Beatbox Drums Up More Business

After only two years back in business as a promoter, Mads Sorensen is beginning to build Beatbox Booking & Concerts a little closer to the level where it would present a challenge to Denmark’s majors.

The fact he only had a year away – honouring a non-compete clause in his Live Nation–DKB Motor contract – and has longstanding strong relations with a number of London agents obviously helped. But more emerging U.K. and U.S. names are beginning to show up on Beatbox ads and posters.

Sorenson began 2005 saying he had no intention of trying to do the 30 or so shows per month he was doing at DKB, preferring to keep it down to about a half-dozen and sticking with the acts he most believes in.

That clearly leaves him a long way short of competing with his former employer in terms of either volume or size of shows, but he still had Massive Attack, Radiohead, Snow Patrol, Panic! At The Disco, John Legend, Kaizers Orchestra, and Lily Allen among the acts he promoted in 2006.

This year’s diary already has sold out shows for Scissor Sisters, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Bloc Party, Damien Rice, Nine Inch Nails, Vaya Con Dios, and Arcade Fire, whose March 25th show in Copenhagen has already been upgraded from the 1,450-capacity Vega to a 3,000 capacity.

Even with the acts coming along later including Arctic Monkeys, India.Arie, Little Barrie, The Long Blondes, AFI, Kristin Hersh, and Aiden, it doesn’t put the company’s international business near to that of ICO – Live Nation’s nearest market competitor. But it does look to be drawing up toward a closer third place.

ICO director Kim Worsoe, who has a June 23rd Justin Timberlake show at Parken Stadium among his sellouts, said the company has about 90 shows on sale for 2007 and is confirming more.

The U.S. acts ICO is promoting in Denmark include Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé, Gavin DeGraw, Macy Gray, Patti Smith, and Liza Minelli.

DKB-Motor, which has by far the biggest market share, has upcoming shows with Dolly Parton, Shakira, Dave Matthews solo, Bob Dylan, Lionel Richie, Amy Winehouse, Roger Waters, Ozzy Osbourne, Genesis, Elton John, Pearl Jam, Metallica and 15 shows with the ABBA-themed musical Mamma Mia!

Beatbox is also building a strong 2007 in the Danish market. Apart from Mads looking after big ETEP favorites Oh No Ono, partner Peter Sorenson – no relation, but another former DKB Motor employee – has Thomas Helmig breaking records by being the first Danish act to sell out four nights at Copenhagen’s 12,000-capacity KB Halle.

His new Helmig Herfra album has shifted more than 120,000 copies – four times platinum in Denmark. The upcoming national 20-date tour, which includes the four KB Halle shows, will see him play to 60,000 people.

The two shows at the 4,000-capacity SCC in his hometown of Århus sold out weeks ago.