Belgium’s largest indoor concert venue, the Sportpaleis, is being renamed as part of a new partnership.

From 1 September, the 23,001-cap Antwerp arena will be known as AFAS Dome after linking up with AFAS Software.

The new name was chosen following a public call for suggestions, which saw almost 4,000 entries submitted – hundreds of which featured the word “Dome”.

“Our venue is at a historic turning point,” says Jan Van Esbroeck, MD of be•at (formerly Sportpaleis Group). “The large-scale infrastructure works resulting from the Oosterweel connection not only allow us to move forward with full force but also to usher in a new era.”

According to the team, the new name reflects the “grandeur” of the venue and also symbolises the future.

“We are taking this iconic venue to the next level, with respect for its rich history and an eye on the future”

“We are taking this iconic venue to the next level, with respect for its rich history and an eye on the future,” continues Van Esbroeck. “The name AFAS Dome reflects that ambition and underscores our pride as the country’s leading event venue.”

The naming rights deal will also enable venue improvements including the launch of premium suite the AFAS VIP area, as well as other innovative technologies and enhanced facilities. AFAS has also sponsored the 6,000-cap AFS Live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, since 2016.

“At AFAS Software, we believe in innovation and experience,” says Machiel den Dekker, CEO of AFAS Software in Belgium. “That is precisely why we have entered into this partnership: to take an iconic venue to an even higher level. With AFAS Dome, we want to contribute to a future where technology and entertainment go hand in hand, ensuring visitors enjoy an unforgettable experience time and again.”

AFAS Dome will host Lady Gaga’s The Mayhem Ball Tour this November, and will also welcome acts such as Ghost, Tyler, the Creator, Tate McRae, Duran Duran, Dua Lipa, Pitbull, Lionel Richie, Kylie Minogue and Katy Perry in the coming months.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Sixteen years after their last performance together, the original members of popular Flemish girl group K3 have announced a series of concerts.

K3 was created in the late 1990s as a Flemish response to the UK’s Spice Girls and quickly became a household name in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The group’s breakthrough came in 1999 when they took part in the pre-selections for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999 with ‘Heyah Mama’, which went on to dominate the charts. Over the years, K3 saw multiple lineup changes, but the original trio – Kathleen Aerts, Kristel Verbeke and Karen Damen – remains the most iconic.

Ticket sales for the trio’s reunion concerts began on Monday (24 March), attracting tens of thousands of fans to the queue and temporarily overloading ticketing sites.

Initially, five concerts were planned for Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium, and four for Rotterdam Ahoy, in the Netherlands.

“What happened today, I would never have dared to dream”

Due to “enormous demand,” the former venue is now scheduled to host 14 nights in October, and the latter will host eight next April. In just six hours, a record-breaking 300,000 tickets were sold out.

Karen Damen comments: “I am completely overwhelmed. So many years later, we still feel that warm wave of love from the audience. This feels like coming home, and I can’t wait to share that feeling on stage.”

“What happened today, I would never have dared to dream,” Kathleen Aerts adds. “I am so looking forward to that first note, that first applause… What an adventure this is going to be!”

Kristel Verbeke says: “The reactions today really gave me goosebumps. We were asked ‘When are you going to do a reunion again?’ so often. The fact that we can experience this again now, the three of us, feels like we can give something back to our fans who have continued to follow and support us all these years.”

K3 is the latest successful reunion after comebacks from groups such as Oasis, S Club, Girls Aloud, N’Dubz, McFly, Sugababes and Busted. IQ looked back at the live industry’s most successful reunions to date.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Belgium’s Gracia Live is launching a new outdoor concert series in the heart of the country’s capital city.

The Antwerp-based independent promoter will debut Brussels Palace Open Air this summer at the King’s Palace Square in Brussels city centre.

The inaugural edition will feature Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, who will perform on 30 June as part of their Love Earth World Tour, with electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre then set to headline on 1 July.

“We’re very excited to launch this new outdoor site,” Gracia Live promoter Sam Perl tells IQ. “The idea is to have headline acts play every night supported by two other artists. For this first year, we wanted to limit it to two nights and we’re tremendously proud and honoured to have Neil Young and Jean-Michel Jarre as our first year headliners.

“It was very difficult to get the site. As you can imagine, the king likes his privacy and we’re playing in front of his palace!”

“It was very difficult to get the site. As you can imagine, the king likes his privacy and we’re playing in front of his palace! We hope that this is the start of something new, and agents can always reach me at all time – I’ll be looking for acts.”

Perl says Gracia Live is on course for its biggest year to date and is projecting 350,000 visitors for the Mundo Pixar Experience, which launches this month at Brussels Expo. The immersive exhibition has also pulled in 600,000 visitors in Madrid, Spain, and 350,000 in Barcelona.

The firm’s 2025 slate includes shows by the likes of Toto, Neil Young, Damiano David, John Fogerty, Jamiroquai, Andrea Bocelli, Duran Duran , Morrissey Will Smith, J Balvin, Jean-Michel Jarre and Disney On Ice, with others still to be announced.

“We have lots of exciting things happening,” adds Perl, who hinted another outdoor event was also in the offing for later in the summer.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Belgian festival Tomorrowland sold 200,000 tickets in a record 18 minutes during its presale for Belgian visitors, beating last year’s 27-minute sellout.

The final batch of tickets for the electronic music extravaganza were snapped up in a matter of hours during last weekend’s global pre-sale.

Tomorrowland 2025 will welcome 400,000 ticket holders across two weekends to Boom, in the province of Antwerp, from 18–20 and 25–27 July.

The 2025 instalment will feature artists such as David Guetta, Charlotte De Witte, Armin Van Buuren, Martin Garrix, Netsky, and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.

Before heading to Boom, Tomorrowland will stop in Colombia for CORE Medellín in February, then in France for Tomorrowland Winter in Alpe d’Huez in March.

Tomorrowland isn’t the only festival that has reported sellout success for 2025; Wacken Open Air, Primavera Sound, Greenfield Fest and Electric Picnic have also seen tickets fly off the shelf.

Tickets for the 2025 edition of Electric Picnic, Ireland’s biggest music festival, sold out more than a year in advance without a single act being announced.

Green Man, the largest festival in Wales, sold out in a record 60 minutes and without a single act announced

General admission tickets, priced €290, were snapped up within hours. The Festival Republic-promoted festival also operates a loyalty scheme, offering discounted passes for previous attendees.

Electric Picnic will be held at Stradbally Hall in Stradbally, County Laois, from 29-31 August next year, reverting to its traditional late summer date.

Similarly, Green Man, the largest festival in Wales, sold out in a record 60 minutes and without a single act announced. Organisers say the 25,000-capacity, independently owned event is the first UK festival to sell out for 2025.

The festival is set to return to the Black Mountains in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in Wales from the 14–17 August with a programme that spans music, comedy, literature, film, performance and installation art, wellness and science.

Elsewhere, the 2025 edition of German heavy metal festival Wacken Open Air (WOA) sold out nine months in advance. The majority of the 85,000 tickets were snapped up days after the 4 August 2024 pre-sale, with the remainder shifted by 30 September.

The 34th edition will return to Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, between 30 July to 2 August 2025, with acts including Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Papa Roach, Gojira, Apocalyptica and more.

Primavera Sound Barcelona also enjoyed sellout success, having shifted all tickets to its 23rd edition five months in advance of the event.

All full festival passes and day tickets were snapped up within 67 days of going on sale for the 75,000-cap festival at Parc Del Fòrum.

Organisers believe the feat offers an endorsement of the 2025 bill, which is headlined by Charli XCX & Troye Sivan, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan from 5-7 June.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

FKP Scorpio Belgium has cancelled its Antwerp-based festival Live is Live for 2025.

“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce that Live is Live will not take place this year,” organisers said in a press release.

“Over the past three years, we have built a festival that has acquired a permanent place in the rich Belgian festival calendar. After careful consideration, we have decided that we cannot fully meet our own high standards this year.

“Despite the tireless efforts of our team and the desire to create something special, we cannot offer a programme this year that fully reflects the vision of Live is Live. That is why we choose to skip an edition. This is not a farewell, until 2026.”

Live is Live launched in the summer of 2022 as a three-day affair on the beach of Zeebrugge, Bruges, and has since undergone many changes.

For its second edition, Live is Live moved to Park Middenvijver in Antwerp in a condensed format as organisers “were able to offer a strong programme for only two days”.

“We cannot offer a programme this year that fully reflects the vision of Live is Live”

This year, the festival returned to Park Middenvijver with a three-day format, headlined by The National, The Smashing Pumpkins and Paulo Nutini.

Other acts that have performed at the festival include Gossip, Interpol, Sheryl Crow, Ben Howard, Passenger and Mogwai.

Despite the absence of the festival, Park Middenvijver will still host live music this summer with singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran becoming the first artist to perform a solo show.

Live is Live is the largest and best-known Belgian festival to be cancelled in 2025 after a number of smaller events were axed.

Rock Ternat, a two-day festival that was launched in 1993 and has hosted both national and international acts, has come to an end.

Organisers said rising costs and pressure on volunteers had become untenable for the festival. The Ternat-based festival has hosted international acts including The Used, Trivium, CKY and Arch Enemy.

Elsewhere, it was recently announced that two-day domestic festival Buikrock in West Flanders had gone bankrupt after issues with its payment system Bancontact.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

The European Festival Report (EFR) 2024, a packed annual summary of the biggest trends, happenings, and initiatives on the continent’s festival scene, was published last month.

In this excerpt from this indispensable guide, Pukkelpop promoter Chokri Mahassine discusses speedy sell-outs, major challenges, sustainable choices and the integration of technology into the festival experience.

How was the festival season 2024 for you and Pukkelpop?
This year was a special one! Our combi-tickets (for the whole weekend) were sold out in 48 hours. Never in our history has this happened so fast. This led to a further rush on day tickets. We were used to spending months building a beautiful and well-thought-out promotional campaign, but suddenly, we were technically out of work – figuratively speaking. Something I hadn’t considered was that communication about the festival and the lineup would disappoint people who weren’t able to secure a ticket, instead of making those that did get one happy. Adjusting our communication to this conflict of interest was an interesting learning process.

The festival days were some of the best we’ve ever had: the energy of the crowd was amazing, the atmosphere was fantastic, the weather was good, and the lineup, with Fred again.., Sam Smith, and Charlotte de Witte, was nearly perfect. It’s always great to see people of all ages coming to Pukkelpop to enjoy music, culture, and adventure together. Next year marks our 40th anniversary, and of course, we’re going to make something special out of that, too.

“Our combi-tickets were sold out in 48 hours… never in our history has this happened so fast”

What are some of the challenges you face as a festival organisation, and how do you try to address them?
Increasing costs, artist fees, production costs, and employment costs remain a major issue in our scene. Additionally, you have to keep evolving in terms of mobility, safety, and impact on the local community. First of all, we try to work more efficiently and to form strategic partnerships. We also frequently consult with other Belgian [competitor-colleagues] both large and small.

In addition, we continue to programme new and emerging artists to offer an adventurous lineup without being entirely dependent on the most expensive headliners. However, even starting bands nowadays cost a fortune. It’s a delicate balance, especially since this directly affects ticket prices.

What measures are you taking to promote sustainability at Pukkelpop, and why is this important to you?
Sustainability is embedded in Pukkelpop’s DNA. For years, we’ve been working on initiatives such as reducing waste and using green energy. This year, we became the first major festival in Belgium to run all generators, forklifts, and site buggies entirely on Blue Diesel 100. We introduced a new project focused on recycling party tents, and for many years, public transportation has been included in our tickets. This is something we are fully committed to.

As a festival, we want to have a positive impact not only on our visitors but also on the environment and the local community. Festivals have a responsibility to raise awareness and encourage sustainable choices. It’s essential that we take the lead and continue investing in sustainability.

“I see a further integration of technology into the festival experience, such as AI, augmented reality, and interactive elements”

What role do you think festivals play in the cultural landscape of Europe?
Festivals are more than just places to experience music; they are meeting points for different cultures, generations, and beliefs. Pukkelpop has always aimed for diversity and inclusivity, both on stage and in the audience. We want to inspire and connect people, and we try to do this by providing a diverse lineup that goes beyond just music. There is no shortage of good food and drinks; Pukkelpop is also a culinary experience. The cultural and economic impact of festivals is significant, and we are happy to contribute to strengthening that cultural dynamic in Belgium and in Europe.

What are the biggest changes you have observed in the festival world since the pandemic?
The pandemic has shocked the industry into action. There has been a shift in the behaviour of the audience: people, especially the younger generation, have become more selective about the events they attend. They want value for their money and are looking for unique experiences. For us, this means that we must remain creative and keep innovative, in terms of experience, sustainability, and of course regarding the lineup.

What trends do you think will be decisive for festivals in the coming years?
I see a further integration of technology into the festival experience, such as AI, augmented reality, and interactive elements that make the experience even more intense. Additionally, sustainability will be more important. Festivals that do not evolve will face difficulties. The focus on health and safety remains important; people want to feel safe at an event, and we should take care of that. Pukkelpop consolidates all support related to well-being and safety in a separate zone. We are available day and night for festivalgoers, crew, and artists. Finally, I believe that festivals will focus on inclusivity and diversity, both in the lineup and the audience.

The third edition of the European Festival Report, from IQ and festival association Yourope, is available to read online for free.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Slam Dunk Festival promoter Ben Ray has shared his blueprint for the brand’s 2025 “European takeover” in an interview with IQ.

The rock event, which was crowned Festival of the Year at this week’s LIVE Awards, will take place in six markets across one week next May/June, debuting in Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, as well as returning to France, Italy and the UK, where the brand launched in 2006.

It is collaborating with partners in each market, apart from the UK, including Live Nation Belgium, Jera Presents (Netherlands), Good News Productions (Switzerland), Opus Live (France) and Hub Music Factory (Italy).

“It’s what we’ve been working towards,” Ray tells IQ. “The first European [spin-offs] were in France and Italy in ’23, but we only did France this year because – and I was very honest about it – we didn’t have the artists to do Italy. And with any of our European editions, if we don’t get the artists, we won’t put on the events.

“This year, we started looking at more markets but were determined to do both France and Italy. I had to know that France and Italy were done before I looked at anything else, because I wanted to deliver with my existing partners first.

“Luckily, in the cases of Netherlands and Switzerland, I’d been talking to those people for a long time and we’d said we’d do something if the opportunity arose.”

“Neck Deep are the only band playing all seven events”

Slam Dunk 2025 will kick off with its flagship, 30,000-cap UK editions at Hatfield Park on 24 May and Temple Newsam in Leeds on 25 May, headlined by A Day To Remember, Electric Callboy and Neck Deep, before making its way across the continent.

“Months ago, I told the artists that were flying over from the US for Slam Dunk UK that we were trying to add some European options for afterwards,” explains Ray. Thankfully, many of those bands have decided to come and join us and go into Europe. A Day To Remember are also headlining in France and Italy, and The Used, Newfound Glory and Neck Deep are the main three bands doing the majority of the shows.

“Switzerland is New Found Glory and Neck Deep, and then Netherlands and Belgium is The Used and Neck Deep, so it’s all rotating. Neck Deep are the only band playing all seven events.”

The inaugural Slam Dunk Belgium (cap. 2,000) is set for 27 May at Trix, Antwerp, with the first Slam Dunk Netherlands to follow 29 May at Tivola Ronda in Utrecht.

Slam Dunk France (cap. 5,000) will take place Lyon’s L’Amphitheatre 3000 on 31, with Slam Dunk Switzerland (cap. 2,000) to debut at Zurich’s Komplex 457 on 1 June. Slam Dunk Italy (cap. 10,000) will then bring proceedings to a close at a new venue – Milan’s Carroponte – on 2 June.

“Ultimately, it’s getting the brand out there into Europe and hopefully putting a benchmark down in those territories”

“The [Belgium/Netherlands Switzerland events] are in club venues,” notes Ray. “It’s a touring package rather than a [traditional] festival. But ultimately, it’s getting the brand out there into Europe and hopefully putting a benchmark down in those territories.

“Everything’s an experiment,” he continues. “The idea is to grow in each market and build the brand in each country, and then we hope to do bigger venues in those countries – and I suppose more countries – in the future.”

Past lineups at the pop-punk, emo, metal, and alternative have included the likes of Paramore, All Time Low, Panic! At The Disco, Enter Shikari, Jimmy Eat World, Don Broco, Sum 41 and NOFX. And in closing, Ray is cautiously optimistic the rollout will be a hit.

“We look at ticket data from the UK events and we know we get a lot of customers coming from Europe,” finishes Ray. “There is brand awareness all across Europe – even in territories we’re not in – and on top of targeted campaigns in each country, we’re running a very large overall campaign advertising the events together across Europe, again, trying to grow the brand.

“A big target for us is sponsorship: we believe that the more markets we’re in, the more attractive it looks to potential sponsors, so hopefully that will grow over the years as well.”

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Slam Dunk Festival is expanding to Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland as part of its “European takeover” in 2025.

The one-day pop-punk, emo, metal and ska-themed festival, which launched in the UK in 2006 before adding stops in France and Italy over the past couple of years, will take place in six markets across one week next May/June.

Slam Dunk 2025 will kick off with its 30,000-cap UK editions at Hatfield Park on 24 May and Leeds, Temple Newsam on 25 May, before making its way across the continent.

A link-up with Live Nation Belgium, the first Slam Dunk Belgium is set for 27 May at Trix, Antwerp, with a bill including The Used, Neck Deep and Zebrahead.

Another new addition in partnership with Jera Presents, Slam Dunk Netherlands will debut on 29 May at Tivola Ronda in Utrecht, featuring Neck Deep, The Used, Zebrahead, The Ataris and March.

Across the border, Slam Dunk hits France on 31 May at Lyon’s L’Amphitheatre 3000, topped by A Day To Remember, Landmvrks, The Used, New Found Glory, Neck Deep and Zebrahead.

The Slam Dunk takeover will come to a close in Italy at Milan’s Carroponte on 2 June

The first Slam Dunk Switzerland will then land at Zurich’s Komplex 457 on 1 June, starring acts such as New Found Glory, Neck Deep, Zebrahead and The Ataris.

The takeover will come to a close in Italy at Milan’s Carroponte on 2 June. Bands confirmed so far include A Day To Remember, New Found Glory, The Used, Landmvrks, Neck Deep, The Ataris and Zebrahead.

Slam Dunk’s previously announced UK bill, meanwhile, will be headlined by A Day To Remember, Electric Callboy and Neck Deep topping the bill. Past lineups have included the likes of Paramore, All Time Low, Panic! At The Disco, Enter Shikari, Jimmy Eat World, Don Broco, Sum 41 and NOFX.

Promoter Ben Ray discussed the potential for future expansion of the brand in an interview with IQ earlier this year.

“We are looking at other European markets, but we’re not pushing it,” he said. “We started Slam Dunk in 2006 and it took us a long time to get to where we are in the UK. We’ve changed cities, we’ve changed sites, we’ve change formats and we’ve built slowly. We’ve never tried to take on too much, which is very important.”

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

To celebrate the hard work of the numerous independent operators that make the live entertainment industry such a vibrant – and growing – business worldwide, IQ is publishing its inaugural Indie Champions list.

Our shortlist of 20 companies were chosen by the IQ readership and have headquarters across 11 different nations but service live events the world over, thanks to their various satellite offices and the artists and partners they work with.

The Indie Champions will become an annual staple of IQ, so if your company did not make it onto this year’s debut list, fear not, as you have a full ten months to prove your credentials to friends, colleagues, and business partners ahead of next year’s nomination process.

IQ will continue to publish entries across all categories over the coming days, and you can find the whole cohort in the latest edition of IQ here.

Find part one here, part two here, and part three here.

One Fiinix Live (UK)
The coronavirus pandemic was the driver behind Jon Ollier creating agency One Fiinix Live. The company launched in November 2020, and for the first few months, its sole employees were Ollier and Emma Davis, before Jess Kinn joined the firm.

“I think our point of difference is in our philosophy of inclusivity,” says Ollier. “We offer clients a genuine and demonstrably safe place for them to stand and for their creativity to flourish.” The company has since opened a US office, allowing it to offer a global service to clients. It has also launched management and digital marketing offshoot One Fiinix North, which Ollier describes as an attempt to take a little bit of responsibility for both breaking artists and developing talent.

The company’s payroll now includes 18 staff, and this year, the company’s roster of acts has racked up 1,600 shows, across all levels of the business – clubs, theatres, arenas, stadiums, and festivals.

Looking to next year, 1.5m tickets were snapped up for Sheeran’s European tour within the first two weeks of on-sale

Boasting Ed Sheeran as a client, One Fiinix took his world tour across Asia and Eastern Europe this year, as well as headlining both the Portugal and Brazil legs of Rock in Rio. In the UK, Hauser played at the Royal Albert Hall, while Ed Sheeran support act Calum Scott sold out Hammersmith Apollo.

Looking to next year, 1.5m tickets were snapped up for Sheeran’s European tour within the first two weeks of on-sale; Jess Kinn is working on Olly Alexander’s new project; and on the development side, the agency is working with exciting new talent including Tash Sultana, Allie Sherlock, Finn Forster, and Joel Sunny.

Primary Talent International (UK)
Celebrating its 34th year in the agency business, Primary Talent International boasts an eclectic roster of over 450 clients spanning all genres. Notable clients include The Cure, The 1975, Noel Gallagher, Justice, Kings of Leon, Dropkick Murphys, Mitski, Wolf Alice, Rina Sawayama, Patti Smith, and Pet Shop Boys. In 2024, the Primary team booked 3,500 shows around the world.

Primary Talent’s staff specialise in supporting their clients to help them build long-lasting careers by catering to their individual needs and have a long history of building artists from clubs to festival headline level. The company has an impressive track record in developing the careers of emerging artists to bring them to commercial success.

In March 2023, Primary announced the company’s decoupling from CAA following CAA’s acquisition of ICM

For example, 2024 saw Belfast rap group KNEECAP play their first European summer festival season, appearing at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Rock Werchter, Down The Rabbit Hole, Roskilde, Super Bock Super Rock, and others, as well as selling out five nights at Vicar Street in Dublin and their entire November UK tour.

In March 2023, Primary announced the company’s decoupling from CAA following CAA’s acquisition of ICM, Primary’s former parent company. Primary re-established its independent status with a buy-out led by COO Rick Levy and CEO and managing partner Matt Bates. Primary’s renewed independence also saw the company introduce a new management structure, with partners Simon Clarkson, Laetitia Descouens, Sally Dunstone, Martje Kremers, Pete Nash, and Ed Sellers.

Runway Artists (UK)
Having been made redundant by ATC Live early on in the pandemic, Matt Hanner persuaded a handful of his clients to take a punt on him going solo. “It probably helped that the prospects of touring any time soon were rapidly disappearing over the horizon, so perhaps they didn’t think it mattered all that much who their agent was,” Hanner tells IQ.

“I think I earned £500 in my first year of trading and had to pick up some lecturing work to tide me over, but Steve [Backman] and I began talking, and in April ’21, we made it official. That to me is when Runway really began.”

Runway is a booking agency that has also dabbled in running a showcase and a conference. “We want to try and bring value to our artists and the independent ecosystem we’re a part of,” explains Hanner. The roster of 120+ acts includes British singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram, who has a new album on the way, and Welsh rockers Punk Rock Factory, plus upcoming artists like Welsh band Melin Melyn, hyper-pop artist Babymorocco, and Australian country artist Fanny Lumsden.

Runway Artists employees have contracted more than 1,500 shows this year – 25% more than 2023

Having celebrated its third birthday earlier this year, Runway now employs 11 people full-time, part-time, and freelance, who have contracted more than 1,500 shows this year – 25% more than 2023.

“We generally use a freelance model as a way to engage with those who we believe have the potential to be great agents but don’t yet have a roster and need a framework and support to begin learning the trade properly,” notes Hanner. “Our investment in talent in that way is pretty unique: we’re very open to new voices and want to bring in talent to the team and be proactive in their development.”

Toutpartout (BE)
Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, Toutpartout began life in the bedroom of Steve Thomassen when he was in his final year of a visual arts degree at university, with his mother acting as his secretary.

As part of his degree, Thomassen undertook a traineeship as a production assistant at a television company, and on his first day, one of the acts had cancelled, allowing him to impress his new bosses by bringing in a band that included his friends. That opened the door to his involvement in music, first managing acts, before doing PR in Belgium for labels such as Sub Pop, Method, and Secret Canadian, while progressing his career in broadcasting as a freelance TV director.

In 2023, the company was involved in around 950 shows, while this year that number will be closer to 1,075

These days, Toutpartout is a European agent for a roster of international acts, promoting shows in Belgium and the Netherlands, while Thomassen also runs a small record label and a home-based record store. In 2023, the company was involved in around 950 shows, while this year that number will be closer to 1,075.

While Toutpartout is renowned for its Autumn Falls Festival, which runs across Belgium from September to December, staff are currently counting down to the company’s 30th birthday concert series in Gent’s Club Wintercircus and De Vooruit. Acts confirmed for those shows include DIIV and Jessica Pratt from the US; CHVE, Psychonaut, Briqueville, Takh, Cobra The Impaler, Endlingr, and Ronker from Belgium; the UK’s Joe Gideon and King Hannah; Australia’s Jess Ribeiro; and Tuareg songwriter Mdou Moctar.

Untitled Group (AU)
Identifying a gap in the market, music entrepreneurs Michael Christidis, Christian Serrao, Filippo Palermo, and Nicholas Greco self-funded the first Beyond The Valley festival in 2014. As they added more festival brands and a touring division, they recognised the need to consolidate their businesses, leading to the creation of Untitled Group, which with 70 staff, now claims to be Australia’s largest independently owned music and events company.

Untitled’s festival portfolio includes Beyond The Valley, Pitch Music & Arts, Wildlands, and Ability Fest. It specialises in curating unique experiences, from large-scale festivals to intimate day parties in unconventional venues.

“We work closely with both domestic and international acts, fostering long-term relationships to grow their presence in the region”

“Our services encompass end-to-end project management for artist tours, ensuring each performance reflects the artist’s vision,” says Christidis. “We work closely with both domestic and international acts, fostering long-term relationships to grow their presence in the region.”

The company’s operations include its Proxy talent agency, artist management, marketing agency Underscore, and even a sustainable vodka brand called UGLY that is made from apples that otherwise would have been discarded for landfill.

Untitled sells over 500,000 tickets per year and has worked with artists such as Dom Dolla, Christina Aguilera, Zach Bryan, Kesha, Marlon Hoffstadt, I Hate Models, Rüfüs Du Sol, Kaytranada, Black Coffee, Patrick Topping, DJ Boring, Ice Spice, Fisher, Solomun, Chase & Status, Nelly Furtado, Ben Böhmer, Lithe, STÜM, Patrick Mason, Nothing But Thieves, Overmono, Romy, Jayda G, Honey Dijon, Peggy Gou, Central Cee, and DJ Heartstring.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Belgium’s TW Classic sold out in 90 minutes following the announcement of Robbie Williams and Bryan Adams as headliners.

Williams will top the festival’s lineup for the first time since 2015 as part of his highly anticipated Robbie Williams Live 2025 outing.

The billing was met with high demand when around 60,000 tickets priced at €133 flew off the shelves in 90 minutes last Friday (15 November).

It marked a spectacular comeback for Rock Werchter’s sister event which was called off last year along with Werchter Boutique.

At the time, organisers said they had failed to put together a top line-up for each of the day festivals. “Our bar is high and we always aim for the best. Mediocrity is not an option,” they added.

Last Friday, around 60,000 tickets priced at €133 flew off the shelves within an hour and a half

Established in 2022 as a “tribute to the early days of Rock Werchter,” the festival has previously featured artists such as Bruce Springsteen, P!nk, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Florence + The Machine, Placebo, The Kid Laroi, The Smile and more.

The Live Nation Belgium-promoted event will return on Saturday 28 June 2025 to Festivalpark in Werchter, which is also home to Rock Werchter and Werchter Boutique.

Werchter Boutique is also set to make a comeback on Saturday 12 July 2025, with a headline set by Imagine Dragons and support from Declan McKenna among others.

Meanwhile, the lineup for the 50th edition of Rock Werchter (3–6 July) is shaping up, with Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day, Linkin Park and Sam Fender topping the bill.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.