THE EUROPEAN FESTIVAL AWARDS 2017 - THE WINNERS!

The winners of THE EUROPEAN FESTIVAL AWARDS 2017 have benen nnounced at the Awards Ceremony at the EuroSonic convention and festival Groningen, Netherlands last night - and those winners are: 

BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL - Exit Festival

BEST MEDIUM SIZED FESTIVAL - Down The Rabbit Hole

BEST SMALL FESTIVAL - Ment Ljublana

THE BRAND ACTIVATION AWARD - The Miele Powerwash at Lowlands Festival

THE YES HEALTH AND SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD - Paleo Festival & Roskilde Festival for their hostile vehicle mitigation system

THE GREEN OPERATIONS AWARD -  Pohoda Festival

THE TAKE A STAND AWARD - Roskilde Festival


AGENT OF THE YEAR - Alex Bruford (ATC Live)

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR - Goodlive 

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - Rag 'n' Bone Man

LINE-UP OF THE YEAR - Sziget Festival

BEST NEW FESTIVAL - Wacken Winter Nights

BEST INDOOR FESTIVAL - Ment Ljubljana

THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE AND PASSION - Fruzsina Szép (Lollapalooza Berlin, and Sziget)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Daniel Rosselat (Paléo Festival Nyon)

RIP

Motörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke has died at the age of 67. His death was announced on Motörhead’s Facebook page. According to the post, Clarke died peacefully in hospital after suffering from pneumonia. After six albums with Motörhead and as part of the band's classic line up with Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, Clarke left the band in 1982. Clarke subsequently formed the rock band Fastway with UFO bassist Pete Way. The band released seven albums and toured with AC/DC. The social media statement also contained tributes from later band members including guitarist Phil Campbell. He said: "Just heard the sad news that Fast Eddie Clarke has passed away. He will be remembered for his iconic riffs and was a true rock and roller, RIP Eddie." 

Girlschool bassist Enid Williams posted a picture of her and Clarke and tweeted: “Goodbye Eddie and thank you for the memories. No words can do justice. Great guitarist, great man.” Saxon tweeted "We've just heard our good friend Fast Eddie Clarke has died. 
Our thoughts go out to his loved ones and family. He will be greatly missed, but he's gone to join Phil and Lemmy. We have great memories of our times with him."

Metallica's Lars Ulrich tweeted:

Thank you for the riffs.
Thank you for the solos.
Thank you for the attitude.
Thank you for being in the coolest band.

Thank you for inspiring me to go down the same path.

We have lost a legend.

William Ray “Bill” Hearn, who led the Nashville-based market-leading Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) as its Chairman & CEO, has passed away earlier this week aged 58 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Jack Boyle, who built a small club in Washington D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood into a regional promotions empire that became a key cog in the construction of Live Nation’s US success, has passed away at age 83 in California. According to his son, he passed due to complications from dementia.

French musician Johnny Hallyday has died, following a diagnosis of lung cancer. He was 74. Hallyday had a career spanning more than 50 years, and he was planning a new record and tour at the time of his death. In a statement Hallyday's wife Laeticia said: "Johnny Hallyday has left us. I write these words without believing them. But yet, it's true. My man is no longer with us". Selling over 100 milllion records, he made a knight of the French Legion of Honor by President Jacques Chirac in 1998. Current French president Emmanuel Macron said in a statement that "for more than 50 years, he was a vibrant icon", while Macron tweeted that "we all have a bit of Johnny Hallyday in us".

DJ Kaleb Freitas has been killed during the Atmosphere festival in Brazil after strong winds blew over part of the stage at the electronic music party in Rio Grande. An estimated 5,000 people attended the event which was in its fifth year, according to Colombian news outlet Publimetro, taking place in the city of Esteio, Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre. The Festival issued a statement saying "“We're sorry, we lost a friend, an artist. Our priority is to assist the wounded and their families. We thank the military brigade and the fire department for all assistance.” 


Brooklyn-based entertainment attorney Ed Woods has died. Social media tributes began pouring in for Woods, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Diddy, Usher, Allen Iverson, DMX, Stephanie Mills, JAY-Z and Kelly Price. Woods left private practice in 2005 to become executive vice president of black music at Casablanca Records.

Richard Cousins, the chief executive of Compass Group, the world’s largest catering firm, was one of the five people who lost their lives in a plane crash in Sydney on new year’s eve. Cousins, 58, was killed along with his fiancée Emma Bowden, 48, her daughter Heather Bowden, 11, and his two sons Edward (23) and William Cousins (25) when their seaplane crashed into the Hawkesbury river on 31st December. The pilot, 44-year-old Gareth Morgan, also died. Cousins had led UK-headquartered Compass Group – which provides catering services to some of the world’s leading arenas, including The O2, Staples Center and SSE Arena Wembley, and has also held a 49% stake in AEG Facilities since 2011 – for the past 11 years.

Babymetal have paid tribute to their guitarist Mikio Fujioka, who has died after falling from an observation deck while stargazing on  the 30th December. In a statement on Fujioka's Twitter profile, his wife said that the musician's condition had deteriorated on 5 Jan, and he had died with his two daughters beside him. He was just 36  Babymetal also confirmed the death of Fukioka, who had performed in their backing band since 2013, saying that he has "passed away in the metal galaxies" and was now "enjoying an epic guitar session" with his guitar hero Allan Holdsworth.

THE REVOLVING DOOR

Audience reports that Geoff Meall, UK office MD of US booking giant United Talent Agency (UTA) is on the move to Coda Agency with his artistes.  It is understood that Meall, whose roster includes Muse, Paramour and Foals has been placed on so-called gardening leave until the end of the year. Meall, who left his role as head of United Talent Agency (UTA)’s London office at the end of 2017, has now officially confirmed his move to Coda Agency, becoming the latest high-profile hire for the fast-growing UK agency. The Agency Group (TAG) was acquired by UTA in 2015. Meall joins other recent hires Natasha Bent, also formerly of TAG/UTA, and Clementine Bunel, most recently of ATC Live.

The UK's Digital Minister Matt Hancock has been promoted to the top job at the Department Of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, a department he first joined in 2016.

TicketNews reports that Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino signed a contract to remain in the position through to 2022 in a deal valued at $9 million a year plus stock.

Wembley Stadium's partnership development manager for music and new events Danielle Russell is moving to London Stadium to become its head of events.  She left Wembley at the end of November, having been there for five years.

London venue operator Really Useful Theatres Group has appointed Mike Hamer, formerly of Koko in Camden, venue manager of the London Palladium. The hiring of Hamer, who spent 11 years at Koko, follows the appointment of Dave Gaydon (ex-Roundhouse), who is tasked with presenting more live music at Really Useful’s venues. 

Erik Huggers has announced that he is stepping down as CEO of Vevo. The music video platform's CFO Alan Price will take over until a permanent replacement can be found.

Ticketing firm The Ticket Factory has appointed Richard Howle as its Director Of Ticketing, Howle said he was thrilled to join The Ticket Factory "and to bring my experience of running in-house ticketing operations to the role .... It is a company I have long admired with a well-deserved reputation for delivering excellence".

Kevin Brown, the most senior industry-facing executive at Spotify outside the US, is leaving the company at the end of this year, MBW understands. Brown is Head of Artist & Label Services UK and International at Spotify, where he first arrived in early 2013. 

And Spotify's Chief Content Officer, Stefan Blom, is leaving the streaming company in the coming weeks - amid the firm's attempt to float on the New York Stock Exchange. Blom joined Spotify in 2014 as Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing the platform's operations, markets and corporate development activities around the world. He stepped up to Chief Content Officer in 2015, succeeding Ken Parks.

Michael Alexander has been named EVP International across Republic, Island and Def Jam in New York. Alexander has spent his entire career at Universal Music Group, most recently as SVP, International. He will direct ex-US artist campaigns in his new role.


BMG has made Allegra Willis Knerr VP, Film & TV Licensing for the recorded music and publishing firm. Alexi Cory-Smith, is exiting BMG after nearly seven years with the company, MBW reports. Cory-Smith joined BMG in January 2011, initially as SVP of BMG Chrysalis UK before moving up to an EVP role in 2013. She was promoted to President, Repertoire and Marketing of BMG UK in January this year after six years with the firm's London office.

Jen Sullivan, who ran her own successful indie promotion outfit The Spin Project, has joined eOne as VP of Promotion, Music. She will take up the new role in January and will be based in New York.

Swedish music startup Amuse, co-founded by will.i.am, has announced that Edgar Berger, the former Chairman and CEO of Sony Music International, has joined its board. The news comes as Stockholm-based Amuse closes a €3.5m Series A funding round.

Kobalt has appointed Lonny Olinick as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its recorded music division. Olinick will oversee artist services/distribution platform AWAL as well as the Kobalt Music Recordings operation. He will report directly to the founder and CEO of Kobalt Music, Willard Ahdritz.

Atlantic Records has promoted Ian Cripps to Vice President of A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Cripps reports to Atlantic President of A&R, Pete Ganbarg. Cripps has worked with the likes of Grammy-nominate DRAM and Sturgill Simpson (MBW).

Pandora has hired a new Chief Marketing Officer. Aimée Lapic joins from Gap Inc and succeeds Nick Bartels who left the company earlier this year.

Global Rights agency Merlin has today announced results of its biennial board elections – including the election of a new Chairman, with Dave Hansen, Epitaph’s SVP of Business Development, replacing Beggars Group founder Martin Mills, who is stepping down by rotation but remains a director. With Hansen moving away from his General Manager role, Epitaph has made some changes. Matt McGreevy is named GM of the label and Anti-, with Hope Selevan VP of Marketing and Digital Strategy. 

Facebook has just poached a senior Warner Music Group executive to join its expanding music licensing team, MBW has learned. Perry Bashkoff is SVP, Global Content & Revenue Development at WMG in New York. He has worked for the major for over 15 years, and is understood to be joining Facebook in the new year. Bashkoff's move to Facebook comes after fJeremy Sirota left for the social media giant last month. Sirota previously held the role of SVP, Head of Business and Legal Affairs for Warner's WEA and ADA divisions.

New Def Jam CEO Paul Rosenberg has made the high profile hiring of Rich Isaacson as EVP/GM of the Universal Music label. He's best known for working with acts including Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep at Loud Records alongside Steve Rifkind. 

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