MILAN, Italy (VIP-NEWS) — A new association for Italian music venues, festivals, and promoters, KeepOn Live, has launched in Milan.
Led by Marco Manzella – who founded its forerunner organization, KeepOn, in 2004 as a ‘cultural association’ for club-sized venues – KeepOn Live is now a ‘sector association’ which will “represent and defend the interests of venues and festivals”, explains Manzella.
“After almost 14 years of networking activity, and the promotion and distribution of original Italian live music throughout the whole nation, venues, and festivals have [asked us] to create a sector association,” he says, explaining that the new KeepOn Live will, “taking advantage of the undoubtedly positive period for the live music industry, carry out activities dedicated to the cultural, social and economic recognition all the professionals in this sector.”
The association, he adds, is “independent, apolitical, nonpartisan and nondenominational”, and brings together “venues and [organizations] that organize live music”.
Existing Italian industry association Assomusica, which represents concert promoters, producers, and organizers, has more than 100 members, representing some 80% of the market.
Federico Rasetti, CEO, and vice-president of KeepOn Live comments: “It will be a really representative association, which will group exclusively live musical professionals and develop around their directives, demands, and needs. It will be inclusive and qualifying, also welcoming those small companies that wish to grow in this sector, helping them to develop and strengthen.”
