"Managers in Denmark – 20% more or less…?"

Participants:

One thing that most managers have in common: Pay. It’s usually a percentage of the artist’s earnings, but is it a waste of money, or does the artist make even more money by having a one? Is there a need managers in Denmark? And who chooses who and why?

To answer these and other questions, SPOT 05 has put together a panel to give an idea of what good management is, and what the present and future condition of the industry looks like.

During the last few years, management has really begun to blossom in the Danish music industry, amongst other things, in pace with foreign interest in Danish music. The manager acts as a middleman, between the artist’s many contacts: - record companies, publishers, booking bureau, sponsors, accountants and lawyers, but to name a few. Together with them, he takes care of business, so that the artist has the best possible environment in which to be creative.

There are many ways to be a manager. Often, the manager plays a very central part as sparring partner in questions of an artistic nature, but also as a conduit to the outside-world through which the band has contact to the media, concert arrangers, tour-musicians, crew, etc.

There will be ample opportunity to ask questions; the panel is directed towards all within the music industry. The English manager Keith Harris starts the ball rolling with a 15-min. speech, where he will paint a picture of management from an international perspective.

Keith Harris (UK)

A manager who has worked with Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and many more. He started in the record industry in 1974, and worked for several companies ending at Motown in the USA. In 1984 he moved back to England and started his own management firm. He also works as a lecturer at the University of Westminster in London (BA Honours Course in Commercial Music), and holds honorary positions in different organisations.

Jesper Bay (DK)

Manager for Ann-Louise, Goon and Halfdan E, etc. and co-owner of the Management and Consultation firm Music Matters (moderator), He entered the music industry in 1979 as manager of the comic group ‘Linie 3’, and later managed the musician Thomas Helmig for a number of years. Up until 1997 he worked for diverse record companies (Genlyd, BMG and Mega).

Ole Dreyer (DK)

Started as manager for Sharing Patrol and Miss B. Haven in 1988. Since 1991 he has worked as a booker/manager for PDH and is today manager for a number of known Danish artists. He is also a part owner of the Copenhagen Venue, Rust.

Susanne Kier (DK)

MA in Cultural Communications. She began her career as a freelance journalist. From ’88 - ´97 she worked as Promotion and Label manager for various record companies. In 1997 she established The Label and Management Company Soulmade together with Søren Nauntoft.

Jesper Mardahl (DK)

Manager. Worked for 10 years as A&R, marketing and label manager for several record companies. In 1994 he established Mardahl Production, as a management, promotion and production company.

Jens Otto Paludan (DK)

Bachelor of commerce and Managing Director of the record company Universal. During the last few years he has initiated the development of a Danish repertoire and has had a lot of success with Aqua and YouKnowWho. Before he started at Universal he worked for a number of years as Head of Marketing for various youth magazines.