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22.06.12MusicWeek 3


EU TOUR DRAWS RECORD CROWDS • KILIMANJARO COULD LAUNCH 10 FESTIVALS IN 2013


Sonisphere’s 250,000 reasons to be cheerful LIVE


 BY TIM INGHAM S


onisphere festival may be absent on the UK live music roll call this


summer – but the brand can boast of having a barnstorming year on the continent. The touring Sonisphere


event will have played to over 250,000 punters by the time its final leg finishes in France early next month. This year’s tour has seen


sold-out shows in Yverdon, Switzerland (35,000 tickets) and Helsinki, Finland (47,000), whilst Sonisphere in Warsaw, Poland welcomed over 50,000 ticket-holders in May. The biggest of all five of this


year’s Sonisphere events took place in Madrid on May 25 and 26, with 90,000 people partying into the early hours over the two days – a 25,000 rise in ticket sales on 2011. “It’s been a good summer,”


said Kilimanjaro founder Stuart Galbraith, who bought out AEG’s share in the promoter earlier this year. “In particular, we’re proud of Poland, which has seen some very tough market conditions


Spainisphere: Kilimanjaro’s Madrid show attracted 90,000 over two days, whilst its Europe-wide tour pulled in over 250,000 punters


predominantly because of Euro 2012.” Buoyed by the success of


Sonisphere’s European tour, Galbraith says the number of themed events across the EU could increase next year – although Kilimanjaro is remaining cautious. “The Sonisphere brand is


now becoming established as the rock brand in these


markets,” he said. “It’s our fourth year into Spain and in Finland and our third year into Switzerland. A festival takes up to five years to establish its market position and we’re now starting to see that happen.” He added: “We’re just


looking at Sonisphere on its merits and we’re already planning for next year. I would hope we’ll see at least six to 10


Sonispheres through Europe in 2013. We’re just finishing off date options and we’re out there making offers for headliners.” Headliners at Sonisphere


this year have included Metallica and Soundgarden, whilst Marilyn Manson and Evanescence will finish off the France show at Snowhall Park, D’amneville on July 7 and 8. “With the economic


“The Sonisphere brand is now becoming established as the rock brand


in these markets. It’s our fourth year into Spain and in Finland; our third year into Switzerland” STUART GALBRAITH, KILIMANJARO


conditions as they are, it’s too early to say whether we’ll put on more [Sonisphere events] next year. We’re certainly looking again at some of the countries we haven’t been to this year, like Italy, Greece and Turkey. The fact is festivals are not recession-proof, particularly when you have markets severely affected by the economic downturn. That needs to be taken into account very carefully before we make any more decisions.” Galbraith clarified that the


UK leg of Sonisphere was still “part of the mix” for Kili’s 2013 plans. “We’ve got our option dates in place and we’re out there making headline offers,” he added.


Music’s worth to business revealed in PPL and PRS investigation


Pub, club and bar owners have overwhelmingly endorsed the benefits of music to their businesses as PPL looks to introduce new pricing tariffs to the sector. Joint research commissioned


by PPL and PRS for Music reveals 93% of those running such places say playing music creates a better atmosphere for their customers and 85% that it boosts staff morale, while more than half (56%) reckon trade would be hit without it. The study has been carried


out on behalf of the two organisations under their joint MusicWorks campaign, which highlights the financial and emotional benefits music can bring to businesses, and comes as PPL continues to lobby the club and bar sector about new tariffs


“I have already stressed the


importance of listening to our customers and this is a clear example. It is critical that we understand from the nightclub and bar sector where we need to modify our position based on their detailed input,” he added. The MusicWorks study


Pub quiz: Pubs, clubs and bars responded with one voice about the importance of music in their establishments


it wants to bring in. These have already prompted a hostile reception from within the sector. PPL CEO Peter Leathem


has argued the current tariffs, which cover recorded music when it is played by DJs and for dancing in the likes of late-night bars and clubs, do not achieve


a fair price for its members’ sound recordings. Leathem told the PPL AGM


at Kings Place in London last week his organisation had so far published two consultation papers on the matter and would continue to consult with the relevant sectors and their trade bodies.


questioned 1,008 small and medium enterprise owners. 71% of pub, club and bar owners said music in the workplace made their employees more productive. Some 73% of those quizzed reckoned music could increase sales or results, while 88% said it could relieve tension and awkward silences for their customers. Some 77% of business owners


said music raised staff morale and created a better working place and 19% suggested business


would be lost without it. Within the retail sector 79% of businesses questioned said it created a better atmosphere for their customers, while more than half (55%) reckoned it could increase sales or results. There were similar high


figures for music from the owners of factories and within the hospitality sector. Among factory owners, 74%


reckoned it improved staff morale and 78% that it created a better working atmosphere, while within the hospitality industry this figure rose to 84% and without music 33% reckoned they would lose business. An accompanying website


(www.musicworksforyou.com) has been launched to further underline the MusicWorks campaign on the web.


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