Editor's note

Having recently received my annual Tax Return, accompanied by a demand for 38 pence (!) both of which demand my immediate attention, has caused me to dwell on -Facts and Figures. We all know that wherever we live and work multiple demands from various governmental departments insist and presume that we should keep scrupulous documentation and data on all that we do to satisfy their bureaucratic appetites. Sometimes we manage this, usually with help, and often we lose things - it's mostly a pain, however there are times when we are grateful for access to data to help us in our businesses, and to those who bothered to collect, store and provide it.

Reading the very interesting figures on tours and box office returns provided by our colleagues at Pollstar magazine it seems that we in the live music industry in Europe and other territories outside of the US are not the best at amassing useful information. The respected journal states, 'Only North American dates are included in Pollstar's Top 100 tours because the reporting of international shows is far too spotty to allow valid comparisons.'

We discovered this to be true when trying to raise assessments on the changing percentages of US, UK and local or neighbouring talent being handled by promoters, venues and agents throughout Europe for the Crossing Borders panel at ILMC. Chairmen Marc Lambelet of Black Lamb Productions (Switzerland) and Chrissy Uerlings of Peter Rieger Concerts (Germany) and myself contacted various companies to see if they could provide breakdowns of their last few years' output, and very few had information to hand. As Marc Lambelet said in conclusion to the ILMC session " We consider ourselves to be an industry and a growing one at that, if that is what we are then we do need more data etc. - shall we get serious?"

So - we may soon be asking you more questions about your business to help to build true assessments on trends and developments, and we would appreciate your input on the questions we may neglect to ask, and indeed on your views as to whether or not you find market studies and the resulting facts and figures helpful. You are the experts - this is your business, and as with all the data available to Vip-Booking.com subscribers all new information will be available to you via these very pages. - Thanks, and here's the news!

 

The European Music Office, having successfully lobbied for support from the European Union, has helped with new developments in the ways that the European music industry now operates and interacts, supporting and nurturing such initiatives as the ETEP Programme.

 

This year Love Parade in Berlin is planned for July 10. According to the promoter Love Parade Berlin GmbH, negotiations with official authorities have foundered, meaning that the Berlin Senate does not want to subsidize the event.

 

As reported in our last issue, Clear Channel Entertainment have filed a business patent entitled Instant Live LLC for processing live recordings and the immediate sale of post show concert recordings.

 

As the number of Festivals and large-scale events throughout Europe continues to grow and more and more encroach upon City centres and built up areas, with the sanctioning, encouragement and often direct involvement of local authorities, the inescapable truth that 'one man's music being another's noise pollution' is a growing problem..

 

Berlin branch of V2 Records dismissed 5 of an original 9 employees. V2 Records are still not profitable, making this step unavoidable.

 

At first glance Popkomm's move to Berlin has made everything different. Indeed there are new people organizing the convention, but in the back office there are a few old faces that have been involved in previous editions of the music fair.

 

Interview with Jim King of Creamfield: The Creamfield dance event is in terms of international exploitation probably the leading brand, doing much more business abroad than any other festival. It almost seems that the organizers pioneered franchise business in the live music industry.

 

 

For some years Christian Democrat Steffen Kampeter, member of both the CDU and the Bundestag, the German parliament, has been the only high ranking politician who has tried to encourage support for popular music.

 

Clear Channel (CCU.NSE): CCU debt situation is reviewed by rating agency Moody's. The reason for this is the rapid reduction of debts by Clear Channel within the last 3 years of about 3 billion USD down to 7,4 billion USD at the end of 2003. 42.91 USD on April 10, 43,93 USD on April 23

CTS Eventim (EVD.FSE): In the previous issue we reported 13.00 Euro following 14,20 Euro, yet againthe share has suffered. The current price is 12,15 Euro.

DEAG (ERM.FSE): DEAG receives good news from the tax office. The company received a repayment of 1.2 million Euro. This is certainly not bad news but nevertheless it has not caused any positive impact on the share price. From 2.56 down to 2.45 Euro. Mean Fiddler (MEF.ISE): A sold out Reading Festival stimulates the appetites. 57 Pence reported in the previous issue and the rise continues at 5.50 % more up to 62,50 Pence

Sanctuary (SGP.ISE): Just a little extra, with 1 Pence, from 51.00 to 52.00 Pence.

 

Rasmus Fabian, giving the company a strong foundation due to large experience archived since the early 80's.

Besides music management, Fabian Event is engaged in tour management, pyrotechnics, artist photographing, international booking and event marketing.

 

Sziget festival is the biggest musical and cultural festival in Central Europe–a seven-day multicultural expo offering more than 800 programs on more than 30 venues. Sziget means island in Hungarian and the festival, in addition to being on an island in the heart of Budapest, is an island in the metaphorical sense. Sziget has a unique atmosphere: it is a meeting place, a musical and cultural show, a life-style, an enormous cafe and party place, a place of learning about the world and each other. No matter what style of music you like listening or dancing to, you will find the place of your taste. You can enjoy performances, shows, you can party and dance or just walk around and gaze at the ever-increasing flow of interesting and different people passing by.

From the beginning in 1993 until 2001 Sziget's capacity has grown from 43,000 to over 360,000 over the seven days of the event presenting stars such as Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, Jefferson Starship, Byrds, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Eric Burdon, Stranglers, Jeff Healey, Clawfinger, Slash, The Bates, Stone Roses, Iggy Pop, The Prodigy, The Levellers, Sonic Youth, Therapy?,Galliano, David Bowie, Apollo 440, Motörhead, Toy Dollz, Rollins Band, Chumbawamba, Faith No More, Foo Fighters, New Model Army, Cardigans, DEUS, Boney M, Shane McGowan, Coolio, Trans-global Underground, Rammstein, Mory Kante, Goldie, Patti Smith, Green Day, Brand New Heavies, Kool and the Gang, Suede, Faithless, Guano Apes, Jovanotti, Baaba Maal, Apocalyptica, The Klezmatics, Liquido, Rachid Taha, Paradise Lost, Asian Dub Foundation, Suzanne Vega, Mambo Kurt, The Bloodhound Gang, Lou Reed, HIM, Bad Religion, Oasis, The King, H Blockx, K”s Choice, Bomfunk MC’s, Noir Desir, Run DMC, Fun-Da-Mental, Morcheeba, Leningrad Cowboys, Frestylers, Incognito, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Ash, Placebo

 

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