Festival Focus: FKP Scorpio, Germany

The European Festival Report (EFR) 2024, a packed annual summary of the biggest trends, happenings, and initiatives on the continent’s festival scene, was published last month.

In this excerpt from this indispensable guide, FKP Scorpio Germany team leads Janina Zeller and Karen Jessen review the 2024 summer season and discuss prevailing challenges, sustainability measures and DEI initiatives…

How was last summer’s festival season for you?
Speaking for the company, this season has been highly successful. On a personal level, it was filled with great memories and remarkable shows, both big and small. All but one of our summer open-air festivals sold out, which is quite an achievement considering the challenging times our industry is currently facing. The reactions from the crowds on-site, our post-festival surveys, and a record-breaking presale all indicate that our guests were very pleased with this year’s lineups.

On a more personal note, we’d like to emphasise that, beyond being a great place to spend time with our team, artists, and other partners, a festival also offers an opportunity for personal growth. You simply cannot anticipate every little detail; something always requires immediate attention, improvisation, and problem-solving skills. Still, after two challenging post-pandemic years, we consider ourselves fortunate to once again find enough time to observe how our guests were receiving the acts we curated. This reality check is always an integral part of our work.

Lastly, it’s noticeable that everyone we work with has regained the confidence we were used to seeing before the pandemic. After the turbulent 2022 season, filled with uncertainties, the industry has found its rhythm again. That’s great to see and very much needed for the trials ahead.

“We’re constantly striving to improve the gender balance of our lineups and have successfully increased female representation year after year”

What challenges does the festival industry face? And how are you aiming to address them?
The rising costs for virtually everything is a well-known issue across the industry, putting pressure on festival promoters because it’s no longer enough to simply be successful – you need to sell out to achieve any kind of margin.

In addition, we’re constantly striving to improve the gender balance of our lineups and have successfully increased female representation year after year. While we’re very happy with showcasing a not only musically diverse lineup, finding headline acts that fit our musical identity and play festivals in general, remains a challenge. That’s why we’re firm proponents of fostering female talent in all our business areas.

What trends do you think we will see play out in the next few years at festivals?
It doesn’t feel right to call sustainability a trend, but we’re glad to see that this topic has moved from the fringes of society to centre stage. When we started our sustainability programme for festivals in 2013, we were more or less alone. Today, our guests actively demand progress in this field, which more and more people finally recognise as the most vital challenge of our time. While any real impact on global climate change won’t be decided on in the live sector, our industry has the power to spark awareness. That’s why we’re giving NGOs a lot of space at our festivals, while also leading by example through the combined sustainability measures across all our events.

We also observe ongoing advancements in stage production. Many artists aim to enhance their music with art, effects, or a cohesive narrative, resulting in a more immersive concert experience for their fans. This is no small feat considering the short set-up times at festivals.

“Festivals remain crucial for a vibrant and diverse music scene”

Can you share some of the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) measures or initiatives you have in place to ensure the festival is a welcoming place for everyone?
As mentioned, more diversity on our stages is a vital measure in this regard, flanked by promotion of young talent through
our band contest Gamechanger. In regard to our guests, our Panama initiative makes festivals more accessible and welcoming for everyone. The core idea is that people who are feeling unwell or uncomfortable get immediate help without having to explain themselves. Furthermore, measures to improve accessibility are constantly being reviewed and developed.

What role do festivals play in the cultural landscape?
Festivals remain crucial for a vibrant and diverse music scene. For artists, they offer a chance to perform in front of large audiences who might not otherwise attend their concerts – yet. For fans, a well-curated festival is a great place to discover their next favourite band. As places for joyful discovery and open-mindedness, festivals play a pivotal role in the cultural landscape.

And speaking of open-mindedness, not only are festivals ideal places to leave worries and day-to-day life behind but they also constitute a unique forum for togetherness, which is sorely needed in a time that sees societies across the world becoming increasingly divided. We use this very consciously. For example, at this year’s instalment of Highfield Festival, we reminded attendees through various means that they should vote for democratic parties in the state election.

The third edition of the European Festival Report, from IQ and festival association Yourope, is available to read online for free.

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