FKP Scorpio acquires Norway’s Nordic Live
Germany’s FKP Scorpio has acquired a majority stake in Nordic Live – formerly Norway’s largest independent booking agency – in its first acquisition and third major business development of the new decade.
Oslo-based Nordic Live was founded in 2017 by Erica Leypoldt, Kim Nordbæk, Ottar Schanke Eikum and Joël Schwalenstöcker, formerly of Live Nation, Ultimat Artist, Mentometer and TimeOut Agency, respectively. The agency represents more than 60 domestic and international acts, including Alan Walker, Ina Wroldsen and Gabrielle.
“We have been able to carve out a decent slice of the Norwegian market in just a few years as one of the very few remaining independents,” say the quartet in a joint statement. “We have done everything ourselves and our own way, but once we met with FKP Scorpio, we immediately knew this was the right partnership to take the company to the next level.”
The acquisition of Nordic follows news of Scorpio’s new Belgian office, announced last week, and its CEO Folkert Koopmans’ opening a new booking agency, All Artists, in Germany, earlier this week.
“We are very happy about … the merger with our already strong team in Norway”
Nordic Live’s domestic roster played more than 1,000 shows in 2019, amounting to a total turnover of 80 million kr (€8.1m), according to FKP – whose FKP Scorpio Norway division has promoted concerts by the likes of Tame Impala, Brad Paisley, Biffy Clyro and Bon Iver since its formation in November 2017.
Nordic Live will now work closely with FKP Scorpio Norway’s head promoter, Stian Pride, and his team over the course of the year.
“We are very happy about our teaming up with Nordic Live and the merger with our already strong team in Norway,” says Koopmans. “Their local artist roster will complement our portfolio and will strengthen FKP Scorpio’s importance for the local Norwegian music scene as a reliable partner. We are very excited about the future prospects of our Norwegian branch.”
According to PwC, Belgium is Europe’s 10th-biggest live music market, worth US$304m in ticket sales in 2019, and the 15th-biggest globally. Read IQ’s Norway report, which discovered one of the world’s most active markets for live music, here.
Pictured (L–R): Erica Leypoldt, Eivind Fadnes, Folkert Koopmans, Joël Schwalenstöcker, Pia Litleskare, Mari Fjeld, Freddie de Wall, Ottar Schanke Eikum, Nicolai Sten Jørgensen, Linn Thomassen
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