This week has been a momentous one for Music Week, as we marked the 60th anniversary of the world's greatest music industry magazine with a special edition covering six decades.
Dozens of big names from the industry – including UMG’s Sir Lucian Grainge, Sony Music’s Rob Stringer and Warner Music Group’s Max Lousada - picked their favourite career moments for our special issue.
Here, we put the spotlight on the live business, as some of the sector's biggest names look back at their personal highlights.
“Music Week have always been incredibly supportive of our shows, and we’re beyond grateful for that. From our sell out events to industry news, you’re always at the forefront. Music Week were one of the first to support and cover ReBalance, and continue to do so. The Sept 2018 issue was incredible and really reflected the strength of the live industry and our year ahead, who knew it was going to be our most successful yet. Poor Paul Harries having to follow me around [the Reading Festival] site with his camera, sorry Paul! Thank you to all the team, here’s to the next 60 years.”
MELVIN BENN, FESTIVAL REPUBLIC
"My favourite issue is 18/06/2018, where we celebrated (our first) 50th anniversary of the Isle Of Wight Festival. We were told a festival on an island you can only get to by boat would never work. Music Week is the bible of the music business. Everything that you need to know is in there and I am really pleased that in the last few years they have recognised what promoters, agents and festivals contribute. With the decline in record sales, the live forum has become much more important to an artist's career, with it keeping them alive financially."
JOHN GIDDINGS, ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL/SOLO AGENCY
“First of all, congratulations on getting to your 60th anniversary. It seems to be in these days of ever-rapid information networks, that Music Week has reinvented itself to be a completely valid and on-message industry publication. I’ve had many stories in Music Week centred around my clients and my company, but for me the absolute highlight was being awarded a Strat in 2015. Joining such a rarefied group of industry icons was frankly quite unnerving, but hey, wonderful! Strat [Tony Stratton-Smith, after whom the award was named] was a legend in his lifetime, and a great friend. After he died, I ended up owning a piece of one of his racehorses, but that’s a story for another time! Congratulations Music Week, never go away.”
NEIL WARNOCK, UTA
“I have a very personal reason to be grateful for Music Week. It was a total surprise but also a great honour to be awarded Businesswoman Of The Year at the Women In Music Awards in 2018. To be bracketed with such an impressive group of women by a publication such as Music Week was especially thrilling. The publication’s insight into a myriad of aspects of the music business provides an incredible point of reference for those of us in the industry. It both educates and entertains. The fact that Music Week is about to celebrate its 60th birthday speaks volumes. Long may it thrive!”
JOYCE SMYTH, GLASTRY
“My favourite moment was when comedian Seann Walsh was just starting out (he is quite a big star now). He was compering the Music Week Awards [in 2014] and he was dying on his arse. He then had to present me an award and I said, ‘The late great comedian Lenny Bruce ended his career slumped over a toilet seat overdosing on heroin. I think that’s how you are going to start yours!’ That got the first laugh of the night.”
ALEX HARDEE, PARADIGM
“My greatest memory of Music Week is seeing me on the front cover! I was sharing the spoils with Matt from Bullet For My Valentine, Josh from You Me At Six, Justine from Employed To Serve, Becca from Marmozets and most importantly the Download Dog! Seeing my face jumping out from newstands, was the day I felt I had properly arrived!”
ANDY COPPING, LIVE NATION
Check out more magic memories here.
