"Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound 2012 have further strengthened their position. Both, visitors and exhibitors highly appreciated and rated Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound and are in confident mood for orders and business", said Detlef Braun, member of the executive board Messe Frankfurt.
Blowin' In The Wind - Bob Dylan, Peter Gabrieland Suede are the headline acts for Vince Power's Hop Farm Music Festival 2012. The festival will have four music stages this year including a comedy stage, Camp Acoustic stage and Buskers Boulevard as well as "more new, exciting additions to be announced in due course". The three-day independent festival will take place on Friday 29, Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July in Paddock Wood, Kent.
The Hop Farm Music Festival, which last year saw Prince take to the stage along with Morrissey and The Eagles, will once again have no VIP area so that all festival goers enjoy the same experience. Vince Power said, "I am really happy to announce the line-up for Hop Farm 2012. After last year's success it's my opinion that Hop Farm is now well and truly on the UK festival map. Furthermore, we have tried to make it the best value festival ticket by having no hidden charges or added extras."
Bestival 2012 - Stevie Wonder has been named as the Sunday night headliner for Bestival on the Isle of Wight. The soul legend, who had his first UK hit in 1966, will appear at the Isle of Wight festival on Sunday 9 September. Bestival organiser Rob da Bank said, "A winner of 25 Grammy Awards, the most ever for a solo artist, this is a very rare chance to see a legend in action." Other acts already announced to play at the annual festival include New Order, The xx and Rizzle Kicks.
Festival Finances - Figures from the music industry indicate that earnings from Scotland's music festivals have almost trebled in the past six years. PRS for Music, which represents writers and publishers, said live performances have become an important driver for Scotland's tourism industry. The figure of 185% earnings growth is almost four times higher than that for the UK as a whole.
The fastest growth was reported in smaller 'boutique' events. Will Page, chief economist at PRS for Music, said, "What you're seeing is that big festivals like T in the Park are as big as they can be. Boutique festivals are cropping up everywhere - Knockengorroch in the southwest of Scotland, for example - and that's actually driving this growth."
Hello Dolly - Dolly Parton's stage version of her hit film 9 To 5 is to open in the UK, the singer and actress has confirmed. The musical, which ran on Broadway in 2009, will open in Manchester in October before a UK tour, Parton said. Parton starred in the 1980 film comedy alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and has written the music and lyrics for the stage adaptation. Manchester has been chosen for the premieres of shows including Ghost and Monkee Business as part of a scheme by the Ambassadors Theatre Group to make it a test bed for new musicals.
Independents' Day - Following the success of their inaugural awards, the Association of Independent Music (AIM) has confirmed that the AIM Independent Music Awards will return once again in 2012. Doubling in size to 650 guests "in direct response to the overwhelming interest in 2011's event", moving from 2011's venue Floridita, the AIM Awards will be held on 29 October at its new venue, The Brewery on Chiswell Street.
Chairman and CEO of AIM, Alison Wenham commented, "The first AIM Awards (2011) was a fantastic event for the artists and companies whose hard work was finally recognised by their peers. We hop
