Germany’s LEA to be discontinued
Germany’s Live Entertainment Award (LEA) is to be discontinued and the organisation behind it dissolved, it has been announced.
First held in Hamburg in 2006, the ceremony had taken place at the Festhalle in Frankfurt since 2011 and grew into one of the industry’s most prestigious awards shows.
The LEA recognised excellence in the German live sector and was funded by the LEA Committee, which included the Federal Association of the Concert and Event Industry (BDKV) as well as a number of companies from the German event industry. Legendary promoter Fritz Rau served as the committee’s first president, with artist manager Dieter Weidenfeld holding the reins since 2010.
A jury of 24 experts, made up of media representatives and industry specialists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, decided on the winners.
“Unfortunately, there was no offer from any direction, so the dissolution of the organisations was the result”
The LEA was last staged in June last year, when it was held as part of Frankfurt Fashion Week for the first time and attracted more than 1,000 guests. However, it has been decided to no longer hold the event following the departures of Weidenfeld, VP Lasse von Thien and MD Jens Michow, who was the longtime president of the BDKV up to last year.
The BDKV elected a new board 12 months ago, spearheaded by new president Sonia Simmenauer.
“Our goal was to create the conditions for the LEA to remain firmly connected to the BDKV in the future after Prof Michow resigned from office at the end of 2022,” says Weidenfeld. “This should have given our successors the opportunity to work out the future format of the event. Unfortunately, there was no offer from any direction, so the dissolution of the organisations was the result.”
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MTV EMAs cancelled out of ‘abundance of caution’
The 2023 MTV EMAs have been cancelled “out of an abundance of caution” amid the escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
First held in Berlin, Germany in 1994, the annual awards show was due to take place in France at Paris Nord Villepinte on Sunday 5 November and broadcast live in more than 150 countries.
Around a dozen acts had been lined up to perform including Anne-Marie, David Guetta, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Jung Kook, Rema, Sabrina Carpenter and The Kid Laroi. Paris last hosted the awards in 1995.
“Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life,” says a statement from awards organiser Paramount.
“As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration”
As per the BBC, Palestinian health officials say more than 3,700 people have been killed in Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people. At least 260 people were killed after Hamas stormed trance music festival Supernova Sokkot as part of the coordinated offensive.
“The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music,” adds the statement. “As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. Voting is continuing and the winning artists will receive their MTV EMA Awards.”
Paramount adds that it is looking forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November 2024.
France has been on its highest security alert since the fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher in the town of Arras last week.
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Karsten Jahnke recognised at 2023 Arthur Awards
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 O2 prepped to host first Saturday BRIT Awards
London’s The O2 is gearing up to host this weekend’s BRIT Awards, which are taking place on a Saturday for the first time ever.
Performers at the 11 February ceremony – the biggest night on the British music industry’s calendar – will include Harry Styles, Lizzo, Cat Burns, David Guetta & Becky Hill & Ella Henderson, Sam Smith & Kim Petras, Stormzy, Lewis Capaldi and Wet Leg.
The awards, which have been held at The O2 since 2011, will be hosted by comedian Mo Gilligan and be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX from 8.30pm GMT. The night will also see the return of table seating on the arena floor, following two years of Covid restrictions.
“The BRITs is always one of the high points of the year, it’s a weeklong build and it’s a huge occasion for the industry,” The O2’s VP and GM Steve Sayer tells IQ. “We’re very proud to have hosted it for many years now and long may that continue. We’ve got a great relationship with the BPI and we work very closely with them, not on the artistic production, but on every other aspect, and it’s huge.
“They’ve moved it to a Saturday, which was a decision that the [record industry trade association] BPI made to try something a little bit different. We’re really excited about it, it’s a big showpiece for us and I have no doubt it will be as big as ever.”
“We are seeing the usual last-minute scrambles for tickets, and you can see why”
Wasserman Music will also be hosting its annual post-BRITs boat party, which has previously been presented by the likes of Lewis Capaldi, Sampha, Annie Mac, The xx, Disclosure and Rudimental. This year will feature The BRITs Rising Star top 3 – FLO, Cat Burns and Nia Archives.
“We are seeing the usual last-minute scrambles for tickets, and you can see why,” says Tom Schroeder, EVP of Wasserman Music. “We’ve been doing this in one guise or another since 2014, and have had the pleasure of hosting some of the biggest acts in the industry. This year, it’s all about the future with FLO, Cat Burns and Nia Archives presenting. And that’s what we are all about – supporting rising talent.”
The BRIT Awards is preceded by the annual BRITs Week charity concert series, presented by AEG, which gives fans the opportunity to see leading UK artists in intimate music venues across the country. Shows have included The 1975 at the 550-cap Gorilla in Manchester, and Sugababes at the 600-cap Garage and Kojey Radical at the 800-cap XOYO, both in London.
BRITs Week, which concludes tonight with Rina Sawayama at Lafayette (cap. 600) and Bob Vylan at Omeara (320), has raised millions of pounds for War Child since its inception in 2014, thanks to underplay shows by artists such as Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Take That, Florence & The Machine, Biffy Clyro , Foals, Royal Blood, Wolf Alice and The 1975, raising millions of pounds for War Child.
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European Festival Awards 2022 winners revealed
Denmark’s Roskilde Festival, the Netherlands’ Mojo Concerts and Atlas Ukraine were among the big winners at last night’s European Festival Awards (EFA).
The in-person ceremony, held at De Oosterpoort in Groningen, the Netherlands as part of Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS), returned to celebrate the best of the 2022 season after a forced hiatus due to the pandemic.
Already announced as winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Roskilde also triumphed in two other categories at the EFA’s 12th edition – Best Major Festival and The Impossible without Youth Award.
In their acceptance speech, the team praised the festival’s army of volunteers (“We couldn’t do it without them”), along with the “best audience in the world”. “We are so proud and so honoured,” they added. “Thank you for seeing the ambition and the idea and the community behind this.”
Elsewhere, Atlas Festival & Music Saves UA received a standing ovation when picking up the Take A Stand Award, while Mojo collected Promoter of the Year.
“Two years of corona showed how difficult it is to organise the things we love”
Germany’s Superbloom was named Best New Festival. “Two years of corona showed how difficult it is to organise the things we love,” said Superbloom organiser Fruzsina Szép. “And to start a new brand, even more so.”
X-ray Touring’s Josh Javor dedicated his Agent of the Year gong to his mentor, “the one and only legend”, Steve Strange and recalled the times Strange took him to Eurosonic. “Because of him I didn’t know there were panels for three years because all we did was drink, watch bands and sleep,” he joked.
The Award for Excellence & Passion, meanwhile, went to festival veteran Holger Jan Schmidt. Dubbed a “A true servant for the cause”, Schmidt said: “I can only do something with passion. Burnout goes hand in hand with passion. I think we should all take a look at ourselves. How much can we do. How much passion can we invest?”
Festivals from more than 30 countries participated in the awards process, with 300,000 single votes cast by the public, resulting in 124 shortlisted nominees in 15 categories, not counting the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The full list of winners is as follows:
The Take a Stand Award
Atlas Festival & Music Saves UA (Ukraine)
Best New Festival
Superbloom (Germany)
The Impossible without Youth Award
Roskilde Festival (Denmark)
Best Indoor Festival
Iceland Airwaves (Iceland)
Line-Up of the Year
Hellfest (France)
The Health & Safety Innovation Award
Watt en Schlick Fest (Germany)
Agent of the Year
Josh Javor (X-Ray Touring)
Best Small Festival
Roadburn (The Netherlands)
Newcomer of the Year
Fred Again (UK)
The Brand Activation Award
Wacken Open Air (Germany) & Krombacher
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Best Kept Secret (The Netherlands)
The Green Operations Award
Rock Werchter (Belgium)
Best Major Festival
Roskilde Festival (Denmark)
The Award for Excellence & Passion
Holger Jan Schmidt
Promoter of the Year
Mojo (The Netherlands)
The Lifetime Achievement Award
Roskilde Festival (Denmark)
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Cream of the UK biz honoured at first LIVE Awards
The UK live music industry came together to celebrate outstanding talent and achievements across the sector at last night’s inaugural LIVE Awards.
Held at The Brewery in London, trade body LIVE welcomed 450 representatives from every corner of the sector to highlight excellence throughout 2022 while looking forward to 2023.
The 14 award winners, decided by a panel of industry experts, included Reading & Leeds festivals, The O2, Bluedot, CAA, One Fiinix Live, and King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow.
The event ended with the awarding of the first LIVEtime achievement award to Kennedy Street Enterprises owner and promoter Danny Betesh, whose seven decade-long career has seen him work with the likes of The Beatles, Take That, and Meat Loaf.
“The hangover from the effect of Covid, cost-of-living crisis, and rapidly rising costs have not stopped our industry from delivering memorable occasions to people in record numbers”
“The inaugural LIVE awards was a truly excellent evening which gave us the opportunity to recognise and reward those who have really raised the bar in 2022,” says LIVE CEO Jon Collins. “The hangover from the effect of Covid, cost-of-living crisis, and rapidly rising costs have not stopped our industry from delivering memorable occasions to people in record numbers.
“The LIVE Awards reflect the breadth of talent across all parts of our industry – from classical to grime, baroque to rock. The LIVE Awards recognises excellence in the field, and at the venue.”
Proceeds from the ceremony will help to fund LIVE’s ongoing work as it continues to champion the live music industry’s interests with policy makers, regulators, the public, and the wider music and entertainment industries. Headline sponsors on the night were Ticketmaster, Hipgnosis Songs Fund, Resorts World Arena and Ticketswap.
The full list of award winners is as follows:
The LIVE Green Award – A Greener Festival
The LIVE Workforce Award – Bristol Beacon
Venue of the Year – The O2, London
Grassroots Champion – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
Booking Agency 2022 (<30 team members) – One Fiinix Live
Booking Agency 2022 (>30 team members) – CAA
National Promoter of the Year – Kilimanjaro Live
Regional Promoter of the Year – Bird on The Wire
Ticketing Service 2022 – AXS
Major Festival of the Year – Reading & Leeds Festivals
Festival of the Year – Bluedot
Production Supplier – Creative Technology
Brand Partnership – The National Lottery with MVT
The LIVETime Achievement Award – Danny Betesh, Kennedy Street
The awards took place a week after the return of the UK Festival Awards, which were held at Manchester’s Escape to Freight Island on 6 December.
The awards were decided by either fan votes or judges’ verdicts in categories, with the Outstanding Contribution to Festivals award handed to two winners this year: Association of Festival Organisers (AFO) general secretary Steve Heap and former Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) CEO Paul Reed.
The full list of winners was as followed:
Innovation Award – Exit Festival/NFT-TiX
Marketing Campaign of the Year – Parklife
Positively Perfect Pivot Award – Back 2 Festival,
Sarah Nulty Community Impact Award – Beat the Streets
Brand Activation Award – Mighty Hoopla/Vodafone
Best Overseas Festival – Altitude Comedy Festival
Best Non-Music Festival – Mighty Dub Fest
Best Metropolitan Festival – Sound City
Grassroots Festival Award – 3 Wishes Fairy Festival
UK Greener Festival Award – Green Gathering
Best Festival for Emerging Talent – The Great Escape
Best Family Festival – Teddy Rocks
Best New Festival – RADAR Festival
Line-up of the Year – Bluedot
Best Festival Production – Boomtown
Promoter of the Year – Black Deer
Best Small Festival – Woo Fest
Best Medium Festival – 2000 Trees
Best Large Festival – Manchester Pride
Outstanding Contribution Award – Steve Heap & Paul Reed
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Shortlist announced for UK’s LIVE Awards
The shortlist of nominees has been unveiled for the inaugural LIVE Awards, which will take place at The Brewery in London on Tuesday 13 December.
Introduced by trade body LIVE, the new annual event is expected to attract 350 guests and will celebrate outstanding individuals and companies across the UK’s live music sector, as well as serving as an end of year celebration for the business.
Categories were open to all across the industry, with hundreds of entries received, while a special LIVETime Achievement Award will be presented to an individual that has played a principal role in driving forward and improving the UK’s live music business, decided by the LIVE executive board.
“We have been delighted with the depth and breadth of the nominations”
“We have been delighted with the depth and breadth of the nominations sent in for this, the first LIVE Awards,” says LIVE CEO Jon Collins. “They reflect the fact that, despite all the challenges we face, our sector truly is world-class.
“We now hand the tricky decision of selecting our winners over to our panel of judges. While they deliberate, we can get on with putting together a memorable evening. With free drinks all night, a five-star dinner, after party, and proceeds supporting the ongoing work of LIVE, there are plenty of reasons to be there.”
The 2022 nominees are as follows:
The LIVE Green Award
A Greener Festival
AEG Europe
Green Phoenix
Kendal Calling
Overheated
OVO Hydro
Reading & Leeds Festival x Music Declares Emergency
The LIVE Workforce Award
Aberdeen Performing Arts (RISE UP)
AEG Europe People & Culture Team
Association of Black Event Professionals
Bristol Beacon
Nozstock
Roundhouse
Sound City Liverpool
Venue of the Year
Alexandra Palace
Dreamland Margate
Resorts World Arena
Rock City Nottingham
Royal Albert Hall
The Leadmill
The London Palladium
The O2 Arena
Grassroots Champion
Are you Listening? Festival
Barn On The Farm Festival
Beardy Folk Festival
Exchange, Bristol
Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
Norwich Arts Centre
Windmill Brixton, London
Major Booking Agency 2022
ATC Live
CAA
Primary Talent International
UTA
WME
X-ray Touring
Booking Agency 2022
Earth Music Agency
Midnight Mango
Mother Artists
One Fiinix Live
Pure Represents
Solo Agency
National Promoter 2022
DHP Family
FKP Scorpio UK
Kilimanjaro Live
Live Nation
Music Plus Sport
TEG Europe
Regional Promoter 2022
Bird on the Wire
Brudenell Presents
DF Concerts
Glasswerk Concerts
JOY Concerts
Orchard Live
Shine
Ticketing Service 2022
AXS
Eventim
Ticketmaster
Ticketswap
Twickets
Major Festival of the Year
BST Hyde Park
Camp Bestival
Reading & Leeds Festivals
Tramlines
TRNSMT Festival
Victorious
Festival of the Year
ArcTanGent
Bluedot
End of The Road Festival
Shindig Festival
Standon Calling
The Great Escape
Truck Festival
Production Supplier 2022
80six
Creative Technology
Full Fat Events
Label Worx Limited
Organise Chaos
Siyan Lighting
Sophisticated Entertainment
Brand Partnership 2022
Bacardi @ Live Nation
Gigseekr @ Liverpool Sound City
Luno @ Koko
National Lottery Revive Live @ Music Venue Trust
Southern Comfort @ The Collab Agency
Visit Arkansas @ Black Deer Festival
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LIVE launches new UK live music awards ceremony
A new awards ceremony has been launched to celebrate outstanding individuals and companies across the UK’s live music sector.
The LIVE Awards will take place at The Brewery in London on Tuesday 13 December, and are being introduced by trade body LIVE to celebrate the highs of the year and toast the endurance of the sector, amid the dual battles of Brexit and Covid.
Categories will be open to all across the industry and will celebrate classical alongside grime, production heroes alongside promoters.
“After a year like no other, the world class UK live music scene is getting together to celebrate the fantastic work delivered in 2022, while looking towards what’s to come in 2023,” says LIVE CEO Jon Collins.
“The awards offer a fantastic opportunity to recognise our world-leading talent and bring all corners of the industry together, while doing what we do best – throwing a fantastic party.”
“It is the right time to celebrate the best in our sector”
The awards will bring the business together in December, serving as an end of year celebration for all of those responsible for stages, venues and festivals across the UK. The ceremony will take place annually, and span a range of achievements including sustainability credentials, marketing prowess and regional performance, to ensure that the very best of the industry is celebrated.
“Live Nation is delighted to support these awards,” adds Denis Desmond, Live Nation UK & Ireland chair. “Live is vital to artists and musicians and creates a vibrant economy in which thousands of jobs are supported. It’s the right time to celebrate the best in our sector.”
Judged by a panel of industry professionals, the awards will be presented in front of an invited industry audience, with hundreds expected to attend.
“The inaugural LIVE Awards will be a welcome and valued addition to the industry calendar, providing an opportunity to celebrate those who have worked incredibly hard during the last few most challenging years for our industry,” adds Royal Albert Hall artistic director Lucy Noble. “It will be fantastic to end the year with a celebration of our world class industry.”
Applications are open now and will run to 30 September, with full details available at www.theliveawards.com. The categories include:
· The LIVE Green Award
· The LIVE Workforce Award
· Venue of the Year
· Grassroots Champion
· Multinational Booking Agency
· Independent Booking Agency
· National Promoter of the Year
· Regional Promoter of the Year
· Top Ticketing Service
· Major Festival of the Year
· Festival of the Year
· Production Supplier
· Brand Partnership
· The LIVETime Achievement Award
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Germany’s LEA returns to full strength
Germany’s Live Entertainment Award (LEA) ceremony will return to full strength for its 2022 edition, which will be held as part of Frankfurt Fashion Week for the first time.
The event, which recognises excellence in the German live sector, will take place at Frankfurt Festhalle on Wednesday 22 June. Confirmed performers include established singers Yvonne Catterfeld, Leony and Leslie Clio, along with newcomers Sobi and Pia Baris. Further highlights will be announced shortly.
In addition to the seats on the floor the Festhalle (13,500-cap.), public tickets have also gone sale for the upper tier.
A jury of 24 experts, made up of media representatives and industry specialists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, has decided on the winners of the LEA, which will be awarded for outstanding achievement in 2020 and 2021.
Last year’s LEA was held in a smaller, socially distanced format
There have been two changes to the board: Hannover Concerts founder Michael Lohmann has been succeeded by managing director Nico Röger, while legendary promoter Karsten Jahnke has passed on his post to Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion MD Ben Mitha.
After the 2020 awards were cancelled due to Covid-19, last year’s LEA was held in a smaller, socially distanced format at the 1,200-capacity Gibson Club in Frankfurt. Wizard Promotions founder Ossy Hoppe was recognised with the lifetime achievement award at the ceremony.
The LEA is funded by the LEA Committee, which includes the Federal Association of the Concert and Event Industry (BDKV) as well as a number of companies from the German event industry.
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Hardee, SJM, Ticketmaster triumph at MW Awards
Wasserman Music agent Alex Hardee, SJM Concerts and Ticketmaster were among the winners in the live categories at last night’s Music Week Awards in London.
Hosted by comedian, presenter and TikTok star Munya Chawawa, the event took place at Battersea Evolution and was attended by more than 1,400 industry guests.
Hardee, whose roster includes the likes of Bastille, Sia, Liam Gallagher, London Grammar, Grace Jones, Lewis Capaldi, Kacey Musgraves, and Rag’n’Bone Man, danced onto the stage to collect the award for Live Music Agent of the Year. After cutting a flurry of trademark jokes, Hardee showed his serious side by dedicating the honour to the late Steve Strange.
“He was from a place in Belfast where it was so rough you looked overdressed with both your ears, and he became one of the biggest agents in the world,” said Hardee. “I’d like to dedicate this award to him. Steve, we love you.”
Elsewhere, SJM Concerts retained the Live Music Promoter of the Year prize and Ticketmaster UK was named Ticketing Company of the Year.
“Ticketing is a tough business, and I’m delighted we’ve found a way to work together to build something truly special for fans”
In addition, AXS and The O2 claimed Live Music Innovation of the Year for AXS Mobile ID. Through their collaboration, customers who purchase from other agents can now instantly receive and access their tickets through The O2’s venue app.
“We are honoured to win this award together with our friends at The O2, but we also share this recognition with our new partners at Ticketmaster, See Tickets, Gigantic, Eventim and Ticketzone,” said AXS UK MD Chris Lipscomb. “Ticketing is a tough business, and I’m delighted we’ve found a way to work together to build something truly special for fans.”
Adam Pearson, commercial director at The O2, added: “This project has been a real team effort and the recognition for this award should absolutely go to every single person who has played a part in getting us to this stage.”
Meanwhile, the Music Venue Trust (MVT) CEO Mark Davyd picked up the Grassroots Venue: Spirit of the Scene award on behalf of Hull’s 200-cap The New Adelphi Club, accompanied by Elbow frontman Guy Garvey.
“None of these guys are in it for the money and they all deserve our support and our protection”
Both took the opportunity to extol the virtues of MVT’s recently announced Music Venue Properties (MVP) initiative to buy the freehold of grassroots music venue properties.
“We can between us really simply become shareholders,” said Garvey. “If you’re in a position of power in any of the big, powerful companies in this room, you could make sure that everybody who works for you is a share owner in the Music Venue Trust initiative Own Our Venues. We could stop the very feeding cycle, that makes sure that we all live and work and love in this beautiful industry, being under threat constantly because none of these guys are in it for the money and they all deserve our support and our protection.”
Other notable winners included Elton John’s managers David Furnish and Rachael Paley of Rocket Entertainment, who won Manager of the Year, while music industry pioneer Jamal Edwards, who died in February aged just 31, was recognised with a special award accepted by his mother, Brenda Edwards.
The night’s final award, The Strat, which honours an industry icon, went to legendary publicist Barbara Charone. The MBC PR co-founder was presented with the gong by Warner Music CEO, Recorded Music, Max Lousada, with star clients such as Madonna, James Blunt, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Olly Murs giving video tributes.
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