James Drury

Feb 5, 2025 | iq-mag.net | James Drury

One of the key findings of our latest European Festival Survey – and a topic frequently brought up at conferences, including the International Festival Forum (IFF) and European Festival Summit (EFS) – is just how concerned promoters are about headliner fees. Whether you’re a major event vying for stadium-filling acts or a small festival with a more modest budget, the problem is industry-wide.

Nov 22, 2024 | iq-mag.net | James Drury

Key challenges facing the European festival industry, the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence (AI), environmental sustainability, Gen Z engagement, and the transformative power of festivals were among the agenda items at the European Festival Summit in Karlsruhe, Germany, this week.

Nov 12, 2024 | iq-mag.net | James Drury

The latest innovations in the touring entertainment and experiences sector were shared during a sold-out edition of (TEM). This was the first edition of TEM for five years, and saw around 180 people come together at ABC Serrano in Madrid for two days of meetings and conference panels. The event was convened in memory of industry pioneer Mario Iacampo, CEO of Exhibition Hub, who died last year and was produced by Semmel Exhibitions, Fever and Exhibition Hub.

Sep 20, 2024 | iq-mag.net | James Drury

A raft of new and forthcoming venues, huge investment in live entertainment, and the opening of the Saudi market means family entertainment is big business in the Middle East. What’s the key to success? IQ investigates. Interest in the Middle East as a touring region has grown significantly in recent years. New venues have opened, and there are many more in the pipeline, not least in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is investing heavily in culture.

Aug 9, 2024 | iq-mag.net | James Drury

While there may be many market-specific issues arenas have to tackle, there’s one that unites all of them worldwide: sustainability. IQ looks at the exciting efforts being made across the globe. It was long thought that the only way to prevent arenas from harming the environment was to stop them operating completely. But recent innovations, and the sheer hard work of some in the industry, mean that zero-impact shows are tantalisingly close.