Universal parent Vivendi enters the festival world

French mass media giant Vivendi, parent company of See Tickets and Universal Music Group (UMG), is providing financial and marketing support to 10 French music festivals. As part of the partnership, television channel D17 (operated by Vivendi subsidiary Canal+) is broadcasting footage from Brive Festival, Déferlantes, Eurockéennes, Garorock, Hamac Festival, Hellfest, Mainsquare, Musilac, Marciac Jazz Festival and Vieilles Charrues, and the festivals are promoted via UMG, ticketing company Digitick, TV stations D17, D8 and i-Télé and video-sharing website Dailymotion. The company  will receive an allocation of festival tickets to be handed out to subscribers to loyalty programmes includingCanal’s Premier Rang (‘Front Row’). in May and June Vivendi bought two businesses from bankrupt dance music promoter SFX Entertainment: Flavorus, via Vivendi Ticketing (See Tickets and Digitick), and Fame House, through UMG.

http://www.iq-mag.net/2016/07/vivendi-backs-french-festivals/#.V5h7XLgrKM9

SGP runs out drugs testing

Secret Garden Party festival has become the latest in the UK to let festival goers test class A drugs without fear of arrest. Run by charity The Loop, the scheme offered confidential forensic testing of drugs at the festival to let attendees know exactly what they were taking. Fiona Measham, co-director of The Loop and director of its drug testing programme, told AAA: “My research shows that MDMA crystal remains the most popular party drug amongst festivalgoers and clubbers, but purity and contents can vary considerably in illegal markets.”

More on AAA here

THE REVOLVING DOOR

It seems SFX Entertainment, which lost its CEO back in March, when founder Robert Sillerman stepped down, may have a new boss. Rumours say former AEG live boss Randy Phillips, who left Global Entertainment last year after just seven months in charge, is the man to lead the EDM group out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. After falling into bankruptcy in February, SFX is aiming to emerge in October "as a streamlined world leader of live events and digital entertainment content"

Mickey Curbishley, chief executive of PRG Music Group, has announced he will be leaving the company at the end of this month, bringing the curtain down on an 18-year career at the head of the production services outfit.

United Talent Agency has promoted Alice Hogg to the position of live agent. Since joining UTA as assistant to agent Natasha Bent in 2013, Hogg has played a key role in the growth of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, RY X and Chvrches. She has also been working alongside Bent on up and coming new artists Youngr and SHELLS. In addition to these artists, Hogg’s roster of talent will now include All Tvvins, Jarami, Majik and Tom Misch.

Rebecca Kane Burton, the General Manager at the O2, has stepped down and will, as of 1st September, take over as managing director of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatres Group.

Mike McCormack has been named Managing Director of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) UK. He succeeds Paul Connolly, who is stepping down from his role as President of Europe and Managing Director UK after an unbroken 28 years with the company.

Universal Music Germany has appointed one of Apple’s star music executives in Europe, Patrick Mushatsi-Kareba as General Manager of Marketing & Digital. he was prebviously Head Of Apple Music & iTunes Music in GSA (Germany, Switzerland and Austria), as well as Italy and PAN-Europe. He joined the tech giant in 2008 following three years as Director of Music Programming at Napster.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has promoted David Gray to the role of Executive Vice President/Head of West Coast A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Gray will report to Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman and CEO, and Evan Lamberg, UMPG President – North America.

Warner Music UK (WMUK) has promoted Andy Prevezer to the position of VP Press for Warner Bros. & Parlophone UK & SVP Press Strategy WMUK.

Warner Music Group has hired a senior executive from Sony to head up its business development team. MBW reports that that Ole Obermann – who has been with Sony for a decade – is joining WMG as EVP of Business Development, and will report into CEO Stephen Cooper.

Warner Music Nashville (WMN) has made two changes to the senior management team. Effective immediately, Peter Strickland, currently Executive VP/General Manager of WMN, has been named to the newly-created post of Chief Marketing Officer. And effective January 1st, Matt Signore, currently President of WEA, Warner Music Group’s global artist and label services division, will assume the post of Chief Operating Officer.

Johnny Tennander has stepped up to MD of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia, replacing Patrik Sventelius who has left the company to pursue other opportunities.

And Sony/ATV Music Publishing has promoted Michael Abitbol to SVP, Business & Legal Affairs, Digital, based in the company’s New York head office.

Sony-owned The Orchard has appointed Tucker McCrady as EVP & General Counsel, leading its Business & Legal Affairs functions. McCrady was previously with Greenberg Traurig,and was attorney for SoundCloud. Based in New York, he will report to Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard.

After a string of lukewarm movie releases from its Hollywood studio, Sony Corporation of America (SCA) has laid off 100 from its 700-person workforce as it looks to consolidate back-office functions, sources said.

The Royal Albert Hall's CEO, Chris Cotton has retired. 67-year Cotton has been at the helm of the iconic London venue for seven years.

Jockey Club Live, the joint venture between live music firm Music+Sport and UK racecourse group Jockey Club Racecourses, has appointed Nicky Dunn OBE as Chairman. Before becoming CEO of Belfast Odyssey (now SSE) Arena, where she stayed for ten years, Dunn was Commercial Director of the London Docklands Arena.

The Royal Parks, the body that manages British Summer Time (BST) venue Hyde Park and London’s seven other Royal Parks, has appointed a new chairman. Food critic, TV personality, musician and conservationist Loyd Grossman CBE, who is also chairman of the Heritage Alliance and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, takes over for a four-year term replacing outgoing Chair Apurv Bagri.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has appointed Justine Simons OBE as his deputy mayor for culture and creative industries.

The Beggars Group of Labels (4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade Records, Young Turks and XL Recordings) has appointed Abby Rubin as Licensing Director in the US.

Spotify has landed a netful of BBC staff to bolster its UK programming and curation team: BBC Radio 1xtra music chief Austin Daboh becomes Spotify's Senior Editor, Content Programming UK. Joining Daboh at Spotify UK is Dexter Batson, an Assistant Producer at BBC Radio 1. And Sara Sesardić is headed to Spotify UK as Music Editor. Sesardić currently works as a Producer at radio content creator Wise Buddah, contributing to a range of shows at BBC Radio. The trio will join Rob Khan in the Spotify UK playlist team, previously an Assistant Producer at BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, as well as James Foley - the former Deezer exec who became Spotify UK's Senior Editor: Product Programming in May last year.


Multi-platinum songwriter and producer Crispin Hunt has been appointed chairman of BASCA. Crispin will take over the role from Stephen McNeff who steps down as chairman to concentrate on a major new commission with Welsh National Opera to be televised in 2017.



The Chief Executive Officer of streaming service Guvera, Darren Herft, is set to resign from the role - according to its co-founder, Claes Loberg.

The co-founder of MTV Networks, American businessman John Sykes, has stepped down from the board of Shazam, MBW has learned.

Bomb blast leaves 12 injured and 1 dead by German festival

At least one person is dead after a suspected IED, or improvised explosive device, was detonated at Eugene’s Wine Bar in Ansbach, Germany. The explosion occurred as an outdoor music festival, attended by 2,500 people, was held nearby.

The blast was caused by a bomb, possibly an improvised explosive device, or IED, according to the German newspaper Bild. SWAT police teams could be seen in the aftermath of the explosion, with helicopters overhead, but it is believed the dead person was the attacker and authorities said the 27-year-old Syrian had been denied asylum a year ago and had a history of making attempts on his own life. Three of the twelve  injured are in a serious condition. Speaking at a press conference early on Monday morning, Bavarian Interior minister Joachim Herrmann said the man was carrying a backpack at the time of the blast, at about 10pm on Sunday, but was turned away at the entrance to the festival because he didn’t have a ticket.

RIP

Hot Chocolate lead singer Errol Brown has died aged 71, his manager has said. Brown had liver cancer and died at his home in the Bahamas, said Phil Dale. Hot Chocolate had hits in more than 50 countries worldwide, including You Sexy Thing - which Brown co-wrote - It Started with a Kiss and Every 1's a Winner. Brown was made an MBE by the Queen in 2003 and received an Ivor Novello award for his outstanding contribution to British music in 2004.

Tony Barrow, the longtime Beatles press officer who coined the term “Fab Four,” died at his home in Morecambe, England. He had turned 80 just three days prior. Barrow served as press officer for the legendary band during their heyday, from 1962-1968, and worked with a string of Hall of Fame acts through his career. 

Dave Swarbrick, best known for his work with influential folk group Fairport Convention, has died at the age of 75. Known as "Swarb", the musician performed mainly on the violin and wrote many of the group's songs. The band posted a tribute on their website calling him the "fiddler supreme".

Christina Grimmie, the singer best known for competing on The Voice has died after she was shot after a concert in Orlando. Grimmie and the pop/punk band Before You Exit were signing autographs and selling merchandise after their show at the Plaza Live Theater when a man walked up to her and shot her. Grimmie's brother tackled the assialant, who then shot himself.

Adrian Posse, the veteran composer, producer and industry exec who for years led the A&R departments at BMG and EMI Latin, has died. The cause was pulmonary fibrosis, diagnosed after doctors recently found a tumor in his lung. Posse produced albums for Juan Gabriel, José José, Alejandra Guzmán and Rocío Durcal, among others and also had key roles in Alexander Pires’ crossover into Spanish and Christina Aguilera’s extremely successful Spanish-language album. He was 67 years old.

Nicola Thorold OBE, executive producer at London music and arts venue the Roundhouse, has died aged 51 after a battle with cancer.

News has emerged tonight (July 16) that Alan Vega, founder of electronic proto-punk duo Suicide, has died at the age of 78. Vega was born Boruch Alan Bermowitz, and helped pioneer a new sound and style of electronic music, in particular with Suicide’s influential 1977 self-titled debut album. “RIP to the KING,” 

Matthias Müller, founder and president of Swiss festival Baloise Session, has died aged 51 after a long illness. Session Basel CEO Beatrice Stirnimann – who has, with artist liaison Kerstin Elgass, booked the festival for the past two years – says the festival will continue “according to [Müller’s] wishes, as we have done for the last 30 years, and thus honour his memory”.

Dan Panaitescu

And tragic news from the Sziget Festival: "Our colleague and friend, Dan Panaitescu, who has worked on Sziget and all of our festivals from the very beginning and who is one of the most well-known promoter, has died in a car accident last night. Dan was the one, who booked all those great artists to all of our festivals! Moreover, we can also thank him the ‘Best Line-up’ Award at the European Festival Awards for Sziget. We are speechless. We have always envied him for not getting older, but we have never ever thought that he would not get old… For hours now we are receiving condolences from musicians, managements, agencies and bookers from all over the world. The whole festival industry is grieving. Dan was an acknowledged professional, a great colleague, our friend and a caring father to two children. You will be missed, Dan! Rest in Peace!

Dainty sells up to expanding TEG

Paul Dainty has sold his decades-old promotions company to live events and ticketing business TEG.  TEG already owns Ticketek, TEG Live, Softix, Eventopia and Sydney's Qudos Arena and has been on the hunt for acquisitions through its Hong Kong-based owner Affinity. Now, it’s made its most notable purchase since it bought Nine Live from Nine Entertainment for $640m last April. The Dainty Group has toured big-name acts like The Rolling Stones, Katy Perry, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, Queen and ABBA in Australia and New Zealand. The compay will now sit under the TEG umbrella as TEG-Dainty. All Dainty Group staff members have retained their positions and will now work under TEG-Dainty.

Utsick faces substantial jail term

Jack Utsick, the former concert promoter who was charged with defrauding an estimated 3,300 investors out of nearly US$300 million, faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a mail fraud charge. Many who lost substantial sums were former airline pilots, Utsick's own former profession. Prosecutors say that that Utsick, 73, who appeared in court in Miami on Friday, operated his promotion company, Worldwide Entertainment, as a "ponzi scheme", repaying older investors with money from newer ones. Worldwide promoted tours by arena-filling artists such as The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, The Pretenders, Aerosmith and Fleetwood Mac before being placed into administration amid mounting debts in 2006. A subsequent investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) discovered that Utsick, who earned millions of dollars a year, actually lost money on most tours.

Utsick departed for Brazil after the company failed, but was extradited to the US in 2014 after a protracted court battle, and since then has been in custody. Utsick will be sentenced on 23 August and has been ordered to repay $169m to Worldwide’s investors.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article52742440.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article83118357.html

UK Festivals warn against PRS rate rise, as Canada announces record live revenues in 2015

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has warned against any move by collection society PRS for Music to increase the fees paid by their members for UK concerts and events. PRS Tariff LP currently charges 3% under tariff LP to all concerts and festivals. A review of this tariff was launched last year and AIF are warning against the ‘catastrophic effect’ that a rise to the live tariff would have on grassroots events. The AIF are calling instead for a separate festival tariff that will take into account the unique nature of staging music festivals and the multi arts format of many events, as well as their role as incubators of new talent. Such a model already exists in Ireland with the ‘multi-venue’ Tariff MS.

In Canada, live performance royalties grew to a record high in 2015 in what the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), called “another remarkable year” for the collection society. According to SOCAN’s 2015 financial report  ‘general and concert revenue’ increased 4.9% to C$39.6 million last year (up from $37.7m in 2014), demonstrating the “continuing popularity for live music in Canada”.

Competition Authority to investigate 'big four' ticket re-sellers

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a compliance review into the four largest secondary ticketing websites. The CMA is carrying out a review to see if the four sites – Viagogo, Ticketmaster-operated Seatwave and Get Me In! and eBay-owned StubHub are providing adequate information to consumers. It is asking anyone with relevant information about the platforms and their practices to get in touch by the July 12 deadline. Consumer group Which? recently monitored the four sites and concluded the rules outlined in the amended Consumer Rigts Act of ticket resales were not being followed. It follows 
Mumford & Sons manager Adam Tudhope call for anti-touting campaigners to keep up the pressure on the government following the Waterson report on secondary ticketing, warning its recommendations will be “meaningless” without political backing. Tudhope told Music Week “the status quo is intolerable”, and backed the economist’s nine “pragmatic and achievable” recommendations. “He’s not saying there should be new legislation, but rather that government should be making sure that existing consumer law is applied to this market, and that secondary sites should stop flouting the law”.

ATP goes into administration

ATP is closing down and going into administration, the company has announced. The company's Iceland festival, scheduled for July 1-3 and which had already seen a number of artiste cancellations, will no longer take place but its other UK shows will go ahead with new promoters: “It is with deep sadness we are announcing that ATP Festivals and live promotions are closing down," the firm said in statement on its website. "After months of speculation, our funding for Iceland has been pulled and we are no longer able to continue so will be closing down the entire live side of ATP festivals and live promotions with immediate effect and going into administration" adding  “ATP Iceland festival is no longer happening, but all our other UK shows will have new promoters appointed and tickets transferred (all purchased tickets remain valid with the new promoter). We will post details of the administrators and what to do for festival ticket refunds over the next week.

Better news for UK music industry

IQ reports that at least four new music venues will open in London in 2016, as the grassroots sector begins to rebound from recent troubles. DHP Family recently acquired ex-MAMA & Company venues The Borderline in Soho and The Garage in Highbury from Live Nation, while Steve Ball’s Columbo Group snapped up Camden’s The Jazz Cafe and The Barfly from the same company. The Jazz Cafe recently reopened, with The Barfly to be relaunched as The Camden Assembly in the coming months. 

And Music Week reports that more than one in three attendees at live music events in Britain last year were music tourists – an increase of 16% on 2014. A total of 10.4 million music tourists attended UK festivals and concerts in 2015, of which 767,000 were from overseas, reveals UK Music’s Wish You Were Here 2016 report, released today. Foreign concertgoers bought £38m worth of tickets and spent an average of £852 each (up 13% on 2014). The report also revealed that music tourists spent a total of £3.7 billion in 2015, with 39,034 full-time jobs reliant on the sector. It was also strong year for British live music in general, with 3.7m people attending a festival and 24m at least one concert 

http://www.iq-mag.net/2016/06/london-resurgent-capitals-venues-fight-back/#.V1qswLsrKM8

THE REVOLVING DOOR

Former Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard, who joined Twitter as Head of Commerce in August 2013 and recently assumed the title of Interim Head of Media, is leaving the company. He'll be replaced by Ali Jafari, who will take over after Hubbard "transitions out" next month.

Live Nation Canada has made two internal hires, announcing that Erik Hoffman has become its new president in Toronto and John May been brought in as president of media and corporate partnerships.

Musician and entrepreneur Dave Stewart has joined the advisory board of B2B connections portal Music Gateway.

Paul Shaver has been appointed Head of Nielsen Music Canada, where he will oversee all commercial operations surrounding the measurement and insights of music for Nielsen in the Canadian market.

AEG Live Nashville has appointed music industry veteran Clay Schell as senior talent buyer. Schell will be based out of Atlanta, Georgia and will be responsible for buying shows for venues in the southeast.   

Lee Hazeldine has been appointed to the role of area manager for the North West of England for Show Sec. 

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has hired music marketing and tour sponsorship executive Dave Aussenberg to help bolster the company’s growing Music Brand Partnership group. Aussenberg makes the move from Platinum Rye Entertainment, where he led the company’s New York music partnership division.  

MBW reports that Global Entertainment on both sides of the Atlantic has been cut back to skeletal staff, incurring heavy job losses. But MBW says that Paul Adam, longtime Global publishing boss in the UK, and Richard Palmese, promo expert and US music biz veteran, are still with the company.

Tom March and Ben Mortimer have been named as co-Presidents of the Polydor Records, taking over from Ferdy Unger-Hamilton – who is believed to be launching a JV with Sony in the coming months.

And Highly respected A&R exec Rich Castillo has been appointed Senior A&R Manager for Polydor Records in London.

Erika Alfredson has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing at Sony Music US imprint Columbia Records.

Sony Music UK has appointed Michael Smith as Executive Vice President. Smith has more than 25 years of experience of music and entertainment law.

Paulo Lima has been appointed as President of Universal Music Brazil. Digital expert Lima replaces José Eboli, who exits after 13 years with the major - having originally joined in 2003 as General Manager.

Universal Music Group (UMG) has hired Ziegler as Executive Vice President of Global Physical Operations. He was formerly with Sony DADC.

Warner Music Group (WMG) is launching its Elektra label in France, helmed by former Universal exec Julien Creuzard.


WMG has announced the promotion of John Esposito to Chairman & CEO of Warner Music Nashville (WMN). Esposito has been President & CEO of Warner Music Nashville since 2009, when the division was established to expand WMG’s presence in Music City.

Aton Ben-Horin has been promoted to to Global Vice President, A&R at WMG. In the newly created position, Ben-Horin will continue to provide A&R resources and creative support across WMG’s recorded music labels, including Atlantic and Warner Bros. Records, as well as its international affiliates.

Warner/Chappell Music Chairman & CEO Jon Platt has been elected to the ASCAP Board of Directors.

Francis Keeling is joining Spotify’s London office as VP, Global Head Of Licensing on June 1. He was formerly a senior digital executive with UMG.

Head of Digital at Three Six Zero Group, Tiffany Yu, has been promoted to VP, Digital Innovation at the global music management and entertainment company

And in another interesting move, music rights advocate Casey Rae is leaving behind his role as Future of Music Coalition CEO to join US satellite radio giant SiriusXM as Director of Music Licensing.


Business and technology exec Lonny Olinick has joined Kobalt as SVP, Strategic Business Development. Olinick previously held roles at Sony Music and BMG.

AEG Live has named Jorge Melendez as its Chief Financial Officer.

Entertainment and IP law specialists Scarinci Hollenbeck have announced that the legal team at Bienstock & Michael, LLC, a New York and New Jersey-based boutique intellectual property and entertainment law group, are joining the firm. Ronald S. Bienstock will co-chair Scarinci Hollenbeck's Intellectual Property, and Entertainment, Sports, & Media Law Groups. 

Pandora has appointed Adam Parness as Head of Publisher Licensing and Relations. Based in New York, Parness will join Pandora in July, moving over from his role as Principal Content Acquisition Manager at Amazon

Sir Rod tops music industry awards in Queen's Birthday Honours

Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, and Rod Stewart, have both been knighted in the Queen's 2016 Birthday Honours. Simon Robey, Chair of the Royal Opera House and Aldeburgh Music, is also knighted. Other awards went to "forces sweetheart" Dame Vera Lynn  who joins the elite Companions of Honour in recognition of her services to entertainment and charity, and singer Ruby Turner who is made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire). Trumpet soloist Alison Balsom, a three-time Classical Brit winner, is also awarded an OBE for services to music and the award also recognises her passion to promote music education. Classical pianist Paul Lewis receives a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), as does Dr Brian Andrew, Chairman of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (for services to the arts, heritage and education). Composer and Conductor John McLeod receives a CBE for services to music and Universal’s Senior Director of HR in the UK, Morna Cook, received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to the music industry and apprentices. City solicitor Ian Rosenblatt whose philanthropic activities include buying a local music shop to save it from closure has been awarded an OBE in the Birthday Honours list. His practice sponsors the Rosenblatt Recitals, London’s only world-class series of opera recitals. Former SSE Arena Belfast CEO Nicky Dunn is made an OBE and Remi Harris who had previously worked at UK Music and the Association of Independent Music, receives an MBE for services to the music industry.

DHP expands with London venues

DHP Family has acquired London venues The Borderline and The Garage from Live Nation.
The Nottingham-based promoter and venue owner already has possession of The Borderline, in Soho with the deal to acquire The Garage, in Highbury, subject to completion but expected to “fall in place very shortly”.

DEAG back to black

After losing €17.8 million in 2015, Deutsche Entertainment AG (DEAG) is back in the black, posting earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €300,000 in the first quarter of 2016 (Q1). Despite the promoter and ticketer’s return to profit, income is 85% less than last year’s EBIT of €2m, with revenue also down: €31.3m, compared to €38.9m in Q1 2015.

http://www.iq-mag.net/2016/06/deag-back-black-q1-growth-slows-myticket-de/#.V08d8JErKM9

Live Nation postpone six shows after NY shooting

The New York Times reports in the wake of the fatal shooting of a  33-year-old man and injuries to three others proir to a TI show at Irving Plaza in Manhattan on May 25, Live Nation have postponed six shows, including concerts by Joey Badass, Mac Miller and Vince Staples. “In light of last week’s tragic events, we are acting with an over abundance of caution and coordinating a going-forward strategy with the New York Police Department that may also include a curfew,” said Live Nation spokesman Jim Yeager. “Because these discussions with the N.Y.P.D. are ongoing, we will be postponing a few of our upcoming shows at Irving Plaza and the Gramercy.”

Lighting strikes Rock am Ring - again

At least 51 people were injured, eight seriously, when lightning struck the Rock am Ring festival in western Germany early on Saturday. Organisers of the festival, headlined by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Black Sabbath, said lightning hit at 00:30 local time. Police told German media two people had to be resuscitated. Central Europe has been hit by severe storms and rain over the past few weeks, leading to 11 deaths in Germany. The festival also suffered lightning strikes last year, when 33 people were taken to hospital.

PRS Foundation grants for emerging taent generate revenues

The PRS for Music Foundation says that its International Showcase Fund (ISF) has delivered a nearly nine-fold return on investment since 2013. The ISF, organised by a charitable foundation and run by the UK’s Performing Rights Society (PRS for Music), makes available up to £5,000 for travel, visas, accommodation and per diems for emerging British artists travelling abroad to play showcase festivals, and has invested in acts such as Slaves, Little Simz, Kate Tempest, Everything Everything, Ghetts, Jake Isaac, Wolf Alice and Dan Croll. According to the International Showcase Fund: Impact Report 2013–16, every £1 invested by the fund in the last three years has generated on average an additional £8.90 for its beneficiaries.

http://www.iq-mag.net/2016/05/prs-music-foundation-international-showcase-fund-delivers-900-percent-return-on-investment-since-2013/#.Vzyl7fkrKM9

Forgotten Fields cancelled

The second edition of the Forgotten Fields festival has been cancelled due to “the rising costs of producing a quality event”, according to organisers. The festival had previously confirmed headliners Dizzee Rascal, Suede and Kodaline would be playing at the event on 4-7 August 2016 in Kent. The event is run by the Manchester-based company From the Fields, which also runs Bluedot Festival, Kendall Calling and Live From Jodrell Bank. The festival is offering fans a full refund or a ticket swap with Standon Calling festival, which takes place on 29-31 July in Hertfordshire.

China clampdown hits Beijing's live music scene

Beijing’s grassroots music scene is under siege as authorities crack down on its live venues following a performance by controversial, frequently topless poet Lin Ce. Dusk Dawn Club (DDC), the venue which hosted Lin (whose NFSW art tackles issues around body image and body-shaming), was temporarily shuttered by police and its owner, known only as ’69’, detained. It has since reopened, reports Reuters. New venue Modernsky Lab is also reportedly under investigation, although it was allowed to remain open.

http://www.iq-mag.net/2016/05/lin-ce-risque-performance-art-sparks-beijing-crackdown/#.Vysq7vkrKM8