All Things Live Sweden names Magnus Widell as CEO
All Things Live (ATL) Sweden has announced the appointment of Magnus Widell as CEO.
Widell boasts significant experience in the theme park, hotel and restaurant industries, including 10 years as CEO of amusement park Gröna Lundh and a separate leadership role with restaurant brand Boulebar.
“I am incredibly happy and looking forward to meeting all my new colleagues at All Things Live,” says Widell. “Music and live entertainment have always been a strong part of my previous workplaces, and it will be incredibly fun to now also get to work with some of the best in the industry.
“Building strong relationships, internally and externally, has always been one of my strongest driving forces, and I always strive to create a positive and forward-leaning culture where results and well-being go hand in hand. It therefore feels fantastic to have this opportunity and to be part of such a dynamic team, and I look forward to creating something really big together.”
“He will lead a company and a strong team of competent people – with great opportunities for continued growth in the Swedish market”
ATL has brought international superstars like Taylor Swift, Andrea Bocelli, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Céline Dion, Green Day and Britney Spears to Sweden, while its music agency represents clients including Veronica Maggio, Miss Li, Thomas Stenström, Albin Lee Meldau, Helen Sjöholm, Lisa Nilsson, Tjuvjakt and Nadja Evelina.
It also organises annual song competition Melodifestivalen, as well as festivals such as A Day In The Park, Summer On and Amaze. Widell takes up his new position on 1 October.
“We are very happy to have Magnus as the new leader of All Things Live in Sweden,” says Gry Mölleskog, Group CEO for All Things Live Europe. “He will lead a company and a strong team of competent people – with great opportunities for continued growth in the Swedish market, and we are convinced that he has the qualities and insight required for that.”
Nordic powerhouse ATL was established in December 2018 following Waterland Private Equity’s acquisition of leading Nordic live entertainment companies in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The partnership has since expanded into Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and the Middle East.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Peer Osmundsvaag exits All Things Live to go solo
Friction and Atomic Soul Booking founder Peer Osmundsvaag has gone solo following a five-year stint with Nordic live entertainment giant All Things Live (ATL).
The Norway-based promoter’s businesses were among six Scandinavian companies united by Netherlands-based multinational investment firm Waterland Private Equity to form ATL, which launched in 2019. ATL also acquired one of Norway’s largest independent festival organisers, HES, last year.
“I’ve had a great five years with the fantastic team at All Things Live and have many fond memories, but the restless soul in me felt it was time for new adventures,” Osmundsvaag tells IQ.
Osmundsvaag has brought acts such as Eminem, Bon Jovi, Prince, Robbie Williams, Leonard Cohen, Andrea Bocelli, Justin Bieber, Michael Buble, Bruno Mars, Rammstein, Green Day, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding to Norway.
In the wake of his departure from ATL, he plans to focus on his own festival, Oslo’s Piknik i Parken (Picnic in the Park) – aka PiPFest – which he founded in 2014. PipFest’s most recent edition took place last month, headed by Stormzy, Massive Attack, Tom Odell and L’Impératrice.
“I’m looking forward to getting my hands dirty, getting back in the trenches and focusing on developing the festival,” says Osmundsvaag. “It’s an inner-city event based on the total experience rather than being purely headliner-driven and we’ve seen lovely, organic growth, which took us by surprise.
“We had a 30% increase from 2023 to this year and a record turnout. It’s 8,000-cap at the moment, but we’re going to expand to a third stage for next year, which will bring it up to 12,000.”
“AURORA has been on our wish list for many years, so we’re very happy to finally got that locked in early”
PiPFest has announced Norwegian superstar AURORA as its first headliner for 2025, which will be held at Sofienbergparken from 12-14 June. Early bird three-day passes priced NOK1,560 (€136) have already sold out. Full price admission will cost NOK2,600, with day tickets available for NOK1,300.
“AURORA has been on our wish list for many years, so we’re very happy to finally got that locked in early,” says Osmundsvaag. “The only show she will be doing in eastern Norway next year will be with us. We only have eight or nine artists per day, which makes it fun but harder to programme as every act has to count.”
The veteran promoter, who was also booker and co-founder of Norway’s Hove Festival, oversaw the two largest ticketed live music events in Norway’s history – Eminem at Oslo’s Voldslokka, which drew 55,000 people in 2018, and Rammstein, who pulled 60,000 fans to Bjerke Travbane horse track in 2022. In 2017, he was awarded the culture prize by the Major of Oslo for “helping to put Oslo on the map as one of the world’s best concert cities”.
Osmundsvaag moved into clubs and ticketed events after starting out as a DJ and free party organiser in Cheltenham, UK in the 80s. Working with rave music promoter Fantazia, he sold 120,000 copies of Fantazia Club Classics as ‘DJ Peer’.
He later toured with British pop group D-Ream as their DJ in 1993/94 before moving back to his native Norway. Following spells as booker for Quart Festival and running clubs in Oslo in the late 90s, he switched to concert promotion and started Atomic Soul in 2001.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Green Day announce first-ever Middle East gig
Green Day have announced their first-ever concert in the Middle East, set to take place in Dubai next year.
The American punk-rock band will perform on 27 January 2025 at Expo City Dubai, a 30,000-capacity open-air concert venue.
The historic concert will be the first standalone large-scale concert in the Expo precinct, according to promoter All Things Live Middle East.
The trio, comprised of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool, will be supported by fellow American punk-rock band The Offspring.
“Book your tickets early because we fully expect this show to sell out”
“Green Day need no introduction – they are without doubt one of the most requested rock bands in our region and we are thrilled to be bringing them to the UAE for their first show in the Middle East,” says Thomas Ovesen, CEO, All Things Live Middle East.
“My advice to those fans wishing to watch this historic event is to book your tickets early because we fully expect this show to sell out.”
Ticket prices for the concert range from AED 445 (€113) to AED 3,000 (€759), further details can be found here.
Green Day’s global stadium outing, The Saviors Tour, kicks off in Europe on 30 May 2024. The band are booked by CAA worldwide and managed by Crush Music.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Young execs place bets on 2024’s breaking acts
Young and emerging executives shared their predictions for 2024’s breaking acts, during last week’s Futures Forum.
Gurj Summan (Live Nation, UK), Kerem Turgut (All Things Live, UAE), Niklas Magedanz (Goodlive Artists, DE) and Caitlin-Finn Ballard (ATC Live, UK) swapped artist tips during the increasingly popular session, Now That’s What I Call 2024.
The panel, moderated by Midnight Mango’s Louise McGovern, shared three tracks each with the audience, as well as information on the artists’ journey, live careers and more. See a full breakdown below.
Double Back – Coco Jones
Gurj Summan, Live Nation, said: “I loved her voice. She came up through Disney and signed to Def Jam in 2022. This year she got nominated for five Grammy Awards and won Best R&B Performance over the likes of SZA and Victoria Monet, so she’s having a great year. We promoted a show for her at KOKO in Camden last year and it sold out.”
Poolside – Gia Ford
Caitlin-Finn Ballard, ATC Live, said: “I started working with Gia this year and she signed to Chrysalis a few months ago. That song is an allegorical story about a pool boy working in the Hollywood Hills and building up resentment against the people he works for… She’s taken a very cinematic direction, it’s very dark and broody. She’s an amazing live vocalist and is about to go on tour supporting Marika Hackman.”
Ainda Bern – Marisa Monte
Kerem Turgut, All Things Live, said: “In the UAE, we have over 200 nationalities and the Brazilian population is around 10,000. So we decided to book [Brazilian singer and composed] Marisa Monte. She’s going to play in Dubai at the end of November for two days because we are very confident she could sell over 2,000 tickets.”
www she hot – UCHE YARA
Niklas Magedanz, Goodlive Artists, said: “She is 20 years old, we started working with her when she was 19. She’s a talent that I have rarely seen… such an aura on stage and a unique sound. I describe her sound as Little Simz meets King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. We’re doing the Germany shows for her first headline tour, this spring all across Europe. The best is yet to come.”
N.L.S (Nach Le Soniye) – Raf Saperra
Gurj Summan, Live Nation, said: “He is UK-born, from Lewisham. British-Asian and represents the culture. He has had an enormous trajectory in the last year. We had a sold-out tour and he recently got signed to Mass Appeal which is Nas’s imprint. Releasing a new album next week. He’s a mixture of two worlds, hip hop and Bhangra. In the Asian scene, he’s one of the most exciting acts to come out of the UK, selling out shows pretty much everywhere; America, Canada and Australia.”
Candyman – Loverman
Caitlin-Finn Ballard, ATC Live, said: “This is one of my newest signings, an Anglo-Belgium artist. I got a tip from Live Nation Belgium, they told me he was selling out his first tour after releasing his debut album. He had two sold-out ABs in Brussels and they invited me along to one of them. I completely forgot I was there for work, I had hairs standing up on the back of my arms… he’s got one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen.”
The City Holds My Heart – Ghostly Kisses
Kerem Turgut, All Things Live, said: “She’s from Canada and I had a chance to work with her in 2019 before Covid in Istanbul. She sold almost 1,000 tickets in Turkey and 2,000 tickets in Egypt. In 2022, we brought her to Dubai Opera House and sold over 1,300 tickets which is an amazing number for this kind of emerging act. The following year, she visited Bahrain and Kuwait and did very well. In 2024, she’ll come back to the region again.”
Follow Don’t Follow – orbit
Niklas Magedanz, Goodlive Artists, said: “We are all very excited about him in our office. He’s a special and introverted artist who makes music with his childhood friends. All that started to develop well during the pandemic, he gained millions of streams on his first singles and did a DIY tour in people’s backyards all over Europe. We have him on 1,000-capacity level in Germany. His debut album hasn’t even been released yet. He has a very active and strong fanbase and makes electronic music for indie kids and vice verse. He currently doesn’t have an international agent in place!”
Normal – Skrapz
Gurj Summan, Live Nation, said: “Skrapz has been around for a while but he’s a solid rapper. We just announced his headline show a few weeks ago and it sold out pretty much on the day. His album is out today (Friday 1 March), it’s called Reflections. He’s signed to UTA and he’s doing really well… really excited future ahead.”
Backseat Baby – Cosmorat
Caitlin-Finn Ballard, ATC Live, said: “It’s the first single they’ve released. They’re two introverted, nerdy sound engineers who are geniuses when it comes to recording and writing. It’s been a heartening experience working with them; I’ve realised that word of mouth is still so powerful because they had no team or money behind them. Attention has picked up bit by bit to the point that we’re now doing a big festival summer. Now, they’ve got a team in place and we’ve got some fun shows lined up for their EP launch.”
Pasoori – Shae Gill, Ali Sethi
Kerem Turgut, All Things Live, said: “This video has more than 700 million views on YouTube. The artist is from Pakistan but he lives in New York. We had the chance to host him in 2023 in Dubai, which sold over 2,000 tickets. In Dubai, we have almost two million Indians, and one million Pakistanis, so the South Asian community is very strong. And then we put him on our programme and the show was great. We are going to bring him to the region again in January 2025. I think he’s a great artist and he’s very strong in our market.
Aspiration – Zaho de Sagazan
Niklas Magedanz, Goodlive Artists, said: “We booked her to Reeperbahn festival in Hamburg last fall and I have never received so many festival offers for an artist in the first year, especially in Germany. In France, it’s going even better for her. She’s playing the Zenith in Paris already. We really hope that this great potential comes over to Germany sometime soon.”
See the full playlist for Now That’s What I Call 2024 below.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
All Things Live Finland hires Zachris Sundell
All Things Live has hired Zachris Sundell as senior promoter of its Finnish operation, effective 1 March.
Sundell’s previous roles include head promoter of Live Nation Finland and senior promoter at Warner Music Live Finland.
The appointment comes after All Things Live Finland named Jan Streng development director at the beginning of November.
Streng previously worked as executive vice president of the Finnish Comedy Theatre and in various management positions at Sony Music record label.
“I am very happy to have solid and experienced professionals in my team,” says Toni Peiju, CEO of All Things Live Finland. “The addition of Zachris and Jan will really help and gain an even larger market share in Finland.”
“The addition of Zachris and Jan will really help and gain an even larger market share in Finland”
Sundell adds: “It’s great to start as a senior promoter in a growing international company. I am eager to join in growing and strengthening All Things Live’s business.”
All Things Live Group was founded in 2019 by six Scandinavian companies, which represent more than 500 artists and produce more than 8,000 events annually.
In addition to Helsinki, the group currently has offices in Oslo, Stockholm, Malmö, Brussels, Milan, Dubai, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.
In addition to promoting international artists such as Katy Perry, The Rolling Stones and Rammstein, All Things Live Finland specialises in rock and metal, working with acts including Nightwish, Beast In Black, Sonata Arctica and this year’s Emma-nominated Bloodred.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news…
All Things Live planning new Swedish festival
The team behind Sweden’s Big Slap are planning to launch a new festival next spring, it has been revealed.
A Day in Lund is earmarked for Patrik Rosengrens park in the city from 24-25 May, reports SportOchFritidSnyheter.
Adonay Beyed of promoter All Things Live (ATL) says the pop, hip-hop and house music-focused festival will be located close to Klostergården’s new train station, with the lineup to be announced on 27 January.
The festival is being presented in collaboration with the Heja Lund! initiative and the municipality of Lund, which are financially supporting the event in 2024, with the option for follow-ups in 2025 and 2026.
ATL, whose Swedish festival portfolio includes Varberg’s A Day in the Park and Smögen’s Amaze, acquired electronic music festival Big Slap in 2020, but organisers recently announced the event would not be returning following this year’s edition.
“A new journey will now begin with a new brand, format, and a new vibe sooner than you think”
Big Slap, which launched in Malmö in 2013, grew from 15,000-capacity to 52,000 over the past decade and welcomed the likes of Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and Swedish House Mafia, but founder Ali Eftekhari told Sydsvenskan it had reached its “maximum limit”.
The plans for A Day in Lund were teased by the Big Slap team in a social media post, which said: “Since 2013, we have been dreaming of making Big Slap bigger and better each year. We have achieved all our goals and fulfilled our dreams.
“Some journeys end at the top! A new journey will now begin with a new brand, format, and a new vibe sooner than you think!”
Live Nation has also confirmed that Lollapalooza Stockholm will “take a break” for 2024 to give promoters time to “re-evaluate and make improvements across the board”.
A music festival proposed for Norrköping next June by startup promoter Event Peking, has also now been cancelled.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Two major Swedish festivals cancelled
Two of Sweden’s leading festivals will not take place next year, it has been confirmed.
Lollapalooza Stockholm will “take a break” for 2024 to give promoters time to “re-evaluate and make improvements across the board”, while organisers of Malmö’s Big Slap have opted to call it a day after 10 years.
Staged by co-creator Perry Farrell, WME, C3 Presents and Live Nation Sweden/Luger, Lollapalooza Stockholm launched in 2019 to become the third Lollapalooza event in Europe following spin-offs in Paris, France and Berlin, Germany. Its most recent Swedish edition, held from 29 June-1 July, was headlined by Travis Scott, Kygo, Lizzo, Zara Larsson, Mumford & Sons and Lil Nas X.
However, HBL reports the domestic market has shifted away from major festivals – referencing the now-defunct Hultsfred, Bråvalla and Peace and Love – in favour of more niche events such as Live Nation’s Way Out West and Sweden Rock Festival (LN also axed this year’s Summerburst, saying it had “decided to focus on the other festivals”).
But despite the country’s struggles with high interest rates and inflation, communications manager Alexander Kihlström denies the economic climate is to blame for Lollapalooza Stockholm’s hiatus.
“I cannot say more details about when the festival will return”
“We’ve had three fantastic festivals so far and it’s entirely possible to do events in Stockholm and around Sweden, which we can see not least from our friends Sweden Rock and Way Out West, who are going like a train again this year,” says Kihlström. “I cannot say more details about when the festival will return. There is a desire and an interest in festivals that have very big international acts.”
Elsewhere, Big Slap, which launched in 2013, was acquired by Nordic giant All Things Live in 2020. But organisers have decreed that its 2023 edition, which welcomed acts such as Burna Boy, Swedish House Mafia, 3 Are Legend, Steve Angello, Rita Ora, Armin Van Buuren Bebe Rexha and Hardwell in August, was its last.
The electronic music festival had grown from a one-day 15,000-cap affair to a 52,000-cap, two-day event in 2022 when it was headlined by Justin Bieber. But citing a desire to go out on top, founder Ali Eftekhari tells Sydsvenskan the festival has reached a “maximum limit” in terms of its development.
Swedish audiences’ propensity to gravitate towards new festivals over established brands is well documented, and a social media post hints that a fresh festival concept is in the works by the Big Slap team.
“A new journey will now begin with a new brand, format, and a new vibe sooner than you think”
“Since 2013, we have been dreaming of making Big Slap bigger and better each year,” reads the statement. “We have achieved all our goals and fulfilled our dreams, all thanks to you.
“Some journeys end at the top! A new journey will now begin with a new brand, format, and a new vibe sooner than you think! Stay tuned.”
Sydsvenskan reports that new festivals are in the offing for next summer in Malmö and Lund, while Live Nation is resurrecting Stockholm’s Sthlm Fields concert series. The June/July series will comprise around 10 shows and feature in the region of 30 artists. Confirmed headliners so far include Doja Cat, Greta Van Fleet, Molly Sandén, TOTO and The Hives.
In addition, Summerburst co-founder Anders Boström is partnering with event manager Navid Kabiri and nightclub guru Samin Adjoudani to launch Drömmen – a one-day celebration of Eurovision and schlager music – at Stockholm Olympic Stadium on 25 May. Plus, promoter One Wknd Only Productions is teaming with Snowman Agency to create two-day music festival Thunderfield in Jönköping from 31 May-1 June.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
All Things Live Middle East appoints Johnny Mollet
All Things Live has named Johnny Mollet as head of operations for its Middle East firm.
Mollet has 30 years of experience in the events industry and has produced events for Expo 2020, the London 2012 Olympics, Expo City Dubai’s 2022 Christmas show, Ministry of Sound worldwide tours and F1 entertainment (Abu Dhabi), alongside festivals, global PR launches and other events for high profile corporations and government entities.
In his new role, Mollet will primarily focus on delivering the company’s regional events, overseeing a line-up of 2023/24 shows across the Middle East and India. He will work closely with local and regional partners, venues and suppliers, whilst also providing the incoming artist teams with a premium experience on and off stage.
“[All Things Live] are a highly experienced group and I hope that my experience can add a fresh perspective”
Mollet officially assumed the position of head of operations at the Dubai-headquartered company on 1 September. He reports to Thomas Ovesen, CEO, All Things Live Middle East.
“I am tremendously excited to join the team at All Things Live! They are a highly experienced group and I hope that my experience can add a fresh perspective,” says Mollet.
All Things Live Middle East was established in April 2023 and marked the Nordic live entertainment company’s first foray outside of Europe.
Since All Things Live was founded by Waterland Private Equity in 2018, it has expanded to seven European countries and 19 companies, with offices in Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Brussels, Milan and Amsterdam.
The company’s portfolio ranges from musical productions to music festivals and standup events to stadium concerts, with The Rolling Stones, Eminem, Katy Perry and Rammstein among its clients.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
All Things Live Sweden strengthens promoting team
Nordic live entertainment giant All Things Live (ATL) Sweden has reinforced its team with the hiring of Rickard Nilsson as senior agent and promoter.
Previously head of artist relations at concert streaming service Staccs, Nilsson brings years of experience as a promoter and agent, and has also been involved in several club and festival concepts.
Nilsson was co-founder, DJ and promoter of the mobile club Svenska Musikklubben before becoming a promoter at FKP Scorpio Sweden, where he worked with a variety of international artists and festivals over a decade-long stint. He has also been involved in launching events such as Bråvalla festival and Rosendal Garden Party, and continued as a local agent on a freelance basis in his most recent role.
“I hope that my experience can add something new to this highly experienced group at ATL”
“I’m incredibly excited to join All Things Live and their team,” says Nilsson. “I hope that my experience can bring something new to this highly experienced group at ATL.”
ATL Sweden represents around 150 of Sweden’s most prominent artists, actors, comedians, profiles and produces concerts, festivals, shows, musicals, stand up comedy, theatre and dance performances all over Scandinavia. Nilsson’s main focus at the firm will be as an agent for Swedish artists, building a larger roster, and developing festival and club concepts. He will also work with foreign artists as a promoter.
ATL was established in December 2018 following Waterland Private Equity’s acquisition of leading Nordic live entertainment companies in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The partnership has since expanded into Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and the Middle East.
Last month, it expanded its interests in the Netherlands by securing a majority stake in festival promoter Loveland Events.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
All Things Live buys Dutch festival promoter
Nordic live entertainment giant All Things Live is expanding in the Netherlands with a majority stake in festival promoter Loveland Events.
Established in 1995, the Amsterdam-based organiser has launched several renowned dance festivals that draw over 150,000 visitors annually.
The company’s stable of events includes Loveland Festival, 909 Festival, Music On Festival and Loveland Orange Festival, as well as several ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) events.
The addition of Loveland expands All Thing Live’s existing festival portfolio throughout Europe as well as its footprint in the Netherlands which already includes Concert at Sea, HIER Festival, In Het Volkspark and Agents After All.
Kim Worsøe, member of the executive board of All Things Live Group, says: “Marnix and his team have built fantastic festivals over the years, and we are excited to welcome Loveland to the All Things Live family and our growing festival business fueled by passion for great live events and love for music.”
“By combining powers, we get the chance to learn from a variety of festival entrepreneurs in [ATL’s] extensive portfolio”
Marnix Bal, founder and CEO of Loveland, adds: “We believe that Loveland Events and All Things Live is a perfect fit that comes at the right time. After producing events for over 25 years, the partnership offers the unique opportunity to do better events for the city of Amsterdam and its residents. By combining powers, we get the chance to learn from a variety of festival entrepreneurs that make up the extensive portfolio of All Things Live and incorporate best practices in our own events.”
All Things Live was established in December 2018 following Waterland Private Equity’s acquisition of leading Nordic live entertainment companies in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The partnership has since expanded into Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and the Middle East.
The company represents 522 local artists on exclusive contracts, arranges 17 festivals, promotes 8,200 local and international events with more than 2,100,000 tickets sold per year and continues to grow its current portfolio of 35 corporate partnerships.
All Things Live has promoted artists including Justin Bieber, The Rolling Stones, Rammstein, Green Day and Eminem.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.