Features
‘Everything Music’ Since 1994: Gadget Turns 30
It all began 30 years ago in the storage room of a painting shop as an agency for artists. Founded in 1994, Swiss live entertainment company Gadget – fully known today as Gadget abc Entertainment Group AG – is celebrating its 30th birthday May through September, with a range of formats that will “cover the entire spectrum of the Gadget universe,” showing the “progress and development made over the last 30 years.”
Gadget operates a 360-degree business model unique to the Swiss market. As Christof Huber, Gadget’s partner and director, festivals & events told Pollstar, “We operate as a concert, show and festival promoter, but we also serve as a management company representing some of Switzerland’s most important artists. Furthermore, we are actively engaged in brand activations for our events and talents.”
We spoke with Huber last November, when he and the other four Gadget partners – Stefan Wyss, Cyrill Stadler, Eric Kramer, and Oliver Rosa – were nominated for Pollstar’s and VenuesNow’s 2023 Impact International honors.
Impact International UK/Euro: Gadget abc Entertainment
Gadget brings some 500 shows to life annually, owns six festivals, and represents a host of acts – all of which helps attract some 600,000 visitors to unforgettable live experiences each year, and launch the careers of emerging artists by supporting them throughout the circuit.
When Gadget was founded in 1994, when the day-to-day business was communicated through letters, faxes, and landline telephones. Even back then, artist management
and booking were the backbone of the fledgling company. Subzonic, and
Lovebugs are two examples of artists, who helped Gadget shape the Swiss music scene.
From 2005, in addition to an in-house label, and publishing business, Gadget added live entertainment, and entertainment marketing divisions. In 2018, Gadget and Rozbero Management, founded by Oliver Rosa, merged into Gadget Entertainment AG.
In 2020, after already collaborating successfully for years, Gadget joined forces with WePromote, the promoter network established in 2015 that has been responsible for some of Switzerland’s most beloved festivals, including OpenAir St.Gallen. CTS Eventim bought a 60% stake in this newly formed business, and brought André Béchir’s abc Productions into the mix, forming the full-service agency Gadget abc Entertainment Group AG, as it is known today.
See: CTS Eventim Acquires Majority Stake In Newly Formed Swiss Live Entertainment Company
Gadget’s 30th anniversary celebration, which will last through September, offers fans the chance to win live experiences not available for purchase – “from exciting behind the scenes glimpses of festivals to an exclusive drinks reception over the rooftops of Zurich during Unique Moments at the Landesmuseum right through to a visit to a Gadget artist and an invitation to Taylor Swift’s sold-out concerts at the Letzigrund Stadium,” according to the press release.
The highlight, however, has to be the “Everything Music Pass,” granting access to all Gadget shows and festivals for a whole year.”
Celebrations come to a close in September, with a birthday party attended by employees, trailblazers, artists, and friends.
And, to mark the anniversary, the official name of the company will be changed
to Gadget Entertainment Group AG, effective July 1, complemented by the slogan “Everything Music”.