19 3 7 17 9 VIPNEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 197 > JANUARY 2017 16 6 14 8 4 2 VIPNEWS > JANUARY 2017 McGowan’s Musings So – welcome to the first issue of VIP News in never appeared because their fee was better shows fail, people continue to buy enormous an odd numbered year which is sure to yield spent being donated to charity….? Actually, amounts of tickets at primary, and still it some odd happenings both in our business I’ve worked with bands like that… However seems, secondary, prices, and concert halls and in the world in general. A certain Mr the departing incumbent - by the way did and festivals generally fill up. Even terrorism Trump will I’m sure be involved with many of you know his surname in reverse is the Latin and shootings, though these outrages these predicted shenanigans (it just felt right for ‘I will love’? – had no problems in booking continue, with the shootings in Istanbul, to use that word somehow!) The new leader a turn for his exit bash. He just held open the Orlando and Playa del Carmen, Mexico, are of the Western World, as we must now door, and in walked the Boss (he’d been not enough to put them off completely. consider him, has nor started his tenure with quite a regular visitor over the last few years), Prodiss, the association of French promoters, the blessings of the live music industry I think guitar at the ready, to deliver a 15-song festivals and venues, says although it’s safe to say… Madonna even ‘thought’ farewell gig for the president and his staff. I audiences at live shows (as opposed to about blowing up The White House following think that says something – don’t you… festivals specifically) declined slightly in 2016 his installation – but I believe her when she (-4%), a greater proportion of French people said it was a metaphorical threat don’t you? Talking of Bruce, he’d had quite a good year now feel attending concerts is important Attempts to secure a leading act to entertain altogether, he and the E-Street Band finished to combat the “atmosphere of crisis” that those lined up to attend the inauguration ball up as the highest-grossing musical act of has prevailed since the Bataclan massacre in resulted in all sorts of refusals and rejections, 2016 according to our friends at Pollstar November 2015. We should be proud of our finishing up with a ‘legendary act’ which Magazine. The tour generated $268.3m audiences! from sales of 2.4m ticket sales. While we’re in determined and optimistic Beyoncé came second in the world, but first mode, one other heartening observation COLOPHON > in the US. Coldplay came third overall, but in London at least, is that the number of sold more tickets, 2.7m in fact – now why grassroots gig venues has remained stable VIP-News is published by: does that remind me of the way the US for the first time in a decade! Over the VIP-Booking.com Enghaven 19 Presidential election panned out? And yes, past ten years the City lost about a third of Attrup 8444 Balle Denmark The Stones were in there again, and Mick still its smaller venues. However, Londoners, Managing Director: had time to have another child! So, overall, tourists, the Mayor Sadiq Khan, and our new Ronni Didriksen much as 2016 had its problems, terrorism, Night Mayor, are happy to hear that research [email protected] festival weather, not to mention the demise found 94 venues operating last November – General Manager: Peter Briggs of a distressing number of artists, the the same figure as November 2015, with new [email protected] business itself, like the Stones, boogies on. sites opening to replace those lost! Writer and editorial: For the 10th consecutive year since opening Allan McGowan [email protected] its doors in 2007, The O2 topped the So how was 2016 for you and your businesses, Writer: worldwide venues list with more than 1.5 and what are your aspirations for the year? Manfred Tari million tickets sold in 2016! Let us know. In the meantime, having only [email protected] just really recovered from Eurosonic, and For advertising enquiries please contact: It seems that whatever happens audiences preparing for Where’s the Music in Sweden Peter Briggs [email protected] stay determined to go to the shows they next week – I can’t imagine it’ll be colder than +46 70 77 60 480 want to see, although there are occasional Brighton right now – Ladies and Gentlemen I drop offs in attendance, and of course some leave you with The News! 2 VIPNEWS > JANUARY 2017 Second Bucharest Nightclub Fire Allan McGowan [email protected] Following the fatal fire at the City’s Colectiv fire at Bamboo earlier that day, issuing Club in 2015, The Bamboo nightclub in nearly 45,000 euros in fines and shutting Bucharest was destroyed this weekend in one venue down on safety grounds a fire injuring more than 40 people. There were claims that smokers in the venue Local promoter Codruta Vulcu told VIP started the fire. It was also claimed that the News that the two clubs were very club did not have an operating license. different, the Bamboo was an expensive, up-market club which was burnt to the A number of venues were closed in the ground, with even the metal structure Romanian capital over safety concerns collapsing and buckling. Codruta said, after 64 people were killed in the fire of “Nobody really understands what the Colectiv club in 2015. Four of the five happened, whereas it was obvious with the Codruta Vulcu members of the band playing at Colectiv Colectiv venue. The Bamboo didn’t have a on that night, Goodbye To Gravity, were license but legally it didn’t have to have among the fatalities. one till June 30th” She continued, “After a mobile ambulance on hand within 15 the Colectiv fire the authorities checked minutes of the emergency calls. Commenting on this weekend’s fire, out all the clubs to make sure they had new Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said exits etc. They imposed strict regulations, From June 30 a written license to operate that Bucharest had been “very close to so this was what saved things from being will be required in Bucharest. Codruta another big tragedy; rules and laws have worse at The Bamboo. The changes to is a member of the new promoter’s apparently been broken again”. doors and exits allowed people to get out organization that has has been working in time, some people said that nothing had with the venues and the authorities, to Local media report that the authorities changed but it did otherwise many would improve all aspects of club, concert and staged spot checks on 162 clubs across have died!” Apparently the authorities festival promotions, including health and Romania on Saturday night following the had 35 ambulances, fire trucks, and even safety of course. Bamboo Nightlub 3 Conference & showcase festival See the best up and coming Swedish and international acts and meet fellow industry professionals in the most welcoming and intimate environment in the nordics Read more and book your tickets: wheresthemusic.se/en VIPNEWS > JANUARY 2017 Sziget Festival sold From VIP-Daily News U.S. based private equity firm Providence controlled more than half of the local festival James Barton, former president of electronic Equity Partners has bought a 70 percent market, but international growth was too music for Live Nation and founder of stake in Hungarian Sziget Festival, aiming to expensive, Sziget founder and co-owner Creamfields Festival. expand the events internationally. Karoly Gerendai said. Providence participates in sponsorship Sziget draws about 500,000 people every “Now we can dream big,” Gerendai, whose agreements of the Formula One car race year to its flagship event in Budapest and team will retain a 30 percent stake in the series, and has other stakes in businesses thousands more to half a dozen other company, told a news briefing. from sports to entertainment, opening new festivals around Hungary. Now in its 25th synergies for Sziget, Gerendai said. season, it has received several “best festival” The current management will retain titles from the European Festival Awards. management rights and operational control Sziget had total revenue of about 10 billion of the festivals of the Sziget brand. forints ($34.6 million) in 2015, and Gerendai Rhode Island`s Providence, which has told the daily Vilaggazdasag last year that he total assets of about $47 billion under The team will be supported by several expected 2016 revenues to be higher, with management, expects to build a portfolio of international festival promoters such as an EBITDA of around 1 billion forints in 2016. about eight to 10 festivals in a few years, said Paul Bedford, a Providence representative. “This was a cornerstone acquisition for us,” Bedford said. “We have in mind a federation of festival brands. They will work together as much and as often as they want to. There is some strength in numbers in this game.” The companies did not disclose a purchase price. The new investors will take the Sziget brand Sziget Festival global, they said. In Hungary, the firm has Further Investigation of the Ticketing Sector Allan McGowan [email protected] International scrutiny of the ticketing sector, took place on Jan 26th in Milan. The event investigation into the country’s ticketing particularly in reference to the secondary attracted a sizeable international delegation. sector. The government agency says it market is hoting up.