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 Editor's noteUnfortunately we again have to extend our sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of a respected artist, Robert Palmer died in Paris of a heart attack on Friday September 26, he was 54. Palmer had a long and distinguished career starting in his early 20's with bands like Dada and Vinegar Joe, he won two Grammy and created one of the first iconic music videos with the look-alike models of 'Addicted to Love'. He will be missed. In this Newsletter we carry some disappointing news regarding world music sales, although there are, I am sure, many other industries that would be only too happy to be returning a similar volume of sales. Also there is an area of record sales that are never included in these calculations. In the UK at least, and I would be happy to hear about the situation in other territories, there appears to be a steady increase in product sold at gigs, particularly in small and mid level venues. Research of the live circuit as a retail distribution outlet could reveal some surprising figures.
All the best Allan McGowan | |
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|  | The Meaning of Leif
by Leif Skov
|  It's evident that sports are attracting much more media attention than music. Every day, every week there's football, tennis, golf or motor sports in the papers, on telly or in the news. Why is that? Is Red Star Beograd versus Panathinaikos Athens in men's football more interesting than Glastonbury Festival or Marilyn Manson playing The Zenith in Paris? Why do Danish newspapers every Monday bring results from Bulgarian 1st division in football? But not reports from somewhere in the World with Metallica or Robbie Williams in front of 100.000 people - unless something goes wrong. I claim it's not because the entertainment value is higher in sports than in music.
Can the music business pick up ideas from the sports world ? Of course it can. The product it has to offer is just as good, and the positive energy and interaction that music, lyrics, artists, production creates is better.
| Maybe we should look at how sports is organized with international bodies that create frames and formats that suit the media. Maybe we could learn from other worlds (theatre, design, fashion) how things can be wrapped and presented. The music world has plenty of stars (Manson, Madonna, Bono etc.) to match the stars of other worlds (Beckham, Williams, Campbell etc.).
If our industry wants the generate ideas, resources and money for the development of new talent and improved presentation of the art, for the self-reinforcement of its qualities, and for increased focus and profits - then it might be an idea to increase influences and contacts from other worlds, not least the sports world. They are good at what they're doing. They develop the game, keep the integrity - and spin a lot of money.
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| Record Sales Down
by Allan McGowan
|  According to the IFPI Report release in London on 1 October World sales of recorded music fell by 10.9% in value and by 10.7% in units in the first half of 2003. Unauthorised file-sharing and commercial piracy were major factors in the decline. At the same time DVD music sales grew sharply and a there was a marked increase in the availability of legitimate online music, with 300,000 tracks now on offer online. There was however some surprising snippets of good news, in Europe, Austria and Finland showed sales increases, driven by successes with local repertoire. | Sales in volume terms increased in Norway, while in the UK album sales rose by 4% and singles in Spain enjoyed a great success In the US, Latin Music sales underwent a revival in 2003, up 29%, and jazz sales increased 35%.
Interim sales of all audio and music video formats were worth $US 12.7 billion, compared to $US 14.2 billion in the same period of 2002. Within this figure DVD music video showed substantial growth in both units (up 46%) and value (up 55%), and now represents more than 5% of global music sales.  |
| The Noorderslag Weekend
by Allan McGowan
|  The dates for the 2004 edition of the Noorderslag Weekend are set for 8, 9 & 10 January, and will again take place in the city of Groningen, the Netherlands. Over the three days this increasingly important and effective event incorporates two festivals: EuroSonic and the Noorderslag Festival alongside an industry convention, the Noorderslag Seminar. | The Noorderslag Weekend aims to cater for music lover's and to provide a first class networking and learning platform for both the wider European live music industry and the Dutch music industry. Noorderslag has built a reputation as one of the friendliest festivals in Europe, and has established a track record for the discovery of new music and artists. The event attracts prominent representatives from European festivals, EBU radio, promoters, agents, bookers and managers, as well as full attendance by the Dutch music industry for the Noorderslag Seminar. |
| MTV EMA 2003- The Art of Celebration
by Manfred Tari - edited by Allan McGowan
|  The agenda for the upcoming MTV European Music Awards (EMA) on November 6 in Edinburgh is packed with the sort of attention to detail and style associated with top class entertainment. The 10th edition of the event is composed of various elements combined to present an impressive celebration of pop in a typical MTV manner.
Of course MTV is not to everybody's taste, but even critics would probably agree that the scheduling of this year's MTV EMA promises a remarkable event. | Prior to the award show at the Ocean Terminal Arena, Western Harbour, Leith in Edinburgh, MTV have scheduled 4 shows entitled 'Road to Edinburgh'. The first, featuring the Scottish band Travis as headliners, together with Skin, the singer of Skunk Anansie and Polish act Myslovitz, took place on September 29 in the Royal Festival Hall in London. The following three will take place in the Symphony Hall, Birmingham on October 11, the Palace Theatre Manchester, October 19 and the Opera House, Newcastle on October 26. |
| Biggest Ever Program for Amsterdam Dance Event 2003
by Allan McGowan
|  Full day program & the truth about music, booty and football…
With over 200 artists and DJ's, more than 20 venues and clubs, 1200 professional participants and over 25.000 visitors to the night program, the eight edition of the Amsterdam Dance Event (29, 30, 31 October and 1 November) has the broadest and biggest line-up ever, and looks set to increase upon the 2002 attendance by 1300 music business professionals from all over the world. | ADE is a music conference during the day and at night a festival held in Amsterdam's finest clubs.
Some of the artists performing at this year's edition include Darren Emerson (uk), Derrick May (us), Junkie XL (nl), Joey Negro (uk), Bhangra Knights (uk), 100% Isis (nl), Armin van Buuren (nl), T.Raumschmiere (d), Satoshi Tommii (jap), DJ Umek (slo), Yonderboi (h), Juanes (mex), Marcello (nl), Massimo d'Electro (d), Vive la Fête (b), Terry Farley (uk), Sven van Hees (b), DJ Roog (nl), Fernanda Porto (bz), Dr. Lektroluv (b), Sascha Funke (d), Fat Truckers (uk), Rinneradio (fin), DJ La Di Da (cz), Black Sifichi (f), Sandy Rivera (us) and many others.
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| Wir Sind Helden - a German success story
by Manfred Tari - edited by Allan McGowan
|  'We are heroes' is the name of a German band that is currently packing the country's clubs and concert halls. Vip News asked the band's agent Ben Rodenberg, of concert agency A.S.S. about his plans and the difficulties he currently has to cope with.
The history of Wir Sind Helden is a typical record industry tale of A&R short sightedness. | . For two years no A&R representative from record companies big or small showed any interest in signing the band. As is so often the case the only indications of A&R's confidence and expertise included such offers as signing a deal with the female singer of the band and replacing the 3 male members of the group. Finally it was the publishing company Wintrup Musikverlage who took the initiative, releasing a promotional single which gained intensive airplay by selected radio stations. Meanwhile the debut album 'Die Reklamation' (The Complaint) sold more than 100.000 copies creating huge public demand, causing Rodenberg to rebook new and bigger locations for the currently ongoing 35-date tour. |
| General Meeting of the VDKD - Fritz Rau Honoured
by Manfred Tari - edited by Allan McGowan
| The annual meeting of the Verband Deutscher Konzertdirektionen (VDKD - association of German concert companies) took place in Munich on September 18. As the VDKD also has many members in the field of classical music some of the main issues of the agenda of the assembly referred to the competitive situation between commercial and subsidized concert promoters. The participants numbered more than 120 people representing 92 companies. | On the agenda was the current business report, which referred to the VDKD's losing court action against the Berlin Philharmonics Foundation earlier this year, the current situation as regards the booking of public places and the agreement to undertake a new survey regarding turnover and visitor figures.  |
| London Underground Expands Busking Scheme
by Allan McGowan
|  There is something stirring 'Down in the Tube Station at Midnight' as The Jam sang. The scheme to licence buskers on the London Tube system sponsored by beer brand Carling has proved successful. During the trial period in which only officially approved buskers were allowed to perform in designated areas Police call-outs to eject or arrest performers who blocked safety zones or abused staff decreased by 82%, as a result the trial has been extended until the end of the year. | New auditions will be held for more underground entertainers and the number of participating stations will rise from 12 to 17. The 300 performers who already have licences range from didgeridoo players to opera singers. London Underground's busking co-ordinator Richard Smith said: "We launched the scheme because customers said they wanted to hear good music as they travelled around the Tube.
They've certainly had that and have also played their part in having the trial extended."
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| New Drummer for Offspring
by Allan McGowan
|  The Offspring has announced the name of their new drummer. Formerly of the punk act Rocket From The Crypt Atom Willard will appear with the band on dates to be announced soon for their autumn tour. | Original drummer Ron Welty left earlier this year to devote more time to other projects. The new Offspring album, titled Splinter, is released on December 2 |
| Springsteen Speaks Out
by Allan McGowan
|  According to Reuters - Bruce Springsteen delivered forthright criticism of the administration of President Bush on the final leg of his worldwide "The Rising" tour on a political in New York, where the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks provided inspiration for his latest songs. In the first of the final three shows at Shea Stadium on Wednesday night, a recording was played of Bush talking about weapons of mass destruction, Springsteen questioned America's motives for the war in Iraq and called for Bush's defeat as he seeks re-election next year. | "It is time to impeach the president and put in somebody that knows what they're doing," 'The Boss' told the crowd. Before delivering 'Born in the U.S.A.', he said: "The question of whether we were misled into the war in Iraq isn't a liberal or conservative or Republican or Democratic question, it's an American one. Demanding accountability from our leaders is our responsibility, our job as citizens," he said. |
| So Do The Dixie Chicks
by Allan McGowan
|  Other artists not afraid to voice their opinions on the Iraq War spoke of the support they had received from Springsteen in an interview last week with Germany's Spiegel magazine, Dixie Chick Martie Maguire was quoted as saying that the band members 'don't feel part of the country scene any longer' and claimed that country radio continues to boycott the Chicks' music and country awards have virtually ignored the band of late following all the furore in Nashville over lead singer Natalie Maines comments before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq stating that she was "truly ashamed" President Bush like the Chicks, hailed from Texas. | The band however felt that there were various misquotes in the interview, in response Maines has posted a highly sarcastic open letter on the Texas trio's Website addressing this latest controversy. Maines has obviously not backed down on her Iraq stance, mockingly referring to the inability of U.S. investigators to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. She also takes a pop at 'The Terminator's' political aspirations saying that Arnold Schwarzenegger called to ask them to "verk out" with him at "zee gym"--an offer she and her mates found "weird and scary." |
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Live Music Shares On One View
by
Manfred Tari
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 Clear Channel (Symbol CCU.NSE) from 42,82 USD (Vip News September 17)
down to 40,60 USD
CTS Eventim (EVD.FSE) remains with 6,50 Euro.
DEAG (ERM.FSE) 2,38 Euro compare to 2.88 Euro two weeks ago.
Mean Fiddler (MEF.ISE) Last time 24,5 Pence while the current share
price is 23,5 Pence
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|  | Parter
|  The PARTER company was formed on October 18th, 2000 as a Russian online ticketing system for all entertainment events (theaters, concerts, cinemas, sports). During the first year of its work the PARTER system carried out ticket sales for such events as: Duran Duran, San-Remo in Kremlin, A-HA, Scorpions, Eric Clapton, Chris Norman, Guano Apes, Eagles, Procol Harum, Sting, Fat Boy Slim, Placido Domingo, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), The London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform The Beatles, Depeche Mode, Tom Jones, Lord of the Dance, The Kremlin Cup - 2001 tennis tournament, Rammstein (the PARTER company being the exclusive ticket distributor for this event), Eros Ramasotti, Gidon Kremer, Yevgeny Kisin, festivals: "3rd Worldwide Theater Olympiad -2001", "The All-Russian Annual Prize and Festival of "The Golden Mask", "A Centennial of the Major Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire", "2nd European Modern Dance Festival in Russia", rock-festivals: "Maxidrom" (the PARTER company being the exclusive ticket distributor for this event), "Krylia", "Nashestviye" etc.
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Daily Events
On a daily basis tickets to more than 200 events are sold through the PARTER system including theater performances, shows, musicals, concerts, cinema showtimes, sporting events. The PARTER company currently serves some 10,000 customers monthly and this figure tends to grow rapidly as a result of a constantly increasing number of entertainment events sold through the PARTER system, as well as a rising public demand for PARTER's ticket booking and delivery services.
Roster Improvement
Now we are interested in organizing public entertainment events in Moscow, Russia. We have all possibilities to carry out an entertainment project of whatever complexity as our business is supported by partnering financial groups of companies, insurance companies, as well as our knowledge of customer preferences in the sphere of entertainment |
| Festival Rock Oz'Arènes
|  A musical event
Since eleven years, a constantly growing audience appreciates concerts of a large variety of musical styles such as Rock, Pop, Trip-Hop, World Music, Chanson and Reggae…..always arranged on a “Theme-night” base.
Today this Roman arena harbours the festival and provides incomparable identity by offering:
• a capacity of 7000 places
• the possibility to enjoy the concerts while seated (4000 places)
• a panoramic view on the main stage
• the particular acoustics of the site
• the intimacy of the limited space
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… and an ideal geographic situation just between the German and the French speaking part of Switzerland.
Many world wide recognized artists have thrown themselves in the lion’s pit since the beginning of the festival:
Joe Cocker, Faithless, Prodigy, Iggy Pop, Morcheeba, Incubus, Muse, Green Day, Patti Smith, Patricia Kaas, Placebo, PJ Harvey , K’s Choice, Heather Nova, Eagle Eye Cherry, Johnny Clegg, NTM, Toure Kunda, Manau, Korn, The Wailers, Neneh Cherry, Jimmy Cliff, The Young Gods, Melanie C, Ice-T, Alpha Blondy, Jimmy Eat World, Stereo MC’s, Asian Dub Foundation… |
|  | ILMC - International Live Music Conference | |
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