Features
‘I Feel Honored To Be Part Of Our Industry’: Q’s With Michael Brill, CEO, D.Live
Michael Brill always seems to be in great spirits, whenever you meet or speak with him. Amidst all the calculating and strategizing a CEO running multiple venues in Germany’s most populous state needs to do in 2024, he still finds the time to simply enjoy, and be blown away, by what this industry has to offer.
D.Live will continue to contribute to this offering, and Brill talked about the various ways, in which his team intends to do so – including the opening of a 80,000-capacity open-air venue in Düsseldorf, as well as the launch of D.College, offering the country’s first Bachelor-degree in venue management.
Pollstar: How’s life, and how’s Business, Mr. Brill?
Michael Brill: With all the disruptions, challenges and terrible war around the globe, live music becomes more important to all of our lives than ever before, and I feel honored to be part of our industry. More than ever, we can make it possible to gather in safe and pulsating places, bring people together to find a moment of peace and excitement, and create special moments. Life is good, and business is, too, as I feel the strength and everlasting perspective of music and live entertainment.
How’s 2024 shaping up compared to 2023 from a company perspective?
2023 has impressively demonstrated just how great people’s desire for live events is! The horrific time of the pandemic brought many negative impulses that could well have led to a gloomy forecast for the future. However, everything turned out differently and the sales volume in our industry seems to have reached a new record high. The trend of increasing stadium and open-air shows is the main driver.
We are very satisfied with the booking situation in 2024. In the Merkur Spiel-Arena, we were able to present a record number of visitors in the summer this year. With a total of three outstanding shows by Coldplay attended by 48,000 fans each, the band set a record for the arena. It was the first time in the arena’s history that a band had played three shows in a row. The Mitsubishi Electric Halle and the PSD Bank Dome are also well booked this year. We also welcomed some new formats to our venues, such as the Final Four of the Baller League at the PSD Bank Dome, and Red Bull Gameball Royale at the CASTELLO Düsseldorf. From a booking perspective, 2024 is just as stable a year as 2023, if not with growth potential in all our venues.
What are the most important questions, a venue operator in Germany needs to ask himself or herself in 2024?
Many venues in Germany were opened in the 1990s and 2000s, and thus may no longer meet modern technical and safety standards. Operators must continually ask themselves how they can modernize infrastructure, and make it fit for the future in order to meet the growing expectations of talents, agents, promoters, and visitors. Visitors’ expectations of the customer journey have also changed significantly in recent years.
We constantly redefine this path, we are permanently modernizing our properties. Furthermore, the topic of sustainability is constantly becoming more important. Sustainability is a key issue that is demanded by artists, promoters, and visitors alike. Event venues need to ask themselves how they can make their events more environmentally friendly, for example through sustainable travel concepts, the use of resource-saving technology or the reduction of waste.
What are some recent and upcoming highlight at D.Live you’d like to mention?
The Clark Final Fight at the PSD Bank Dome, Sept. 14; Bryan Adams at the PSD Bank Dome, Oct. 5; the third edition of the MTV presents Music Week 2024, Nov. 6-10; Ed Sheeran with three record-breaking shows at Merkur Spiel-Arena, Sept. 5-7, 2025; the first shows at our 80,000-cap Open Air in 2025; innovative formats, such as the Icon League at CASTELLO.
Any changes, upgrades, additions, planned to your venues?
Preparations for the launch of the largest open-air venue in NRW with a capacity of 80,000 visitors, the D.Live Open Air Park, are in full swing; the new venue will finally fill a geographical gap for “super shows” and festivals. Furthermore, the increased capacity of the PSD Bank Dome will improve the revenue opportunities for promoters, and enhance the attractiveness of arena shows in NRW. We are developing additional VIP areas at the Mitsubishi Electric Halle. Through innovation, creativity and courage, we must consistently create new revenue potential for our promoters at the Düsseldorf venues.
Do you observe any broad changes in customer/audience behavior? The way they’re buying tickets, the type of tickets they’re buying?
At events that are considered “must-go”, such as concerts by top artists, there is a clear trend in customer behavior: Tickets are bought well in advance, often regardless of price. The focus is on exclusivity and the unique experience. In contrast, smaller events reflect a general trend towards short-term and non-committal behavior.
Any recent business developments that particularly surprised you?
The production of “Adele in Munich” has brought open-air shows to a completely new level. Everything from traffic concept, production, set-up, surrounding activities has been a preview to what can be delivered and achieved in our industry to introduce new levels of customer experience and show production.
Have the price increases across the value chain slowed down or even come to a halt? Can you calculate reliably again?
Although the price increase has stabilized in many areas, it remains at a consistently high level. These costs will not decrease short term but may adjust over a longer period. Companies are trying to mitigate the rise in costs through long-term contracts and strategic partnerships. However, these measures cannot completely halt the general rise in operating costs for venues. The rising costs for personnel and materials have penetrated deep into the value chain and have a lasting impact on calculations.
Aside from the Open Air Park, any other projects, D.Live is looking to get involved in?
We are continuing our road of “expansion” with some thrilling new endeavors: the launch of D.College, which will offer the first Bachelor-degree Curriculum for Venue Management featuring the Top Professionals of our industry in October 2025.
We are in the planning stages to take over two new venues, one at club-level, and an iconic conference center in 2025, and we will expand our “Local Promoter” Services in order to offer 360 degree support for all of our clients
Anything you’d like to add?
There is no better place to be but in our booming industry!