Marek Lieberberg talks moving to Live Nation

It’s business as usual for Marek Lieberberg in his new role as CEO of the newly formed Live Nation Germany.

“For me it’s not a problem… It’s still me. I’m still here,” he told IQ’s associate editor, Allan McGowan, in his keynote interview at Eurosonic Noorderslag today. “We’re not going to take anything away from anybody. I’m just here to continue the business I started a long time ago.”

After regaling interviewer and audience with stories from his journey from Holocaust survivors’ son to English public-schoolboy, frontman of the Rangers, Associated Press journalist, Rock am Ring founder and, finally, Germany’s top concert promoter, Lieberberg – who had spoken at length about the extent to which rock music was a “liberation movement” which delivered Germany and Britain from being cultural wastelands run by “old people and stereotypes” – was challenged by McGowan on his decision to sell to a multi-billion-dollar corporation.

Lieberberg expressed his admiration for Live Nation president Michael Rapino: “I believe in him, I believe in his vision”

Lieberberg countered initially that much of the anti-Live Nation sentiment in Germany is actually anti-Americanism – mere hysteria over supposed US cultural colonialism and a “Wild West” mentality – before expressing his admiration for Live Nation president Michael Rapino. “I believe in him, I believe in his vision,” Lieberberg said.

He added: “I do not bite. I do not spit fire. […] I’m willing to discuss it with anyone else. If you have questions you can approach me.”

Lieberberg announced his decision to Marek Lieberberg Konzertagentur (MLK), the company he founded in 1987, in August 2015, for new company Live Nation Concerts Germany. Live Nation had previously tried and failed on a number of other occasions to gain a foothold in the German market.

The MLK name, assets and the festivals Rock Am Ring and Rock im Park stay at CTS Eventim.