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08 October 2024

Serious Risk - Councils will be forced to abandon the arts and other non-statutory duties without an urgent "injection" of government funding in the upcoming Budget, local authorities have warned. Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre have called the £54bn shortfall in local council funding a "serious risk to cultural provision" in England and have responded by reiterating their demand that the government strategically review public investment in the performing arts.

According to a new report submitted to the government by the County Councils Network, England’s councils face a funding "black hole" of £54 billion over the next five years, fuelled by the soaring cost of social care. Confronted with an "unpalatable trade-off" between bankruptcy and minimum services, the shortfall could lead to local councils being able to provide "little more" than care

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04 October 2024

UK - The Backup Tech team was thrilled to once again be part of the #WeMakeEvents hub at the PLASA Show 2024. From this base, the Backup team and its ambassadors were able to connect with industry professionals and raise awareness of the important work Backup is doing in the industry.

Every year, the show represents an opportunity to meet up with old friends, enjoy great conversations and make new connections. This year, the larger footprint meant that the hall was abuzz with even more new technology and creativity. Spaces where attendees could relax and regroup were an important part of the wellbeing strategy, and the wellbeing hub, crewed by the EventWell team, provided an additional quiet space for anyone who wanted it.

“Backup received multiple donations during the show, thanks to a lot of hard work from our fundraisers and the generosity of PL

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04 October 2024

UK - LSi is sad to report the passing of software and media server pioneer, Richard Bleasdale (1965-2024) at the end of September.

Rob Halliday writes: “Richard Bleasdale was one of those backstage artists whose work was never recognised in itself by the show-going public, but which enabled remarkable work by others that was, in some cases becoming era-defining. Some of these ‘secret’ backstage artists work in wood, some in metal, some in fabric. Richard’s medium was software: software which enabled shows to happen in entirely new ways.

Like a fair number of others in this industry, Richard studied at Imperial College in London, theatre a distraction from the actual course that would go on to shape his working life. Working at Vari-Lite at a time where you’d have one lighting console for the conventional lights and another for the moving li

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01 October 2024

Dynamic Pricing - Oasis have announced they will ditch dynamic pricing for the American leg of their reunion tour, after it caused "an unacceptable experience" for UK fans. The system raises the price of concert tickets at times of high demand. When Oasis' UK dates went on sale, some fans were charged more than £350 for tickets with an initial face value of £150. The band faced significant backlash, and the UK's competition regulator launched an investigation into whether Ticketmaster breached consumer protection law.

In a statement announcing dates in the US, Canada and Mexico, the group's managers said they wanted to "avoid a repeat of the issues" faced by fans in the UK and Ireland. "It is widely accepted that dynamic pricing remains a useful tool to combat ticket touting and keep prices for a significant proportion of fans lower than the market rate an

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30 September 2024

UK - Disguise, in collaboration with Bluman Associates and the European chapter of frame:work has announced Be Seen. Be Heard, a half-day event dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the creative video and live events industries. The event will take place on 9 October at Bluman Associates, London.

Be Seen. Be Heard aims to be a catalyst for change, empowering individuals from all backgrounds to be offered the opportunity to be part of and thrive in the creative community.

The speaker line-up includes diverse industry voices including Disguise founder Ash Nehru, Production Futures CEO Hannah Eakins, Petok Productions founder Pembe Tokluhan, The Fifth Estate creative director Sarah Rushton-Read, FRAY Studio creative technologist Kira O'Brien, Bluman Associates owner Pod Bluman, frame:work director Sarah Cox, Disguise he

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24 September 2024

Canada - CAST Group of Companies reports that it has been certified by Great Place To Work. The award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at CAST. This year, 85% of employees said it’s a great place to work.

"Great Place To Work certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the vice-president of global recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasises that certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that CAST stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees."

“We are thrilled to become Great Pl

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24 September 2024

Kylie’s Back - Kylie Minogue has announced her biggest world tour in more than a decade, and a sequel to her comeback album Tension. The 13 tracks on Tension II will be released on 18 October, with the global tour kicking off in her home country Australia in February, before swinging through Asia and the UK.

In a statement, the singer said she is "beyond excited" to be "celebrating the Tension era and more" with fans. "There will be a whole lot of Padaming," she said, a reference to her viral, Grammy-winning 2023 single Padam Padam. 20 dates have been announced so far, but Minogue said more are coming.

Viva La Vida - Coldplay have confirmed they will play two concerts in Hull before heading to Wembley in August next year. The band will appear at Craven Park on 18 and 19 August before performing s

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18 September 2024

UK - Backup Tech has announced the latest Backup Ambassadors. Backup trustee, Koy Neminathan, has overseen the ambassador programme and is delighted to introduce Chris West, Lee House, Luke Edwards, Paul Jones and Amber Etra.

Ambassadors spread the word about what Backup does to the wider industry, encouraging companies to become Backup partners and helping individuals raise money for Backup through fundraising initiatives. Ambassadors also attend live activities, meetings and events, including the annual Backup Village Fete.

It is a great way to get involved with the charity and help get others involved, too. Chris, Lee, Luke and Amber explain why they decided to get involved with Backup and what they hope to achieve for the charity.

Chris West runs West Training Services and decided to become an ambassador to help ensure the future of the c

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17 September 2024

Off The Campaign Trail - Former US President Donald Trump has been found liable to pay damages to singer and songwriter Eddy Grant for using his song Electric Avenue without permission. It has taken Grant more than four years to sue the Republican candidate in this year’s presidential election in the US courts, over his 2020 campaign video that used a 40-second clip of the song.

The video was viewed 13.7m times before Twitter, now known as X, took it down. A federal judge in Manhattan ruled Mr Trump breached Mr Grant's copyright for his 1983 hit and is now liable for damages as well as paying for the singer's legal fees.

Grant's battle with the former President began in August 2020, when he was seeking re-election to the White House. On Friday, Judge John G. Koeltl rejected arguments from Mr Trump’s lawyers that the Twitter video was shi

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12 September 2024

UK - Sony has released new research into employers’ approach to sustainability in the media and entertainment industry in Europe. Titled Means & Mindset: The state of sustainability in the media industry, the report sheds light on how seriously the industry is taking steps to become more environmentally conscious.

The research, which was conducted using Sony’s own European contact database, was aimed at presenting a realistic view of the industry’s sustainability credentials, which included both positive changes already made, but also the barriers to further, more significant change.

The encouraging news is the research found that while only 40% of businesses cared about being seen as more sustainable, nearly three-quarters of businesses (73%) have implemented operational changes to reduce their environmental impact. The most actio

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10 September 2024

Dynamic Pricing - The UK competition regulator has launched an investigation into the sale of Oasis tickets, including the use of "dynamic pricing". The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether ticket-selling platform Ticketmaster breached consumer protection law. Dynamic pricing meant that, on Ticketmaster, where tickets to the reunion tour were originally sold, prices rose in line with demand.

The investigation will examine whether: Ticketmaster engaged in unfair commercial practices; buyers were given clear information to explain that the tickets could be subject to price rises; people were put under pressure to buy tickets within a short period of time. The CMA's probe follows widespread criticism of dynamic pricing over the past week from Oasis fans.

Many said they ended up paying significantly more than they expected for

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03 September 2024

UK - The winners of the 2024 PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced last night at PLASA Show, currently running at Olympia London. The awards, run in association with LSi, are respected industry-wide for celebrating future-focussed technology that improves safety, efficiency and performance through new methods and materials.

44 products were entered this year, with the judges ultimately awarding eight products. And, for the first time in a number of years, the judges were delighted to also award the sustainability award. This year’s judging team comprised 13 independent technical specialists from a wide array of backgrounds, chaired once again by chartered engineer and LSi columnist, James Eade.

The winning products and judges’ comments are listed below:
Glensound for GTM Mobile  
The judges felt that this f

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03 September 2024

On The Campaign Trail - ABBA have complained after their hits like The Winner Takes it All were played at one of Donald Trump's presidential campaign rallies. The group's songs and videos, also including Money, Money, Money and Dancing Queen, were also played at the event in Minnesota in July, according to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

In a statement to the Reuters news agency, the band's record label Universal Music said: "Together with the members of ABBA, we have discovered that videos have been released where Abba's music has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately removed and taken down." The label said no permission or licence had been granted to Mr Trump's campaign.

ABBA are the latest in a long list of artists or their estates who have objected to Mr Tr

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29 August 2024

UK - Production Light & Sound, a provider of production equipment hire in the live events industry, has announced that it has become the leading supplier in the North of England for Green Voltage's sustainable power solutions.

From its headquarters in Leeds in Yorkshire, the company is taking a significant step forward in providing environmentally conscious power alternatives for events of all sizes.

Its recently expanded offering includes a range of portable battery power systems with solar panels, making it easy to support clients seeking clean, silent and sustainable power sources for events, live broadcasts, film productions and festivals.

Sarah Buckmaster, company director and technical manager at Production Light & Sound, said: “Our commitment to reducing carbon footprint and embracing eco-friendly practices has led us to this

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28 August 2024

Europe - Riku Kauppinen, director of business development for MA Lighting, died on 16 August. He was 52 and had been battling cancer. MA Lighting paid tribute:

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Riku Mikael Kauppinen, who died peacefully on Friday, 16 August 2024, at the age of 52, after a courageous battle with cancer. Riku was surrounded by his family and friends at the time of his passing.

Riku was a highly respected and beloved figure in the lighting industry, known for his innovative approach, technical expertise, and unwavering passion for his work. Riku held a Master of Arts in Theatre and Drama with a specialisation in Lighting Design from the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. His education and early experiences shaped him into a leader who was not only skilled but deeply connected to the art a

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27 August 2024

Record-breaker - Taylor Swift finished the European leg of her Eras Tour with a record-breaking show at Wembley Stadium that was packed full of surprises. The star was joined on stage by Florence + The Machine and by Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff, rewarded fans with the premiere of a new music video, and gave the first live rendition of her song So Long, London.

It was Swift’s eighth concert at Wembley this summer - overtaking a record for any solo singer, which was set by Michael Jackson with his Bad tour in 1988. "You just made me the first solo artist to ever play Wembley eight times in a single tour," she told fans. "We will never, ever be able to thank you enough for it." The tour has criss-crossed Europe all summer, with the Wembley finale marking the 131st date of her two-year trek.

Brighton rocks - Brighton Hip

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22 August 2024

UK - Named in memory of renowned industry innovator and commentator Tony Gottelier, the Gottelier Award recognises sustained or significant contributions to product development in the entertainment technology industry.

Pre-registered PLASA Show attendees, PLASA members and LSi magazine readers are eligible to vote for the Gottelier Award. The recipient will be announced during the PLASA Awards for Innovation ceremony at PLASA Show on Monday 2 September.

The nominees for the 2024 Gottelier Award are:

Robin Elias, senior rigging consultant, Unusual Rigging

Robin Elias began his career in rock ‘n’ roll, touring with bands such as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Queen, and Genesis. Over 35 years ago, he sold his rigging company to Unusual Rigging, where he became technical director, delivering riggin

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20 August 2024

Fake News - Donald Trump appears to have falsely implied he has Taylor Swift's endorsement, posting fake images on social media of the singer and her fans supporting him. The Republican presidential candidate posted the message "I accept!" alongside the images, which were taken from other social media accounts. Many appear to have been created using artificial intelligence. The post sparked a backlash among Swift's fans who accused Trump of spreading misinformation. The singer has not endorsed a candidate in the 2024 election but backed the Democrats in 2020 and criticised Trump while he was president.

Giving Back - An East Sussex music festival is helping people through the cost-of-living crisis by launching a 'pay what you can afford' scheme. Boundary Brighton said the scheme comes "as a ‘thank you’ for seven years of support and in re

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16 August 2024

UK - In another creative bid to engage young people with the production industries, Production Futures recently staged a brand activation at Bludfest, which took place at Milton Keynes Bowl on 11 August. The lineup, curated by singer-songwriter, Yungblud, attracted a diverse range of fans, including many young people for whom the Production Futures pop-up provided insights into possible careers in the production sector.

The Production Futures stand was located in the fan-zone entrance, and as well as providing information about the organisation’s upcoming On Tour shows, ran a series of popular competitions designed to attract the interest of young people with limited knowledge of the wide range of opportunities in the sector.

Representatives from some of Production Futures’ brand partners not only helped construct the stand but also made themselv

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15 August 2024

UK - The Showman’s Show, Qdos Event Hire, and the National Outdoor Event Association (NOEA) have partnered to launch the Event 100 Club. The collaboration, borne out of the combined ages of the organisations, as they each celebrate significant anniversaries, will see the launch of an experiential events exhibition at The Showman’s Show this autumn, and the creation of a networking club for industry professionals.

This year NOEA, The Showman’s Show, and Qdos will celebrate their 45th, 40th, and 15th anniversaries respectively, and will work “to bring their collective experience together, in a physical form, where the industry can meet, network and use as an influencer space.”

Over the course of the event, NOEA and Qdos will be using the space to host senior business and governmental stakeholders to better understand the industry, its challen

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06 August 2024

Postponed - Venues around the country have reported postponed shows and damage to property following violent riots. Sunderland Empire was forced to postpone two nights of performances following riots in the city, which also saw nearby venue the Fire Station report damage to its premises.

Elsewhere, a children’s dance performance at the Regent Theatre in Stock-on-Trent was cancelled, after the ATG-owned venue went into lockdown because of nearby violence and Theatre Royal Plymouth cancelled a performance of The Devil Wears Prada musical on 5 August.

Fringe Matters - Edinburgh city centre was affected by a widespread power outage that wreaked havoc on the first day of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The outage caused disruption at several venues, including Pleasance Dome, Gilded Balloon Patter House, Assembly George Square St

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02 August 2024

UK - For one glorious day, on 11 July, the industry came together at the Backup Village Fete to raise much needed funds for supporting those working in the industry when they need it most. This year’s event smashed all expectations, raising a record-breaking £56,300 on the day. Even the weather could not resist a day out, as un-forecast sunshine made a welcome appearance for the duration of the event. “The Parish of Backup has its own micro-climate,” suggests chair of Backup and Mayor of the Parish Fete, Lee Dennison.

The Backup Village Fete is the natural evolution of KartFest into a more inclusive and engaging day out for the industry. Ten years after the first racing helmet was donned, straw hats are now a key item of apparel.

Since the event’s inception, the charity has benefitted from extraordinary donations and the industry has enjoyed

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31 July 2024

USA - TAIT Group companies productionglue and Thinkwell will now be operating within a singular TAIT brand identity.

“TAIT has always pushed the boundaries of storytelling. With the creative and producing capabilities of Thinkwell and productionglue, we are offering an unmatched depth and breadth of skill to our partners,” said Adam Davis, chief executive officer, TAIT. “We bring a legacy of innovation and a desire to solve impossible problems. Solidifying this singular brand represents a fusion of creativity and technology, which provides unparalleled possibilities for our partners.”

“Our new brand identity is a reflection of the deep expertise and strength of our unified TAIT organisation, consisting of the most exceptionally skilled professionals in the business,” said Jennifer Kurland, chief brand officer, TAIT. “Representing TAIT a

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30 July 2024

UK - John Simpson was a force to be reckoned with, a passionate collaborator and true pioneer of the theatre industry. Chair of Backup from 2016 to 2022, John improved the lives of many through his hard work and tireless dedication to the theatrical industry.

The Backup trustees are gratefully announcing that this dedication has continued after his death with a generous legacy bequeathed to Backup. Through this gift, John has enabled Backup to move forward confidently into 2025 and beyond, safe in the knowledge that technicians in need will continue be able to count on their support. John’s generosity will also enable more training to take place, furthering the reach of Backup’s support network and bettering the lives of even more people throughout the industry and beyond.

John worked tirelessly for over 50 years in theatre. His interest was form