LONDON (VIP NEWS) — John Giddings will be the subject of the International Festival Forum`s (IFF) keynote interview at the first edition of the new industry event.
Launched by the International Live Music Conference, IFF is an invitation-only event aimed at music festivals and booking agents, which will be held across two London venues – Proud Camden and Dingwalls – from September 30 to October 1.
Giddings, owner of Solo Agency whose agency roster includes Madonna, U2, Sting and Pharrell Williams, completes a conference program that focuses on the interrelationship between music festivals and booking agents. Other topics include The Therapy Session: Difficult Engagements as Glastonbury’s Ben Challis airs the top five grievances between festival bookers and booking agents in a bid to build better understanding between the two camps.
Ruud Berends from Networking Music, a co-organizer of IFF, said: “With some of the festival and booking agency world`s leading lights in attendance, the morning conference and workshop sessions of IFF aim to deliver both knowledge and insight into this vibrant industry.”
Loyalty vs. Profit will see sees session chairman Stefan Thanscheidt, of FKP Scorpio, look at the growing trend of agents and festivals booking direct with each other, cutting out middle agents and local promoters. Meanwhile, Festivals are Dead: Long Live the Festival sees chair Dany Hassenstein, of Switzerland`s Paléo Festival, examine the formulas for success in a post-headliner festival world. Workshops will include Data & Audience Insight, presented by Dan Brown (AXS) and Karim Fanous (Music Ally); and Better Brand Partnerships, hosted by Jeremy Paterson (IF Media Consultancy) featuring experts from the brand agency world.
IFF’s agency partners include The Agency Group, ATC Live, Coda, LPO, Primary Talent International and X-ray Touring. Each partner will showcase their priority festival artists for 2016, and conduct Q&As with festival delegates.
Association partners are the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), De Concert!, the International Jazz Festivals Organization (IJFO) and International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) Europe.
