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PreMIuM ›› VOl. 132 ›› JaNuary 2011
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Welcome to our first News of 2011 and a
belated Happy New Year to you all! All of
the team shook themselves out of holiday
mode by attending the first industry event
of the year in a rain swept Groningen in
the North of Holland. This 25th edition
of Eurosonic Noorderslag certainly lived
up to expectations, and I’ve yet to hear
a complaint from anyone who attended
about both the Conference and the fes-
tival and showcase programmes. I think
Dietmar Schwenger, editor of Germany’s
MusikWoche, summed it up perfectly
when he told me, “Those Dutch people
really know how to run a business event
– creating an easy-going atmosphere and
still giving the delegates good opportu-
nities for business!” We include further
comments in our report in this issue.
Although we came out of 2010 with some
trepidation about the new year, following
the release of worrying figures showing a
decline in concert tickets, particularly in
the US, but also to a lesser extent in Eu-
rope and other territories, the overall at-
mosphere amongst the assembled 2000
plus professionals was generally optimis-
tic. Even in the ‘Future of Record Compa-
nies’ panel, despite the early accusation
of a self publicising member of the Digital
business community that the panel mem-
bers were, ‘really down, and hanging in
their seats’, the label representatives as-
sembled by European independent labels
Association, Impala, were not displaying
suicidal tendencies and although wary
were adamant that independent record
companies would not disappear in 2011!
In the ‘Less Tours – Less Tickets’ session
based on Pollstar’s end of year figures,
the reaction from the Live sector panel-
lists, including Dutch based Mojo Con-
certs, part of Live Nation, which had laid
off staff last year, was pretty much ‘busi-
ness as usual – let’s get on with it!’
In 2010 the weather in Groningen was
very cold and the streets were danger-
ously icy, more than a few music business
types took a tumble, this year it was not
so cold but it rained, sometimes heav-
ily. The crowds attending the free con-
certs, a Eurosonic Noorderslag gift to the
City that has been the event’s host for
25 years, didn’t seem to mind, the large
umbrella like structure over the audience
area in the Grote Markt. In return organ-
isers Peter Smidt and Peter Sikkema re-
ceived the Freedom of the City from Gro-
ningen’s Mayor.
Talking of weather apparently the South
of France has been experiencing colder
nights than usually expected by the mu-
sic business types attending Midem in
Cannes, but as referred to in the News
this is as nothing compared to the re-
cent floods in Australia and elsewhere in
the World, so we should count ourselves
lucky!
I personally had a very good, though
busy time in Groningen, having had the
pleasure to present the European Festi-
val Awards. There were many highlights,
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McGowan’s Musings:
Allan McGowan
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but Leif Skov’s speech on receiving the
Lifetime Achievement Award stood
out, reminding people what a force for
good the gathering together of people
and the power of live music can, and
will continue, to be. (See report in this
issue)
These Musings may appear a little light
on humour but if you need a laugh at
any time get Serge Grimaux of Ticket
Pro in Prague, to tell you the story of
how one of his first jobs in the touring
concert business was having to get up
in the morning to screw the horns back
on the buffalo! (He’ll be at ILMC 23 – ask
him about it!) He told this along with
stories from Bob Lefsetz and Matt Mc-
Donald of CMJ at the ‘Off the Record
with a Smile’ session in Groningen. It al-
ways reminds me that this is the ‘enter-
tainment’ business and there are great
stories to be told. If you’ve got any let
us know! – In the meantime Ladies and
Gentlemen let’s think positive thoughts
for a great 2011, and here’s the News...
secondary Ticketing discussed in uK ParliamentAllan McGowan [email protected]
The ever contentious issue of second-
ary ticketing - or ticketing touting as
many still call it - was discussed in par-
liament again later today as a private
members bill on the issue put forward
by Labour MP for Washington and
Sunderland West, Sharon Hodgson
last year got its second reading in the
House Of Commons on January 21.
Some in the live industry have accepted
that secondary ticketing has become a
fact of life, and that the real problem is
making sure that shares of the income
generated through the practice are fair-
ly allocated to all involved in the shows
involved. Others, Harvey Goldsmith
for instance, are still convinced that it
is a heinous practice that only harms
the perception and the future of the
live industry. Many consumer groups
have also joined in the criticism, but
the Government have so far thrown the
ball back into the live industry’s court,
claiming that it should take care of its
own regulating. However even those
convinced that secondary ticketing
should be banned say this cannot be
enforced without new laws.
Sharon Hodgson’s bill proposes a new
rule permitting promoters to stop
touts from re-selling tickets for any-
thing more than a 10% mark up. She
told UK tabloid the Daily Mirror, “Genu-
ine fans, particularly younger ones, are
being done out of the opportunity of
going to see their favourite artists by
a growing band of people looking to
make a fast buck. People - who are of-
ten involved in criminal activities - are
making staggering amounts of profit
by manipulating the supply of tickets
and exploiting the demand. “Little, if
any, of that money ever finds its way
back to the people who worked for
it, or to the Treasury for that matter. I
don’t want to stop genuine fans sell-
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VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
ing on tickets they can’t use anymore, or
buying re-sale tickets if they didn’t have
the chance to buy them when they went
on sale. But the current system is just not
working in their best interests, so I believe
that it is up to Government to ensure that
it does.” You can read more at:
www.sharonhodgson.org
New technologies, such as tickets deliv-
ered by mobile phone will, it is hoped by
many, make it more difficult for touts to
get their hands on large amounts of tick-
ets, although experience has indicated
that where there’s a will there’s a way, par-
ticularly when large amounts of money are
involved. Companies like Viagogo claim
that they serve a social requirement by al-
lowing fans to resell a ticket that they can-
not or don’t want to use, but it is unlikely
that these companies would survive if that
element was their only market.
If Hodgson’s bill were enacted, it would
mean that unauthorised retailers would
face a large fine if they advertised or sold
tickets at a price 10% above their face
value. But unless the bill gets government
support there’s little chance of it becoming
law. The bill has been re-tabled for on May
13th, but it is seventh on the list, meaning
that it is unlikely for further discussion as
parliamentary business at that time.
Sharon Hodgson
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tallinnmusicweek.ee
24, 25, 26 March 2011
Tallinn Music Week is a showcase festival and a music industry networking event that started out in 2009, a year that was declared the Year of Innovation in Estonia. Having partnered up with Tallinn, European Capital of Culture in 2011, and the country’s very own brain child Skype, it is a music export plat-form for Estonian and the neighboring coun-tries’ talent, as well as a tool to encourage professionalism and growth of our region’s music business. Tallinn Music Week welcomes around 100 international delegates to the fes-tival each year, to build professional contacts with local industry and get acquainted with the local artists and music scene.
At the third edition of Tallinn Music Week in 2011 we will present a lineup of around 100 bands and artists, so it is a perfect time to visit early springtime Tallinn during a weekend full of fantastic music in the best venues for the most demanding tastes: from world music, jazz and contemporary classical to punk, elec-tro, metal and anything in between.
Come and join us in 2011, when Tallinn will be the European Capital of Culture!
Delegates’ registration is open at tallinnmusicweek.ee Contact us: [email protected]
“I thought the level of organization and hospitality Tallinn Music Week provided was superb. Tallinn’s concert venues were great. It was one of the most enjoyable conference showcase events I have been to (and I have been to a few!).” Martin Elbourne (Great Escape, Glastonbury):
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The UK’s Association of Independent
Festivals (AIF) started the year in very
buoyant fashion, looking ahead to the
2011 festival season and welcoming
seven new festival members into the
fold. These latest additions take mem-
bership of the two-year-old organisa-
tion up to 31.
Joining the likes of Bestival, Green
Man, Glade and Creamfields are:
- North Dorset’s End of the Road
Festival
- Festival Awards’ Best Small - Festival
2010 Winner, Kendal Calling
- Jersey’s Grassroots Eco Music
Festival
- Lancashire’s Beat-Herder Festival
- Deer Stalker Festival
- Reading’s three weekend long
Outside:Inside Festival
- Derbyshire’s family music festival
Bearded Theory
AIF, a not for profit body, was con-
ceived by Bestival promoter Rob da
Bank and Graphite’s Ben Turner, and
was set up in 2008. The association’s
founder members included Bestival,
Cornbury Festival, Creamfields, Evo-
lution Festival, Field Day/Underage,
Secret Garden Party, Summer Sundae
Weekender and WOMAD. The aim
was to establish best practice for inde-
pendent festivals in a variety of areas
such as security, the environment and
beyond. Successes include its ‘twin-
ning’ initiative, which sees members
linking up with like-minded festivals
across the world for mutual promo-
tion and exchange of information, the
Security Task Force, created to tackle
festival related crime, as well as a
groundbreaking marketing deal with
Visit Britain. The Association offers
these new members the benefit of
the organisation’s collective power in
promoting their interests to the wider
music business and government.
Claire O’Neill, AIF General Manager,
said, “We are happy to see the contin-
ued growth of the AIF membership. It’s
a positive reinforcement of the Associa-
tion’s value, providing a voice that will
be heard for the independents. 2010
has seen a host of industry wide issues
come to light that will directly affect
independent festivals. The need to join
together for collective action has never
been more apparent.”
VIP-News asked Claire to specify a cou-
ple of the issues she refers to and to il-
lustrate some of the moves planned to
tackle these in 2011:
Claire O’Neill: One of the key indus-
try wide issues that AIF and the event
industry as a whole is faced with at
present is the PRS LP and DP Tariff re-
view. The 31st Dec 2010 was the dead-
line for interested parties to submit
their responses to the consultation,
which we have done. We now await
the announcement to come from PRS
in light of the submissions they have
received, and any necessary action will
follow. This is coming at a time of VAT
increases and a national financial low,
which makes forward planning and
having a group to talk to who are ‘in
the same boat’ very valuable.
Late 2010 also saw the police charge
guideline review, and also a consulta-
aIF Membership GrowsFor 2011 Festival seasonAllan McGowan [email protected]
This year’s event that brings a multi-
tude of music business people into
my hometown (they did ask permis-
sion), The Great Escape will take
place on 12-14th May.
As well as the music business con-
vention, Brighton’s gig venues will
present more than bands. Amongst
the first to be announced are:
Warpaint, Katy B, Brother, Twin
Shadow, D/R/U/G/S, Becoming Real,
PVT, Dutch Uncles, Tribes, worrieda-
boutsatan, Teeth, Visions Of Tree,
and Seams. Friendly Fires will per-
form a special show at the festivals
main venue The Dome.
For more information go to:
www.escapegreat.com
Great escape announces First BandsAllan McGowan [email protected]
Katy B will perform at the Great Escape
Claire O’Neill
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VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
tion for review of the Licensing Act 2003.
These legislative or licensing decisions
can have impact upon festivals large and
small, and both sides of the fence welcome
a collective voice for their representation
in responding to such matters. In 2011 we
will also be working collectively towards
improved environmental management of
festivals and ethical issues, which are of
concern to our members such as second-
ary ticketing.
VIP-News: - Do you envisage more crosso-ver work with some of the bigger festivals that are not AIF members? Generally would you say that your members are optimistic about their fortunes in 2011?
Claire: As in the case of the PRS review,
legislation, environmental issues etc, there
will always be some scope for festivals of
all sizes and styles to work together. This
is not about entertainment on site etc, but
the external influences that affect the in-
dustry as a whole. With the exception of
one or two festivals who were sadly can-
celled in part due to hiked police charges
or land issues, the AIF membership enjoyed
a very healthy year with a great number of
sell out events. As a whole the independ-
ent festival sector who are represented by
AIF are looking positively forwards to 2011
and beyond with some exciting projects
on the horizon.
Festival awards europe winners announcedAllan McGowan [email protected]
The best European festivals, artists and pro-
moters of 2010 were revealed at a sold out
ceremony, which took place at Groningen’s
Stadsschouwburg in The Netherlands, on
the opening night of the 25th Anniversary
edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag.
Decided by a combination of public vote
and industry juries, Festival Awards Eu-
rope is the only event solely dedicated
to recognising the contributions and
achievements of the event organisers and
performing artists that generate billions of
Euros for local economies and brighten up
the summer for tens of millions of festival-
goers each year.
For the 2009 Awards Belgium did extreme-
ly well, coming away with multiple prizes,
but this year Ireland led, taking 3, Poland
and Germany took two each. Muse also
took two awards, but were unfortunately
not there to receive them.
More than 350,000 votes were cast by
fans to decide the winners in the follow-
ing categories:
- Best Major European Festival:
Heineken Open’er Festival - Poland
- Best Medium-Sized European Festival:
Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival -
Ireland
- Best Small European Festival:
5 Tauron Nowa Muzyka Festival - Poland
- Best New European Festival:
Temple House Festival - Ireland
- Best Indoor Festival:
Rolling Stone Weekender - Germany
- Best European Festival Line-Up:
Oxegen - Ireland
- Best Newcomer:
Florence and the Machine
- Best Headliner:
Muse
- Festival Anthem of the Year:
Muse - Uprising
The following winners were chosen by an
industry jury, which included prominent
journalists, booking agents, managers,
artists and promoters:
- YOUROPE Green ‘N’ Clean Festival Of
The Year:
Boom Festival - Portugal
- Artist’s Favourite European Festival:
Melt! - Germany
- Virtual Festivals Europe presents
Promoter Of The Year:
Kilimanjaro/K2
- Yourope Lifetime Achievement Award:
Leif Skov
Stefan Lehmkuhl from Melt Festival Ger-
many was surprised to win the artist best
festival award saying “It was the greatest
honour” adding that “according to Noel
Gallagher Melt Festival looks like the inside
of Marilyn Manson’s brain”
Leif Skov, one of the pioneers of Denmark’s
Roskilde Festival was presented with the
Lifetime Achievement Award. In a mov-
ing and inspiring speech on receiving his
award, he said: “People and music together
can move mountains and change opinions.
And through all of our work with our festi-
vals we have invented and defined for the
world a new set of values that lie above and
beyond a standard set of values that can be
measured.”
James Drury, MD of Festival Awards Ltd,
which organises the Awards said: “With
over 350,000 votes and a 37% increase in
the number of events our second edition
demonstrated the breadth and strength of
feeling among fans and festivals across the
continent. This was a great celebration of the
world leading festival scene.”
Christof Huber, General Secretary
YOUROPE commented, “It was a major step
forward from last year’s awards. We are re-
ally looking forward to the next edition and
are confident that they will continue to go
from strength to strength.”
There were performances on the night
from Alice Gold, Laura Jansen and Ben
L’Oncle Soul.
http://eu.festivalawards.com/
Leif Skov from Roskilde Festival received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Gronningen
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I mentioned the weather at a couple of Eu-
ropean music trade events in the Musings,
however I realise that none of us have any
right to real complaints about the effects
of the weather when compared with the
extraordinary floods that have recently
decimated Queensland, Australia, with
three quarters of the state being declared
a disaster zone. The authorities and peo-
ple from all over Australia are involved in
helping the area in its recovery. The music
business is of course pitching in. Organ-
izers of Big Day Out have pledged$20,000
for Queensland’s flood-relief efforts,
and a recent concert held in Brisbane,
Float On...A Brisbane Flood Relief Ben-
efit featured live performances from Kate
Miller-Hedike, Hungry Kids of Hungary,
Little Scout, Custard and more with all
proceeds going to the Premier’s Flood
Relief Appeal. Also Industry heavyweight
promoters are discussing the prospect of
a benefit concert. Event producer Mark
Pope, promoter Michal Chugg, booker
Joe Segrato and promoter and label boss
Michael Gudinski have apparently met to
begin planning the prospect. The event
may be modelled on the Sound Relief
concerts, held simultaneously in Mel-
bourne and Sydney last year in the wake
of the Victorian bushfires, which raised
over $9million.
australian live Music Businessweighs in to Help Flood relief appealsAllan McGowan [email protected]
Hungry Kids of Hungary
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Rather than writing a full journalistic re-
port there are occasions when it is better
to let industry professionals give their re-
actions in their own words. Manfred Tari
took a wander around Groningen and
spoke to a variety of Eurosonic Noorder-
slag delegates: This report reveals an un-
filtered chorus of opinions and covers a
spread of news items that concern all of
the industry, not just those that attended
the anniversary edition of a very success-
ful edition of the one and only Eurosonic
Noorderslag music convention in Gronin-
gen in the Netherlands.
VIP-News talked to some of the Eurosonic
Noorderslag visitors and asked them for
their observations of the event as well as
their expectations for business in 2011.
VIP-News: What’s your impression of Euro-sonic Noorderslag 2011?
Bernard Batzen - Azimuth Productions
in France: As usual very good. I saw some
exciting new bands. The new thing is that
you can also discover a lot of bands who
are not in the official programme. I think
it’s quite impressive because 400 bands
are playing during 4 nights and it’s just
incredible. I think it makes Groningen now
the new centre for Europe emerging tal-
ents.
VIP-News: Well, what were your favourite bands?
Batzen: I’ve seen several very good acts. I
wouldn’t say musically politically correct
because Swiss guys playing Zydeco and
Cajun music and the Bavarian Ska Dub. It´s
not the next big thing but it is really good
and honest music, played by very good
musicians.
VIP-News: What are the name of the bands?
Batzen: Mama Rosin and LaBrassBanda
from Germany.
Stefan Reichmann, Haldern Open Air in
Germany says that he liked: “LaBrassBanda.
My favourite band, I love all kind of bands
that discover their roots - they’re com-
pletely Bavarian and this comes across so
well on stage. Ben Howard was really good
but I think as usual the best thing about
Eurosonic is that you meet all the other
people to drink beer together in a relaxing
atmosphere. And to find out about who is
buying which acts…”
VIP-News: What do you expect for the busi-ness year 2011?
Reichmann: I don’t know. I think every-
thing will work out. As a German saying
has it; the farmer says “it’s going deeper
and deeper”. I expect a wonderful year. “
Rob Challice from Coda Agency in UK
said: “I think I am going back and for the
first time booking a German band and
one from Switzerland. LaBrassBanda and
Mama Rosin.” About the convention itself
Challice said: “Everything’s fine except the
weather, the rain. Some people say some
years are better than the others but it is re-
ally about how hard you work, how many
bands you are going to see. I like to arrive
on the Wednesday, it really makes sense.
I am not sure if the European Festival
Awards were useful three hours of my life.
I rather prefer seeing bands and network-
ing more.
VIP-News: What is your expectation for the business year 2011?
Challice: I think its overseeing the issues
over the last year or two and some of the
things that took us by surprise like less at-
tendance on certain levels, but business is
in a very good position, festivals are even
in a great position. I think club promoters
and smaller promoters have adjusted to
the recession and basically I think the busi-
ness is in a good position.
»I think it’s an improvement over the last 2 years.
The program was even better and the surroundings were
improved«
- Roman Pitone
VIP-News also talked to Roman Pitone
who is the head of booking at the German
music magazine Visions: “I think it’s an im-
provement over the last 2 years. The pro-
gram was even better and the surround-
ings were improved. For journalists they
have this new media centre booth in the
Oosterport, this was really great.”
VIP-News: What were the most interesting bands you have discovered?
Pitone: First of all the onethat impressed
me most which is probably one of the
festivals favourite because everyone was
chasing them was ‘Dry the River’ I think
from England I´m not too sure, and obvi-
ously Kvelertak from Norway. What else?
‘The Joy Formidable’ and some Dutch
bands which I saw at ‘Ray’s Dutch Impact
Revue’ which were Moss and Laura Jansen,
which were both really good….
Everybody does interviews with Rob Be-
rends, chairman of Network Europe and
owner of Paperclip agency in the Nether-
lands. So we thought it is about time to
start talking to his business partner Hilde
Spille as well.
VIP-News: What’s your impression of Euro-sonic Noorderslag 2011?
Spille: I had some very good meetings
during the day time about special projects
I am working on for Network Europe and
I’ve just visited a panel about Eastern Eu-
ropean festivals and found it very useful.
25th years of eurosonic Noorderslag– successful as ever!Manfred Tari [email protected]
Rob Challice
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I saw great bands last night and the night
before and I am amazed that it been run-
ning for 25 years. So, congratulations to
Eurosonic Noorderslag!
VIP-News: What do you expect for the busi-ness year 2011?
Spille: I have no idea what the future will
bring. We will just have to see. I think that
it will get a bit tougher for Dutch venues. I
see that some of them are booking fewer
concerts, in the recent months there have
been less concerts than in the years be-
fore. So, competition will grow harder.
It will be more difficult for upcoming
acts. But in general I think it will still be a
healthy year.
Holger Schmidt from Rheinkultur-Festival
in Germany, a free event which suffered a
financial loss after the last edition was hit
by very bad weather and less visitors due
to the Football World Cup, said about Euro-
sonic Noorderslag: “I had a very nice week-
end here actually. It was the first time I had
the chance to moderate a panel. We did
something about ‘Green’ events and I was
really surprised by the huge audience we
had there. We had about 80 people, usu-
ally we discuss this subject before only 10
or 15 people. and it was a very, very fruit-
ful session. I again met all my colleagues
from the European festivals and this was
good as well. I saw a couple of bands, but
it’s always a gamble whether you see the
good or not so good ones. Anyway, I saw
Kvelertak, which I found very good. Yester-
day I saw Inspector Clouseau from France,
they’re brilliant, and Murder from Denmark
and that’s about it.
VIP-News: By the way, what is going on at Rheinkultur?
Schmidt: We will decide next week when-
ever we will go on or not. But I am quite
hopeful that we can make it.
From Melt-Booking in Germany Stefan Le-
hmkuhl, Alexander Kralitsch and others
attended Eurosonic Noorderslag. Lehm-
kuhl who also accepted ‘The Artist Choice
Award’ for Melt-Festival at the European
Festival Awards presented in Groningen
on the Wednesday night, didn’t see as
many good bands as his company col-
league Kralisch.
Lehmkuhl said: “It was nice as every year.
It is my eighth time now, I think. I have
not seen that many good band perfor-
mances this year but I met a lot of interest-
ing people. I think it is important as well
to meet people as well as to see acts here
in Groningen. But I noticed a trend; many
of the electronic acts are developing into
good live acts. Whereas previously many
of those acts appeared on stage with just
a laptop, they have now merged into real
bands in order to be booked and to play at
festivals. This goes for instance for Crystal
Fighters who have developed in to a real
electronic band within two years. I pre-
sume that these bands do so in particular
to be attractive for festivals and I therefore
assume that festivals are also becoming
more important for these kinds of acts.
VIP-News: Who was your favourite this year?
Lehmkuhl: Crystal Fighters, James Blake
and SBTRKT.
Differing from Lehmkuhl, Kralisch said,
“First of all a lot of good bands and sur-
prises from some I did not expect to be
so good.” But like Lehmkuhl Kralisch also
observed, “I found it very interesting that a
lot of bands which I just knew from the in-
ternet and from the songs that I heard, that
were really electronic are now are able to
put on their music on stage like real bands,
that was really surprising. Bands like Crys-
tal Fighters, James Blake or Monarchy, you
knew that these acts are just guys who cre-
ated their music on a computer and now
put it on stage. That was actually good.
VIP-News: Which acts did you like most?
Kralisch: I was really impressed by the en-
ergy of Crystal Fighters, I really like their al-
bum from last year and I was really happy
to see it come across so well on stage.
Baris Basaran from Charmenko Music Or-
ganisation in Turkey said of the business
event: “I think the variety of showcases
was better than before. They were richer,
from my point of view; compared to previ-
ous years I was able to discover more inter-
esting bands. Also in my personal opinion
the panels were more approachable than
in recent years.
VIP-News: Any particular panel you’d like to mention?
Basaran: I found the festival panel, chaired
by Nick Hobbs (of Charmenko) with people
from Exit Festival and Sziget Festival was
so far the most interesting panel for me.
VIP-News: Which were your favourite art-ists?
Basaran: A couple of favourite acts. One of
them was Frankie & The Heartstrings, but
also K-X-P, Mount Kimbie and SBTRKT
VIP-News: How do you think business will be this year?
Basaran: I hope it’ll be up, because 2010
was a terrible year for Eastern Europe. It
needs to be better in 2011.
Hilde Spille Baris Basaran
12
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VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
Although the vast majority of Eurosonic
Noorderslag delegates enjoyed their trip
to Groningen there were some potential
obstacles for the business that caused par-
ticular concern for the Dutch visitors to the
event. The biggest threat for the live music
industry in the Netherlands is the VAT in-
crease on tickets from 6 to 19 percent. VIP-
News spoke with Dick Molenaar of All Arts
Tax Advisors and others about this topic.
VIP-News: What do you think about this years edition of Eurosonic?
Dick Molenaar: I like it very much. There
are a lot of people, it’s very international
and also Dutch, with interesting panels and
interesting people and a very nice atmo-
sphere in this city. Groningen is ideally built
for this conference and such a festival.
VIP-News: Do you think that the increase of the VAT on tickets here in the Nether-lands is featured appropriately within the conference programme of Eurosonic Noorderslag?
Molenaar: Yes, I did a panel on this my-
self. I was the chairman of the panel and it
was very good. Everyone was happy with
how we discussed it because, as one, we
have the option to challenge it under the
VAT directive of the European Union. It is
not in line with the VAT directive, that is
one thing, and we are going to do it. The
venues organisation decided to really go
for it and also Mojo Concerts will fight it,
so that is one thing. The second is every-
body still wants to lobby the politicians,
so it’s not over yet and the third thing is
that we discussed how we are going to
deal with it if goes through, and there is a
mutual understanding of how to do it. So
I think there is quite a good chance that it
will not take place.
VIP-News: Do those various actors like the VNPV and Mojo Concerts now get find it easier to get together over something like this?
Molenaar: They already lobbied against
it in the last months and the cooperation
is good, but we have to fight a new gov-
ernment. The tax increase was one of its
first proposals, so they were very strong
on pushing it through. If they hadn’t done
it, perhaps the cabinet would have fallen.
It was really a principle for them. So, we
have to be very clever and smart to keep
fighting it and there was a good under-
standing in the audience and in the panel
about how to do it.
VIP-News: How will the lobbying take place?
Molenaar: The most important move at
this moment is to set up cases in which we
challenge the fact that it is not in line with
the European VAT directive, The Nether-
lands is only picking out performances
and leaving film, museums and others at
the lower VAT rate. That is not in line with
the obligations of the European directive,
and that’s a very big thing.
VIP-News: Won’t it cost a fortune to get rid of the tax increase in a legal way?
Molenaar: Yes, but the negative effect on
the shows will be more expensive.
VIP-News: How will this all take place?
Molenaar: I am also active in this, but there
is a tax advisor company in Amsterdam
who wrote a piece about it and they will
also take the lead. It will start next month
and we go to the European commission
and we will initiate cases here in the Neth-
erlands to see if the Dutch government is
right, I believe they are not right.
Willem Venema of Double Vee Concerts
ventures a slightly different and more
sceptical point of view than most other
Dutch people when answering questions
regarding this VAT increase and its effect
on ticket sales. In 1998 it went from 17.5
percent down to 6 percent, a rise to 19
percent on tickets, as well as a proposed
significant 20 to 25 percent cut back on
culture subsidies in 2013 does not bode
well for business.
VIP-News: Are Dutch artists and the do-mestic music industry doing enough to
The dutch Impact at eurosonic NoorderslagManfred Tari [email protected]
Eurosonic
Dick Molenaar
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VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
fight against the new tax law and the subsidy cut back for culture in the Neth-erlands?
Willem Venema: Apparently not
enough; I doubt very much if the in-
dustry in full and in particular the indi-
vidual artists are aware of the negative
consequences of cutting governmental
money sources. There is a total misun-
derstanding about the fact that the tax-
law was changed by January 1 2011, but
it will only be delayed until July 1.
The right wing claims that ‘the market’,
‘private mecenas (patrons)’ and ‘industry
sponsoring’ will solve all consequences
and problems, forgetting that cutting
and losing jobs and possibly closing
venues will cost the government more
money in the end. Apart from the fact
private mecenas and sponsoring in mu-
sic industry has never reached a healthy
substantial level in Holland or guaran-
teed continuity (check Parkpop, Low-
lands, Pinkpop etc). No healthy busi-
ness climate can survive without a lively
cultural infra-structure, a phenomena
that already takes books and writers to
unbelievable theories in terms of city-
marketing (Austin, New York etc). The
industry has had no real discussions
with the politicians or the government,
which is avoiding any discussions of the
subject to avoid endangering the sta-
bility of their actual government with
the forthcoming elections in sight. That
is also why none of them is showing up
in Groningen.
VIP-News: Do you believe that this issue had been covered appropriately within this years edition of Eurosonic Noorder-slag?
»Now it is almost a dead issue, because everybody
thinks either the deed is done or it is not going to happen,
whilst both are wrong«
- Willem Venema
Venema: “No, because the panel(s) don’t
get to the public and the Eurosonic de-
bate hasn’t reached the press. I have
accused the Seminar, its main financers
the Dutch copyright collection soci-
ety and its subsidiaries (Buma-Cultuur,
Sena etc) of not taking an official firm
stand and deliver a loud and clear state-
ment against the government. The idea
that Dick Molenaar is going to solve the
issue at EU-level is fantastic but is not
a good enough answer. The VAT issue
was a hot-issue as the new government
almost got into great trouble in the first
Chamber of Parliament. Now it is almost
a dead issue, because everybody thinks
either the deed is done or it is not going
to happen, whilst both are wrong.
Willem Venema
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VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
Robert Meijerink -is the one, the man-
ager of the artistic profile of an event
that is more than just a festival; Eurosonic
Noorderslag has its very own framework
which is unlike any other convention. The
European Talent Exchange Program was
and is a masterpiece that makes Eurosonic
Noorderslag unique, ETEP and therewith
the role of the Eurosonic Noorderslag as a
showcase event for the European music in-
dustry requires a much different booking
policy than the majority of other festivals
or music conventions.
VIP-News: Are you from Live Nation?
Robert Meijerink: No, but I am still alive!
VIP-News: How was Eurosonic Noorder-slag 2011 for you?
Robert Meijerink: I think it was a really suc-
cessful edition with good vibes and good
energy. So, we can be happy about it.
VIP-News: What is the feedback when you talk to agents or promoters? Are they all pleased so far?
Meijerink: I hope so. Based on the ETEP-
Meeting and those I spoke to, the festivals
and also other people, they told me that it
was worth visiting Eurosonic again to dis-
cover new talents.”
VIP-News: What about the share of UK art-ists, is it increasing?
Meijerink: “I think it is the same as last year.
It is one of our jobs to keep the balance. In
the Netherlands we have the London Call-
ing festival in Amsterdam and Eurosonic is
not London Calling. Eurosonic is a festival
that searches for European music and of
course also UK bands. There are many tal-
ents in UK and that is definitely also a part
of our job.
VIP-News: Willem Venema and also some other players complained that there is lack of awareness for Dutch talents at Euroson-ic, would you agree with this complaint?
Meijerink: No, not really, I think, if you read
the history of Eurosonic the last couple of
years and see the focus features we had so
far than you can see that we had an aver-
age amount of bands playing within those
focuses. We discuss a lot what to serve and
not to serve, and we try to serve the export
ready acts. That is one of the main things
we are asked for, and we discuss it with
managers from these bands and their re-
cord labels and we try to serve those bands,
to also make it easier for the professionals
that are ready to tour Europe.
VIP-News: Have you changed your booking policy?
Meijerink: “No, there aren’t so many chang-
es. I think one of the most important things
of Eurosonic is that we try to show people
an overview of European music and this
means that we, I and my colleagues in the
booking team need to keep the balance of
countries and promote and try to stimu-
late the European bands from all territories
in Europe. It’s a European festival and it’s
organised in Europe with bands from Eu-
rope and people like the music from what-
ever where are they from, be it Croatia or
France.
VIP-News: When it came to international talents did you see any changes compared to the previous years?
Meijerink: “Yes! There is a development go-
ing on. I think some territories are getting
stronger and I noticed that there are more
and more bands with a higher standard of
quality If you look at Spain for example we
had a couple of bands in different styles
and I think they have a very standard. But
also from Czech Republic, Slovenia and
Estonia. There is something going on in
Europe. I think we live in a time where es-
pecially young people are really creative in
making music and try to make music and
mix up styles with their own creativity. I
think they are not copying each other and
they do not copy from bands from America
or other countries.
VIP-News: Is Europe ready for more Euro-pean talents? Or should I say is Febosonic… (Febo is the late opening fast food outlet in the centre of Groningen where people meet up after the various showcase to soak up the beer and chat)
Meijerink: “Febosonic!?! What are you doing
there? There is no music in croquettes….”
VIP-News: As Eurosonic Noorderslag is one of the most important gateways to launch careers for upcoming artists; I was really surprised when I heard from some Dutch people here that they are not happy with the amount of Dutch artists or their results gained out of Eurosonic. Do you think that Europe is ready for more European talents?
european Talents and the BookingPhilosophy of eurosonic NoorderslagManfred Tari [email protected]
Robert Meijerink
15
VIP-BOOKING.COM
15
VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
Meijerink: “I think so. As long as radio
station or web radios play new music and
people want to buy tickets for concerts,
Europe is ready for talents. I think it is al-
ways a matter of do you like an act or not.
That is the main question. I think music is
a personal matter and you can’t say that
Europe isn’t ready for its music. There are
so many bands, so-called one hit wonders
that succeed and tour all over Europe just
based on the success of one hit single.
So, as long as the people like these songs
they buy the tickets of these bands. It’s
the power of music!”
As Maurice Spijker of Mojo concerts ob-served the interview with Robert, VIP-News asked him: Are you happy with Robert?
Maurice Spijker: I think he’s one of the
best programmers in Holland and he is so
valuable for something like Eurosonic.
VIP-News: What do you say regarding the complaint that Dutch talents are neglect-ed within Eurosonic Noorderslag? Would you agree?
Spijker: “No, specifically this year I totally
disagree with this complaint. Of course the
focus was on the Netherlands but in gen-
eral I would say that Eurosonic Noorder-
slag picked exactly the right artists which
have the potential to go abroad.
VIP-News: Vat increase on ticket sales in the Netherlands. What do you expect for the business year 2011?
Spijker: “I actually think that this will make
quite an impact and I specially think it will
affect the smaller shows of upcoming bands
which are very sensitive for ticket sales and
low ticket prices. People will start to make
choices but I do not see that this will have a
big effect on the big sure shots where peo-
ple have to pay like 65€ or 70€ for tickets or
85€ or 90€ for acts such as Lady Gaga. I do
not see any differences on this level, but I
do expect that people making choices for
the new and small upcoming stuff where
they have to pay instead 12€ or 13€ and will
now have to pay 15€ or 16€.”
VIP-News: Robert, what is your point of view on this one?
Meijerink: “I think Maurice is right. I think
it will have an effect on the investment for
new artists. Everybody is complaining right
now. I’m the booker of the venue in Nijme-
gen and I really believe in the people who
go to the clubs. I believe that they will still
want to come if the VAT on tickets will be in-
creased. But they start doubting and that’s
a big issue that´s what I’m worried about. I
think people make up their minds and they
think twice before they buy a ticket. Every-
body is angry about this topic.
16
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16
VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
Business NewsManfred Tari [email protected]
FKP scorpio expand into the Northern europeFestival MarketA top item of news discussed between del-
egates at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2011, was
the move to expand his business activities
into Sweden and Denmark made by FKP
Scorpio MD, Folkert Koopmans.
FKP Scorpio currently employs a team of
60 people and promotes 12 festivals in-
cluding Hurricane and Southside, Mera
Luna and Area4. According to Koopmans
the festivals business segment contributes
one-third to the total gross of FKP Scorpio.
The company belongs to the CTS Eventim
group of companies, but since last year
Koopmans again holds the majority share
in his company.
VIP-News: What is your impression of Eu-rosonic Noorderslag 2011?
Koopmans: “Briefly, very good as always.
Loads of nice people and new bands, very
interesting.
VIP-News: Which were your most favourite bands here?
Koopmans: Dry the River was the favour-
ite.
VIP-News: Everybody is aware that you have expanded your range of business activities into the Northern European fes-
tival market with the purchase of Hultsfred Festival. What made you decide to do this?
Koopmans: Well, I had a look at when
I found out that this festival had gone
bankrupt. Everybody was saying that this
festival won’t happen anymore. But then
I got the opportunity to bid at the official
receiver auction for the brand rights and
the domain, which I got. After that I went
to the city council and did a long term deal
with them; we have set up a 3 year plan to
re-establish the festival.
VIP-News: How did you get Gunnar Lager-mann on board?
Koopmans: I’ve known Gunnar for more
than 20 years. Actually he, Leif Skov, Klaus
Mack and I, among others, belong to
the group that founded Yourope, which
Christof Huber is still running today. Gun-
nar’s been out of business for a while. He
wanted to do something different so I
gave him a call and he was very interested
in getting back in.
VIP-News: What will Gunnar’s position be at the festival?
Koopmans: “We have a production team
and this team will work on Hultsfred
now as well, but as it is in Sweden I need
somebody to run the office in Hultsfred,
so this will be done by Gunnar. Regarding
the booking I will mainly do it, but also in
conjunction with the expertise of Gunnar,
who has the local knowledge. For every-
thing else, we have a production team. At
the moment we do not have a festival on
VIP-BOOKING.COM
adler’s appetite Territory: EuropePeriod: 31/8/2011 - 31/12/2011Agency: ARM EntertainmentAgent: Dana StrutzPhone: +1 651 483 8754 E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.adlersappetite.com
BauchklangTerritory: WorldwidePeriod: 2011Agency: Georg Leitner ProductionsAgent: Nina PernicaPhone: +43 1 914 8615E-mail: [email protected]: www.glp.at
within TemptationTerritory: WorldwidePeriod: March 2011 and onwardsAgency: X-Ray TouringAgent: Paul BoltonPhone: +44 (0) 20 7749 3500E-mail: [email protected]: www.xraytouring.com
Groove armadaTerritory: Europe / Worldwide Period: Worldwide 2011 Agency: WME - William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Agent: Steve Hogan E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.groovearmada.com
ledfootTerritory: EuropePeriod: March - AugustAgency: Vox ArtistAgent: Eivind BrydoyE-mail: [email protected]: www.ledfoot.no
Martha reeves and The VendellasTerritory: EuropePeriod: 15/02/2011 - 30/03/2011Agency: Sport Star Management ApSAgent: Carsten Hilding LarsenPhone: +45 4071 7722E-mail: [email protected]: www.sportstarmanagement.dk
17
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VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
that weekend. So, I can take up most of my production team to Sweden, when
it comes to producing the festival.”
VIP-News: Will you also promote Hultsfred through your promotion channels in Germany?
Koopmans: I don’t think so. I mean not particularly as I believe there are
enough festivals in Germany for people can go to. Hultsfred was one of the
leading festivals in Sweden and I would love to make it the leading festival
again. I know that there is some more competition right now but I think this
site is beautiful. I still think that the brand is really strong, everybody knows
the area and the festival name, so I think it must be possible to re-establish
the event.
VIP-News: What is your relationship with Brian Nielson? (MD of Skandinavian in Denmark)
Koopmans: “We have a long term relationship, because we have been work-
ing together on some acts for a long while and he came up with the idea to
found a new festival in Denmark which I got involved in. This festival we are
really building from scratch, so last year we did 5000 people with local acts.
This year we will have some international acts and we are aiming to reach
10000 this year.”
VIP-News: What’s the name of this festival?
Koopmans: Northside Festival.
VIP-News: So, taking both new business relations into consideration that means that you are expanding your business into non-German speaking countries?
Koopmans: “Yes, but I think there is not such a big difference between Ger-
many and Scandinavia. I guess it will be much more difficult to go into Eastern
Europe and promote events over there. I think that Scandinavia is quite sim-
ple. I am relying on good partners as well, like Brian Nielson and Mats Soer-
enson from Beatbox, who is partly looking after the booking for the festival
in Denmark.”
VIP-News: You even bought back one percent of your company from CTS Even-tim...
Koopmans: No, I didn’t, that’s not true.
VIP-News: Why? But CTS...
Koopmans: Well, you’ll find out later. But yes, CTS gave away their majority on
FKP Scorpio, so that the only thing that I can say on that at the moment….
VIP-News: What are your expectations for the business season 2011?
Koopmans: You never know but I think it will be the best year ever. We have
scheduled festivals now with the Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Blink 182, and we
have tours on with the Foo Fighters, Blink 182, James Blunt, the Gaslight An-
them, Within Temptation, so I expect it is going to be a good year.
18
VIP-BOOKING.COM
Press QuOTes
“Dynamic, trippy, fast, outraged, rhythmical, tight… Those are
some of the words I’d use in order to describe this album.” – ROCK
HARD MAGAZINE (GREECE)
“What more can I say about these mates? They kicked the living
shit out of me and I just can’t stop listening to their debut master-
piece! If this is their first full-length effort, what the fuck will they
release next? Guys take a close look at these guys, because as it
seems we will be seeing them a lot in the future.”
– METAL-TEMPLE.COM
“This is a highly enjoyable and strong debut, full of promise, and
it will be exciting to see how they manage to build upon it.” – THE
REYKJAVIK GRAPEVINE (ICELAND)
“The first and only impression we had was an energetic band who
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dIsCOGraPHy
“PANDEMONIUM” (TUTL RECORDS, 2007) / (PRODUCED BY TOM-
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“FIGHTERS THEY BLEED” (RELEASE, TBA) / (PRODUCED BY JAKOB
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lIVe aCTIVITy (Highlights)
• February - May 2009:
1st European Tour / 47 Live Shows in total: Opening act for HATE-
SPHERE (26 dates) / Headliners in the U.K. (15 dates) and Norway (6
dates) / Opened for GOJIRA twice during the tour
• June 2008:
Performed at Sweden’s Metaltown Festival
• Countries Visited: Faroe Islands, UK, Iceland, Greece, Germany,
Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, The Netherlands,
Switzerland, Slovenia, Slovakia, The Czech Republic.
Monthly featured artist ››
Origin: Faroe IslandStyle: Hardrock & MetalTour period: 2011Territory: Europe
Agency: Jan Z ManagementName: Jan ZachariassenEmail: [email protected]: +45 2932 1703
VIP- News - A u g u s t 2 0 0 5
18
VIP- News - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
sIC
19
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about Our Company
VIP-Booking’s core product is the Internet’s oldest and largest data-base for the European Live Entertainment Industry www.vip-book-ing.com developed as a tool for industry professionals. Since it’s launch in the year 2000, we have consistently offered our subscrib-ers the very best in database services and now boast subscribers in over 30 countries.
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Big star Promotion ltd.
Nick (Loris) Loridas established DIDI Music in 1984 as a record la-
bel. In 1987, with the cooperation of NANA TRANDOU, Big Star Pro-
motion was created as a department of DIDI Music, specializing in
concert promotion. Gradually, the record release department of
the company has been surpassed by the growing agency sector.
DIDI MUSIC / BIG STAR PROMOTION has made the breakthrough
in the local market, organising events and hosting artists of inter-
national importance. The company is also the exclusive booking
agent for two of our nation’s best selling pop/rock bands arrang-
ing for both bands to tour abroad, something that local groups
rarely have a chance to do. Since 1997, we successfully organise
the ROCKWAVE Festival attracting thousands of people, featuring
great acts and a plethora of other activities. Our festival has al-
ways been devoted to promoting social awareness, having stands
on site giving out brochures and information leaflets concerning
AIDS and the HIV virus, Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
ROCKWAVE Festival, no doubt, contributed in the last few years
to change our country’s image, making it an equal member of the
global music entertainment scene.
BIG STAR PROMOTION is a member of YOUROPE, the most impor-
tant union of European festival promoters. Ms Nana Trandou, our
managing director, has been elected in the Board of Directors of
YOUROPE, as well as, leader of the workgroup on the Performance
Royalties Society (PRS). We are also represented in ILMC, the Inter-
national Live Music Conference. DIDI MUSIC is established in the
Greek market as the provider of high quality services that guar-
antee safety and top the most demanding performing require-
ments, through our efforts, commitment and high investments in
exclusive technical and stage equipment.
We are currently developing our company image to strengthen
our identity as the leading service providers in Greece for organis-
ing outdoor and indoor events. Meanwhile, we have expanded in
the ticket distribution market through TICKET HOUSE, a national
network of ticket outlets with growing dynamics.