Electric Picnic dispute settled

The founder of Ireland's Electric Picnic festival, John Reynolds, has settled his legal action against the company that now operates the Electric Picnic. Reynolds took legal action against Festival Republic Dublin, alleging breach of a March 2009 shareholders agreement and oppression of the petitioner’s interests. Reynolds argued that management decisions made by Melvin Benn, the chief executive of FRD, relating to the 2012 and 2013 festivals were damaging to Reynold's POD Music Ltd, the 100 per cent shareholder of EP Republic Ltd, but were to the benefit of the FRD Group. In 2009 FRD paid €4.2m on acquiring a 71 per cent stake in EP Festivals Ltd, then a subsidiary of POD. Reynolds also claimed he was kept out of volume discounting on sales of tickets and lost out as a result - estimating a discounting sum of €450,000 was involved over the five Electric Picnics between 2009 and 2013 which had a direct impact on the value of his shareholding. Reynolds had previously secured an order requiring Ticketmaster to provide him with information about volume discounts paid on the sale of tickets for five Electric Picnic festivals up to 2013. In response FRD alleged Mr Reynolds had been engaging in a deliberately obstructive pattern of behaviour and was seeking to have his shares bought out at “grossly inflated prices” and that Reynolds had presented a one-sided account of how the management of the festival has worked both before and after 2009 - and that POD had been loss making before 2009. Mr Justice Peter Kelly at the Commercial Court adjourned the case until June 3rd when it is expected to be struck out. A press release said "“EP Festivals is pleased to report that an agreement has been reached between POD Music and Festival Republic Dublin regarding Electric Picnic. As part of the agreement, POD Music, a co-shareholder in Electric Picnic, has agreed to divest its stake to Festival Republic Dublin. Festival Republic Dublin would like to thank John Reynolds, director of POD Music, for his contribution to the successful development of Electric Picnic and wish him well for the future.” The 2014 edition  features  Portishead, Beck, OutKast, Kelis, Foals, Pet Shop Boys, Paolo Nutini, Sr Vincent, Lily Allen, Neneh Cherry, Blondie, Sinead O’Connor and The Horrors

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/john-reynolds-action-against-electric-picnic-operator-settled-1.1793357

Festivals face new challenges from legal highs

The boss of Festival Republic, Melvin Benn, has said that so called 'legal highs' present a new challenge for festivals and highlighted the health resources needed to care for people who people affected by them. Benn stressed that increased information sharing had had a positive impact on reducing festival crime, and that at his events (Reading, Leeds and Latitude in the UK) they had seen a reduction in mobile phone thefts. Benn was speaking ahead of the Crime at Major Festivals Conference he will host at Reading's Madejski stadium  on February 27th. Speakers will include a representative from the new National Crime Agency.

Judge urges Pod and FRD to settle Electric Picnic case

In Ireland, Mr Justice Peter Kelly has adjourned a case between Pod Music Ltd, the company run by John Reynolds, funder of the 35,000 Electric Picnic, and Festival Republic Dublin, urging both sides to resolve their differences out of court. Reynolds had claimed that he was being excluded from key decisions and "unexplained payments" now that FDR own 71% of the organising company.

Pengelly to leave Festival Republic

Festival Republic has announced that Neil Pengelly is to leave the company after nearly two decades working on the firm's events. Pengelly, who booked both the Leeds and Reading festivals,  will stay on in a consultative role until March next year. 

Festival Republic also announced that Natasha Haddad will join the company on 31st October and will have a particular focus on the firm's Latitude festival, joining from the MAMA Group, where she worked on various festivals, including Wilderness, Lovebox and The Great Escape. Replacing Haddad as the Great Escape programmer will Adam Ryan.

Glastonbury and Festival Republic to split

Festival Republic have confirmed that their partnership with the Glastonbury Festival has come to an end, meaning that Melvin Benn, who first worked for the iconic Festival in the 80s and then returned prior to the 2002 Festival which featured the new 'superfence' as Licensee, will pass over the reigns as Operations Director in due course. Festival Republic were shareholders in the event. Benn will now focus on Festival Republic's other festivals including Reading, Leeds, Latitude, Hove, Berlin and Electric Picnic.  A statement from Festival Republic said:

"Time moves on and now is the time for Michael and the Glastonbury team to pick up the reins again and build for the future. This will then allow Melvin and the Festival Republic team to focus on growing new Festival Republic events and the existing FR owned festivals here in the UK as well as internationally in Ireland, Germany and Norway as well as the time required of Melvin as Chairman of Wembley Stadium."

"The separation has been mutual and cordial and Melvin will oversee the change and the selection of the new Operations Director (yet to be appointed). The Festival Republic interest in GFL 2011 (the operational company of Glastonbury Festival) will be passed on to LNG, Festival Republic's parent company, in a long term arrangement that genuinely secures the future of the Festival. (The Workers Beer Company interest in the same company remains unaffected)."

Benn has plans for two more UK festivals

Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn has told BBC 6Music that he is considering possibly launching two new festivals in 2012. Benn revealed he is considering launching a new event next year, possibly a twin event, with the main focus outside of music, although he didn't reveal what exactly the focus would be adding it was "too early" to reveal the details for the events which he felt there was "a market for a festival in a space that doesn't currently exist.". In other UK news, both the Isle of Wight Festival and the Big Chill both look likely to move their dates in a busy British summer. The Isle of Wight is planning to move into the vacant 'Glastonbury weekend' from June 22nd to 24th because of problems with busy ferries to and from the Island caused by the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and Benn is considering moving the Big Chill as it cashes with the London 2012 Olympics.