Summit Slips From Peak

The organisers of Live UK’s The Summit reckon the delegate numbers were down about 9 percent to a little less than 250, largely because of the economic climate.

The annual gathering, now in its fifth year, has at least hung on to most of its core audience compared to other, larger conferences that have seen attendance fall by double-digit percentages.

The upside for The Summit was the trade fair that takes place in the lobby surrounding the conference rooms attracted more exhibition stands and more sponsor support.

Reports suggest the highlights of the conference sessions included a mock-up of a company board meeting, in which “directors” thrashed out music business issues. The director roles were played by Conservative MP for Hove Mike Weatherley, renowned concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith, Kilimanjaro Live chief Stuart Galbraith and Glastonbury Festival booker Martin Elbourne.

They chewed over the licensing act, secondary ticketing, Phonographic Performance Ltd.’s plans to jack up the cost of playing recorded music and the parliamentary progress of Lord Tim Clement-Jones’ Live Music Bill, which days later was confirmed to be heading for a second reading in the House of Lords.

Also high on the list was the regular “Masters Of The Universe” panel, an annual offering that brings London-based agents head to head.

This year’s universal masters were Rob Hallett (AEG), Paul Boswell (Free Trade), Jeff Craft (X-Ray Touring), Dave Chumbley (Primary Talent), and Geoff Meall (The Agency Group).

The Summit, which is organised by the publishers of Live UK and Audience magazines, was at London’s Radisson Blu Portman Hotel Oct. 5-6.

The Live Music Business Awards ceremony, which was added to the conference in 2010, was at the same venue on the second night.