Jury’s Out On Sarkozy

Although students are rioting in protest and police are arresting them in dozens, most people involved in the French live music business have an open mind about right-wing leader Nicholas Sarkozy being elected president.

"France is pretty calm. Don’t worry," Paris-based promoter Gérard Drouot told Pollstar. "I am hearing that there is still more trouble, and more dead people, in Iraq or Afghanistan every day."

Drouot said he doesn’t see that the French music scene will be any different under the new president than it was under Chirac, Mitterrand or any others, apart from the fact there may be more money around.

"I expect the economy to be better in the next five years and then it should be a good thing for the music industry, as well as for other commercial activities."

Despite police clashing with left-wing protesters on a nightly basis, arresting more than 100 on Boulevard St. Michel in the Latin quarter of Paris May 9, some feel "France needs a kick in the butt."

Laurent Maret of transport company Showtrain, which has bussed acts from The Spice Girls and UB40 to Johnny Halliday and Charles Aznavour, is one of them.

He feels Sarkozy and his future government should be given a bit of time to see if he’s "truly dangerous" or "better and more efficient than the previous team."

"He had some support from various French artists and not just Johnny Halliday but, interestingly enough, from people and artists representing the suburbs youth," Maret said. "He knows that and he better do what he’s promised if he wants to stay popular."

Patrick Jammes, head of the IntoXygene record and publishing companies, doesn’t think the changes will go smoothly and said Sarkozy’s economic reforms may be detrimental to the music business.

"It’s a bit like the time when the U.K. experienced Margaret Thatcher in the ’80s but it’s too early to say how far this will go," Jammes said. "Regarding the live music business, I think the show will go on – although funds usually granted by the state will likely be reduced."

Jammes isn’t the only one to make the Thatcher comparison. The U.K.’s Sunday Times has dubbed him "Monsieur Maggie," but pointed out that the French stock exchange might derive as much benefit from his premiership as the London Stock Exchange did from Thatcher’s.

Sarkozy took a lot of flak from the left in September when he enlisted a dreadlocked rapper to help with his election campaign.

He was criticized by political rivals and the unions because Doc Gynéco’s lyrics were considered to be sexist, racist and advocate violence against the police.

Sarkozy thought him to be a good ally because he could repair his reputation on the housing estates, particularly as Gynéco had changed his tune – or at least his lyrics.

From writing material that celebrated drugs, dead policemen and gang rape, he’d switched to saying the immigrant rioters are clowns who should break their dependence on welfare payments. Sarkozy also has some tough measures for dealing with violence and illegal immigration.

Deploring the way French politicians are fond of boasting about the support of so-called trendy personalities (known as "le people"), the left-wing Liberation paper said, "At the rate we are going, we will soon be able to do without politicians and vote directly for celebrities."

Paris Bercy events and development manager Philippe Ventadour said Sarkozy had the best campaign because he promised everything and people believed him.

"Now he has to confirm all this and, if he does, France will certainly be totally renovated, Ventadour said. "As he proclaims liberalism, it seems it will be good for the live music business.

"We need three months to see if the election of the parliament in June will give him the majority he needs to govern as he wants, and then to watch how his opponents will react to the reforms."

So far his opponents have gathered in the streets shouting slogans like "Sarko fascist! The people will have your hide!" and "Police everywhere, justice nowhere!"

"It hasn’t been that bad in the streets since the election, and the situation is being exaggerated by the press," said Alain Lahana of Le Rat des Villes, who is manager of guitarist Rachid Taha and has promoted acts including David Bowie, Ron Sexsmith, Phil Collins and R.E.M.

"Of course, it’s hard to understand that the man who’s now elected president is the same one who sent the police in the suburbs when he was minister of interior.

"What he said in his election speech is interesting. If he only does 15 percent of what he’s promised, everybody will be surprised and impressed."