Banks, Marshall, O2, Glasto: Meet The International Pollstar Award Winners

This year’s international winners include Glastonbury Festival (International Music Festival of the Year), The O2 London (International Venue of the Year), Barrie Marshall (International Promoter of the Year), Emma Banks (UK Booking Agent of the Year) and Stageco.

Barrie Marshall has been nominated for the International Promoter award more than 20 times, taking home six awards in total, including last year. The veteran promoter couldn’t pick up his award in person, as his trip to LA got delayed. “It was only as I was boarding the plane that I saw this news,” he said, adding: “I am very surprised – well, I could say stunned – to receive this amazing award again. It is a real honor, and something I sincerely treasure.

“Last year was exceptionally busy internationally. We certainly traveled the world, and enjoyed some wonderful events. We are privileged to work with superb artists – and I want to thank them and their managers for trusting us.

“Of course I thank my amazing teams at Marshall Arts who make it all happen. I’d very much like to pay tribute to all the incredible people who share the journeys with us on the road, and who work tirelessly for excellence. Sincere thanks to Pollstar for holding this annual event, bringing so many people together in music – which thankfully unites us all!”

Michael Guilbert – Pollstar Live! Awards 2018
Rod Essig picked up Emma Banks’ award for UK Booking Agent of the Year

CAA’s Emma Banks was crowned UK Booking Agent of the Year for a fifth consecutive year. “Wow,” she said, “I honestly didn’t expect to win this year and am absolutely thrilled to still be on everyone’s radar. It’s been an incredible year at CAA in London, the team have worked so hard and diligently to do great things for our clients.

“We are on a roll at the moment – our roster is stronger than ever with our wonderful clients making the most of a vibrant time in the live market. We are also working with the cream of new and developing artists who are undoubtedly the major headliners of years to come. I am eternally grateful to all of my colleagues at CAA and also to the artists, managers and their teams, who put their trust in me and CAA to do good work for them every day. I aim to deliver every day, nothing makes me happier than a happy artist.

Since Banks was unable to be at the ceremony in LA heself, her U.S. colleague Rod Essig picked up the award for her, praising her involvement in bringing country music to UK in the form of C2C in London. “I really cannot take credit for that apart from being someone that knew that by letting  Nigel Hassler and Jake Leighton-Pope loose in Nashville it was bound to reap rewards,” said Banks.

“They in turn have bought David Ball and Lizzie Holdforth into the CAA country music family and I am incredibly proud that they have done so much to get the genre noticed outside of the USA in a way that it hasn’t been up to now.

“Finally huge thanks to everyone that voted for me – the fact that you bothered means a lot to me and I don’t take it for granted.”

The O2 London won its 10th Pollstar Awards in 2018. The arena’s VP and general manager John Langford said: “We are incredibly thrilled to have won the Pollstar International Venue of the Year Award. 2017 was an especially important year as we celebrated our 10th birthday. Special thanks as ever to a brilliant team at AEG, the artists who played The O2 last year, the fans and our clients.”

Andrew Allcock – Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis picked up his 12th Pollstar Award for International Festival of the Year in 2018

Glastonbury Festival was crowned International Music Festival every year since the category was introduced in 2004, with the exceptions of 2006 and 2012, which makes the 2018 win the 12th trophy in Michael Eavis’ collection. The festival’s founder said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have won the Pollstar Best International Festival Award again this year. Over the last decade or more,  the support and recognition from Pollstar’s voting public has meant so much to us.”

Stageco founder and president Hedwig De Meyer told Pollstar: “It is always a great honour to be recognised for our work on concert tours and other live event productions. Even after more than 30 years in this business, it’s not only a huge thrill but also an indicator that we continue to do things right whilst helping our clients push the boundaries of show design. So we are very grateful to the readers of Pollstar for acknowledging Stageco once again as we look forward to yet another busy year on the road!”