Norwegian trade body unveils new board
Norway’s trade association has unveiled its new board for the 2023-2024 period.
Márkomeannu festival director Ane Margrethe Ugelvik has been elected to the board of the Norwegian Cultural Organisers (NKA), alongside Jungelen founder and general manager Simon Alejandro Larsen. Bergen-based cultural organisation Jungelen stages club and concert series, as well as Jungelfest.
NKA has also welcomed three new deputies: Oslo Urban Week programme manager Linnéa Elisabeth Svensson, Tromsø International Film Festival boss Lisa Hoen and Trondheim Calling GM Eirik Brevik.
“It’s a good combination of new and old faces”
“It’s a good combination of new and old faces,” says NKA chair Trude Storheim. “There is a broadly composed board in terms of background, experience and competence, which is already enthusiastically getting started with the work. It bodes well for the important work the board is set to do.”
The new board members will succeed Marit Over-Rein Stokkenes, Sandra Márjá West, Åsa Paaske Gulbrandsen, Morten Wien and Runa Lunde Strindin.
Established in 1982, NKA’s international name is Norwegian Live. The Oslo-headquartered body represents more than 500 members, including festivals, clubs, venues, concert associations, student societies, libraries, museums and concert and cultural centres.
PHOTO (BACK L-R): Roza Aghili Taslimi, Lisa Hoen, Simon Alejandro Larsen, Trude Storheim, Ane Margrethe Ugelvik. (FRONT L-R): Runar Eggesvik, Per-Harald Nilsson, Linnéa Elisabeth Svensson, Gøran Aamodt
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Breakaway Italian music trade body formed
A number of Italy’s leading promoters have split from Assomusica to join a breakaway live music association.
The trade body, Assoconcerti, has installed renowned artist manager and promoter Bruno Sconocchia as its first president. Companies including Friends & Partners, Live Nation, Vivo Concerti, Trident, Vertigo, BCM Concerti and D’Alessandro e Galli have signed up to the new organisation.
Other members include AC, Ambaradan, Color Sound, Comcerto, Esse Concerti, FVG Live, GF Entertainment, Gruppo Carramusa, Habita, International Music and Arts – Master’s Voice, Musica Grandi Produzioni, Producteam, Show Net, Sol Eventi, Studio’s Programmazione Spettacoli, The Base and Zed Entertainment’s World.
Assoconcerti says it will “represent and assist the operators of live music in terms of legislation, negotiations, trade union, facilitating relations with institutions and both public and private organisations”.
Assoconcerti’s formation was reportedly sparked by the appointment of Carlo Parodi as Assomusica president
According to Billboard Italia, the breakaway group’s formation was sparked by the appointment of Carlo Parodi as Assomusica president, which was supported by local promoters but caused friction with the larger organisations, who considered Sconocchia a better fit for the role due to Parodi’s independent background.
A music promoter from Turin with over 30 years’ experience, Parodi is founder of the Collegno’s Flowers Festival and the Hiroshima Mon Amour live music club. He became the sixth president of Assomusica last month, succeeding the late Vincenzo Spera, who passed away in a road accident earlier this year.
Sconocchia, who has worked with top Italian artists such as Fabrizio De André, Gino Paoli, Ornella Vanoni, Zucchero, Pooh and Lucio Dalla, previously led Assomusica from 2005-09.
Assomusica was founded in Florence in 1996. Its current list of members can be viewed here.
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