LEAs Expect 1,300

The categories for this year’s German Live Entertainment Awards have been re-jigged so they can “consider the multifaceted industry even better.”

In order to include festival promoters, the category “tour organiser of the year” has been renamed “event organiser of the year.”

“Concert hall / arena tour of the year” has been split to give a better chance to tours using midsized locations with a capacity of 2,000 to 6,000.

These venues now have their own category, “concert hall tour,” while larger-scale tours will be covered by the category “arena tour of the year.”

“Youth promotion of the year” has been widened to “artist or youth promotion,” giving artists a chance of winning an LEA for their efforts.

The shortlists for four of the 14 LEA categories have been named. “Arena tour of the year” is between Depeche Mode (Marek Lieberberg), Robbie Williams (MCT), Eric Clapton (United Promoters), Die Toten Hosen (Kikis Kleiner Tourneeservice), and Bruno Mars (Neuland Concerts).

Best arena is between Frankfurt Festhalle, where the LEA presentations take place March 11, the Grugahalle in Essen, Dortmund Westfalenhallen and the Mitsubishi Electric Halle in Düsseldorf, formerly known as the Philipshalle.

The best festival category, which in the past has created controversy over the choice of winner, will be Rheingau Musik Festival, Olé Party Summer, Tollwood-Festival or Zeltfestival Ruhr.

Flic-Flac Exxtrem, Sascha Grammel, Serdar Somuncu, Swan Lake Reloaded and The Illusionists will battle for best show of the year.