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ILMC 33: The New Bosses reflect on a year of turmoil

While Futures Forum, ILMC’s conference within a conference for young professionals, took a year off in 2021, its traditional opening session survived ILMC’s move online, welcoming another five emerging execs to take the temperature of the business from an under-30’s perspective.

Chair Marc Saunders (The O2 London) opened by asking about how the panellists had spent the last 12 months, with panellists describing the usual mix of holding dates and moving shows, as well as listening to plenty of podcasts.

“It’s been a year and a half since my last show, and I’m very uncertain about what’s going to happen this summer,” said Sziget’s Virág Csiszár, reflecting on a difficult year. “It’s been a really tough time – we’ve had to let go of a lot of good colleagues and friends.”

Livestreaming has filled the gap to a certain extent, said Metropolis Music’s Alexandra Ampofo, winner of the 2021 Tomorrow’s New Boss award, although it will never replace the real thing. “Livestreaming is here to stay,” she said, pointing out how the format can enable people, such as those with disabilities, who wouldn’t normally attend a ‘real’ gig to see a show. “It’s really great from an accessibility point of view,” she continued. “It’s a real progressive move for our whole scene, given that there are people who can’t go to [physical] gigs.”

“When we return, I think it will be a mix of shows and concert streaming,” agreed Csiszár.

Bilge Morden from CAA added: “The ones that work are the ones like Dua Lipa’s [Studio 2054] with a very strong concept, that aren’t just a livestreamed concert.”

“2022 is going to be amazing. It’s packed with shows”

With talk turning to panellists’ routes into the industry and their obligations to the next generation, Morden said it’s essential that even internships and entry-level jobs are well paid, to ensure a diversity of voices. “Even when I was doing a paid internship, I was still putting on shows in Liverpool” to make ends meet, he said.

The legacy of Black Out Tuesday and the Black Lives Matter movement makes the conversation about diversity particularly important, said Kedist Bezabih from FKP Scorpio in Norway.

“It’s not just race – it’s gender, and even disability,” added Ampofo. “When you listen to people you’re able to make the tangible change you need to make. Companies need to put their money where their mouth is.”

Looking ahead to the immediate return of concerts, Bezabih said she believes we’re going to see enhanced cleaning and sanitisation for years to come, adding that “2022 is going to be amazing. It’s packed with shows already. I’m very hopefully for 2022.”

“I’m also really optimistic for the coming years,” added Ampofo, saying she also thinks that greater “sanitisation is here to stay – and it should, to be honest.”

Concluding on a positive note, Morden said: “I’m the most optimistic I’ve been in a long time. Keep the faith.”

 


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Joel Madden teams up with ICM for artist development

LA-based agency ICM Partners and Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden have joined forces to launch an initiative aimed at developing emerging talent and brands across the music industry.

Through the partnership, ICM also hopes to enhance the level of personal service received by established clients.

Madden, who co-founded Good Charlotte along with his twin brother in 1996, will bring new talent to the agency and offer creative support to existing ICM artists.

The Good Charlotte co-founder launched his own artist development and management company, Mddn.co, in 2015, in collaboration with his two brothers, Benji and Josh.

“We have the opportunity to create something which will be very impactful in supporting the growth of artists”

“The agents we have worked with at ICM share our passion and entrepreneurial spirit for artist representation,” says Madden. “We have the opportunity to create something very special which I believe will be very impactful in supporting the growth and success of artists.”

Rob Prinz, co-head of worldwide music at ICM Partners, says he is “excited to be in business” with Madden, whom he describes as “a uniquely gifted artist and entrepreneur”.

Prinz commends ICM agent Mike Hayes for being the “driving force” behind the company’s relationship with Madden.

ICM Partners agent Kevin Jergensen was the winner of the Tomorrow’s New Boss award at this year’s Arthur Awards, picked from IQ’s New Bosses 2018 shortlist. The New Bosses of 2019 will be announced in the upcoming IQ 85.

 


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The New Bosses 2018: Call for nominations

Nominations are open for the New Bosses 2018, the latest edition IQ’s annual list of ten future music industry leaders, as decided by their peers.

Anyone working in the music industry, anywhere in the world, is eligible, provided they are aged 30 or under and they have not featured in our New Bosses list before.

Ideally, we’re looking for those who are making a difference – the young players already changing and shaping the industry.

If you know someone who deserves recognition, please help to make their year and let us know. The process remains strictly anonymous, and the deadline for sending in your nominations is Friday 27 July.

We’re looking for those who are making a difference – the young players already changing and shaping the industry

We’ll be publishing a profile on each of the ten most nominated rising stars in the next issue of IQ, and this will also form the nominations for the Tomorrow’s New Boss award at ILMC in March 2019.

To nominate someone you know to become one of the New Bosses, email [email protected] and tell us their name and where they work.

Click here for a recap of the New Bosses 2017, in three parts (parts two and three can be found in ‘more news’, at the bottom of the story). New Boss Anna-Sophie Mertens, a promoter at Live Nation UK, won the Tomorrow’s New Boss award at ILMC 30.

 


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