BDV Bullish About Germany

The German events market has bounced back from the lull of 2012 and last year’s turnover may be as much as euro 500 million ($683 million), according to the annual survey published by the concert promoters association and Musikmarkt magazine.

Photo: AP Photo / Markus Schreiber

Central Berlin Jan. 27.

According to information gathered by consumer research association GfK and commissioned by the BDV and the weekly music trade paper, industry turnover in 2013 may be up 15 percent to euro 3.82 billion ($5.22 billion).

The survey shows the increased turnover was driven by a 9 percent increase in the number of people attending events, with 32.9 million of them.

The average ticket price rose from euro 30.20 ($41.27) to euro 31.70 ($43.32).

Although the results are published by their own major association, last year some German promoters said the figures – which showed sales dropped by 16 percent in 2012 – didn’t reflect their own experiences of the 12-month period.

BDV chief Jens Michow admitted, “German promoters haven’t even felt any back draw,” although he voiced concerns about the steady decline in the number of people attending events.

“The truly gratifying result of the 2013 events year consists above all in the fact that spectators who refrained from attending events in recent years were able to be won over again,” was Michow’s take on this year’s apparent turnaround.

“With the end of 2012, the events market in Germany put a difficult year behind it,” said Musikmarkt chief editor Stefan Zarges. “A return to growth has been confirmed for 2013: more turnover, more visitors, more tickets sold.”