Keeping Up Appearances

Every year, millions of people in the UK attend festivals of one kind or another and the sector is awash with a huge variety of events covering all genres of music. With a festival market as large as this, how is it possible for events to maintain the loyalty of their festival-goers and ensure a sustainable long-term event?

This panel will discuss the ways in which festival organisers are adapting to the potential saturation of the marketplace, the balance between live music and other attractions, key survival techniques …and how to still enjoy the process.

Moderator: John Robb, Louder than War

Panelists:
James Algate – CEO, Angel Music Group
James Barton – Founder, Creamfields
John Probyn – COO, Live Nation
Paul Glossop – Head of Digital, V Festival

James Algate - CEO, Angel Music Group

Angel Music Group, the company behind some of the most prominent electronic music events around the globe and home to international brands GlobalGathering and Godskitchen founded in 2000. Since the inaugural UK event in 2001 and following overseas expansion since 2005, the GlobalGathering festival brand has entertained nearly 2 million people in 11 countries Worldwide. Godskitchen has become an international clubbing super power, hosting regular events in the UK as well as touring three unique production concepts, including the renowned ‘Boombox’ which hosted over 25 shows throughout the globe in the last 12 months.

John Probyn - COO, Live Nation

John Probyn got his first taste for events in 1988 when he landed a sales job in commercial radio. Spotting an opportunity to involve advertisers with the station and its music he created one of the first dedicated sponsorship and events divisions in commercial radio – a decision that gave the station an important new revenue source and saw John quickly rise up the ranks. John’s role grew to creating major music events for Capital Radio’s network of stations throughout the UK.  As he mastered his skills John earned a reputation as one of the UK’s foremost experts in the production of live events.

In 1988, he decided to set up on his own and created Pro Productions where he rapidly built up a client list including the country’s biggest promoters and festivals as well as major touring shows. In 2001, Pro Productions was bought by Live Nation (then Clear Channel Entertainment) which handed John the role of UK Festival Director overseeing logistical planning and implementation of global events such as Live 8, Live Earth and Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday celebrations, while he also became the driving force behind Live Nation’s award winning festivals Download, Hard Rock Calling and Wireless. His long-term view of the business has made John Probyn arguably the most recognised production executives in the Europe. His decision to create fan forums for Download, so that he could gauge feedback on even the most minute proposed changes, has given him cult status among the festival’s fans.  In 2008, John was promoted to his current position of Chief Operating Officer for Live Nation Music UK, placing him in overall charge of all elements of planning and implementation of the company’s tours, festivals and special events in the UK.

Paul Glossop - Head of Digital, V Festival

As with any event, in the run-up fans are abuzz with huge anticipation and excitement – for some festivalgoers, V Festival is the highlight of their year. Committed to delivering a richer fan experience each year, my role at V Festival is to execute strategic, creative and technical verticals that ignite and inspire our ever expanding community to extend the adrenaline beyond the physical event, and to encourage greater fan loyalty with every passing festival.