Glastonbury sells out in 50 minutes
Tickets for Glastonbury 2017 sold out in 50 minutes yesterday morning. Two million people reportedly applied. All 135,000 tickets for next year’s event have now been sold – including the coach + ticket packages sold on Thursday night. "We have, once again, been blown away by the incredible number of people from around the planet who hoped to come to the festival, with demand significantly outstripping supply," said a statement by organisers. There will be a resale of any returned tickets in the spring, with registration to reopen in the next few days.
Adele's 25 helps Beggars Group profits leap 229.2% in 2015
Operating profits at Beggars Group - home to 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade Records, XL Recordings and Young Turks - rocketed to £16.7 million on revenues of £72.9m in 2015 - a 229.2% rise, according to documents published via Companies House. Adele's 25 takes much of the credit for the increase, having sold more than 10m copies in the UK and US by the end of 2015, despite only being released that November.
Aspiring artists to benefit from £2.8m scheme
Emerging UK musicians are set to benefit from a £2.8 million boost to build their global brand. The Department for International Trade and the BPI have relaunched the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) to support for independent music companies, music labels, distributors and management companies, as they look to build on their UK success and break into overseas markets. Delivered through the Exporting is GREAT campaign and operated through the BPI, small and medium sized music companies will be eligible for grants ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 to help promote British artists around the world.
Money 'lost' to resale more than total size of streaming subscription market
The money “lost” to secondary each year is bigger than the total size of the subscription streaming market, according to a report. Music Glue CEO Mark Meharry said: “Live Nation’s secondary ticketing revenue, as far as I can see, in 2013 was $400m; in 2014 it was $900m; and in 2015 it was $1.2bn. StubHub in 2015 made $1.06bn. The IFPI reports that the total trade revenue from music subscriptions last year was only $1.6bn." (MusicAlly)
Warner's ADA to take over Entertainment One's physical distribution
Entertainment One is to shut down its physical distribution operation, which handles about 100 music and video labels, and will only be a digital distributor going forward. As part of that, Entertainment One signed a deal with Warner Music Group’s Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) to handle physical distribute for its owned labels, but will handle its own digital distribution. (Billboard)
Creators mobilise to make their voice heard during the US elections
Music creators have been beefing up their presence during the US election campaign to ensure that their messages reach out to the presidential candidates and policy-makers running for Congress. one of the leading grassroots initiatives in the field, Grammys in My District, will see over 2000 music professionals - artists, songwriters, performers, sound engineers, music industry executives - visit their local legislator's office to talk about their businesses. For organisers the Recording Academy, known for the yearly industry show The Grammys, this advocacy initiative allows its 23,000-strong members "to address important creators' rights issues directly with their respective members of Congress, from copyright review to the impact of digital services on music makers".
See Tickets seals Ministry Of Sound ticketing deal
Ministry Of Sound has chosen See Tickets to act as primary ticket agent for its events. As part of the deal, See Tickets will provide Ministry of Sound with a full-service solution to include ticketing, marketing, web development and on-site operational support. See’s ticketing platform will power the club side of the Ministry Of Sound website.
Cambridge Folk Festival boss steps down
General manager of Cambridge Folk Festival Eddie Barcan has stepped down from the event and from Cambridge Live. Barcan had programmed 23 consecutive sellouts of the festival. "I have put my heart and soul into Cambridge Folk Festival and this has been a very difficult decision," he said. "However, due to strategic developments within Cambridge Live, the time is right for me to move on to new opportunities."
Bratavio first act voted off this year's X Factor
Bratavio became the first act to be voted off the latest series of The X Factor last night. The duo lost out to Saara Alto in the live sing-off. There was no mention of twin brothers Brooks Way, following claims they had been axed from the show after allegations that 17-year-old Josh had assaulted a former girlfriend during their relationship.
Craig David stars at Capital XTRA Live
Tape London hosted Craig David and Jaguar Skills for a special Capital XTRA Live event in aid of Global’s Make Some Noise. David performed to a packed audience at Tape on Friday. Global united all its radio brands for its third annual appeal day to help disadvantaged youngsters across the UK living with illness, disability or lack of opportunity.
Music Week out now
In our latest edition, Music Week analyses the Q3 figures as streaming surges again. There's also news on Sentric and a look at the rise of three of the UK's hottest bands. Elsewhere, Keane's Tom Chaplin comes back from the brink and we go inside the campaign that’s turned indie rockers Glass Animals into international sensation. Glastonbury's former head of production Dick Tee takes on the Big Interview. Subscribe here.
