German concert legend Karsten Jahnke was honoured with the Bottle Award as the international live music business flocked to the biggest Arthur Awards yet.

With more than 400 professionals in attendance at ILMC’s new home, the five-star Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, it was the most well-attended Gala Dinner in the event’s history.

Reflecting this year’s focus on the Latin live music market, this edition took place as The ILMC Gala Fiesta & Arturo Awards, with AEG Presents’ Lucy Noble and A Greener Festival CEO Claire O’Neill standing in for CAA’s Emma Banks as hosts.

Eleven gongs were awarded in total, including the Bottle Award, which recognises an individual who has contributed greatly to the live music industry. Jahnke, founder of Germany’s renowned Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion, celebrated his 60th year in the business last year.

Elsewhere, the top promoter gong went to Kelly Chappel of Live Nation, while the ‘second least offensive agent’ category was won by Alex Bruford of ATC Live. The top festival award (Ligger’s Favourite Festival) went to Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival.

“Many thanks to all the live music professionals at the 2023 ILMC Gala Dinner who helped make it the biggest edition in our long history”

“Congratulations to this year’s deserving Arthur winners, and many thanks to all the live music professionals at the 2023 ILMC Gala Dinner who helped make it the biggest edition in our long history,” says ILMC MD Greg Parmley. “It was a particular pleasure to recognise Karsten Jahnke with the prestigious Bottle Award, with him having celebrated a phenomenal 60 years in business in 2022.”

For more than two and a half decades, The Arthur Awards have been handed out during ILMC. The shortlist of nominees in each category are decided by a committee of 150 industry professionals. Winners are then decided by a combination of an open vote of all ILMC members and IQ Magazine readers, and a closed panel of judges made up of senior industry figures.

The full list of 2023 Arthur Awards winners is as follows:

THE VENUE AWARD
(FIRST VENUE TO COME INTO YOUR HEAD)
Barclays Arena, Hamburg

THE PROMOTER AWARD
(THE PROMOTERS’ PROMOTER)
Kelly Chappel, Live Nation

THE AGENT AWARD
(SECOND LEAST OFFENSIVE AGENT)
Alex Bruford, ATC Live

THE FESTIVAL AWARD
(LIGGERS’ FAVOURITE FESTIVAL)
Montreux Jazz Festival

THE PRODUCTION SERVICES AWARD
(SERVICES ABOVE & BEYOND)
Beat the Street

THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD
(MOST PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL)
Katie Moore, Live Nation

THE ASSISTANT AWARD
(THE PEOPLE’S ASSISTANT)
Kai Henderson, AEG Presents

THE TICKETING PROFESSIONAL AWARD
(THE GOLDEN TICKET)
Marcia Titley, Eventim Norway & Sweden

THE INDUSTRY CHAMPION AWARD
(THE UNSUNG HERO)
Holger Jan Schmidt, YOUROPE

YOUNG EXECUTIVE AWARD
(TOMORROW’S NEW BOSS)
Dan Rais, CAA

THE BOTTLE AWARD
Karsten Jahnke, Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion

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The International Live Music Conference (ILMC) has unveiled a new concept and a new five-star location for its 2023 edition, expanding both programming and delegate numbers.

ILMC Spa & Last Resort will welcome over 1,200 of the world’s top live music professionals from over 40 countries to the recently upgraded Royal Lancaster Hotel in London from 28 Feb – 3 March 2023.

The move, which is in response to increasing demand for the industry-leading event, marks the first venue change for ILMC in more than 20 years. The Royal Lancaster will provide extra space for networking, private meetings and events, all in a first-class, newly revamped environment.

“We’re introducing a raft of new elements in 2023, including a series of roundtable working lunches, additional conference sessions, and some very special new features we’ll be announcing in the coming weeks that will be a first for ILMC,” says conference head Greg Parmley.

The Arthur Awards – the Oscars of the international live music business – will also take place during the ILMC week on 2 March.

The awards, which see thousands of votes compiled from around the world, are presented in front of 400 guests and the ceremony will be compered once again by Emma Banks, co-head of CAA’s London office.

“We’re introducing a raft of new elements in 2023, including a series of roundtable working lunches”

In addition to the main ILMC schedule, 3 March sees the return of Futures Forum, the one-day discussion and networking event for the next generation of live music industry leaders. Created and shaped by young professionals, Futures Forum mixes connected discussions with immersive workshops, peer-to-peer networking and TED-style ‘Soapbox’ presentations.

And 28 Feb sees the 15th edition of the Green Events & Innovations Conference (GEI) take place. The day brings together leaders and innovators in the global live sector to network and accelerate discussions around environmental and social best practice and is organised by A Greener Festival (AGF), in partnership with ILMC.

Companies and partners supporting the 35th edition of ILMC include Live Nation, Ticketmaster, ASM Global, CTS Eventim, Tysers, DEAG Entertainment Group, Showsec and Universe.

The 2022 edition of ILMC welcomed speakers including artists Nile Rogers and Brian Eno, Casey Wasserman (Wasserman), Phil Bowdery (Live Nation), Maria May (CAA), Marie Lindqvist (ASM Global), Lucy Dickins (WME) and John Giddings (Solo Agency).

Full information about the conference, which this year is inviting delegates to attend the ILMC Spa & Last Resort for the live sector’s annual health check, is at 35.ilmc.com.

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