Amazon Prime Live Events boss Jason Carter exits

Jason Carter, the former BBC Introducing boss recently appointed to head up Amazon’s Prime Live Events, has stepped down.

Carter (pictured), who joined Amazon in May as director of Prime Live Events for Amazon Tickets, is taking a career break for personal reasons, an Amazon spokesperson tells IQ. Rumours of Carter’s departure were first reported by Hits, with Amazon confirming the news yesterday.

In a statement, the company explains: “Jason has decided, for family reasons, that he needs to take time off from full-time employment.”

Prime Live Events, Amazon UK’s first self-promoted concert series, was announced in May, exclusively available to Amazon Prime subscribers. The first show, Blondie at the Round Chapel in Hackney, was postponed in aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing.

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Digitally detox at crowdfunded Samphire Festival

A new British festival will aim to help phone addicts kick their habit in July with three days of music, art, drama, comedy and “tech-free” activities such as tree-climbing, stargazing, den-building, yoga and stand-up paddle-boarding.

The first Samphire Festival, promoted by music journalist/DJ Flora Blathwayt and chef/engineer Josh Beauchamp and held in association with Unplugged Weekend, will take place in Exmoor national park in Somerset from 8 to 10 July and encourages festivalgoers to “disconnect to reconnect and enjoy their natural surroundings”.

“I know I’m very often guilty of this, but so often we miss out on special moments because we are too busy documenting them,” says Blathwayt. Anti-tech features at Samphire will include the Rendezvous Bandstand, a chalkboard for messages, and ‘phone police’ to encourage people to keep their phones in their pocket.

Over 40 live acts and DJs will play across two main stages, including reggae band Will and the People, BBC Introducing-backed singer-songwriter Violet Skies, dark-pop duo Ardyn, Ethiopian jazz-funk group Tezeta and 12-piece afrobeat band No Go Stop.

Blathwayt and Beauchamp raised £42,855 from a £20,000 target on Crowdfunder to fund the first festival.