Onyx takes over at SMG

Toronto-based private equity company Onex has acquired US-based venue operator SMG, which was recently put up for sale by its current owners, investment fund Northlane Capital Partners. Live giant Live Nation had been linked to a possible SMG bid. With SMG owning and/or managing a significant network of venues around the world - including arenas in Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Belfast - that deal would have provided a big boost to the venues side of Live Nation's business.

Earthcore parent company wound up

Yellow Sunshine Pty Ltd, a holding company controlled by Earthcore festival founder Spiro Boursine, is to be wound up following the cancellation of this year’s festival amid the alleged non-payment of artist fees. The boutique Australian music and arts festival, which bills itself as the “original bush doof”, had taken place in rural Victoria since 1993, drawing crowds of up to 30,000 in its mid-’90s heyday. It was revived under new management in 2013, with a capacity of around 5,000.

https://www.iq-mag.net/2017/12/earthcore-owner-yellow-sunshine-fold/#.WjES20pl-M9

THE REVOLVING DOOR

Bjorn Rogstad has been named General Manager of Universal Music Norway, MBW has learned. Rogstad will report to Universal's President of the Nordic Region, Per Sundin. The news comes little over a year after the exit of Peter Singsaas (MBW).

NEC Group veteran Nick Waight will head up the team at SMG Europe's Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, set to relocate in 2018 (IQ)

Clementine Bunel has exited ATC to join Coda The former 2 For the Road Events director becomes the latest agent to take a desk in the London-based agency's expanding offices. her client's have included Stromae, Benjamin Clementine, Ibibio Sound Machine and Songhoy Blues.

BMG in the US has appointed Tom 'Grover' Biery - the former Warner Music exec, most recently with Concord Music Group - to the role of EVP Recorded Music. In his new job he will oversee BMG's American recorded music teams with the task of "further building the company's scale in recordings"

BMG has promoted Jon Baker to head its UK Legal & Business Affairs team – responsible for both music publishing and recordings. As Vice President Legal & Business Affairs UK, Baker (pictured) will take charge of a twelve-strong team, including Berrin Latif (newly promoted to Senior Director) and Directors Adrian Cornes, Stuart Souter and Justin Robson.

Live Nation's artist management division Maverick has hired Lee Anne Callahan-Longo who previously played an instrumental role at Beyonce's Parkwood Entertainment company as General Manager and Executive Vice President. (MBW)

And Live Nation has appointed Anna Sjölund and Therése Liljedahl as joint Managing Directors in Sweden. The duo have been promoted from previous roles at the company, with their "unparalleled experience" hailed by LN international chief John Reid. Both Sjölund and Liljedahl, who commence their new positions immediately, will retain elements of their previous roles: Sjölund remains head promoter, overseeing Live Nation Sweden’s agency, touring and festivals, while Liljedahl will retain responsibility for commercial partnerships in the Nordics while also managing Live Nation Sweden’s marketing, partnership, finance, administration and HR functions (IQ).


Former Syco Music President Sonny Takhar is joining forces with Live Nation to launch Los Angeles-based 'entertainment rights and management company' Kyn Entertainment. The company already manages a Sony priority artist in boyband PrettyMuch (MBW)

Eps, The German BASED event supplier has made three finance/control hires, with Alice Kentenich joining eps gmbh and Olga Sarman and Katharina Wilk joining its parent firm.

Walter Kolm’s WK Entertainment is to open its first European office, in Madrid, on 1 December. Former APM chief Pascual Egea will take charge.

After nearly 28 years of service, Karen Buse, Executive Director, Membership and International will leave PRS for Music. Paul Clements, who currently is PRS Commercial Director, will become Executive Director for Membership, International and Licensing and will take up this new role on 1 December 2017. As part of this new role, Paul will be recruiting a Membership Director over the next few months, who will report into him.  

Norbert Plantinga, who ran Universal Music's Dutch office for a decade before leaving this year, is joining rival Sony. The respected executive has taken a role as Benelux Marketing Director at Sony Music, where he worked in the early years of his career. (MBW)

David O’Connor, the president and CEO of Madison Square Garden Company (MSG), has stepped down with immediate effect, the company has announced.

Promoter and venue owner/operator MJR Group has added several new venues, made a number of hires and expanded into a new country, following a period of growth for the UK-based company. Joining MJR Group – which promotes more than 2,500 shows in the UK annually and a further 250 overseas, chiefly in Australia and New Zealand – are Mark Dennis, who joins from DHP Family as international marketing and communications director; Lottie Bradshaw, formerly of CAA, who becomes assistant to promotions director Mike Jones; and new national promoter Joff Hall, formerly of venue management and booking consultancy VMS.

Matthew Morgan has become the second CAA Nashville booking agent to make the move to rival agency WME. Morgan, who was previously co-head of Creative Artists Agency (CAA)’s festival department, joins Scott Clayton at WME’s Nashville, Tennessee, office, where he will serve as a music agent.

Steve Hasker, formerly COO of market research firm Nielsen, has been appointed CEO of Creative Artists Agency (CAA)’s restructured CAA Global division, joining the agency in January 2018. CAA Global includes assets outside CAA’s core talent booking business, including CAA China, a joint venture with China’s CMC Capital Partners; Evolution Media, the agency’s merchant bank; venture-capital fund CAA Ventures; and Vancouver-based tech investment vehicle Creative Labs.

Live Nation looks to swallow up SMG

In a move that will almost certainly attract regulatory attention, and would make its market share in live events even more dominant, Live Nation is reported to be among the bidders for venue management giant SMG. SMG, which has the world’s largest venue portfolio of some 500 arenas, stadia, theatres, amphitheatres and convention centres across North America, Europe and Asia (according to IQ-Mag.net) was put on the market by its current owner Northlane Capital Partners, and is expected to fetch somewhere in the neighbourhood of $750 million.

RIP

Harold Pendleton, the founder of legendary Marquee club in London and the Reading Festival, had died at the age of 93. Artistes who played the venue include The Who, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Genesis and Guns N’Roses.

Pioneering concert promoter Shmuel Zemach, whose Zemach Productions company promoted some of the first Israeli shows by Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Metallica, Eric Clapton, Leonard Cohen, Simon & Garfunkel, Guns N’ Roses and Aerosmith, has passed away aged 85. The news was announced yesterday by his son and business partner, Yoav, who pays tribute to “my father, my beloved and my best friend” and the “first promoter in Israel”.

The Tragically Hip vocalist and Canada's "unofficial poet laureate" Gord Downie has died, it was announced yesterday. He was 53. Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2015, revealing the diagnosis in May last year. The band set out on a farewell tour shortly afterwards, finishing with a finale show in Downie's hometown of Kingston in Canada. The three hour concert was broadcast nationwide, with so many Canadians planning to watch it people began proclaiming the country to be "closed" during the performance. Following the announcement of Downie's death, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters through tears "we lost one of the very best of us this morning".

Marilyn Manson has paid tribute to his former guitarist Scott Putesky, who died from cancer over the weekend aged 49. He took the name Daisy Berkowitz - combining the names of 'Dukes Of Hazzard' character Daisy Duke and serial killer David 'Son Of Sam' Berkowitz - when he and Manson formed Marilyn Manson And The Spooky Kids in 1989. Putesky was heavily involved in developing the sound and image of the band, whose name was later shortened to just Marilyn Manson (CMU).

Rock n roll pioneer Antoine 'Fats' Domino has died aged 89, it was announced by the Louisiana Medical Examiner's Office yesterday. Born in 1928, Fats began his career as a teenager, performing in New Orleans bars. He signed his first record deal with Imperial Records in 1949. By 1951 his debut single 'The Fat Man' had sold over a million copies, firmly establishing him as one of the biggest names in the then burgeoning rock n roll genre. The American rock and roll artist was best known for his songs Ain't That A Shame and Blueberry Hill. The New Orleans singer sold more than 65 million records, outselling every 1950s rock and roll act except Elvis Presley.

Rob Potts, the veteran Australian country music promoter, agent and artist manager, has died aged 65. Potts,  as CEO of Entertainment Edge,  brought some of the biggest stars in country music, including Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Dixie Chicks and a young Taylor Swift, down under, and founded Australia’s biggest country music festial, CMC Rocks. He lost his life in a motorcycle accident on Friday 27th October.

Al Hurricane, known as the "Godfather of New Mexico music" for developing a distinct sound bridging the state's unique Hispanic traditions with country and rock, had died. His son, Al Hurricane Jr., told The Associated Press that his father died from complications related to a long battle against prostate cancer. Two of his daughters were at his side.

Malcolm Young, guitarist and co-founder of AC/DC, has died at the age of 64. Young had been suffering with dementia for the past three years, an illness that forced his retirement from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band he founded with his brother Angus Young in 1973. "Today it is with deep heartfelt sadness that AC/DC has to announce the passing of Malcolm Young," AC/DC wrote in a statement. "Malcolm, along with Angus, was the founder and creator of AC/DC. With enormous dedication and commitment he was the driving force behind the band. As a guitarist, songwriter and visionary he was a perfectionist and a unique man. He always stuck to his guns and did and said exactly what he wanted. He took great pride in all that he endeavored. His loyalty to the fans was unsurpassed." Angus Young added, "As his brother it is hard to express in words what he has meant to me during my life, the bond we had was unique and very special. He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live on forever. Malcolm, job well done."

The rapper Lil Peep has died. The rapper, real name Gustav Åhr, was found dead on his tour bus after an apparent drugs overdose. Aged just 21, he had posted several video and images on Instagram shortly before his death appearing to show him taking drugs, including Xanax. On Friday, Pima County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that that the rapper died of a suspected drugs overdose, but said that it could take up to eight weeks for toxicology results to corroborate this.

THE REVOLVING DOOR

Adam Parness has moved to Spotify from Pandora, where he was Head of Publisher Licensing and Relations. As Spotify’s new Global Head of Publisher Licensing in NYC, Parness will be tasked with leading Spotify’s relationships with the publishing industry and striking deeper partnerships with songwriters.

Veteran booking agent and co-founder of X-ray Touring Jeff Craft has announced his retirement.  With a roster of artistes including Elbow, Pixies and PJ Harvey, Craft began his career in the late 1970s at Cowbell, before moving to Derek Block Artist’s Agency, John Jackson’s Fair Warning, Martin Hopewell’s World Service, before moving onto Helter Skelter.

Two Ticketmaster employees named in Songkick's anti-trust lawsuit against the ticketing firm's owner Live Nation - Stephen Mead and Zeeshan Zaidi - have left the company, The lawsuit claims that Ticketmaster then developed a plan to compete with CrowdSurge (acquired by Songkick in 2015) based on the confidential information it had obtained, including targeting new clients which the start-up was aiming to work with.

MonoKrome Music, the new artist and label services business that launched earlier this year, has announced the appointment of a new non-exec director and the launch of a proprietary digital rights platform called The Hub.John Holborow, who previously had MD roles at the Beggars Group and Sony Music's RCA, joins the board. 

Live Nation has announced that it has acquired Utah-based promoter United Concerts, ending its 50 year run as an independent business. The two companies have co-promoted shows in the state for a number of years.

Capitol Music Group has hired Brian Nolan as the new SVP of seventeenfifty, its in-house division focused on brand partnerships and sync licensing. Nolan previously spent 12 years at Columbia/Sony - most recently as Columbia's VP of International Marketing. 

Universal Music Germany has altered its structure to become more 'dynamic, creative and effective'. That's resulted in a new division and some promotions. However, 16-year UMG veteran Daniel Lieberberg, SVP of Domestic Labels, is leaving the company. 

Steven Victor, SVP of A&R at Universal Music Group, has been named EVP and Head of A&R at Def Jam, reporting into its incoming boss Paul Rosenberg. Victor is a former Chief Operating Officer at Kanye West's record label G.O.O.D Music

London-based Polydor has hired Jodie Cammidge from fellow Universal Music UK label Virgin EMI. Cammidge is named Promotions Director at Polydor.

And Columbia Records in New York has promoted Stephen Russo to EVP and CFO, reporting to Sony Music boss Rob Stringer.

Music industry executive and media and technology entrepreneur, Robb McDaniels, has been named CEO of Beatport. Beatport is owned by LiveStyle (formerly SFX Entertainment).

At Warner Music, Atlantic Records label in the UK will have a new General Manager from January,  with Magnus Ribbeklint joining from Warner Music Sweden. Ribbeklint is taking over as GM of Atlantic UK from Mark Mitchell, who has just been promoted to the job of Co-President at Parlophone. And Helen McLaughlin has just been appointed MD of Warner Music Sweden. She is also due to take on her new role next January. McLaughlin joins Warner from Sony Music Sweden.  The executive who created Warner's in-house streaming playlist brand Topsify is leaving WMG three years after the major acquired his UK-based startup. Kieron Donoghue's Playlists.net was bought by Warner's distribution and services arm WEA in 2014 for an undisclosed fee.

Warner/Chappell Music has promoted Eric Mackay to Executive Vice President, Global Digital Strategy with immediate effect. Based in London, Mackay will continue to report directly to Jon Platt, Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell.

Holly Lim has left her position as Chief Financial Officer of SoundCloud little over a year after taking up the role. She has been named CFO of live streaming and on-demand audio service TuneIn, which is based in San Francisco.

The Managing Director of BMG in Brazil, John Telfer, has left the company. 

Hip-hop entrepreneur Percy 'Master P' Miller has joined Cinq Music as President of Urban Music. Master P created No Limit Records and found fame as a rap star in the mid-nineties, before building a multi-million dollar empire at his company

Former Sydney Entertainment Centre boss Steve Romer has joined Byron Bay Bluesfest, replacing festival founder and director Peter Noble as chief operating officer (COO).

Romer is a 30-year veteran of the live entertainment and sports industries, most recently serving as CEO as the Venue Management Association (VMA). He becomes COO for both the festival its associated companies, including Bluesfest Touring, with Noble moving into the chairmans role.

DHP has drawn on its existing talent to fill new roles, with Kelly Bennaton becoming Head of Marketing, Sophie Power Head of Creative and Anwyn Williams Marketing Manager.

Festival ticketing start up Festicket has hired Matt Ephgrave as its new COO. Ephgrave has previously worked for Ticketscript, YPlan and Seatwave. "Ambitious planning for 2018 called for someone of Matt's skills and know-how", says CEO Zack Sabba (CMU). 

THE REVOLVING DOOR

LiveStyle (formerly SFX) has hired Gary Richards to be its President of North America. Richards was the founder of Hard Events, the LA-based dance music-focused promoter that was acquired by Live Nation in 2012. Following that acquisition Richards stayed with Live Nation until recently.

Global Entertainment, the UK’s second-largest festival operator, is downsizing its touring business in favour of a renewed focus on its portfolio of festivals, following former Global Live chief Sam Bush and promoter Joe Schiavon’s move to rival Live Nation. They  are joined at LNE by new promoters Kamran Haq (who was a local promoter in Manchester, before moving on to work with acts such as Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, and Sean Ryman, who joins from Academy Music Group, where he promoted nationally shows by Taking Back Sunday, Slaves and Less than Jake. Live Nation has also hired Chris Loll as the first chief operating officer (COO) of its Media & Sponsorship business. And Canadian booking agent Zaed Maqbool, who had been with The Agency Group/United Talent Agency (UTA) in Toronto since 2006, is to relocate to Dubai to take up a new role with Live Nation.

and Lesley Olenik has joined Live Nation as vice-president of touring for its US concerts division. Olenik, who will be based in Los Angeles and report to senior VP of touring Omar Al-Joulani, is a nine-year veteran of AEG/Goldenvoice, most recently serving as Goldenvoice’s senior VP of talent buying, where she booked shows throughout southern California.

The live events company Mclcreate has appointed Neil Lawson as managing director. Lawson takes over from Tim Spencer who led the recent management buyout from the NEP Group, and now serves as CEO.

Ticketmaster France has hired Charlotte Broutin, formerly of rival operation France Billet, as head of music. Broutin’s arrival at Ticketmaster France (formerly Ticketnet) comes as the company increases its share of the French ticketing market, where it is in competition with Fnac’s France Billet and Vivendi’s Digitick.

Universal Music UK has announced that former EMI and Warner video supremo Stefan Demetriou will join its Globe Productions unit next month in a move which "brings one of the UK music industry's most celebrated audiovisual creatives together with Universal Music's market-leading, Oscar-winning creative and commercial partnerships division".

Larmer Tree Festival has made two new key appointments. Sarah Dennehy becomes the event's Creative Director, and Rachel Kinchin takes on its marketing and communications.
Dennehy has previously worked on events such as the Hay Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival and Australia's Perth Festival. Kinchin, meanwhile, has worked with a range of events, venues and artists, and previously collaborated with Dennehy on the Festival Of Voice in Cardiff. After a year off, next year's Larmer Tree Festival will take place on 20-22 July, taking it back from a five day to a three day event.

UK-based marketing specialist Pat Carr has left BMG after joining the company nearly three years ago. Carr became part of BMG’s London office when it purchased Korda Marshall’s Infectious Music in Q3 2014. She leaves behind her role at SVP of Marketing – in which she has recently worked on UK No.1 albums from Rick Astley and Blink 182, amongst others.

Spotify has lured digital-media veteran Courtney Holt over from Disney to lead its efforts around original video and podcast programming. The hire comes days after the streaming service confirmed the departure of Tom Calderone, global head of content partnerships at Spotify.  And Spotify has appointed Rakesh Patel as its new Head Of Sales for the UK. He brings 18 years of experience to the role, most recently as Advertising Director at Auto Trader. He effectively replaces Chris Forrester, who left Spotify in April

David Kramer and Jay Sures have been promoted to co-presidents of United Talent Agency (UTA).  Kramer, who oversees who UTA’s film, comedy touring, licensing and publishing activities, and Sures, who heads up its television departments, both began their careers as assistants to agency co-founder Peter Benedek, and have since 2010 served as joint managing directors.

Sony/ATV has announced the promotion of London-based Dan Nelson to the role of SVP International.

LA-based promoter Goldenvoice has made new promotions in its venues and festival divisions. Jennifer Yacoubin hands over her booking responsibilities at LA’s El Rey Theatre (771-cap.) to Jennifer Liu, who becomes talent buyer, with Yacoubin promoted to talent buyer at the larger Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall (6,300-cap.). Liu was previously talent buyer for the Roxy Theatre (500-cap.) in West Hollywood. Mapi Moran becomes director of festival marketing, handling properties including Coachella, Stagecoach and Hangout in Alabama. Moran was previously marketing manager for Goldenvoice’s club/venue shows.

K2 Agency, which represents Metallica, Iron Maiden and Slayer, has acquired booking agency Factory Music.  Sharon Richardson, who launched UK-based Factory Music Management and Agency in 2004, will join K2 on 1ast October, bringing a roster that includes some of the biggest names in metal.

Warner Music UK has announced two promotions within its senior management team, with Peter Breeden becoming Chief Operating Officer and Mel Fox becoming Chief Transformation Officer. Breeden will also retain his current role of Chief Financial Officer.

Max Lousada,  the Warner Music Group's new global head of recorded music, has joined Warner's bpoard of directors  alongside Jon Platt, the CEO & Chairman of Warner/Chappell, and  international economist Noreena Hertz. Cameron Strang, the current boss of Warner Bros Records - has stepped down from the board.

BMG's EVP Recorded Music, Jon Cohen, has left the company. He joined the Bertelsmann-owned firm after BMG acquired Los Angeles-based Vagrant Records in 2014.  He has told his former colleagues to "keep smiling!" in the wake of his departure


At the Entertainment Retailers Association's Annual General Meeting, Eduard Castello, Music Content Partnerships Manager for both Google Play and YouTube in the UK and Ireland, will join the board of the trade group. Other new board members include Raoul Chatterjee, who was previously Chair of ERA while at 7digital, and is now at SoundCloud, and Tony Boothroyd, owner of Huddersfield-based Vinyl Tap.

Gary Hutchinson is to leave his position as head of venue sales and commercial partnerships at Wembley Stadium. The former Sunderland AFC exec joined the UK’s largest stadium earlier this year, effectively replacing its ex-head of business development, Jim Frayling. He will leave the FA, the venue’s owner, at the end of 2017 to run a private hospitality venture, Chrysalis Leisure Group.

RIP

Walter Becker

Steely Dan guitarist and co-founder Walter Becker has died, aged 67, In a statement to Rolling Stone, bandmate Donald Fagen said of his friend and songwriting partner of 50 years: "He was smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter. He was cynical about human nature, including his own, and hysterically funny ... I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band".

US country music singer Don Williams - who enjoyed great success with his easy-going singing style - has died aged 78 after a short illness. Williams began his solo career in 1971, amassing 17 number one country hits. His songs such as 'Gypsy Woman' and 'Tulsa Time', were covered by singers such as Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend. Williams was known as the 'gentle giant' of country music.

Another country star, Troy Gentry, has also died, Gentry died in a helicopter crash. Gentry, was half of the popular country duo, Montgomery Gentry, with his brother. Formed in 1999 the duo had released eight studio albums. Country music stars including Sheryl Crow paid tribute to Gentry on social media. Grammy award-winning Singer Brad Paisley said he was "heartbroken and in disbelief" at the news of Gentry's death.

Grant Hart

Little Barrie drummer Virgil Howe has died, aged 42. He was the son of Yes guitarist Steve Howe and the news was confirmed via the prog rock band's Facebook page last night. The cause of death has not yet been made public. Formed in 2000, Little Barrie are currently best known for writing the theme tune to 'Breaking Bad' spin-off 'Better Call Saul'. The band released their latest album, 'Death Express', in July, and were due to begin a UK tour in Cambridge.

Husker Du drummer Grant Hart has passed away. The NME says that there had beeb  been no official comment but according to social media reports, the Husker Du founder has died. He was 56 and had been battling cancer. Husker Du shared a photo of Hart on their Facebook page the same day.

Live Nation Belgium (LNB) booker Marianne Dekimpe has died at the age of 49. Dekimpe started her career as assistant to Rock Werchter festival founder Herman Schueremans and director Yo Van Saet. She later worked as a booking agent for Belgian and international artistes. 

Music industry veteran Mick Clark has died. President of his own company i10 Music Group at the time of his death, Clark also worked at labels including Columbia and Virgin during his career. In his A&R roles, he signed acts including Soul II Soul, Leftfield, Maxi Priest, Loose Ends and Grooverider. Alan McGee, who worked with Mick on a number of projects, said in a statement: "Mick was a musical genius - up until a week ago he was excitedly telling me about some great producer ideas. His sudden passing is a huge shock to me and the many people who loved him". Clark is survived by two sons, Jamie and Callum.

And as we write this piece, news broke that Tom Petty has died after being rushed to a Los Angeles hospital. He was 66, and the author and performer of  a host of iconic songs including  "Don't Do Me Like That", "Refugee", "The Waiting", "I Won't Back Down" and "Freefalling". Petty joined his first band, The Sundowners, in high school at the age of 14 and then joined The Epics, who later changed their name to Mudcrutch, and Petty travelled to Los Angeles in search of a record deal which never came for the band. A new group formed in 1975 which included Petty and two former Mudcrutch members, eventually becoming known as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, with a hugely successful career. Petty also had success as an actor and ge joined fellow music legends Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison in 1988 to form The Travelling Wilburys. They released two studio albums. Petty was also an outspoken advicate of the rights of artists, taking issue with record companies on a number of occasions about what he believed to be unjust practices. Tony Dimitriades, longtime manager of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, confirmed Petty's death on behalf of the performer's family. “It’s shocking, crushing news,” Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone in a statement. “I thought the world of Tom. He was great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him.” Image from musicisentropy on flickr.

More than fifty dead at US County Festival shooting

More than fifty people have been killed at a Las Vegas country music festival in a shooting which left more than more one hundred concert goers wounded. The deaths at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival began when it seems a lone gunman began shooting as the final night's headliner Jason Aldean began his performance at the Mandalay Bay casino. As crowds attempted to find safety, there were reports of multiple shooters but police have said that they now believe one man to be responsible. He has not yet been named, but it has been reported that he is a local resident.

UPDATE

Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire with an automatic on 22,000 concertgoers from his room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Last Vegas around 10 p.m. on Sunday night.

At least 50 people were killed and over 400 people were sent to nearby hospitals.


Paddock, who had no serious criminal history, died of an apparent self-inflicted wound. Police could not immediately determine a motive.

US recorded music market growth driven by streaming

The Recording Industry Association Of America say that in the first half of 2017 retail revenues from recorded music in the US were up approximately 17% to $4 billion, with wholesale revenues up about 14.6% to around $2.7 billion.  The big growth is in streaming with revenues from all the various streaming services available in the US now accounting for 62% of the total American market, with total streaming revenues up 48% to $2.5 billion in the first six months of the year.

Failed festival companies face bankruptcy

The company behind the "chaotic" Hope and Glory Festival has gone into liquidation owing almost £890,000 to creditors. The Liverpool based event suffered numerous problems on its first day and was cancelled on its second day (6 August) amid reports of overcrowding, long queues for drinks and toilets, and long delays for artists and acts axed at the last minute. Some acts, including Charlotte Church, were axed. Headliners James did perform but lead singer Tim Booth apologised to fans for the "chaos". Insolvency firm Butcher Woods said 32 creditors were owed £888,984, including Liverpool City Council.

The Council told the BBC it was "seeking recovery of costs associated with the clean-up operation" for the festival at Liverpool's St Georges Quarter. Ticket selling websites Eventbrite and Skiddle said they had given full refunds to people with tickets for the cancelled day and a 50% refund for weekend ticket holders but it is thought likely that the ticketing firms will have to meet the cost themselves. Eventbrite had already paid festival organisers for the funds collected from ticket sales and was now "aggressively pursuing Hope & Glory" to get the money back, a spokesman said.


A judge has forced the company that owns Fyre Festival into bankruptcy, after the first edition of the ‘luxury’ VIP event soon turned into a nightmare earlier this year. Despite promising potential festival goers luxury accommodation and a line-up that included the likes of Major Lazer and Blink-182, the event quickly descended into chaos when it took place in May. Now, it has been placed into bankruptcy by Judge Martin Glenn after investors John Nemeth, Raul Jimenez and Andrew Newman claimed that they were owed a repayment of the $530,000 that they had placed in to the event to finance it. Judge Glenn approved an involuntary petition against festival founder Billy McFarland and his Fyre Fest LLC. McFarland was arrested after he allegedly showed fake documents to investors to encourage them to put more than $1 million into the Festival. 

Tragedy after storm hits Austrian festival

Two people have lost their lives after a storm ripped through a community festival in Austria. A 28-year-old local and a 19-year-old Romanian student were fatally injured by falling scaffolding when a beer tent collapsed at Zeltfest in Frauschereck, St Johann am Walde, amid 78mph winds that also left much of Upper Austria without power. A further 120 people were injured, 20 of them seriously, reports the Vienna Kurier. A reported 700 people were in the marquee when the storm broke, of around 1,000 total festivalgoers. Zeltfest (“Tentfest”) is an annual festival in aid of volunteer firefighters. Public prosecutor Alois Ebner says his department will launch an investigation to discover whether “all requirements” were filled in the construction of the tent, and if organisers – the fire brigade – should have evacuated the event. the Kurier said the festival would have had at least two hours’ advance warning of the storm.

https://kurier.at/chronik/oesterreich/zeltfest-es-gab-konkrete-sturmwarnungen/281.621.031

http://www.heute.at/oesterreich/oberoesterreich/story/Zeltfest-Drama---Totales-Chaos--es-brach-Panik-aus--58597037

THE REVOLVING DOOR

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has appointed Thomas Krottinger as senior manager, International A&R. Based in the company’s Los Angeles office, Krottinger  will take up the newly-created position with immediate effect, reporting to both Sony/ATV president, worldwide creative, Guy Moot and senior vice president, co-head of West Coast A&R, Amanda Berman-Hill.

Columbia Records has promoted Joe Gallo to Vice President, Sales. The New York-based Gallo was previously Senior Director of Sales, working with such retails partners as Apple, Amazon and SoundCloud.

The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group announced some changes to its executive hierarchy.  Mike Bruno, who has been at the company for three years as svp of content, is leaving, and Ross Scarano, currently deputy music editor at Complex, will join the company as vp of content for Billboard. Meanwhile, Billboard music editor Jason Lipshutz will be promoted to editorial director and report to Scarano. Current svp of analytics and audience, Jim Thompson, will step into a new role, chief audience officer

Responding to what it calls a “growing demand for live events throughout Latin America”, Live Nation has announced its expansion into Brazil under Alexandre Faria Fernandes, who joins as director and senior vice-president of talent buying (IQ). 

Ticket Arena and Event Genius, one of the UK’s largest independent event technology providers and ticketing agents, has announced that Lisa Brown has been appointed as client services director.  Brown, whose CV includes spells at Ticketmaster, AXS and The Ticket Factory, will support the roll-out of "some amazing new features" for Ticket Arena and Event Genius.

Paradigm Talent Agency has opened an office in Toronto, its first in Canada, just over two weeks after rival agency UTA announced it is to shutter its operation in the same city.The new office will be overseen by Rob Zifarelli, hired from UTA, who is joined by fellow Canadian agents André Guérette and Adam Countryman, also both formerly of UTA (IQ). 


Former Kobalt Music Group President Richard Sanders has been named CEO of streaming service TIDAL. According to Variety, Sanders is now set to succeed Jeff Toig as TIDAL CEO. Before joining Kobalt in 2012, Richard Sanders was Sony Music’s Chairman of International & President of Global Marketing where he oversaw the global company’s 43 operating units outside the US.


Live Nation has formed a new electronic music division, Live Nation Electronic Asia, in response to what it calls “the region’s rising demand for electronic dance music”. The new venture is headed up Jim Wong, an independent Hong Kong-based promoter who has promoted and booked more than 500 acts in Hong Kong and mainland China over the past three years.

Independent rights-holder Downtown has has engaged A&R man Daniel Lloyd Jones in London, in addition to ex-Roc Nation exec Jacque O'Leary. Lloyd Jones was previously at Sony/ATV Music Publishing. 

Pandora has hired Roger Lynch as CEO and President, and a member of its board of directors, effective September 18, 2017. Lynch was previously the founding chief exec of US OTT television service Sling TV. Naveen Chopra, who has served as Pandora’s interim CEO since June 2017, will continue in his role as chief financial officer.  And ex-Sony Entertainment CEO, now Snap Inc. Chairman, Michael Lynton joins Pandora's board of directors.

Wasted Talent has hired Phil Alexander to oversee the development of Kerrang!  The new owner of Kerrang! has engaged Alexander to oversee the development of the rock media brand and Alexander will join the senior management team as Global Creative Director of Kerrang! and Rock Music Media. He will be responsible for the print, digital and events side of the Kerrang! business as well as contributing to the wider development of the Wasted Talent company.

Ministry Of Sound Recordings, now a Sony Music UK label, has a new General Manager, Amy Wheatley, who was previously Head Of UK Marketing at management firm Three Six Zero. Wheatley - who worked in various roles at Sony earlier in her career - will report into MOSR MD Dipesh Parmar and MOSR/RCA President David Dollimore in the new role.

United Talent Agency has hired David Zedeck from live giant Live Nation to become its Global Head Of Music, as well as a partner and special advisor to the board. UTA says that Zedeck will be based out of its LA office and will "oversee the company's rapidly expanding worldwide music business".

Jo Dipple will join Live Nation Entertainment as SVP of Public Affairs. Dipple was previously CEO of trade body UK Music in London for five years. In her new role, she will serve Live Nation and Ticketmaster internationally.

Def Jam has taken on Scott Greer to head up Marketing and Commerce as EVP. Greer perviously worked at Capitol Music Group, which he joined in 2014 after 18 years at Sony - where he was most recently SVP of Marketing at Columbia.

Bertil David has been promoted to the position of Managing Director at Universal Music Publishing in France. The head of the company for the past decade, Jean-Philippe Allard, has left the group. David jointly reports to Jody Gerson and Olivier Nusse.  Sony Music exec Adam Granite has joined  Universal. Granite will take up the newly-created position of EVP, Market Development at UMG in September. He will work out of Universal's London office and report directly to UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge.And long-serving Universal exec Gustavo Lopez has officially left the major to launch his own services company for Latin music, Talento Uno. The LA-based exec was previously GM/EVP of Universal Music Latin Entertainment and launched Machete Music.

Vevo has promoted Claudia De Wolff to vice-president, creative content and programming, UK and international. De Wolff will be based in the firm's London office.

Andre Paine has been appointed news editor of Music Week. Paine, a former global news editor at Billboard, started at Music Week on the 31st July. In his new role, he will lead Music Week’s news coverage across print, online and social media and will report to editor Mark Sutherland. 

Spotify has appointed Jane Huxley as Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand. Huxley, who succeeds Kate Vale, stepped down as the boss of Pandora in the territories earlier this year. Stefan Blom calls her "an impressive addition to Spotify" And Spotify is parting ways with Tom Calderone, the head of original video and podcasts

RIP

Rhinestone Cowboy singer Glen Campbell has died at the age of 81 after "a long and courageous battle" with Alzheimer's disease, his family said. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather," their statement said.The legendary guitarist announced his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2011. A self-taught prodigy, he rose from a poor rural childhood to release over 70 albums and sell 45 million records, and had a series of hits in the '60s and '70s including "Gentle on My Mind," "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," "Country Boy" and his best-selling single, "Rhinestone Cowboy." Glen made history in 1967 by winning 4 Grammys in the country and pop categories, and took home CMA's Entertainer of the Year award in 1968. Campbell was also an actor and TV host who starred in the variety show, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS from 1969-1972. The 2014 documentary "I'll Be Me" documented Glen's farewell tour and struggle with his Alzheimer's diagnosis. Just one of so many tributes: "He was one of the loveliest artists I ever worked with.  I got to see him live on more than a few occasions and was lucky to meet his lovely family. His anecdotes were amazing ...... He was a legend in a time and place when stars were truly stars. He played guitar on some of the most famous singles of all time. He was a Beach Boy. He recorded so many classics and him and Jimmy Webb wrote music history together. A week doesn't go by without me playing his songs. If you don't know his work discover it. You will be all the better for doing so. RIP."

Bennett Morgan, the veteran jazz agent who booked and represented such legends as Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Eartha Kitt and Rosemary Clooney, has died. He was 85. Morgan died in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., his wife of 31 years, Becky, announced.

Anita Pallenberg, the actress, model and always known for her friendship with the Rolling Stones, has died aged 73. Jo Bergman, the band's PA between 1967 and 1973 said: "She, Mick, Keith and Brian were the Rolling Stones. Her influence has been profound. She keeps things crazy."

Rapper Prodigy has died, aged 42. Prodigy, real name Albert Johnson, was best known as one half of Mobb Deep. In a statement, Mobb Deep's publicist said: "It is with extreme sadness and disbelief that we confirm the death of our dear friend Albert Johnson, better known to millions of fans as Prodigy of legendary NY rap duo Mobb Deep" adding"Prodigy was hospitalised a few days ago in Vegas after a Mobb Deep performance, for complications caused by a sickle cell anaemia crisis" and "As most of his fans know, Prodigy battled the disease since birth" although the cause of death wasn't officially given. 

The Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has died aged 41. Bandmate Mike Shinoda confirmed the news on Twitter.  Police officials told TMZ that the singer died by suicide and was found in his home in Palos Verdes Estates in L.A. Count. Bennington had struggled with drug use in the past, and, according to TMZ, had spoken about taking his own life after being a victim of child abuse. In 2000, Linkin Park released their debut album, “Hybrid Theory,” which gave hits including “One Step Closer,” “Crawling” and “In The End.” The album went multi-platinum in several countries.  The band went on to release a string of successful follow-ups, including “Meteroa” (2003), followed by “Minutes to Midnight” (2007). Their most recent album, “One More Light,” was released in May 2017. The band were currently touring with the album, with performances scheduled into Autumn.

PRS For Music has paid tribute to Frances Lowe who has died. Lowe had a long career working with and alongside the UK collecting society, most recently in a key policy and public affairs role.  Lowe, a graduate of Cambridge University, worked as International Counsel at PRS in the 1990s before going on to run British Music Rights, the organisation set up to lobby for the collective interests of songwriters and music publishers, which later morphed into sector-wide trade group UK Music. After taking some time off from the music industry, she returned in 2007 to consult on the setting up of digital licensing entity CELAS, before rejoining PRS in a full time role as Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Director subsequently setting up the society's public affairs team. 

Mary Cleary, whose four decades in the US live music industry included spells with International Famous Agency, Thames Talent, Bill Graham’s FM Productions and travel agencies Trinifold Travel and Four Seasons travel, has died aged 68.

Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell has died her daugher Alexandra Burke has announced praising her 'unconditional love, support, charisma, strength and courage'. Bell, understood to have been aged 53, was the lead vocalist in Grammy award-winning act. She joined in 1993 after founder Jazzie B heard her debut solo single "Reconsider". Their song "Wish", where Bell sang lead vocals, featured on their greatest hits album Volume IV that same year. Bell left Soul II Soul in 1995 to pursue a solo career. Bell later had a spell as the lead singer of the band Soul Explosion.

And Dave Chumbley, director and booking agent at Primary Talent International, has passed away after a short illness. A statement from Primary reads: “Dave was a great man, a world class agent, esteemed director and colleague whose dedication to his artists was unmatched. We are extremely lucky to have been touched by his unique humour, exceptional kindness and infectious joie de vivre.” Many people expressed shock at Dave's death, he was just 57,  and he will be much missed in the live sector and by the artistes he has worked with including Kylie Minogue, Bloodhound Gang, Lana Del Rey, Dropkick Murphys, Rufus Wainwright, Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, Imogen Heap and  Rufus Wainwright, many of whom posted tributes to Dave.  Dave is survived by his wife Romilly and two children, Raphaella and Tom.

Bieber cancels final fourteen dates on World Tour

Justin Bieber has cancelled the final 14 dates of his 16 month long 'Purpose' tour which saw the star perform more than 150 shows in 40 countries across six continents. The fnal dates, which were spread across four months and included shows in East Rutherford, N.J., Hong Kong and Singapore, citing only “unforeseen circumstances.” A spkespersn said “Justin loves his fans and hates to disappoint them ..... however, after careful consideration he has decided he will not be performing any further dates. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase.” Last week, Mr. Bieber had been barred from performing in mainland China because of past “bad behavior.

Bieber then hit the news after he bumped into a photographer as he left a church service. The singer was leaving the Saban Theatre in Los Angeles in his pick-up truck when he hit a 57-year-old photographer. Bieber got out of his truck to help the injured man, and paparazzi scrambled around the vehicle to get pictures of the accident. Maurice Lamond later said ""Hour before my birthday hits, I get ran over by Justin Bieber. Isn't that something? He's a good kid, though. I think the truck was a little bit too big for him, though, because there's no way he could see over the front — it was the slope it was on. But like I said, he got out, he was compassionate, he's a good kid, accidents happen." Police say no one was cited or arrested at the scene and there appeared to be no criminal activity involved.

Final day of Y-Not washed out

The final day of the UK's Y-Not festival in Derbyshire has been cancelled after heavy rainfall turned the site into a mud bath. Some sets on previous days were also cancelled. Promoters said "Unfortunately we've had to take the difficult decision to cancel Sunday due to the adverse weather conditions across the weekend, after consulting all the relevant authorities. The safety of our guests, performers and crew is our primary concern and the potential risk was too severe for Sunday to go ahead". The statement added: "We are very sorry for the disappointment and disruption caused to everyone who was looking forward to the final day of the festival. We understand that people will have questions about refunds. We will be giving all our guests further information about this over the coming days". The festival having was acquired by Global's Broadwick Live venture last year and this year featured headliners Two Door Cinema Club, Happy Mondays, Jake Bugg, Stereophonics, Feeder and Clean Bandit amongst others.

There were complaints that the organisers were not prepared for expected heavy rain and fans took to social media to demand refunds and complain about the organisation of the event. Y-Not Festival said it would be meeting insurers to discuss refunds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-40773130  Image BBC

https://www.facebook.com/ynotfestival/

HOPE & GLORY CANCELLATION HERE http://www.musicweek.com/live/read/hope-glory-organisers-devastated-after-festival-chaos/069368

Y-NOT REFUNDS HERE http://www.musicweek.com/live/read/y-not-festival-releases-refund-information/069382