Press release for the LEA gala on 11th March 2014
Gala at Festhalle Frankfurt, 14 awards for promoters, artist managers, concert agents and venue operators
„Flagships and powerboats“ - PRG LEA 2014 with spectacular show acts and industry leaders
Rock, pop, beat-music, show and glamour set the tone at the Festhalle Frankfurt, which was home for the 9th award gala of the PRG Live Entertainment Award (PRG LEA). The festive event with approx. 1300 guests from the national and international music, event and entertainment industry again marked the official opening of the Musikmesse Frankfurt and the technical fair „Prolight + Sound“.
13 of the popular trophies were awarded to promoters, artist managers, concert agents as well as concert hall and venue operators. LEA No 14, the award for exceptional youth promotion/support has already been handed over to the Freundeskreis der Anne-Sophie Mutter Stiftung e. V. at the press conference on 13th February 2014. Laudators like Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker (Scorpions), the singers Rea Garvey and Helmut Lotti, Germany's „Pop Idol“ winner Beatrice Egli and the acting siblings Ben and Meret Becker honoured the Festhalle Frankfurt with their presence. „Is was a LEA of contrasts, a meeting of the flagships of the live entertainment industry with the young, quick speed and powerboats, all these smaller agencies and event companies who set sail in German show biz“ said Jens Michow, producers of the show and president of the Bundesverbandes der Veranstaltungswirtschaft (bdv). „A get together of old and young with remarkable cooperation and synergies. But also with exciting solos.“ Markus Frank, Frankfurt's Deputy Mayor and Head of Department of Economy, City of Frankfurt again was very pleased with the gala: „Events like the Live Entertainment Award set their spots on our city and prove that Frankfurt – apart from being Germany's financial centre, a traffic hub and one of its most important economic spots – offers a lot of exciting, cultural and creative highlights.” The metropolis on the banks of river Main hosted the LEA gala for the fourth time.
Peppered with optical effects Once again competent and entertaining presenter Ingo Nommsen, who opened the show as guitar player of The Baseballs, lead through the three hour gala which was peppered with spectactular optical effects. Bright delivered an impressive LED stage design which was topped off by pyrotechnical special effects of Elements Entertainment. Laserfabrik completed the stage design with breathtaking water fountains and laser effects. Even the prominent guests in the audience – amongst others Christina Stürmer, Heinz Rudolf Kunze, Tom Beck, Franziska Reichenbacher, Jürgen Drews, Norman Langen, Radost Bokel, Dirk Moritz, Marianne & Michael, Hardrock veterans of Uriah Heep as well as the bands Jupiter Jones and Glasperlenspiel - were impressed by such a master work of stage design.
Show acts and awardees At this get together of the national and international event industry the live entertainment on stage of course played a major role. The Baseballs performed their song „Mo Hotta Mo Betta“, with which they participate in the German pre-election of the Eurovision Song Contest. Pure girl
power came from the German singer-songwriters Annett Louisan, Cäthe and Meret Becker. The musicians from the drum show Power! Percussion proved impressively what ladders also can be used for. Heino, who impressed the music industry as rock singer last year, honoured the gala with his presence. Additionally he acted as laudator for his manager Jan Mewes who received the award as „Best artist manager / agent of the year“. Local comedian Bodo Bach made the audience laugh with some scenes from his latest cabaret programme „Auf der Überholspur“. DJ Bobo together with 16 dancers and artists from his new show „Circus“ completed the live acts on stage.
Award-winning „bang“ Presenter Ingo Nommsen suggested that DJ Bobo's „Circus“ will be among the LEA awardees 2015. But this year the Swiss musician and producer had to watch other colleagues being awarded. First of all the „Krach der Republik“ tour of the Toten Hosen in the category „Arena tour of the year“. Promoter Kiki Ressler (KKT) couldn't receive his award personally but he send thankful greetings from his holidays in Costa Rica. The LEA in the newly established category „Concert hall tour of the year“ for concert tours in medium size venues went to KBK Konzert- und Künstleragentur for the successful package of Status Quo and Uriah Heep. „Heep“ members Mick Box and Bernie Shaw travelled to Frankfurt to celebrate this ward with Heinz Preisch, who received the trophy for KBK.
Meistersinger Konzerte was awarded with the prize for „Club tour of the year“ for Mrs. Greenbird's concert tour „Shooting Stars & Fairy Tales“. The jury, who watched more than 500 events in 2013, awarded the agency Creative Talent with the „Best concert of the year“ award for Muse's concert at the Waldbühne Berlin. The „Best festival“ prize went to Pro Event Entertainment for their „Olé Party Sommer“. Puppet comedian Sascha Grammel earned Panta Management the trophy for the „Best show of the year“.
Cult figures honour cult venues Two TV cult figures were won to present the award for „Concert hall / arena of the year“: Peter Rüchel, inventor of the „Rockpalast“ and the long-time TV presenter of the respective ARD- show, Albrecht Metzger, handed over the award for best „cult venue“ to the representatives of Essen's Grugahalle. This more than 50 years old venue was home to the legendary „Rockpalast“ nights. Also in the club-category the jury set their focus on legends: The Café Hahn in Koblenz won the prize as „Club of the year“.
Lieberberg as record awardee No one can ignore the German concert promoter and winner of the LEA as „Promoter of the year“ (formally „Tour promoter of the year“). For the sixth time this award was given to Marek Lieberberg, who was accompanied by his son André Lieberberg. The winner of the category „Local promoter of the year“ was – as always – not determined by the jury but industry practitioners: Tour promoters elected Trinity Music from Berlin as outstanding local partner.
Special award for Funke and Night of the Proms Two special awards completed the list of awardees of the LEA 2014. Hamburg's promoter Prof. Hans-Werner Funke was awarded for his Lifetime achievement who founded his Konzert- und Gastspieldirektion 55 years ago. The company, now known as Funke Media, is still a successful part if the German live entertainment industry. The „Prize of the jury“ this year was given to
Munich promoter Dirk Hohmeyer, who established the event concept of „Night of the Proms“ with his agency P.S.E. in Germany 20 years ago. Until today the unique mixture of rock, pop and classic music is touring with popular guest singers to Germany's biggest venues every Christmas time.
PRG LEA organised by associations of the concert industry Since 2006 the LEA Committee e. V. organises the German Live Entertainment Prize in cooperation with the Bundesverband der Veranstaltungswirtschaft (bdv) as Initiator of the Award, the Verband Deutscher Konzertdirektionen (VDKD) and the Musikmarkt Verlags-GmbH with its industry magazine “Musikmarkt” and many other considerable companies from the German event industry.
Main partner of the German Live Entertainment Prize - besides the event technology supplier PRG (Production Resource Group) and the Musikmesse Frankfurt – are the ticketing company CTS Eventim, the city of Frankfurt/Main and the Frankfurt Economic Development GmbH. Further sponsors are, among others, Ströer, GEMA, the ÖVB Arena, PMS Crew support, Riedel Communications, accente, Skoda, beyerdynamic, Düsseldorf Congress Sport & Event, the Grugahalle as well as the Stadium Essen, Elements Entertainment, Laserfabrik as well as the international full service provider for concert and event logistics Rock-It Cargo.
Pictures, e. g. the PRG Logo and the LEA trophy can be downloaded here: http://www.lea2014.de/presse.htm
Photos from the gala, the artists and laudators can be downloaded here: http://www.lea2014.de/Fotos_LEA_GALA_2014.zip
For further information please contact
LEA Live Entertainment Award Committee e.V. Position – Public Relations GmbH Postfach 202364 Oliver Hagemann 20216 Hamburg Tel. 0221-931806-22 Tel. 040-41305505 Fax 0221-33180-74 Fax 040-46881417 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Internet: www.lea2014.de
The 14 winners of LEA 2014
Arena tour of the year Die Toten Hosen – “Der Krach der Republik – Tour 2013” – KKT GmbH – Kikis Kleiner Tourneeservice
Concert hall tour of the year Status Quo / Uriah Heep – “Bula Quo Tour 2013 + Very Special Guest Uriah Heep” – KBK Konzert- und Künstleragentur GmbH
Club tour of the year presented by Ströer Mrs. Greenbird – „Shooting Stars & Fairy Tales Tour 2013“ – Meistersinger Konzerte & Promotion GmbH
Festival of the year presented by PRG Jury focus: Festival series Olé Party Sommer 2013 – Pro Event Entertainment GmbH
Concert of the year Muse in Berlin | Waldbühne | 14.07.2013 – ct creative talent gmbh
Show of the year Sascha Grammel – Panta Management GmbH
Event organiser of the year Marek Lieberberg Konzertagentur GmbH & Co. KG
Youth promotion of the year The Freundeskreis der Anne-Sophie Mutter Stiftung e. V.
Club of the year Jury focus: Club legends Café Hahn | Koblenz – Café Hahn GmbH
Concert hall / Arena of the year Jury focus: cult venues Grugahalle, Essen – Messe Essen GmbH
Jury Award P. S. E. Promotion for „Night of the Proms“
Lifetime Achievement Award Prof. Hans-Werner Funke
Local organiser of the year Trinity Music GmbH – Berlin
Artist manager / agent of the year Jan Mewes – Künstlermanagement Jan Mewes