News

Festival Congress 2016

Industry Green Survey 2016

Powerful Thinking, with the support of the AIF and the AFO, have launched the second annual industry survey focused on sustainable practices at UK festivals. A year on from the release of the seminal environmental report, The Show Must Go On, and the launch of Festival Vision: 2025, Powerful Thinking will publish a report in December based on the results from this…

AIF announces winners of the 2016 Festival Congress Awards 

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has announced the winners of the 2016 Festival Congress Awards at a packed out ceremony at DEPOT in Cardiff. Hosted by Ben Challis (Glastonbury Festival),the ceremony took place on the evening of the first day of Festival Congress (Tuesday 1st November). Winners included Bluedot (New Festival on the block), End of the Road Festival…

Entry Call For 2017 Event Production Awards

Access All Areas and Mash Media’s Event Production Awards are set to return in 2017, taking place on the 1st March at the Lancaster Hotel in London. They are now accepting entries for all awards which “sees the great and good of the events industry come together to celebrate and recognise the people who keep the cogs turning.” To enter the…

Global Acquires Several Festivals / Edition Capital Announces New Media & Entertainment Fund

In mid 2015 Global dived headfirst into the festival business by acquiring a stake in Broadwick Live- the folks behind Snowbombing and Festival No. 6. Last week Global announced that they have also acquired six more festivals, 4 from Impresario and 2 from Count of Ten and a larger stake in Broadwick Live. Edition Capital who were the investment fund…

Event Tech Live

As Europe’s only dedicated show for event technology, on the 9th of November in London, Event Tech Live will provide a unique opportunity to learn about the latest technologies and software available for organisers of festivals and outdoor events. Throughout the exhibition, panel discussions and keynote speakers take to the Main Stage to deliver content and sessions to inspire and engage the audience. This is…

AIF’s 2016 Audience Survey

We’re now accepting responses for the 2016 AIF audience survey which is used towards research such as our 6 Year Audience Report that the Live Music Exchange presented at the Festival Congress in 2014. The information is invaluable in identifying key stats and trends relating to festival audiences including behaviours, modes of transport, economic impact and much more – important factors when demonstrating the value of the…

Festival Congress Award Nominees Announced

The nominees for the 3rd Festival Congress Awards have just been announced taking place during the Festival Congress on the 1st November at the DEPOT in Cardiff. The awards will be hosted by Glastonbury’s Ben Challis and are decided on by votes from AIF members. There are ten award categories including, among others, ‘New Festival on the Block’, ‘Unique Festival Arena’, ‘Mind Blowing…

Join The Energy Revolution

Energy Revolution is a not-for-profit movement that turns your audience’s travel miles into 100% clean renewable energy. By crowdsourcing donations at ticket point-of-sale, Energy Revolution gives events and their audiences the opportunity to balance their negative impacts through investment in renewable energy, helping to reduce the impact of the event and create a brighter future for us all. To find out more,…

Sadiq Khan To Protect London Venues With ‘Agent Of Change’ Principle

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to introduce an ‘Agent Of Change’ principle to help protect music venues faced with noise complaints and licensing issues when developers decide to build residential structures next door or near live music venues. Once this is implemented it will mean the developer will be responsible for protecting residents against sound bleed issues in the…

Live Nation Begins Selling Tickets Via Snapchat In The U.S.

As of last weekend ticketing giant Ticketmaster has begun selling tickets through social media platform Snapchat in the States. This is building upon the already existing partnership between Live Nation and Snapchat. “AEG Live also has a multi-year agreement with Snapchat to promote its festivals, although it has yet to introduce in-app ticket sales.” Live Nation’s adverts for an upcoming Ariana Grande tour…

Call For Bad Weather Best Practice Guides For Festivals

After an interesting season for bad weather and several festival cancellations and ‘adjustments’, industry experts at Reeperbahn last week called for cooperation between festivals when it comes to sharing information and how to deal with bad weather. It was suggested that a uniform of best practice should be put together and implemented by all events but led by the larger…