Editor's note

My apologies for a shorter than usual pre-amble to the News – it has been a strenuous couple of days and all has had to be written in something of a hurry! I don’t often return from a music trade event with aching leg muscles and a bruised back – well not for a long time anyway – but my weekend visit to Norway for the by: Larm conference involved physical exertion above and beyond the call of duty – this is the first time I have climbed a mountain to see a band, and of course to be able to share the experience with all you Vip readers! I’ll never complain about getting taxis to gigs in North London again! Read all about it in the report in this edition of the News.

Considering all the problems that Record Companies have with CD’s, piracy, decreasing sales, complaints about prices, CD burning, the fact that they are not as durable as once claimed. I was amused to note yet another problem for our shiny disc carriers of tunes and God knows what else –apparently a CD-eating fungus has been discovered! Spanish Geologist Victor Cardenes says he discovered the microscopic creature while visiting Belize. The fungi burrowsinto the CD from the outer edge then devours the thin aluminium reflecting layer and some of the data-storing polycarbonate resin. But, don’t panic, it seems that the data hungry little critter only live in Belize, where it prefers the sultry weather conditions. What a thought – if you could only train these things to be selective in the parts they ate you could have fungus re-mixes!

Finally, it’s been Awards time again – Brits and Grammys have been flying all over the place, and particularly with the Brits most observers seem to think that the absent for some time Chris Evans did a thoroughly good job of presentation. Of course Franz Ferdinand were in there, although picking up a couple of Brits less than expected. But I was most pleased to note that finally Led Zeppelin have received a lifetime achievement award from Grammy voters, ahead of the ceremony in Los Angeles, this is long for one of the best ever live bands.

Ladies and Gentlemen – the News:

 

Sometimes when reporting on trade conferences it’s difficult to pinpoint the highlight of the event – this is definitely not the case with the growing Norwegian showcase and trade festival, by: Larm, at least not for the international guests and journalists who were invited to attend a gig by the Norwegian band Kaizer’s Orchestra on the very top of a massive cliff, 604 metres above a fjord.

This event was both spectacular and memorable – all those who climbed through, snow, ice and fantastic scenery will never forget it – I can assure you! 

 

Over the years the Four Artists agency has become a household name in the music business for domestic acts.

Four Artists belongs to the conglomerate of companies that owned by the business network of the act Die Fantastischen Vier, one of the very early German Hip Hop acts that began to rap in the German language. In the early nineties the band scored their first no I hit and since then developed a very successful business including their own label and agency.

VIP News talked to Alexander Richter who started his career at the late eighties at Energie Musik and worked since then with Die Fantastischen Vier.  

 

As promised in the last issue, we report on the final sessions in Midem’s first Live Music Network presentation. Moderated by Stuart Worthington of MMF the first panel addressed the subject of ‘Live Music & Media Exploitation’ and offered an ‘Update on Opportunities in 2005’, and the second dealt with ‘Changing Roles in Live Music”. 

 

There has been a second departure of a booker from FKP Scorpio. Thorsten Schauf who shared the office with Joe Rambock at FKP Scorpio left the company on February 1 and joins Rambock at the new office of Marek Lieberberg Agency (MLK.com) in Berlin.  

 

European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA) were handed out for the second year at MIDEM. These awards go to artists whose debut albums have achieved the highest sales in the European Union outside their country of origin over the year.

The awards were created at the initiative of the European Commission in cooperation with professionals from the world of European music and the Billboard Information Group.  

 

This double event will again take place at Nürburgring in the German Eifel region and at Zeppelinfeld on June 3rd-5th. At least 85 bands are expected to play at the open-air events.

Promoter Marek Lieberberg Concert Agency (MLK.com) has already confirmed five headline bands, Iron Maiden, REM, Green Day, Incubus and Marilyn Manson.  

 

The increasing number of security threats in the world today means that public safety is one of the most important issues of our time.

Public venues and events are prime targets for terrorist attacks and other breaches of security and addressing this is now a major part of day-to-day life for venue managers and event organisers.

In response to this, International Business Events is launching the inaugural Event & Venue Security conference and exhibition taking place at the QEII Centre on April 18th – 19th 2005 

 

German radio station Eins Live have announced that the 2cnd Königstreffen Open Air festival will be held on June, 25th at the football stadium in Herzogenrath nearby Aachen.

12.000 fans are expected to come to see the four performing acts Gentleman, Max Herre, Tocotronic and Bloc Party. Two more special guests have been confirmed but won’t be revealed by the radio station yet.  

 

 

With turnover in line and very reasonable profit results CTS Eventim proves to be successful. The undoubted German market leader gained almost the same revenue as in the record setting year 2003 and in 2004 raised a turnover of 223.5 million Euro compare to 224.4 million the year before.

The Earnings Before Taxes and Interests (EBIT) made a solid step forward and increased by about 39% from 15.4 million up to 21,3 million Euro. 

 

Clear Channel (CCU.NSE.): Small signs of recovery for CCU. In the January 28 issue of Vip News we reported $32.09 for this weeks issue it is $24,40. CTS Eventim (EVD.FSE): Still on the rise, from 21.45 up to 24.50 Euro.

DEAG (ERM.FSE): From 1.93 up to 2.29Euro.

Mean Fiddler (MEF.ISE): Times and shares are getting better for Mean Fiddler. A plus of 5.5 Pence which is from 50 to 55.5 Pence.

Sanctuary (SGP.ISE): Still signs of a lack of confidence in terms of the profitability, from 44.50 down to 42,50 Pence.  

 

 

The Blue Balls Festival is staged at the extraordinary KKL, the Lucerne Culture and Convention Center.

Additionally, the prime-quality indoor festival is surrounded by an extremely active and lively outdoor festival on several stages on the wonderful Lucerne lakeside (see impressions below). Thanks to an outstanding marketing and promotion concept, the Blue Balls Festival, over the past twelve years, has emerged as one of Switzerland's most outstanding and popular music festivals.

What the Jazz Festival is to Montreux, the Blue Balls Festival is to Lucerne and also the entire German-speaking part of Switzerland. Among Blue Balls’ musical highlights rank stars such as George Clinton, B.B. King, Chaka Khan, Van Morrison, Jovanotti, Gianna Nannini, Buddy Guy, India.Arie, Jethro Tull, Keziah Jones, The Stray Cats, Zucchero, Keb'Mo', Solomon Burke, Peter Green, Sophie Zelmani, Ismaël Lo, Natalie Cole, Nina Simone, Jeff Healey, Maceo Parker, Candy Dulfer, Jimmy Cliff, Miriam Makeba, Johnny Winter, Bo Diddley, Robert Cray, Nina Hagen, Randy Newman, Bonnie Raitt, Cassandra Wilson, Willy Deville, Popa Chubby, The Original Blues Brothers, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, The Wailers, Cheb Mami, Kool & The Gang, Dave Stewart, Mudbone Cooper, Dr. John and many more...

Read more at www.blueballs.ch

 

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