VIPNEWS PREMIUM > VOLUME 173 > NOVEMBER 2014

2

18

14

7

3

5

19

11

9

6

17

2

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

McGowan’s Musings

Now I know we’re all aware of the

increasingly vital bond between artists

and brands, and that there is usually some

attempt to at least try and establish some

connection, or at least common ground

between the artist and the product, but

here’s a tie up that’s hard to beat: Bob

Marley, or at least those in control of his

estate, name and likeness, have already

done deals with clothing, coffee and

headphones – ‘earth friendly’ of course,

but the latest is surely, almost literally,

made in heaven, Bob’s image is now to

be the flagship for ‘the world’s first global

cannabis brand’, Marley Natural! Privateer

Holdings, a Seattle-based private equity

firm will start shipping various concoctions

of ‘the herb’ to areas, and these seem to

be on the increase, where it’s legal to sell,

towards the end of 2015. Chief Executive

Brendan Kennedy stated: “We are in a

state of rapid transformation, some 70%

of Americans now live in a state where

cannabis in some form is legal. Now there’s

something I’m very surprised to learn; talk

about a joint venture! (Sorry I couldn’t

resist it!)

As usual, far too early, ‘It’s beginning to

look a lot like Christmas’, you can’t walk

into a shop or cross a station concourse

without the usual continual blast of

irritatingly cheerful and highly repetitive

festive songs that will generate another

substantial seasonal stipend in PRS returns

for the likes of Noddy Holder (Slade – for

those of you too young to remember) –

Humbug! I wonder if the members of One

Direction have written their Christmas hit

yet, but maybe they won’t need to bolster

their pensions in years to come, considering

how much they managed to bring in from

this year’s top grossing world tour. I know

we’ve got a December issue to go before

the end of the year and we’ll no doubt take

a look at the top touring acts then, but

considering that for the last couple of years

we’d been bemoaning the fact that it was

still the heritage acts that were earning the

lion’s share of international box office, and

there seemed to be no new artists coming

through, you’ve got to hand it to them.

You can also tell when we’re getting

towards the end of the year when festival

talk has died down to be replaced with

Conference Communications, the Inbox

chimes as ever with reports on the progress

of the developing events like Sonic Visions

in Luxembourg and Glimps in Ghent,

alongside the major established events, like

Eurosonic in January, By: Larm in February,

and ILMC and SXSW in March. And there’s

more as this wintry season also brings

news of further additions to the calendar

in February, MENT in Ljubljana, Slovenia,

closely followed by Where’s the Music in

Norrköping, Sweden. How to fit it all in?!

In the meantime, I’m off to Luxembourg

for Sonic Visions, then to what could be

a very cold Beijing, China for Dong Dong

(yes, I know it sounds like a bell, and that

could be a Christmas type reference and

I do actually quite like Christmas really!),

anyway, as ever, all being well I shall report

back..,

So, Ladies and Gentlemen – The News…

COLOPHON >

VIP-News is published by:VIP-Booking145-157 St John StreetLondon Ec1V 4PW

Managing Director:Ronni Didriksenrd@vip-booking.com

General Manager:Peter Briggspb@vip-booking.com

Writer and editorial:Allan McGowanam@vip-booking.com

Writer:Manfred Tarimt@vip-booking.com

For advertising enquiries please contact:Peter Briggspb@vip-booking.com+44 870 755 0092

I recently had the pleasure to arrange an on

stage interview with Michael Eavis at The

MaMA Event in Paris, and as we reported

in a recent issue he was a charming, very

down to earth and interesting subject, so I

was happy to hear that the founder of the

Glastonbury Festival was to receive a Music

Industry Trust Award.

Coldplay, Damon Albarn and Sir Paul

McCartney were amongst those to pay

tribute to 79-year-old

Mr. Eavis as he received

the Award. Eavis said:

“I can’t believe that

44 years of semi-

controlled chaos has

led to me receiving

this prestigious award.”

What was originally known as Pilton Pop

Festival took place in 1970 on Mr Eavis’s

Somerset farm, he was inspired to stage the

event after visiting a blues festival in Bath

earlier in the year, which presented Led

Zeppelin amongst other acts.

Many artists who have performed at

Glastonbury over the years have paid tribute

to Mr Eavis. Lily Allen recalled a childhood

visit to Glastonbury with her parents,

before returning to perform many

years later, she said: “Your festival is

literally better than Christmas.

Coldplay sent a message, which said: “Thank

you for the incredible experiences you’ve

given us and so many others.” Damon Albarn

has performed at the Festival with Blur and

Gorillaz, he said: “I’d like to thank you for

your husbandry of the musical health of the

British Isles and far further afield.”

This is the 23rd year of The Music Industry

Trusts Award, over the years

it has raised more than £4.5

million for Nordoff Robbins

and the BRIT Trust. Previous

recipients of the award

include Sir George Martin, Sir

Elton John and Bernie Taupin,

and Annie Lennox.

Michael Eavis Receives Music Industry Trusts AwardAllan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

3

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

The musT-aTTend evenT for everyone in The music indusTry Ben Challis, Glastonbury Festival

Present your product at the European Production Innovation Conference & Fair (EPIC) and the Buma Music Meets Techprogramme. Submit at www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl.

14/15/16/17 jan 2015GROnInGEn, nL

Eurosonic Noorderslag is the key exchange and networking

platform for European music, with a proven track record for

helping new acts break into the international music scene.

Selling out each year Eurosonic Noorderslag attracts over

3,200 delegates, including 400 international festivals. Eurosonic

Noorderslag presents showcases by more than 300 acts and a

conference programme featuring 150 panels, keynote speakers,

interviews, workshops, dinners, pitches, parties and meetings

on the latest developments in the international music, media

and interactive industry.

Eurosonic Noorderslag has been responsible for kick-starting the careers of European acts like Ásgeir, Benjamin Clementine, Birth of Joy, Coely, George Ezra, Hozier, Jungle, Kadebostany, Milky Chance and MØ.

EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG WORDT GEORGANISEERD DOOR SPONSOREN

REGIstER nOwwww.EuROsOnIC-nOORdERsLaG.nL

aGEnda wE 14 janEuropean Border Breakers awardsEuropean Festival awardsEurosonic Festival

tH 15 janConference:•EuropeanProductionInnovation Conference&Fair(EPIC)•BumaMusicMeetsTechpro•GeneralconferenceprogrammeEurosonic Festival

FR 16 janConference:•EuropeanProductionInnovation Conference&Fair(EPIC)•BumaMusicMeetsTechpro&Awards•GeneralconferenceprogrammeEurosonic Festival

sa 17 janConference:•EuropeanProductionInnovation Conference&Fair(EPIC)•BumaMusicMeetsTechlive•Music&Mediaprogramme•GeneralconferenceprogrammeNoorderslagFestival

5

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

What a 10 days it’s been for those interested

in the streaming debate. The independent

label-services and publishing company

Kobalt released encouraging figures as to

the economic growth of streaming; Taylor

Swift withdrew her catalogue from Spotify

while, perhaps contradictorily, leaving

it on streaming service YouTube; Bono

commented on transparency issues with

regard to how big music corporates license

streaming services and Spotify published

details of a further big increase in users and

subscribers.

For the MMF, these developments provide

an opportunity to underline what we stand

for and give to our members, together with

anyone else for that matter, a considered

viewpoint as to how we interpret what is

going on in what often seems a confused

and difficult space.

The MMF has always been and continues

to be a big supporter of streaming services.

Few markets are perfect and yes the ‘low

rate issue’ has conflicted many, but above

all, streaming services are a fabulous tool

that connects artists and creators with fans.

No longer restricted by physical barriers,

streaming gives a voice to those that want to

be heard and a platform from which to build

multi revenue businesses that cross borders.

There are no guarantees of success but the

opportunity is there for all that want to give

it a shot.

Whilst encouraging to see the Kobalt data

on improving economics for streaming, we

are disappointed to see Taylor Swift remove

her catalogue from Spotify. Her label talked

about not being disrespectful to her fans

who purchased the album but we do wonder

about the 15 million Taylor Swift fans who

are not listening to her music on Spotify or

those near 20 million fans who have had her

music ripped from their playlists. Whatever

one thinks of the Spotify free, or more

accurately termed ad - supported service,

we wouldn’t be surprised if this was more

about, headlines, badge collecting and

economics.

Like his band’s recent release strategy or not,

Bono hit the nail on the head with regard to

one part of the economic debate that often

goes untold. Non Disclosure Agreements

hide how the major music corporations

license streaming services and we have grave

concerns that the deals contain stipulations

that both significantly reduce the amount

artists ultimately get attributed and damage

the growth of the streaming economy. The

real fight is more likely between opacity and

transparency, and we call on all major music

corporations to take note and react in the

best interest of their artists and shareholders.

MMFStatement on StreamingAllan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

VIP News and parent Company VIP-Booking.com as you all know mainly deal with the doings of the live music industry, but following the sector’s ‘promotion’ some years ago to the leading revenue source of the international music business, the industry has had to take note of continuing development in all areas. Although streaming on the face of it is mainly concerned with becoming the method of choice for the distribution and reception of recorded music, live concert recordings will be part of the available catalogue, and the attitudes of artists and managements will have knock on effects for the live busines., therefore the recent statement from the Music Managers Forum is relevant:

Taylor Swift

6

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

Flexible Festival Dates for Foo FightersAllan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

In our last issue I noted that the Belgian Festival Rock Werchter’ s

decision to change their dates to accommodate a then unknown

headliner was a new phenomenen, possibly linked to a desperation

linked to a lack of headliners. It appears that I was mistaken in my

assumption as my friend Willem Venema of Double Vee Concerts in

Holland pointed out, mailing to say, “You might not have noticed

that Pinkpop has moved dates (from their original vast dates) various

times in the recent past to accommodate headliners directed by Live

Nation associated agents or supporters.”

Also the mystery headliners are now named, a Rock Werchter press

release states: Foo Fighters are coming by general demand. Every

year we collect the wish lists from the friends of the festival and this

year Foo Fighters are right at the top. To be sure of landing the band

of the moment Rock Werchter is moving its dates forward a week.

This is because the band is heading back to the States at the end of

June to play a huge concert in front man Dave Grohl’s home base of

Washington D.C. on Saturday 4 July. In 2015 Foo Fighters will play

Werchter for the third time in their 20 year history. They made their

last appearance way back in 2005.

Rock Werchter 2015 now runs from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 28

June, on the three stages at the Werchter Festival Park in Belgium:

the Main Stage, KluB C and The Barn. Over the four days in 2014 the

festival sold-out attracting over 150,000 festival-goers.

Foo Fighters

7

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

Upcoming Trade EventsAllan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

It’s still relatively early days for this showcase festival and conference based in the

historic and very attractive City of Ghent, but organisers claim that it is gearing up to its

best edition yet, from 11-13 December, and in defence and celebration of the smaller

showcase event, that this is an event where you can actually still discover and sign new

European talent!

Glimps this year has attracted representatives from UK’s CODA Agency, Hungary’s

Sziget Festival, Island Records from the UK, label for the likes of Mumford & Sons,

SXSW, Germany’s Grönland label and the Haldernpop festival and label.

Networking events will be hosted by several key players from the Benelux music industry

players such as the Music:LX reception, Nada Bookings Showcase, Peter Verstraelen

Agency Showcase and the Toutpartout Showcase.

Acts appearing include new artists such as Aloa Input (DE), Blaue Blume (DK) and Natas

Loves You (LU)

All further details can be found here: www.glimpsgent.be and for the conference

part: www.glimpsconference.be

Glimps Festival: Belgium

Go online - www.vip-booking.com

Need to know who is touring Europe? ®

vip-booking.com

Aloa Input

8

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

The acts added to the Eurosonic Noorderslag line up are:Acid Arab (fr)

AnnenMayKantereit (de)Aquilo (uk)

Bad Breeding (uk)Black Flower (be)

Bombay Show Pig (nl)Bulbul (at)

Cairo Liberation Front (nl)Dakh Daughters (ua)

Die Nerven (de)Dolomite Minor (uk)

Ella Eyre (uk)FM Laeti (fr)For BDK (se)

Gavin James (ie)Gengahr (uk)

Go Go Berlin (dk)

GODS (at)Happyness (uk)James Bay (uk)

Joana Serrat (es)Joco (de)

Jonas Alaska (no)Joy Wellboy (be)

JoyCut (it)Klaus Johann Grobe (ch)

Låpsley (uk)Le Vasco (fr)

Little Dots (be)Mapei (se)

Mina Tindle (fr)Mountain bike (be)

Mourn (es)Neøv (fi)

Ninos du Brasil (it)Orla Gartland (ie)

Oso Leone (es)Palace (uk)Punke (hr)

Robbing Millions (be)Sevdaliza (nl)

Sisters (ie)Spidergawd (no)

Taymir (nl)The Hearing (fi)

the Micronaut (de)Tourist LeMC (be)

Zentralheizung of Death(Des Todes) (de)

About Eurosonic NoorderslagEurosonic Noorderslag is the key exchange and networking platform for European music, with a proven track record for helping to break new acts on the international live music scene. A sold-out event for many years, Eurosonic Noorderslag attracts over 3,200 professional delegates, including representatives of over 400 international festivals. Eurosonic Noorderslag presents showcases by more than 350 acts alongside a conference programme featuring 150 panels, keynote speakers, interviews, and workshops, as well as dinners, pitches, parties and meetings covering the latest developments in the international music, media, production and interactive industries.

Eurosonic Noorderslag has been responsible for kick-starting the careers of European acts like Ásgeir, Benjamin Clementine, Birth of Joy, Coely, Emilie Nicolas, Ewert and the Two Dragons, George Ezra, Hozier, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Jungle, Kadebostany, Larry Gus, Mighty Oaks, Milky Chance and MØ.

Conference registrations can be obtained through:www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl

It appears that Europe has an abundance of new acts on offer, as a result of what is referred

to by the Eurosonic Noorderslag organisers as ‘An unprecedented number of highly promising

artists.’ the European Music Platform has expanded its line up yet again, with latest additions

including Mapei, Mina Tindle, Ninos du Brasil, Spidergawd and Taymir booked to appear in

Groningen next year from 14-17 January.

Eurosonic Noorderslag Adds 48 Acts from15 European countries to 2015 Line-Up

Eurosonic

9

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

Eurosonic Noorderslag is launching the European Production

Innovation Conference & Fair (EPIC), a new conference that

runs alongside the existing Eurosonic Noorderslag Conference

schedule, and is entirely focused on innovation at festivals and

venues. In addition to that, Eurosonic Noorderslag is to continue

the successful Buma Music Meets Tech programme covering the

latest developments in the area of music and technology where

start-ups can present their innovations.

EPIC

The European Production Innovation Conference & Fair (EPIC)

is a new conference stream that runs alongside the existing

Eurosonic Noorderslag Conference, and is entirely focused on

innovation at festivals and venues. The event consists of three

days of discussions, presentations of products, ideas and new

ways to implement them at festivals, concerts, and venues, as

well as in the production of events. SummerLabb, which is part

of EPIC, is where research institutes, polytechnic universities and

sustainability companies give visitors the opportunity to feel,

taste and smell (technological) sustainable innovations. EPIC is

the result of a partnership between Yourope, Double 2, VVEM,

VNPF and Eurosonic Noorderslag.

EPIC takes place from January 15-17, 2015 in De Oosterpoort in

Groningen. The price for a three day registration/passepartout for

EPIC is 45 euros. A day ticket for EPIC costs 25 euros.

The latest addition to the European road map of trade events is the

premier edition of Where’s The Music? in Norrkoping, in Sweden

on February 12-14, 2015. The new event is promoted by FKP Scorpio

Sweden and has now announced the first list speakers.

Nominated speakers among others are Per Sundin, CEO Universal

Music Sweden, Michael Chugg from Australia and Paul Boswell of Free

Trade Agency (UK), Claes Olson, a producer and editor of the Swedish

trade paper Musikindustrin, Mattias Hansson, CEO and partner of

ABBA The Museum, Adam Lewis (Head of Planetary Group) Doug

Croy (The Windish Agency), Matt McDonald (Booker CMJ), Joel Borg

and Niklas Lundell (Borg & Lundell, Way Out West, Stockholm Music

and Art), Helen Sildna (CEO Tallinn Music Week), Petri Lundén, (Artist

Manager) and Fruzsina Szép (Berlin Festival/ Lollapalooza Berlin)

The registration fees for delegates varies from 3.500 to 4.500 SEK

(377/485 Euro) and includes lunch as at ILMC and privileged entrance

to showcase program as at Eurosonic. All delegates are granted access

to the Where’s the Music? – Festival 12-14 February 2015.

For the more expensive ticket, delegates receive a guaranteed access

to all concerts and conference sessions and an exclusive trade dinner.

The cheaper tickets include the lunch, but a first come, first served

ruling for the concerts and conference.

The conference takes place day time, 13-14 February 2015 at the

conference centre Louis De Geer, Norrköping.

Read more about the conference here:

www.wheresthemusic.se/en/program/

Delegate pass: www.wheresthemusic.se/en/music/festival-

tickets/registration/

For more information: www.fkpscorpio.se

New Conference Covering Production Innovation to run alongside existing daytime events

Where’s the Music?

Per Sundin

10

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

Italy’s Arezzo Wave Festival is facing

problems; founder and organiser Mauro

Valenti has reached out to his Festival

industry colleagues, members of Yourope.

He copied VIP News on the letter and gave

us permission to include it in this issue.

Dear Yourope friends,

I am writing with great sadness and a

request for Arezzo Wave. In fact, after

nearly thirty years of festival, it is in

serious danger of closing.

In 1990 I found myself at the New Music

Seminar in New York with Leif Skov

of Roskilde Festival and together we

came up with the idea of connecting

the European festivals in a network

of exchange and support. After many

meetings with various artistic directors

the first “Yourope” was born, the

logo, the philosophy, common events,

like Seville Expo in 1992, the pavilion

of Switzerland and the European

TV Superchannel as Media partner.

Those were pioneering years. Later

on Hultsfred Festival, Leysin Festival

in Geneva and other Spanish and

German Festivals joined that project.

After a break in the mid-nineties, there

have been a new start with the actual

Federation.

I am writing you knowing that I am

talking to many long-term friends of

festivals that I have visited and know

very well. The reason is not celebratory

or particularly happy, in fact after 28

editions there are many possibilities

that Arezzo Wave Love Festival will end.

We are the example of being in a state

that we would like to be different, but

unfortunately, at least in our case, things

continue to be punitive or indifferent

for those who do not have political

support or submissions to local and

national politics. Luckily for you these

words in many countries are difficult to

understand and perhaps unrealistic.

Arezzo Wave was held in Arezzo for

20 years (until 2006) and saw 200,000

people a year. There were no admission

fees for the first 20 years, and the festival

brought for the first time in Italy and

Europe hundreds of unknown artists

that are famous nowadays. Since 2007, a

clash with the new local politicians (who

wished to intervene in the planning,

in the location management, logistics,

incomes, etc.) led us to say no, forcing

us to travel around Italy through 6

different places, distant from each other

by more than 1000 km, just trying to

survive.

The latest edition, back in Arezzo, saw

a tremendous battle with committees

all against us, signatures collected

in parishes (rock = Satan), pro-Nazi

Associations’ attacks (= rock community

of drug addicts and immigrants),

petitions for noise impact, abandoned

hazardous waste (all proved to be

unfounded) and so on. Last but not least

the refusal of the existing authorization

and pre-fitted location with a fallback to

another venue only provided only two

months before the start of the Festival.

All this has led to a financial loss and

work-related stress that is no longer

sustainable.

It will therefore be impossible barring

miracles (we have not contacted the

Pope yet!) to do the 29th edition of

Arezzo Wave Love Festival. However,

we would like to continue the research

and promotion of Italian music in in our

country, in Europe and in the rest of the

world.

Our Foundation (Fondazione Arezzo

Wave Italia) has 3 main purposes: the

first is Arezzo Wave Love Festival, “the

tip of the iceberg” as the press loves

to say. Over the years the festival has

brought the name of our city, Arezzo, to

the world.

The other two aims of FAWI are less

known abroad but not less important:

first, the promotion of Italian up-and-

coming bands thanks to an extensive

presence on the Italian territory, with

a supervisor in each of the 20 Italian

regions (with more than 40,000 groups

selected in 28 years). Every year we

organize 100 selections and regional

finals and bands from each region play

Open Letter to Youropefrom Arezzo Wave OrganiserAllan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

11

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

at Arezzo Wave Love Festival. Only

Réseau Printemps de Bourges Festival

performs a similar work, the only

difference between us is that our French

friends receive public and private funds

for hundreds of thousands of Euros

from the Government, local government

and civil society, and obviously this is

absolutely correct. We instead work

with our supervisors without a single

Euro of public funds (we only had

4,000 this year from SIAE!) and only

volunteering for more than 20 years.

The live shows we organize in Palermo,

Milan, Rome, Turin, Florence, etc. are all

self-produced and have great costs. In

28 years we never had a single meeting

with the Government or the Ministry of

Culture and Youth Policy. Strange, isn’t

it? The third commitment that connects

us to the above mentioned is to promote

Italian bands abroad. We were present

at several events, like MIDEM, SXSW,

ILMC, MAMA, Eurosonic, etc., etc. All

shows of our Italian artists (last week

we were at CMJ in New York with the

stunning Mery Fiore) were paid with

our assets that were the profits of the

festival of the golden era.

We therefore ask, if possible, to every

one of you, members of Yourope, if you

could host at your festival at least one

band chosen from Arezzo Wave Band

2015. It is very important to us to know

if you accept our request by November

15th 2014 because in December we will

launch the contest and since we cannot

guarantee a slot at our festival, like we

used to do, we would like to offer at

least the possibility of playing in Europe

or beyond.

The quality of our bands is evidenced

by the fact that every year, from a

list of proposals made of both quite

established, and our up-and-coming,

bands, Eurosonic has selected the

“new proposals “ coming out of Arezzo

Wave Band for the last 3 years. Also,

we always receive great feedback by

Sonicbids and CMJ Music Marathon in

New York.

What can we offer you in exchange for

your help? In the more than 100 live

shows of selection that we organize,

we could advertise your festivals and

expand your popularity talking to our

audience, as well as our website and our

press office will advertise in a visible

way the European festivals involved.

We have not seen each other this year at

Mama, I did not want to take advantage

of the hospitality of Fernando,

attending the event and eventually

choosing a French band, since I could

not guarantee a slot at Arezzo Wave

Love Festival 2015. But there will be

other opportunities to drink a beer

together and have a chat .. meanwhile

.. I say goodbye to you all and thank you

for your attention.

Best Mauro Valenti

VIP News also checked with Christof Huber

of Yourope as regards publishing this letter

as it was addressed to the members of the

Association that he heads, he was fine with

this. The Board are of course sympathetic

to these problems being faced by a founder

member, and will consider in what ways

they can assist, such as providing letters of

support to Mauro and Arezzo Wave, but

further discussions will take place before any

decisions are taken.

Mauro Valenti

12

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

Back in 1995 UK Agent Steve Andrews (I

worked with him when I was at Chrysalis

Agency in the early 70’s) spotted a gap in

the market. He realised that there were

many schools around the UK that possessed

good facilities for presenting shows, and

more importantly had access to young

people who would become tomorrow’s

audiences for live music. He went to work

and after convincing various authorities

that this was a sound idea he set up School

Touring; the initiative led to artists ranging

from singer-songwriters on independent

labels to pop-rock bands on major labels

playing in front of kids ranging in age from

7 to 18 and in every major city and region

of the country. In many cases the acts

would also play the more traditional venues

in the evenings. Andrews found that local

radio and press are often more interested

in covering a new artist if they’re appearing

at a local school and if these additional

promo opportunities can be bolted onto

the schools tour they added value without

increasing the tour budget.

Things have moved on a lot since those early

days and Steve contacted us to give us an

update, which tells us that School Touring

is now also working with international

artists, and has added Shopping Malls to

its UK circuit:

We are very proud to have played an early

part in the growing and continuing success

of Australian band Sheppard having

arranged five Shopping Mall appearances

for them during August. Legendary

Australian promotor Michael Chugg who

signed them to his label in Australia and

his management company discovered the

band. They are signed to Decca, managed

in the UK by Martin Tibbetts and Steve

Strange for Strangeworld Management

and by Scooter Braun in the USA. Current

single “Geronimo” is now in the Spotify

Top 20 Most Streamed Tracks in the World

with over 700,000 plays per day!

We have now made an agreement with

Intu Malls so that we can streamline

the process of booking Shopping Malls

appearances and offer their Malls to artists

on a much less complicated and less costly

basis than had been possible before. Intu

own most of the UK’s biggest and most

prestigious shopping malls and this is a

major development for us and one we are

delighted to be able to offer. If you would

like to know more just get in touch.

School and Shopping Mall TouringAllan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Photoswww.schooltouring.com

Photoswww.schooltouring.com

13

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

We’re well into booking school shows for

next term with a tour for new band Young

Kato – managed by Nick Mander and with

Mark McQuillan and the team at Republic

of Music behind them. They have just come

off the Rixton UK dates and will do a two

week schools tour in Jan/Feb 2015. This

will further consolidate their fanbase and

social network outreach in advance of their

own UK tour in March.

We have also booked an exclusive school

appearance for Katherine Jenkins who

will return to her old school in Neath to

perform as part of the launch for her new

album. The album signals a “back to her

roots” direction for Katherine and nothing

could encapsulate that theme more than

a visit to her old school. As part of her

performance there she will sing a song

with the school’s choir and press and TV

will be in attendance

to record the whole

event.

We all know that

the most important

thing for a new artist to do is to connect

with its target audience and build a

fanbase and School Touring provides a

platform to enable an artist to use social

networks to actually forge “friendships”

with their newly-found fans. Internet

marketing campaigns can only achieve a

certain amount - a new artist must also

be physically present in the marketplace to

trigger the required response. The Q&A,

the meet and greet, the chat-session – we

programme all these into the school visit

to set up a real bonding process between

the artist and the audience member that

nothing else can replicate. Add to this

the performance element and you have

a formula for creating real excitement

amongst your target audience. And now

with Shopping Mall tours we can offer an

additional way to do this.

So if you’re planning to tour your artist

or you want to build a fan-base before

touring, you should consider a School or

Shopping Mall tour - either as a stand-

alone activity or as a daytime addition to

your existing touring plans.

For more information:

www.schooltouring.com

ImagIne if you could go to one website and learn

aLL about the european Live music Industry?

WeLL you can! www.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 | vip@vip-booking.com

®

vip-booking.com

14

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

The budget committee of the German Government has approved

an additional grant of 1,5 million Euro to modernize the technical

equipment of concert clubs and venues.

The concert association Livekomm developed a new support scheme

to provide subsidies for the investment into new digital technologies

in smaller and midsized clubs. The new program foresees supplying

around 100 venues with financial aid to purchase new digital sound

and light as well as DJ equipment.

The leading political spin-doctor behind this measure is Rüdiger

Kruse, a member of the German Bundestag from Hamburg. Kruse

has been a member of the budget committee since 2009 and a

correspondent for culture and media on behalf of the CDU (Christ

Democrats). Livekomm already receives funding from Initiative

Musik, an organisation dedicated to the support of popular music

on a nationwide level, mainly financed by the federal state secretary

for culture and media (BKM).

In terms of the administration and handling of this program,

Livekomm will now undertake talks with representatives of Intiative

Musik and BKM. Until now it is a one off measure that is limited to

the business year 2015.

For further information please check:

www.livemusikkommission.de

Pre-ChristmasGift For Concert VenuesManfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

Rüdiger Kruse, member of the German Bundestag

15

VIPNEWS > NOVEMBER 2014

FKP Scorpio apparently knows how to

structure a diversified festival portfolio. Unlike

any other concert company, FKP Scorpio

has developed a wide range of various

festival formats within a decade. Besides

music festivals such as Bravalla, Hurricane

& Southside, Meraluna or Northside, FKP

Scorpio also runs family entertainment

format such as the touring dining show

Palazzo, a variety show combined with star

awarded and prominent chefs.

Of course, not every FKP Scorpio venture

was a success. Festivals such as Area4 in

the Ruhr District in Germany or the take

over of the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden will

not continue, but nevertheless and without

any doubts, in recent years FKP Scorpio has

become the biggest festival promoter in

Europe.

The newest festival format from FKP

Scorpio is entitled ‘A Summer’s Tale’, and

the concept is very different from all other

festival types that the company promotes.

This festival’s strap line is ‘culture, culinary

enjoyment and comfort’. Besides music it

will also feature an art program including

readings, art exhibitions, cinema screenings,

workshops, sport activities from beach

volleyball to yoga, bicycle and canoe tours.

Other festival features will be a distinctive

food program, primarily focusing on

organic food and various opportunities for

accommodation on the site, ranging from

camping to upper class comfort lodging will

be available.

The event will take place in the nature

park Lüneburger Heide, close to Bremen,

Hamburg and Hanover on August 4-8, 2015.

A program has not yet been announced

although tickets are already on sale, ranging

from 69 Euro for day pass to 199 Euro for

a festival pass for one person including

comfortable accommodation. Tickets for

kids aged 6 to 14 years start at 45 Euro per

day and 85 Euro for four days. The entrance

for kids below 6 years is free.

For further information please check:

www.asummerstale.de/en/

a-summers-tale.html

A Summer’s Tale - New German Festival by FKP ScorpioManfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

16

VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > NOVEMBER 2014

It is the most international German festival

brand. No other open air event in the country

attracts so many people from abroad, even

coming from as far as Australia and South

America to attend this event.

The share of international visitors is usually

around 30 percent, and as usual next year’s

edition is again already sold out. While

ticket sales (except secondary ticketing)

aren’t so much of an issue for the organizers

of Wacken, VIP News took the chance

asking Holger Hübner of ICS Festival Service

GmbH about side projects and of course

that secondary ticketing issue. Hübner

founded Wacken together with Thomas

Jensen in 1990, after coming up with the

idea the year before. Since then this event

has developed into a ‘must attend’ for metal

fans, providing various spin offs such as the

‘Full Metal Cruise’, the Hamburg Metal

Dayz or social and environmental friendly

activities that sustain the vibe of this unique

event.

VIP News: ICS Festival Service GmbH,

the company behind Wacken is

organising a Metal convention. Please

tell us, how you came up with this

project...

Holger Hübner: Since 2012 we have

organized the Hamburg Metal Dayz which

take place during the Reeperbahn Festival in

Hamburg. The Reeperbahn Festival is a great

festival but Heavy Metal was missing in its

repertoire. So we decided to bring Metal

to this event. The Hamburg Metal Dayz is

not only an indoor festival with great heavy

metal music but offers the visitor a broad

program. We have panels, meet&greets and

workshops. In addition, people from the

business come together and network.

VIP News: How many people are

attending the Hamburg Metal Dayz

(HMD) and foremost, are these mainly

people from the business sector or just

normal Metal fans?

Hübner: Around 1000 people attended

the Hamburg Metal Dayz this year. People

from the business as well as Metal fans

enjoyed two days of music, entertainment

and the chance to establish new business

connections.

VIP News: Within the conference

program of HMD, there is a scheduled

debate focusing on the subjects of

secondary ticketing market and on

the pricing of concerts tickets. Since

Wacken 2015 is already sold out

again, what are your experiences in

reference to your efforts to combat the

unauthorized resale of Wacken tickets?

Hübner: In the last two years we had

personalized tickets for the Wacken Open

Air. The intention was to contain the resale

of Wacken tickets mainly because some

people took advantage of our community

and sold the tickets for a lot of money.

We wanted to protect the community.

Unfortunately, the German law does not

support our efforts. And for that reason the

personalized tickets were not practicable.

VIP News: Wacken is a landmark event

and actually can be quite influential.

However, the French promoter

association Prodiss lobbied successfully

for a strict law against unauthorized

secondary ticketing. Why is it that a

similar law hasn’t been introduced in

Germany yet?

Hübner: I can’t tell you that. But it is

a fact that France has a different law

than Germany in that case, so for French

companies it is easier to react.

VIP News: When it comes to secondary

ticketing, German promoters are still

There’s More To it Than Just Wacken...Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

17

VIPNEWS > INDEPTH STORY > NOVEMBER 2014

acting in isolation. Until now the most

successful companies to ban secondary

ticketing are MCT and perhaps ICS

Festival Service. In France Prodiss

created a coalition with the sport and

theatre sector and proactively lobbied

the French Government. Is it just a

lack of understanding or rather a lack

of effort to develop joint strategies to

strike back against companies such as

Viagogo or Ticketbande?

Hübner: I don’t know why that is. But as

mentioned in your first question there’s

a different situation in France and they

have laws regarding secondary ticketing

and ticket trading. So it is probably easier

to fight this fight because you can clearly

analyse situations and foresee what’s going

to happen - also from a legal point of view.

You know, we made huge efforts to stop

secondary ticketing but if the courts are not

on your side it is difficult. There’s no law in

Germany regarding personalized tickets,

reselling personalized tickets, offering

personalized tickets or any jurisdiction you

can rely on.

VIP News: At the moment you also have

legal battle going on with Ebay. Can

you please explain what this case is all

about?

Hübner: As mentioned, there’s no law in

Germany regarding personalized tickets,

reselling personalized tickets, offering

personalized tickets or jurisdiction you can

rely on. We obtained an interim order against

eBay at the district court in Hamburg to

delete all offers regarding W:O:A tickets in

2013. We claimed that personalized tickets

aren’t tradable goods (which is not clearly

stated in law). But the district court was

on our side. That forced eBay to stop those

offers which is the only effective way to

fight against resellers. Then eBay appealed a

conviction. the whole case was then decided

by the Higher Regional Court. The Higher

Regional Court only make a decision if they

accept the conviction. In another lawsuit

from a German soccer league team the

same Higher Regional Court decided that

ticket personalization does not lead to the

fact that those tickets aren’t tradable goods

anymore. In our case the HRC said that even

if it WOULD lead to that fact (or IF tickets

aren’t tradable), further questions would

have to be examined in every individual case

(every ticket offer) and that it cannot be

expected from eBay to put up with all those

checks in every single case regarding the

amount of goods traded every day on their

platform. The result for us is that we’d have

to fight against every single reseller on eBay

and, in that case, cannot force platforms to

stop those offers. That means, that there’s

no effective and doable way to avoid those

offers at the moment.

VIP News: Next year is going to be the

25th edition of Wacken. Am I right that

your budget for fireworks is bigger than

the one for the marketing spending?

Hübner: A little correction here: This year’s

festival was the 25th edition of the Wacken

Open Air and we didn’t have any fireworks.

VIP News: How much are you involved

in the Wacken Foundation, do you take

the lead within this organisation?

Hübner: My partner Thomas and I initiated

the Wacken Foundation but we are not

taking a lead within the foundation. The

foundation has different curators, which

decide on the applications of the different

bands. Nonetheless the Wacken Foundation

is really important for us and we try to

support in every way that we can.

VIP News: Can you please elaborate on

the activities and the structure of the

Wacken Foundation?

Hübner: The Wacken Foundation supports

Heavy metal and hard rock newcomer

bands. We need new, young bands to keep

our music alive. As for the structure of the

Foundation: The band writes an application

for the support they need (i.e. money for

their tour, equipment, rent for a rehearsal

room) and submit it; this application is then

reviewed by the different curators of the

Wacken Foundation. One of the trustees is

Metal Queen Doro Pesch for example. They

then decide if they support the band.

For further information on this festival

please check: www.wacken.comHolger Huebner of ICS Festival Service GmbH

18

VIPNEWS > BUSINESS > NOVEMBER 2014 MUSIC IN SHARES

CTS Eventim - In The Waiting Loop

The next CTS Eventim business report is scheduled for November 26.

Really big news is currently not the case for the company, certainly

not in reference to the ongoing investigations against Klaus Peter

Schulenburg by the prosecution department Munich. According to

media reports Schulenberg is allegedly suspected of being involved

in illegal secondary ticketing sales for the World Cup 2006.

Those investigations seem not to be so much of an issue to the US

company FMR LLC, also known as Fidelity Investments, one of the

biggest investment companies in the world. Fidelity Investments in-

creased its stake in CTS Eventim from 3.0 to 3.05 percent. Since the

last issue of VIP News the share went up from 20,42 to 21,92 Euro

on November 20.

DEAG - Preparing for 2015

After some legal re-encounters with Lieberberg concerning whether

MLK is able to obtain the relevant permissions to run Rock Am Ring

on the new site at the airport of Mendig, DEAG meanwhile came up

with some news that concerns the daily business of the company in

the near future. DEAG announced that it sold its 10 percent stake in

Ticketmaster Germany to Ticketmaster NVH Inc. based in the tax ha-

ven Delaware. Besides the sale, DEAG declared that the companies

agreed a longer lasting distribution deal.

One day later on November 14, DEAG announced that it will launch

with Myticket.de its own ticketing platform. The company therefore

teamed up with ticketing service operator white Label Ecommerce

GmbH who will supply the required software and technology.

The announcement at least caused a reaction from the analysts of

Hauck & Aufhäuser, who optimistically raised their price target for

the share from 10.50 to 12.00 Euros. Anyhow, currently the share is

at 6.40, previously VIP News reported 5.95 Euro.

SFX Entertainment - The Fascination Of Numbers

The business performance of SFX Entertainment is amazing. For the

first nine months of 2014, SFX Entertainment reported revenue of

$258.8 million and gross profit of $64.4 million. Compared to last

year’s figures the revenue tripled with revenue of $86.2 and a gross

profit of $11.3 million.

But then there are these other figures entitled as ‘operating loss’

and ‘net loss’. The declared operating loss until September 30 was

$86 million, the net loss $94.4 million. Last time the reported share

price was $5.40. This time it is $3.78. The report was published on

November 14, guess when the share price moved downwards...

Music In SharesManfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com

The Agency Group continues it’s rapid

growth having acquired another company

with the purchase of electronic music-

focussed US booking agency, Bond Music

Group.

Natalia Nas, CEO of The Agency Group’s US

operations stated: “We had been talking

with Kris [Krajewski, Bond Music Group CEO]

for a while about some form of strategic tie-

up. With the major changes that have done

so much to transform The Agency Group

over these past eighteen months, it became

apparent that the time was now optimum for

our companies to finally come together. Kris

and his team have built an extremely well-

balanced, dynamic roster and this acquisition

brings in-house a professional, knowledgea-

ble and established team that will spearhead

the further development of our electronic/

house/dance music division”.

Amongst the artists on Bond’s books are

Moby, Dirty Vegas, Francois K and MNDR.

Agency Group ContinuesExpansionAllan McGowan am@vip-booking.com

Natalia Nastaskin, CEO

19

VIPNEWS > BUSINESS > NOVEMBER 2014

Live Nation’s Ticketmaster has bought some-

times controversial secondary ticketing firm

Seatwave - or, specifically, it’s acquired “op-

erating assets from Seatwave” - a deal which

will enable the ticketing giant to extend its re-

sale business into a number of new European

markets, including Germany, Italy and Spain.

The live sector has something of a love/hate

relationship with secondary ticketing (aka on-

line touting), of course, though major player

Live Nation/Ticketmaster quietly got into the

resale game in some countries, arguing that

it’s better for online touting to be within an

environment controlled by and ultimately

benefiting the music business.

Ticketmaster’s US resale platform Tick-

etsNow has caused some controversy along

the way, though its UK secondary service

Get Me In has generally avoided too much

criticism, even when secondary ticketing has

been under the spotlight in media and politi-

cal circles over here.

Under the new deal, Seatwave will continue

to operate separately but as “a Ticketmaster

company”. According the official statement,

this move “builds on Ticketmaster’s success-

ful strategy of creating best-in-class, con-

sumer-friendly resale platforms in the United

Kingdom, Australia and the United States”.

Live Nation boss Michael Rapino told report-

ers: “On a global basis we strive to deliver

fans all of their ticket options in a safe and

convenient marketplace. The acquisition of

Seatwave is accelerating this strategy across

Europe and we will continue investing in our

platforms to provide fans the best ticket buy-

ing experience”.

Meanwhile Mark Yovich, President of Ticket-

master International, said: “Combining Tick-

etmaster’s ticketing and technology exper-

tise with Seatwave’s business in additional

markets allows us to provide fans with a bet-

ter ticketing experience across Europe, with

more ticket options to live events. We deliver

quality services in the resale industry, which

will continue to build consumer confidence

and satisfaction in our resale marketplaces”.

And on his side of the fence, Seatwave CEO

Ajay Chowdhury added: “This is great for

Seatwave’s customers. Since our inception

seven years ago we have given fans of live

music, sport, theatre and comedy increased

choice when buying and selling tickets.

Live Nation Entertainment reported a rise

in revenue of 9 percent and the company

expects record sales, adjusted operating in-

come and free cash flow growth this year.

The company said it is promoting 22 of the

Top 25 global tours this year, including Jay Z,

Beyonce, One Direction and Like Bryan. Live

Nation said revenue was $2.5 billion in the

third quarter, up from $2.3 billion a year ago.

Diluted net income per share rose to 49 cents

from 22 cents in the same quarter last year.

The company sold 36.6 million tickets during

the quarter, down from 37.6 million while

its total number of concerts worldwide rose

5,157 compared with 5,073. “Fans,” the

term Live Nation uses to describe a person

attending one of its events, rose to 22.1 mil-

lion from 21.2 million.

By segment, Artist Nation, the firm’s man-

agement service that boasts clients like Ma-

donna, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Miley

Cyrus, saw the largest growth in revenue at

18 percent. Concert revenue grew 11 per-

cent, ticketing grew 8 percent and sponsor-

ship and advertising, the smallest segment,

grew 4 percent.

Shares of Live Nation rose fractionally to

$24.86 on Thursday and fell fractionally after

the closing bell.

“The live business continues to have a ro-

bust outlook as artists are reliant on touring

as their main earnings driver and the best

means to engage and connect with their fan

base,” CEO Michael Rapino said Thursday.

Ticketmaster Buys Seatwave

Live Nation Report a 9 percent Rise inQuarterly Revenue

Seatwave CEOAjay Chowdhury

MichaelRapino

VIPNEWS > MISC > NOVEMBER 2014

Alan Parsons Live Project Territory: WorldwidePeriod: 2014Agency: World Entertainment Associates of AmericaAgent: John Regna - Artist Agent/ManagerPhone: +1 407-993-4000E-mail: JPR@JohnRegna.comHomepage: www.AlanParsonsTourPromo.com

Orquesta Buena Vista Social ClubTerritory: Scandinavia, Eastern EU, UK, IrelandPeriod: June-JulyAgency: Sasa MusicAgent: David FlowerPhone: +44 20 7359 9232E-mail: rab@sasa.demon.co.ukHomepage: www.sasamusic.com

ORBITAL ñ 25th year anniversary tour in 2014Territory: The World excluding USAPeriod: May onwardsAgency: Value Added TalentAgent: Dan SilverPhone: +44 207 704 97 20E-mail: dan@vathq.co.ukHomepage: www.vathq.co.uk

TinariwenTerritory: Scandinavia, Netherlands, Eastern EU, UK, IrelandPeriod: May - September 2015Agency: Sasa MusicAgent: George PrincePhone: +44 20 7359 9232E-mail: george@sasa.demon.co.ukHomepage: www.sasamusic.com

THE ORCHESTRA starring ELO former members Territory: WorldwidePeriod: 2014-2015Agency: World Entertainment Associates of AmericaAgent: John Regna - Artist Agent/ManagerPhone: +1 407-993-4000E-mail: jpr@johnregna.comHomepage: www.THEORCHESTRAonline.com

Bo Kaspers Orkester Territory: World widePeriod: By requestAgency: Lifeline EntertainmentAgent: Michael HenrikssonE-mail: michael.henriksson@lifeline.seHomepage: www.lifeline.se

MORE ARTIST AVAILS ON:WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM

POST YOUR ARTIST AVAILS ON:WWW.VIP-BOOKING.COM

ARTIST AVAILS

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club

MEMBER PRESENTATION

Armin RahnAgency & Management

Founded by Armin Rahnin 1973

About Our Company

VIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest

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 consistently offered

our subscribers the very best in database services and now boast

subscribers in over 30 countries.

Today VIP-Booking offers a range of tools for the industry – including

VIP-News, VIP-Booking, VIP-Book and VIP-Contract.

Please visit vip-booking.com for further information .

Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated .

®

vip-booking.com

20