Eventim’s Smart Operators

No matter who triumphs at this year’s German Live Entertainment Awards, the tour operator of the year gong will go to one of CTS Eventim’s subsidiaries.

The three companies on the shortlist – Dieter Semmelmann’s Semmel Concerts, Marek Lieberberg Konzertagentur and Peter Rieger Konzertagentur – are all part of the Medusa Group, which is co-owned by Klaus-Peter Schulenberg’s Bremen-based ticketing firm.

It may not be the only prize that goes to a Medusa Group promoter, as Rieger is also up for “best arena tour” for Pink. His competition comes from Roland Temme for his André Rieu tour, MCT (Rammstein) and Four Artists (Peter Fox).

Semmel Concerts is also on the shortlist for “best regional promoter,” while Lieberberg has chances of “best show” for “Dinosaurier – Im Reich der Giganten” and “best concert” for the U2 show he co-promoted with Wizard Promotions at Berlin Olympiastadion.

Ossy Hoppe’s Wizard gets two bites at that cherry, as its Kings Of Leon gig at Berlin O2 World is also nominated for best concert.

Scumeck Sabottka’s MCT is also in with a chance of best concert for Pearl Jam in the Berlin Wuhlheide. Another nomination in the same category is Johannes Wessels’ Music Pool for Grace Jones in Berlin Tempodrom, although he’s since wrapped the company and moved on to set up a new Live Nation office in Germany.

Stefan Lehmkuhl’s Melt! GmbH is another company with two chances of landing an award. The Melt Festival it runs on the Ferropolis site at Gremminger is up for “best festival” and the run of shows the company produced for Bonaparte has been nominated for “best club tour.”

The winners of all 15 LEAs were to be announced at O2 World Hamburg (formerly Colorline Arena) April 15.