Welcome to the latest edition of Six Questions With..., a short and sharp interview with a live music figure. Email jhanley@nbmedia.com if you would like to take part or recommend someone for inclusion.
This week's Q&A is with Andy Copping, Live Nation's president of UK touring.
What was your first job in the music industry?
Right at the beginning of the 80s, I became a DJ at a pub in my hometown of Lincoln. There was me and this other guy, and we used to DJ on a Tuesday night for four hours. We’d stand there together and take turns to put a song on. We got a fiver each, £10 for the whole night!
How long have you been in your current role?
Eighteen months.
What is your favourite thing about working in the live music industry?
It’s exciting. How many times do you come away from a gig not feeling great? It doesn’t happen very often. You know you’re going to go and leave your troubles at the door, whatever gig it is.
What is the one thing you would like to change about the live music business?
It’s not so much changing anything as it is doing whatever is necessary to stop it ever becoming stale.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Just being be able to work in the live music industry. Simple as.
What is the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Now that is hard. Michael Bublé at Ronnie Scott’s before he broke big. We’d just had our Christmas Party and we were walking back afterwards and one of the guys in the office said, I’ve started working with a guy called Michael Bublé, he’s doing Ronnie Scott’s. He did two sets, one at 10pm and one at 1am. We went to the 1am one and he was unbelievable.
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