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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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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