators, 1532 artists and technicians, 6 tions says, “We were always very much stages, 195 concerts and shows attended focused on festivals and with the Openair by 525 accreditated press representatives. Frauenfeld becoming the biggest Swiss festival seen from the capacity of 50,000 The Paleo team combined to answer some visitors, and also becoming the biggest VIP questions about the current state of European Hiphop-festival, we are more the market: “There are perhaps too many than happy. We are also more than satis- festivals in Switzerland, however things Andy Locher

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

went very well this year for us, selling out Francois Biollay of Metropop Festival and purchases, vacations, cars etc, but are not months before doors open (150,000 tick- Sold Out Productions comments, “Clearly willing to save on local culture.” ets sold in 20 minutes on April 21st 2010, there are too many events, festivals, etc. 230,000 spectators in total). Some other The first cancellations and bankruptcies The members of the Paleo Team are cau- festivals, big, middle or small sized had are coming. The festivalgoers’ agenda is as tious: “The Swiss market is probably fac- some problems selling tickets. Paléo has a full as their bank account is empty. Thus, ing the same economic problems as else- strong identity and it’s very well rooted in some promoters still pay too high fees to where. CD sales are weaker every year. its region. The average price for one night get the band from their competitors. This Regarding shows, this year, some major at the Festival is CHF 55. - That is 35% less increases the ticket prices and empties the events, in particular single shows, didn’t than the average ticket price.” venues. We also have to face cancelled sell as well as they used to. The prices are events (Eros Ramazotti in Vevey, Prince in quite high: average price for a single show So, the festival market generally appears Geneva) because of poor selling. I think it’s went from an average of CHF 64.- to CHF buoyant, although there are those urging mainly due to too many events combined 85.- in the past five years. caution and warning against complacen- with too high ticket prices rather than eco- cy. Andy Locher says, “Most of the festivals nomic downturn effects.” Being more concerned with local acts and still do very well, specially those who have the local market, booker Stefan Schurter of a strong fan base and who do not rely only Deep Dive Music sees obvious changes in on the lineup but also take care about the »Clearly there are too many record sales, but thinks that the live sector punter. Of course there are a lot of festivals events, festivals, etc. The first remains reasonably steady: “It is still pos- in our small country and I am also pretty cancellations and bankruptcies sible to book many shows with a Swiss art- sure that only those who are ready and ca- are coming. The festivalgoers’ ist and sell lots of tickets; the only change I pable to build their festival up from year agenda is as full as their bank see, is that it got harder to start with a new- to year will have success – there is no “fast account is empty« comer band. It needs much more effort, as money” in our business. - Francois Biollay the international concurrence is much bigger than it was a few years ago. And that’s The State of the Market: exactly what changed the most: there are Antonin Rousseau is somewhat more up- many more international artists looking The single, one-headliner, open air shows beat about the situation, “It is indeed a fact for shows in Switzerland, I think. The qual- and the indoor shows are perhaps not do- that the current economic situation has ity level of these artists is also much higher ing as well, it seems that there’s too much had some challenging effects on many in- than it was in the past. Some of these art- activity in the market. As we all know the dustry sectors. However, in Switzerland, the ists now perform at much smaller venues live industry is currently facing problems artistic production branch has managed to than they probably did in the past.” in certain sectors and particularly in cer- maintain itself to a good level. We had some tain territories; the US and some European fears in 2009 that, due to the bad economy, Andy Locher says, “You mostly see some territories are suffering due to the eco- the spend per festival visitor would de- influence in headline shows/indoor-shows. nomic downturn. We asked a few profes- crease in 2010 but it didn’t happen. We tend The visitor will maybe not see the same act sionals for their view of the overall state of to believe that the households are rather 2-3 times in a couple of years, so promot- the market in Switzerland at the moment: limiting their spending on more important ers should take care while booking the same act yearly. And you have to be very focused on the potential of your artists, as not all the bigger headliners still work as they did for many years. While young visitors are still buying tickets, I am pretty sure that older visitors think twice.” Francis Biol- lay agrees with Andy regarding major acts overplaying the country, “There’s certainly enough headliners coming to Switzerland. The problem is that some of them begin to be ‘residents’. I cannot remember how many gigs Pink! played in Switzerland over the last 12 months. The audience is tired of seeing the same artists so often.”

Club Circuit:

While local communities and cantons seem to get behind popular music activi- Francois Biollay

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

ties there seems to be a lack of support on the business, even if subsidies are far less dynamic, in every region and on every a federal level. Sponsorship still appears to than in France and sponsorship decreased level. A lot of smaller bands could make it be available for the club and middle-sized during the crisis. Young people still go out in the international market, My Heart Be- venue circuit. The Paleo People report: “A at least once a week in main cities, Zurich longs To Cecilia Winter, for example. lot of clubs get subsidies from the state, obviously, but also Lausanne, Bern, etc. mostly from the cities and the local au- This year’s Swiss Music Awards held in thorities. Sponsorship is still available in Developing Local Talent: March recognises international and na- Switzerland, but we notice some decrease tional successes; the national top album in their outlay.” Stefan Schurter thinks the As far as the local market and new talent awards went to Lovebugs, Stefanie Hein- clubs are still doing well, although as he is concerned local communities and can- zmann and Yello (not exactly new talent, says, “There are too many good bands on tons seem to get behind popular music having been around for 30 years or more!). the road, so it’s harder for people to chose activities, although it’s still difficult for acts The Best Newcomers Awards went to: Bu- what they want to see and where they to cross over into the different language cher & Schmid – Isziit Liricas Analas – Ana- want to spend the money. There is still lots areas. However there seems to be a lack lectrica Pegasus – Heroes & Champions, of money from the state involved; I don’t of support on a federal level. Also there and the Jury Prize went to: Big Zis, Filewile know about the sponsors though as I am aren’t that many music magazines in Swit- and Heidi Happy. not a club-owner. But I see from the bands zerland, apart from Rockstar and Daily- view, that there IS sponsorship at the ven- Rock.ch, so it is mainly the radio stations ues.” like DRS3, DRS Virus, Radio Rumantsch, »They are definitely Rete Tre and Couleur3 that promote Swiss export-ready when it comes There are numerous live music clubs in talents. All these stations combine to run to the quality - we never had Switzerland, we name check only a few in- MX3.ch an online portal with streams and so many brilliant and teresting venues – see box. online libraries for bands, venues and fes- young Swiss artists before« tivals. - Andy Locher

X-Tra, Zürich Antonin Rousseau says, “ Current musical Kaufleuten, Zürich trends are not widely represented in fes- Andy Locher comments, “In every small Abart, Zürich tivals compared to other territories. Swit- country it is very difficult for a local act Bierhübeli, Bern zerland has definitely taken more time to live out of music – specially if they Reitschule, Bern than other countries to understand the are only playing within Switzerland or in Kaserne Basel importance of support to export and art- their language-part of Switzerland. But Fri-Son, Fribourg ists’ management. Since 2003, Swiss Music there are some Swiss acts who are not Les Docks, Lausanne Export (www.swiss-music-export.com) only focusing on the Swiss market and Mascotte Zürich has gathered several music support orga- have a certain success and many shows Labor Bar Zürich nizations and is striving to promote Swiss abroad. They are definitely export-ready Schüür Lausanne music outside of Switzerland. This is start- when it comes to the quality – we never Kofmehl Solothurn ing to pay off and we can now see Swiss had so many brilliant and young Swiss Salzhaus Winterthur artists such as Sophie Hunger getting a artists before.” Stefan Schurter agrees, “I Grabenhalle St.Gallen name at a European level.” However, as far really think we have lots of great artists Usine Genève as we understand The Swiss Music Export that should discover the world. But it’s office currently only has a budget of about not easy to get out of the market, being 400.000 Swiss Francs and have two offices, surrounded by big markets like Germany Andy Locher observes that sponsorship is one in Nyon for the French speaking com- and France for example, nobody is sitting still available for bigger venues and festi- munity and one in Zurich for the German there waiting for the Swiss bands unfor- vals but smaller clubs have major problems language community. tunately, but I have the impression that in finding funds, as he says, “Local media there are more bands exported than a will support them, but not with cash. Ad- Our Paleo People are optimistic about the few years ago.” ditionally in my opinion the clubs suffer local market: “It’s growing and growing. from several and increasing showcases We have probably more than ever ‘export- Francois Biollay has a slightly different with free entrance, supported by spon- ready’ artists. Sophie Hunger is doing very opinion, “There’s very few Swiss artists sors, media and labels: we all, including well in Europe, France, Germany and else- ‘export-ready’, because they often have artist managements, should take care that where; she played at Glastonbury this year. to play music as a hobby and not as a job. particularly smaller concerts do not be- The Young Gods are still touring all over However alternative clubs with capacity come ‘goods with no value’ as happened Europe and some French Chanson artists around 300-400p can work well with local in the last years to the record industry.” are doing quite well in France. The market artists. I think it’s almost half of their book- Francois Biollay is upbeat about this sec- is still very small in Switzerland, but Europe ing. For bigger clubs, you need interna- tor, “This is probably the healthiest part of is big enough! The scene in general is very tional artists, even if it’s a newcomer.”

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

Present and Future: dramatic. We will work hard on keeping our low prices in order to offer our specta- To conclude this relatively brief overview tors a nice cultural and social moment in of the Swiss market we asked our com- a beautiful atmosphere. In general, some mentators to give us an idea of how busi- events may disappear, some other will ness is for them today, and how they think probably emerge.” things may be in the near future: Stefan Schurter: “Things have got much The Paléo People : “Things went very well faster I think. I get more and more emails this year, as they did in the past ten years. with the request to answer within only a Business was much the same, but still, we few hours, it gets more and more short- are aware that the economic crisis could term on making decisions, and on the oth- hurt us as well. Our low price policy makes er hand, instead of booking shows only 2-3 us one of the cheapest open-air events in months in advance, I am actually booking Switzerland. We work very hard to wel- them up to a year in advance. There’s too come our audience in a comfortable and many artists touring in all markets at the nice looking site. We also try to innovate moment, trying to make up for the shortfall with new projects every year. That is part in record sales, they’re not selling enough of what makes us what we are. tickets to continue financing the touring. I think the market will shrink and with less We can feel around us that a crisis has oc- on the road then each one will gain value Stefan Schurter curred. Unemployment in Switzerland is and will sell more tickets again.” around 4%, which is high for Switzerland, I have been able to let a band pass if the but quite low compared to other Europe- Francis Biollay: “My business as booker fees goes too high because of local com- an countries. We can sense that sponsors for Soldout Productions and Metropop petition: our policy is to keep a low ticket had budget cuts, but the situation is not Festival is doing well: For some time now price for our young audience. This was a

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

long term policy, and it begins to pay now so that all will be well in the future!

Andy Locher: “Business has been even better from year to year in the past 7 years – we could never have expected that.”

Andy expresses an attitude to his future business which seems to also apply to the country, “As long as we remain focused on that what we can do, as long as we know the market and punter, as long as we don’t want to do everything and as long as we love our job and the music, I personally see a bright future for us! An- tonin Rousseau concludes in a similarly positive vein, “Even though Swiss music is not a key player on the international market, it has a lot to offer and is eager to let itself be widely known. Switzerland is not a country with a big export tradition yet but it is exciting to think that it could become one... Switzerland

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

Live Music in Shares Manfred Tari [email protected]

Live Nation and CTS Eventim Report Half Year Results

CTS Eventim grows: Over the period of the last six months the share price almost maintained a price The German company declares itself to level of 36.60 Euros. In mid July the share be the leading player on the European hit a peak of almost 43 Euro but dropped ticketing market. Within the preliminary quickly to 36.45 Euro on July 20. On the business report for the first half-year of day the preliminary business report was 2010 CTS Eventim reported growth fig- release the share price went down from ures for all of its business segments. The 37.10 to 36.50 Euros. turnover rose from 249 million Euros in the same period one year ago to 270.9 million Euro. The Earnings before Inter- Purchase of See Tickets by CTS ests and Taxes went up from 35.3 to 38.2 Eventim is Scrutinised: million Euro as well as the Earnings before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation and The German competition commission Amortisation (EBITDA), which increased will review the July take over of See from 39.5 to 43.9 million Euro. The Com- Tickets Germany from See Tickets Inter- pany furthermore reported profit figures national by CTS Eventim. The Federal being a little lower than they would have Cartel Office has now approached the been normally, as a result of the acquisi- Company requesting detailed informa- tions of Ticketcorner and See Tickets. tion on the deal.

Once again the company declared that The Company declared that it is confi- the key drivers for the positive results of dent that the acquisition of See Ticket its ticketing division were online sales Germany does not cause any conflict and the ongoing international expan- with German take over laws. CEO Klaus- sion policy. In particular the company Peter Schulenberg commented on reported strong growth in tickets sold the investigations: “We are confident via the internet. While in H2-2009 CTS that, after detailed examination of all Eventim sold 5.7 million tickets online, the facts, the Federal Cartel Office will this time it is already 7.4 million tickets. reach the same conclusion as we did.” The turnover for this sector rose from CTS Eventim paid 145 million Euro for 67.1 to 81.5 million Euro, as did the EBIT See Tickets Germany. The deal included from 18.7 up to 19.9 million Euros and the the companies Ticket Online Software EBITDA from 21.9 to 24.5 million Euros. GmbH, Ticket Online Sales & Service Center GmbH and Ticket Online Polska In the first six months the Live Entertain- Sp zoo in Poland. ment division of CTS Eventim gained a turnover of 192.8 million compare to 183.4 million in H2-2009. The EBIT Live Nation Loss Widens: reached a level of 18.3 million Euros, with the EBITDA at 19.3 million Euros. Once again reporting a loss Live Nation faces tough business results. While the CTS Eventim announced that for the on- first half-year results after the merger going business year the company would show an increase in turnover from $1.532 continue to develop its internet ticketing to $1.989 billion, the turnover figures of business and to maintain its growth pol- the second quarter 2010 (Q2-2010) re- icy with further acquisitions in Germany veal a decline of about 9.7 percent from and abroad. The complete business re- $1.402 in Q2 2009 down to $1.266 bil- port will be published on August 26. lion.

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

In Q2 Live Nation reported a revenue decline in all of its business segments. The Concerts business unit turnover dropped from $924.8 to $859.5 million, artist avails ›› and the division Artist Nation only gained $88.8 compared to $107.7 million, the same goes for the Ticketing department down from $308.3 to $264.1 million. The turnover result for Sponsorship went down only $1.1 million from Within Temptation $39.9 to $38.8 million. The result for E-Commerce shrunk from $21.1 to $18.9 Territory: Worldwide Period: March 2011 and onwards million. Agency: X-Ray Touring Agent: Paul Bolton The overall net loss for H2 2010 increased from $27.19 to $34.61 million. Since Phone: +44 (0) 20 7749 3500 the merger Live Nation has had to cope with long-term net debts of $1.692 bil- E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.xraytouring.com lion, long term deferred incomes taxes of $200.80 million and other long-term liabilities of $195.63 million. Darko Rundek Territory: Europe Nevertheless Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation explained “Our second Period: Autumn 2010 - Summer 2011 Agency: Menart quarter results were in line with our plan and financial guidance for the full Agent: Maja Valjak year.” But he also stated in reference to the results: “Our performance to date Phone: +385 91 2333 507 reflects the impact of the uncertain economy on consumers, offset in part E-mail: [email protected] by our efforts to aggressively promote, price and expand access to concerts Homepage: www.menart.hr across our global platform.” Fischer-Z Territory: Europe The share is already under pressure on the stock market; on April 26 it stood at Period: 01/07/2010 - 31/12/2010 $16.9 it is now (August 19) at $9.09. Agency: Artist Agency Agent: Bart Quintens Phone: +32 1677 7670 E-mail: [email protected] DEAG Launches Joint Venture with Sony Music Germany: Homepage: www.artistagency.be

Sass Jordan DEAG and Sony Music Germany have set up a new company named Gold En- Territory: Europe tertainment. The company will focus on so called Schlager and Volksmusik. Period: February / March 2011 Each company held a 50 percent stake in the new company that intends to Agency: Paperclip Agency Agent: Hilde Spille promote concerts within the market for these two genres in Austria, Switzer- Phone: +31 24 323 9322 land and Germany. As DEAG declared, Gold Entertainment needs the approv- E-mail: [email protected] al of the cartel authorities, but the economic dimensions of this joint venture Homepage: www.paperclip-agency.com are certainly less in danger of being challenged by the Federal Cartel Office Skid Row than the takeover of See Tickets by CTS Eventim Territory: Europe Period: 6/12/2010 - 31/12/2010 The link back to Sony Music will be via the record label Ariola that will feed Agency: ARM Entertainment Gold Entertainment with artists. In addition to this Gold Entertainment ac- Agent: Dana Strutz Phone: +1 651 483 8754 quired a 66.6% percent stake in the Manfred Hertlein Veranstaltungs GmbH E-mail: [email protected] . Hertlein, in business for 30 years, reported a turnover of 12 million Euro in Homepage: www.skidrow.com 2009. Hertlein committed himself to remaining as managing director within his former company. Sweet Territory: Worldwide Period: Generally available The DEAG share benefited from the news and since the beginning of August Agency: ABS Agency gained a plus of 0.23 Euro from 2.01 up to 2.24 Euro. Agent: Nigel Kerr Phone: +44 208 399 3474 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.thesweet-now.com

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

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

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

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, buying and selling notices, inquiries or alike. Announcements should be emailed to [email protected]

Norwich Sound & Vision Music Festival 16 - 18 September 2010

Norwich Sound & Vision 2010 is taking place for the first time on We have a stellar line up of expert speakers who will be covering a 16-18 September 2010. The event is a conference featuring expert range of topics such as ‘How to get your music licensed to Film, TV, speakers from the music, film, TV and games industries, as well as adverts and video games’, ‘How to use the digital services avail- live music, film screenings and other interactive performances. able to distribute your creative content to the world’ and ‘How to make a living from music’. For a full line up visit the conference Ever heard of the music and film conference called SXSW in Austin, page in our website at www.norwichsoundandvision.co.uk Texas? Well, think of S&V as a taster…in Norwich. Norwich is burst- ing at the seams with new music and film (to name but a few art Delegate passes, priced £35 (£25 for AIM, BPI, MMF or MPA mem- forms). We’re lucky to have a unique community playing host to a bers or those in full time education) are available from our website plethora of multimedia based artistry, so why not have a conven- www.norwichsoundandvision.co.uk or from Norwich Arts Cen- tion based at the heart of it? tre www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

S&V will provide a platform for those of you who are involved (or Email us at [email protected] would like to be) with the multimedia channels mentioned above. Phone us on 01603 628367 You’ll get the opportunity to listen, engage and perhaps mosey around with labels, promoters, press, internet media peeps and artists who are coming to Norwich. We are very excited to begin announcing the line up of acts performing over the three days in Norwich. There will be If learning how to get your music licensed in film/TV is your bag or gigs each night at Norwich Arts Centre and at various ven- even how to get your band out on the touring and festival circuit, ues across the city. Bands confirmed include: those are just a couple of the subjects open to discussion with our delectable roster of panellists from across the music/radio/film/ Here We Go Magic multimedia industry. Dinosaur Pile-Up Serena Maneesh Come and meet like-minded individuals, bands/musicians, record The Kabeedies labels, filmmakers, designers, writers and anyone with an inter- Sennen est in multimedia industries. Those of you that just want to learn The Miserable Rich something new - embrace your inner mind’s sponge, be inspired The Lost Levels and have a fantastic time on us. Sargasso Trio Bearsuit Norwich Sound & Vision Conference Day Fever Fever Pumajaw The full conference day at Norwich Sound & Vision takes place on These Ghosts Saturday 18 September 10am - 4.45pm at Norwich Arts Centre.

VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - August 2010

Member presentation ››

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

König-Pilsener-ARENA - SMG Entertainment Deutschland GmbH

The König-Pilsener-ARENA is a multi-functional venue, offering a drive-time. The arena offers great accessibility with 12 motorway superb setting for a variety of sports events, theatrical presenta- junctions, more than 10,000 free parking spaces, bus and tram ter- tions, ice-skating and concerts. Flexible configurations provide minals immediately outside the venues. room for audiences ranging from 800 to 13,000 who enjoy family shows such as Disney on Ice, sports including handball matches, musicals like Grease, and concerts from rock and pop icons and orchestras alike.

Since its opening in 1996, the Kõnig-Pilsener-ARENA has earned a reputation as one of the most sophisticated venues in Europe, offering excellent operational facilities and an unforgettable experience for all its visitors. The König-Pilsener-ARENA meets the latest standards in engineering, architecture and security.

Its central location, at the heart of one of Europe’s largest con- urbations, the Ruhr area, means the Arena is easily accessible by road, rail and air for the 15 million people living within an hour’s König-Pilsener-ARENA

About Our Company

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

vip-booking.com

VIP-BOOKING.COM