7 9 10 6 15 VIPNEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 233 > APRIL 2020 4 8 17 11 12 5 2 VIPNEWS > APRIL 2020 McGowan’s Musings I don’t know about you, but I seem to have As I left London’s Royal Garden Hotel, a entrepreneurial business to re-establish a lot of time to think of late, oh, you too? seeming lifetime ago on March 6th, the final itself? There are offers of support on hand More musing than usual, not necessarily day of ILMC 32, I hadn’t the faintest idea from governments and music organisations, creative, but certainly observational, you what the train to Brighton was taking me to. which are of course welcome and vitally know, in these more than difficult times of, I’m a science fiction fan, but without doubt necessary, but these things take time to be ‘where have we been, where are we going, we can all live without the awful reality of implemented. Diversification is already in will we be taking sandwiches?! this particular alien invasion! place with the rapid introduction of virtual events and meetings. However, are we able Contemplating the present, virally dominated to accept the effects of continuing lockdown state of a live music industry forced into and shut down, resulting in the complete stasis, is not at all easy, but in the same change of the operation of live events and way that we think positive thoughts for the meetings? Live streaming and virtual events recovery of those physically struck down by have their place but can they completely the virus the best thing we can do is try to replace the live experience? figure out just how to bring live back to life! As someone said, there is no immunity to The renowned American economist Milton postponement or cancellation! Of course COLOPHON > Friedman won the Nobel Prize for his we have no idea how long this will all take research on; consumption analysis, monetary to resolve. The EU has stated that festivals VIP-News is published by: history and theory and the complexity of and concerts should be the last form of stabilization policy (of course I think about activity to restart following the COVID-19 VIP-Booking.com Enghaven 19 this all the time!). A quote of his, brought to shutdown of events. But when the present Attrup 8444 Balle Denmark my attention by the futurist Gerd Leonhard lockdowns are eased it will be obvious jus seems relevant for the situation in which the how vitally important clubs, events, festivals Managing Director: Ronni Didriksen live industry currently finds itself; “Only a bars and the whole cultural system is to [email protected] crisis – actual or perceived – produces real society as a whole. General Manager: Peter Briggs change. When that crisis occurs, the actions [email protected] that are taken depend on the ideas that are What we need of course is a vaccine – the Writer and editorial: lying around. That, I believe, is our basic vaccine! In their Zoom appearance on Allan McGowan [email protected] function: to develop alternatives to existing ‘Delivering One World – Together at Home’ policies, to keep them alive and available the Rolling Stones quite aptly sang, ‘You Writer: Manfred Tari until the politically impossible becomes the Can’t Always Get What You Want’, but [email protected] politically inevitable” won’t it be great to, as soon as possible, to For advertising enquiries please contact: ‘Get What We Need’?! So, as we enter the second month of the Peter Briggs [email protected] crisis, with more and more events being Things will of course change, but, who +46 70 77 60 480 postponed and cancelled, more companies knows, perhaps some aspects of how this Charlie Presburg [email protected] facing closure and bankruptcy, and more business runs may even change for the +44 (0) 7980 817496 and more individuals finding themselves better! In the meantime, stay safe and well! contemplating unemployment, how is an Love from us all! 2 HOW Search our Artist database to find Agent TO USE 1 and Manager details: VIP-Booking.com for Venues/Promoters Use VIP Analytics to measure the Fan 2 interest for the Artist: Check our Tourdates section to see 3 where the Artist is booked near you: ® The No. 1 information resource for the European Live Entertainment Industry vip-booking.com 7*1#00,*/($0. VIPNEWS > APRIL 2020 Worldwide Live Industry Professionals join the VIP Online Panel From VIP-Daily News Live Music Industry professionals from around the globe joined the Association Yourope, updated us on their efforts as an association to first ever VIP-Booking.com online panel to discuss the crisis in the Live push the EU to keep a focus on our industry. Music Industry caused by the coronavirus. Nana Trandou from High Priority Promotions in Greece, who among The panel was moderated by Ivana Dragila and featured 3 Live Music other events promote the Athens Rocks Festival, told us about her Industry Professionals filling the delegates in on how they`re handling terrible experience over the past 7 weeks after being diagnosed and the current situation and what they expect the future will bring. hospitalised with Covid-19. We were all very happy to see that she is now back in her home and on the way to recovery. Paulina Ahokas – MD, Tampere Hall (Finland), Christof Huber – Director Festivals, Gadget ABC Entertainment Group (Switzerland), Nick Hobbs from Charmenko shared his view on the crisis and the Rob Berends – Founder, Paperclip Agency (Holland) situation in Turkey where he is located. Besides the 3 panel guests, delegates from around the world Noemia Matsumoto from Opus Entretenimento in Brazil told us about contributed with their views on the various ways the industry is the specific actions the industry is taking in Brazil. dealing with the crisis and provided updates on the help packages being offered in their different countries. Christof Huber who is Marc Gentiella from CelebrityAccess gave his view on how he thinks also General Secretary and board member of the European Festival the major US promoters and agencies will survive this crisis, many of 4 VIPNEWS > APRIL 2020 which are carrying big debts after buying up companies worldwide much enjoyed this one and it was a very easy way to get updated for the past decade. information on what’s happening all over Europe & The World.” The Online Panel was a big success and it was evident that everyone This will be a recurring event so look out and register for future online was happy to get a chance to “meet up” again and share experiences panels as they are announced. with colleagues and partners from around the world. The first panel can be viewed in full here: Kari Possi from Blue Budda in Finland wrote an email to VIP afterwards VIP-Booking OnLine Panel saying “Thank you so much for collecting this panel today. I very NTIA to challenge insurance claim denial From VIP-Daily News UK trade association Night Time Industries authorities and who had to close their Association (NTIA) has teamed up with a premises under the regulation “have a good leading industry barrister to coordinate case against Hiscox.” claims against Hiscox Insurance for refusal to pay out under its business interruption policy. Michael Kill, chief executive of NTIA, said: “Night Time Economy businesses are being NTIA, who last week claimed its member denied legitimate insurance claims, many businesses are being denied COVID-19- claims are being disputed by insurers based related insurance claims, have instructed on contrived arguments to avoid sharing the Philip Kolvin QC, an industry barrister, to financial burden during the COVID-19 crisis.” advise on members’ rights under their Michael Kill insurance policies. Kolvin added: “Leisure operators are suffering severe hardship. There is a clear According to the association, Hiscox and present danger that the industry will It is time now for those insurance companies Insurance underwrote one of the main be decimated, that leisure businesses who know they are liable under their leisure sector policies. throughout the UK will go to the wall, that policies do the same. The clue is in the name jobs and livelihoods will be lost, and that ‘insurance’. It is what they are in business Kolvin said claimants who were insured the cultural capacity of the nation will be for. They should not be running for cover. by the company against closure by public depleted for years to come. They will never be forgiven for doing so.” 5 VIPNEWS > APRIL 2020 Paradigm President Greg Bestick Retires From VIP-Daily News Greg Bestick, an 11 year veteran of Paradigm Scott Melrose bridging film/tv and music. All who rose from COO to Agency President, has the agencies we partnered with and then announced his retirement to the staff at the brought in under the tent: AM Only with Greg Bestick company. Paul, Lee, Meyer, Cody; Windish with Tom and Sam Hunt; those super impressive Brits Paradigm Chairman & CEO Sam Gores said at Coda, Tom, Alex and James. Steve and Ian respected and desirable to others in our that “Greg played a vital role in the agency’s from X-ray, Garry and Ron from the other world. No one saw a global pandemic coming. growth and successes. I am forever grateful Monterey. All the talented, hard-working Nothing emerging from the far side of this to him. I could not have asked for a more people who keep the wheels turning, Craig will be unchanged. It’s a challenge, but also capable executive and counsel these past and Stephanie and the legal staff, Ben an opportunity to reimagine so many things: eleven years.