The music world is united in paying tribute to “genius” Brian Wilson in the wake of the Beach Boys co-founder’s passing aged 82.

“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” read an online post by his family yesterday (11 June). “We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”

The legendary US singer-songwriter formed the Beach Boys with his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine in 1961, and was responsible for classics such as God Only Knows, Help Me, Rhonda, I Get Around and Good Vibrations.

Wilson retired from touring in 1964 but later returned to the road. His last major world tour was a 50th anniversary celebration of the group’s seminal 1966 Pet Sounds album in 2016.

Wilson’s longtime international booking agent Neil Warnock describes the California-born hitmaker as a “musical genius” and “outstanding arranger” who created “the most beautiful harmonies in the world”.

“Having represented Brian for so many years, the most memorable business here was a week at the Royal Festival Hall, with Brian performing Pet Sounds,” Warnock tells IQ. “That was repeated with a week’s celebration of [unfinished 1967 Beach Boys LP, ultimately released in 2004] Smile.

“All this topped with an incredible performance at Glastonbury [2005]. Fantastic memories of a fantastic human being.”

“Brian Wilson was one of the most talented singer-songwriters in the history of recorded music”

London’s Southbank Centre, which hosted the Pet Sounds shows in 2002, says it is “deeply saddened” by his death, adding that Wilson’s return to Royal Festival Hall for the world premiere of Smile in 2004 ended with “a 10-minute standing ovation”.

Wilson, who was represented by Bruce Solar of Paladin Artists in North America, last performed live at Michigan’s Pine Knob Music Theatre in July 2022.

“Brian gave so much to the world through his music, his spirit and his strength,” says his manager Jean Sievers. “He was a sweet, gentle soul as well as fierce competitor. There will never ever be anyone like him again. God truly broke the mould when he created Brian Wilson. Besides being a creative genius, he was one the smartest and funniest people I’ve ever known. His message of love will live on through his music forever.”

Artists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Roger Daltrey, Carole King, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Sir Elton John and Wilson’s former Beach Boys bandmate Mike Love also paid tribute, alongside Universal Music Group chief Sir Lucian Grainge.

“Brian Wilson was one of the most talented singer-songwriters in the history of recorded music,” says Sir Lucian. “Not only did his songs capture the spirit of youth, joy and longing in ways that still inspire millions of fans around the world, his innovative work in the studio transformed the way musicians record even to this day. Brian made an indelible mark, and our thoughts are with his family in this time of loss.”

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The live music industry has paid tribute to production stalwart Dave Keighley, who passed away on 9 June.

Keighley, who is survived by his wife Della and their two children, enjoyed a distinguished 40-year career in lighting, design and production.

He was a key player in the formation of the UK’s Production Services Association (PSA) in the late 80s, alongside other well-known industry names. He served as Chairman of the association up until May 2024, when he retired due to ill health.

He also led several high-profile companies during his career, including LSD, PRG Europe, Syncrolite LLC and SGM Lighting, and served as a member of the LIVE board since its inception.

“Over many decades, Dave continued to promote, support and advocate for the Association’s work representing those who work in live event production,” reads a tribute from PSA. “Dave was an inspiration to many, he was a visionary, a straight talker and was well-respected throughout our industry and will be missed.”

PRG Europe, where Keighley served as managing director from 1998 to 2008, added: “Dave played a pivotal role in shaping the future of our company. His leadership and vision were instrumental in supporting PRG’s acquisition of Light and Sound Design, and he was a key figure in leading the procurement and transition to our head office in Longbridge, a move that has had a lasting impact on our operations and culture.

“He will be remembered not only for his professional achievements but also for the integrity and warmth he brought to the industry”

It continued: “Dave’s passion, dedication, and influence have left a lasting legacy at PRG. He will be remembered not only for his professional achievements but also for the integrity and warmth he brought to the industry and to those who had the privilege of working with him.”

UK trade body LIVE, meanwhile, heralded Keighley as a “pillar of the live music and production community”.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Keighley, a much-loved and long-standing member of the LIVE Board since its inception,” reads a statement from LIVE.

“Dave was known for his warmth, integrity and tireless commitment to our industry. He had only recently stepped down as Chairman of the PSA, having dedicated so much of his life to supporting and championing those behind the scenes.

“His wisdom, humour and unwavering passion will be profoundly missed by all of us at LIVE and by the countless people he inspired throughout his remarkable career.”

ILMC MD Greg Parmley, who worked with Keighley during his time spearheading LIVE, added: “Dave’s passing is a great loss for the business. He was a huge advocate for the sector, always willing to help, always happy to get stuck in and do the right thing for the PSA and its members. We’ve lost a rare individual who put so many before himself.”

John Probyn, head of live production Europe at Solotech and group director of event operations at FAB, commented: “Another industry legend lost. Lots of fun back in the day with Nadia Catherine and oversized flags! RIP Dave thanks for all the fun and the help you gave me.”

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Sound Talent Group (STG) co-founder Dave Shapiro was among several people killed in a plane crash in San Diego, the agency has confirmed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a Cessna 550 private jet crashed near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in California at around 3.45am local time yesterday (22 May), with six people on board.

The BBC reports the crash destroyed one home and damaged ten others in the neighbourhood, injuring eight people on the ground.

STG says that two other employees also died in the crash, but are yet to name them. Daniel Williams, ex-drummer of metal band The Devil Wears Prada, is also believed to have been on the aircraft.

“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,” says San Diego-based STG in a statement. “Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.”

Shapiro, 42, co-founded the independent agency with fellow former UTA agents Tim Borror and Matt Andersen in 2018. The company’s roster includes Sum 41, Parkway Drive, Pierce the Veil, Trivium, Hanson, Vanessa Carlton, Bush, Black Veil Brides, Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde and Drug Church, who announced they were cancelling their shows scheduled for this weekend in Indianapolis, Grand Rapids and Covington.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Shapiro and his two colleagues”

“More importantly our hearts go out to the friends and families of everyone who lost their lives in this tragedy,” they wrote on social media.

Hanson said: “Dave was fearless in life, and tireless in his work, and the kind of friend you would want on your speed dial. Dave seemed to always be working on a new endeavor, or to be going on a new adventure, because he was always excited for a new challenge. We are grateful for the 15 years we knew him. Our hearts go out to Dave’s family and the team at Sound Talent Group.”

Shapiro, who held a pilot’s licence and owned record label Velocity Records, was also a founding member of the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO). Paying tribute, the advocacy group describes him as a “visionary”.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Shapiro and his two colleagues,” reads the NITO statement. “Dave was a visionary in the music industry and a founding partner of Sound Talent Group. His passion, dedication, and unwavering support for artists shaped the careers of countless musicians and helped elevate the live music experience for fans around the world.”

“As a founding member of NITO, Dave was instrumental in the initial formation and funding of the organisation and assisted countless of our peers successfully navigate the pandemic shutdown of live music. Our sincerest condolences go out to Dave’s family, friends, and everyone at STG. This is a monumental loss to our community.”

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Robert Casson, head of business at UK ticketing firm Skiddle, passed away earlier this week.

In a statement yesterday, Skiddle said, “Today is our darkest day. We are devastated to confirm that Robert Casson, head of our promoter team at Skiddle, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday night.”

“Rob was a much loved colleague and friend and we have lost a huge part of us. At this time whilst the Skiddle family is coming to terms with this, we ask for your patience and understanding.”

Joining the Skiddle team as an account manager in 2014, Casson spent the last decade building up the online ticketing forum into one of the biggest in the UK.

Tributes have been pouring in for the live industry leader.

“Rob was a true hero in every sense. Was a great friend to me over the pandemic and always offered a call and pep talk. He will be sorely missed,” wrote Danny Hannaford, Ticketmaster UK senior director of client product solutions.

“A wonderful person, an absolute legend”

Lisa Holland, CTS Eventim senior lead, international product marketing, shared: “This is truly awful. I always loved seeing Rob at conferences – we always had such a good laugh, and usually a moan about one thing or another. The last time I saw him was a matter of weeks ago at TBF. This news is incredibly sad and I am heartbroken for his family and friends. Sending my love to his loved ones and Skiddle family.”

“This is absolutely heartbreaking. What a fucking guy. Absolute heart of gold. Devastating. All my thoughts to his lovely family,” says Anton Powers, radio presenter and head of A&R at Ministry of Sound.

“Absolutely devastated. A wonderful person, an absolute legend. Thinking of you all at Skiddle and all Robs family and friends,” shared Ticketmaster’s Sarah Slater.

Ed Walsh, SECUTIX customer success lead, posted: “Such sad news. Rob was a great industry colleague and friend, he will be hugely missed. Rest in peace Rob.”

“Really sad news. Rob was a great guy we had many good times over the years. Thoughts and prayers with his family, friends and Skiddle team,” shared Tom Linsley, Tapaygo co-founder.

The lifelong Everton fan is survived by his wife Elle and four children.

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Will Quekett, a ticketing expert who worked in the sector for over 30 years, has passed away following a short illness.

Quekett launched his career in the ticketing sector in 1994, working as a general manager and director at companies in the UK and Australia.

His most notable roles included head of ticketing and operations IT at the Millenium Dome, general manager at The Ticket Factory (then owned by NEC Group) and business development director for JMM, Coverholders and Brokers at Lloyd’s of London. He also served as a council member for STAR, the self-regulatory body for the UK ticketing industry, for 15 years.

“I had the privilege of working for Will early on in my career—he was always generous with his advice, though I was probably too headstrong to fully appreciate it at the time,” Noel Edwards, who started his career at The Ticket Factory over 20 years ago and rejoined in 2019, told IQ.

“His passion for sharing knowledge and guiding the next generation was truly admirable, which was shown in his support of the Ticketing Apprentice Scheme launched by STAR. By ticketing the Millenium Dome, Will was the first person to sell a ticket at the big tent, before anyone even had the idea of putting an arena in there.”

“Will was passionate about ticketing and providing young people with opportunities”

ABBA Voyage’s Richard Howle told IQ that Quekett was a “kind, thoughtful and generous man” who gave him insider tips when he joined The Ticket Factory in 2017.

“I served with him on the STAR Council for many years and he was a steady voice of reason in sometimes heated debates,” he said. “When I joined The Ticket Factory, he regularly spoke to me to provide me with support, advice and some handy insider tips based on his time there.

“In a long and successful career, perhaps his most important achievement was establishing the Ticketing Apprenticeship scheme. Will was passionate about ticketing and providing young people with opportunities. It was that passion that enabled Will to almost single-handedly cut through the bureaucracy and overcome the administrative hurdles to set up the accredited National Scheme and it was with great pride that The Ticket Factory was able to take on the first ticketing apprentices. It seems fitting that the introduction of new talent into the ticketing industry will become Will’s legacy.”

Dave Newton, DTI Group, also remembers how Quekett encouraged him during the early years of his ticketing career. “He was one of only a handful of the old guard (words chosen carefully) in the live events industry that positively encouraged me to take on the incumbents when I stumbled into ticketing 25 years ago,” he told IQ. “And he has been a constant throughout the time since – always offering up feedback, support, ideas and connections to every new idea and project. We very nearly collaborated on one of those new projects together, but it didn’t work out. I’m sure it would have been a joy.”

John O’Neill, founder and ex CEO of Tickets.ie, spoke highly of Quekett, personally and professionally. “It was around 8:30 am one morning in the early part of 2010 when I received a call to my office. A polite gentleman with a quaint English accent was on the other end of the line, asking me many thoughtful questions about our company. I remember thinking to myself, Who on earth rings someone at 8:30 in the morning to talk about ticketing? The man on the line was Will Quekett,” he tells IQ.

“He had an extraordinary knowledge of the ticketing industry”

“That early morning judgement quickly faded as the conversation unfolded, and I came to understand just how serious, insightful, and genuine he was.  At the time, Will was working with Ticket Factory and the NEC Group. The NEC had just taken over the contract to manage the Convention Centre in Dublin. That call would mark the beginning of a professional relationship—and, in time, a valued friendship—that would span years and continents.

“Will was always generous with his time, his network, his introductions, and his advice. He had an extraordinary knowledge of the ticketing industry—he didn’t just know how things were done; he knew why they were done that way, even long after others had forgotten. I look forward to raising a glass in his honour at the next Tick Talk gathering in London.”

Simon Klinkhamer, director of KB Group, wrote on social media: “I had the pleasure of working with Will many times over the last 25 years. He was my trusted friend in the ticketing business and I loved working with him. A genial man of great integrity. I am deeply saddened by his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Susan and the family at this difficult time.”

Peter Monks, co-founder of the company behind the Ticketing Professionals Conference (TPC), called Quekett “one of life’s gentlemen who was always kind and generous with his time”.

Andrew Thomas, director of TPC, added: “I first met Will at ETT in Berlin many moons ago, he was a huge supporter of education and career progression of others throughout his career, contributing to work that STAR undertook, giving advice to me on the conference sometimes, as well as being a regular volunteer at every TPC.”

“Will’s wonderfully dry humour, phenomenal intelligence and incurable curiosity were always shot through with the genuine warmth”

Peter I’anson, director at Secure Refunds and COO at JMM Group Holdings, hailed Quekett as “a true gentleman who freely gave his time to help”.

AudienceView’s John Finn remembers Quekett as a “terrific mentor to me when he was at The Ticket Factory. We also had many fascinating conversations, and NOT all of them were about ticketing! He had so many interests and stories to tell. We shared many laughs, and that’s what I’ll remember”.

David Thomas, Arts & Culture Network, wrote on social media: “Will’s wonderfully dry humour, phenomenal intelligence and incurable curiosity were always shot through with the genuine warmth of his personality, and we should all feel honoured to have had Will in our lives.”

Roger Tomlinson recalls Quekett as “a man who shared the drive to develop training and professionalism in our sector, trying to persuade industry bodies to introduce qualifications such as NVQs and get recognition for staff whose required skillset was expanding”. “Everyone who met and knew him always described him as a gentleman who was a good listener, whoever you were,” he added.

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North Sea Jazz Festival (NSJF) has remembered Jos Acket as a “driving force behind the scenes” in the wake of her passing aged 91.

Born in The Hague, Acket was the widow of the Mojo Concerts-promoted Dutch festival’s founder Paul Acket and handled the business side of the operation.

“The festival owes a lot to her determination, gut feeling and business sense,” says the festival team. “Jos worked intensively for the festival in the 70s, 80s and early 90s and was involved in all important decision-making.”

After Paul Acket died in 1992, she handed over the management of the festival to Mojo, which had also been involved in the inaugural edition in 1976.

In 2005 she received NSJF’s Bird Award (since renamed the Paul Acket Award) in recognition of her contribution to the event.

“We remember Jos as an extraordinary and strong woman with a great passion for arts and culture”

“Although Jos Acket had not been actively involved in the organisation for many years, her love for the festival remained strong,” adds the tribute. “She continued to attend the festival with her family until a very old age.

“We remember Jos as an extraordinary and strong woman with a great passion for arts and culture. She personally contracted and trained many interns and employees for a job in the cultural sector. A number of them still work with a lot of love and passion for the festival among which the current talent buyers/programme-managers of the event.”

North Sea Jazz Festival, which relocated from The Hague to Rotterdam in 2006, returns from 11-13 July with acts such as Mary J. Blige, Norah Jones, Jacob Collier, Joe Bonamassa, Ezra Collective, Maxwell, Kamasi Washington and Omah Lay.

Director Jan Willem Luyken stepped down last November after almost 20 years in the position to become chief commercial officer (CCO) of Mojo. He was succeeded by Irene Peters, formerly business director at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome.

Luyken spoke to IQ last year about the secret behind the 30,000-cap festival’s decades-long legacy.

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Fatman Scoop has died aged 53 after he collapsed mid-performance at his concert in Connecticut, US, on Friday.

The US rapper, whose real name is Isaac Freeman III, was headlining the free-to-attend Green & Gold Party at the Town Center Park in Hamden.

He was seen in a video to have collapsed behind the DJ booth after urging concertgoers to “make some noise”.

Mayor Lauren Garrett said in a post to Facebook that the rapper was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. His booking agency, MN2S, later confirmed his death in a statement.

Scoop was best known for his collaborations with Missy Elliott and Ciara on the Grammy Award-winning hit Lose Control and Mariah Carey on It’s Like That, and has been credited as an influential figure in New York City’s hip-hop scene in the 1990s.

“Scoop was a beloved figure in the music world, whose work was loved by countless fans across the globe,” said a spokesperson from MN2S.

“His iconic voice, infectious energy, and great personality made an indelible mark on the industry.”

“Scoop was a beloved figure in the music world, whose work was loved by countless fans across the globe”

Missy Elliot said in a post on X: “Fatman Scoop voice and energy have contributed to many songs that made the people feel happy and want to dance for over two decades. Your impact is huge and will be never be forgotten.”

Fatman Scoop’s tour manager, DJ Pure Cold, wrote in a post on Instagram that he was “lost for words” at the news of his friend’s death.

“You took me all over the world and had me performing alongside you on some of the biggest and greatest stages on this planet,” he wrote. “The things you taught me have truly made me the man I am today.”

The rapper was due to perform at the UK’s Reminisce Festival on 7 September. In a post on Instagram, the festival called the news of his death “devastating”.

“He was not just one of our most popular performers, he was a cherished member of the Reminisce family,” the festival said. “His energy, talent and infectious spirit will be missed more than words can express.”

Fatman Scoop collaborated with a roster of other prominent artists, including Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston. In 2004, he was tapped to mentor six British musicians in the UK TV series Chancers. He also appeared in the anime series The Boondocks and opened his own ice-cream parlor.

In 2015, he was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother 16: UK vs USA, which was housed in the UK. He was the third housemate to be evicted.

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SJM Concerts director Chris York, one of the UK’s leading and most respected promoters, has died aged 55 following a long illness.

In a statement, SJM said it was “deeply saddened” at news of his passing. York joined the Manchester-based company in 1993, forming a “solid and unshakeable partnership and friendship” with founder Simon Moran.

“We have lost a leader, a mentor a force of nature and a friend,” says the firm. “His loss will be felt keenly by all the staff at the company and by many industry professionals and artists around the world. His influence and personality will live forever within SJM Concerts.”

In a career-spanning 2019 interview with IQ, York recalled meeting Moran at a Levellers concert at London’s Brixton Academy in 1993, promoted by SJM.

“I was there purely as a punter and this man came up to me and berated me for trying to steal his acts,” remembered York. “I pointed out, probably not as eloquently as I might have done, that that was actually my job seeing as I didn’t technically work for him. He retorted, ‘Well, you should do then.’

“I think Simon’s style and my style are distinctly different, but they work well together, and I guess the biggest barometer of that is that we have gone on to be a very successful company.”

Over the course of 30 years, he worked with artists including Oasis, Foo Fighters, Green Day, The Chemical Brothers, Lily Allen, Massive Attack, Robert Plant, Underworld, Lorde, Morrissey, Placebo, Suede and Stereophonics.

Since 2006, working alongside fellow SJM director Rob Ballantine, The Who’s Roger Daltrey and live producer Des Murphy, York was the lead talent booker for the annual Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which have raised more than £30 million for the charity.

He also helped launch and develop the annual Country to Country (C2C) festival, leading to him being awarded the Jo Walker Meador International Award by the Country Music Association (CMA) in 2021.

“I came to know him as a lovely human being – and I will really miss him”

“Chris and I got to build Country to Country together as partners,” CMA executive Milly Olykan tells IQ. “His knowledge – gained through an incredible career, determination and willingness to take risks were attributes I really admired. I came to know him as a lovely human being – and I will really miss him. My heart goes out to his loved ones and his wonderful team at SJM.”

Prior to SJM, York served stints with John Curd at Straight Music and later Tim Parsons at MCP Concerts, having begun his career at the Venue in New Cross.

His contribution to the business was recognised at the International Live Music Conference’s Arthur Awards in 2022, where he was presented with the Bottle Award for lifetime achievement by longtime friend Lucy Dickins of WME.

Speaking to IQ, Dickins sums up York as “the most exceptional man”. “Your friendship and advice will be dearly missed but my fond memories will last forever. RIP CY,” she adds.

Tributes have poured in from artists such as Liam Gallagher, Shed Seven and Stereophonics, as well as York’s industry colleagues. CAA’s Emma Banks says that York has been a “constant” in her life since she started out as an agent.

“He’s been a truly great friend, a fantastic promoter and a great mind”

“He’s been a truly great friend, a fantastic promoter and a great mind,” says Banks. “We had some quite intense discussion at the end of the football season about the relative merits of Notts Forest (his team) and Luton (my team) as we both floundered at the bottom of the table. Although he was so very ill he was still fired up and passionate about that and so many other topics.

“I am going to miss him massively and the music business is worse off without him. RIP Yorkie xx.”

Live Nation UK & Ireland chair Denis Desmond says: “Very sorry to hear of Chris’s untimely passing, a fighter to the end, his legacy will live on. Our thoughts are with his family and his colleagues at SJM at this very sad time. May Chris rest in peace.”

WME agent Russell Lewis Warby, who represents artists such as Foo Fighters, says: “Chris was a loyal friend and trusted ally from when we first met at the New Cross Venue back in the late 80s. He helped navigate many thrills and a few spills over the years.

“Chris was often pragmatic and I learned many useful lessons from him, more often than not delivered with his shrewd sense of humour. Chris loved music, artists, all the characters in the business and touring. We all benefited from his support.

“The continued success of TCT remains a testament to his hard work for them over many years. My thoughts are with Alice, his family and his very many friends.”

“He had all the essential components of a great promoter: honesty, integrity, reliability and I always trusted him. His word was his bond”

ITB co-founder and CEO Rod MacSween describes York as “a lovely man”.

“I’m very sad to hear this news,” says MacSween. “He had all the essential components of a great promoter: honesty, integrity, reliability and I always trusted him. His word was his bond. He was devoted to his clients and had the kind of infectious enthusiasm that makes our work so satisfying.

“My condolences to Chris’s family, his many close friends and of course the SJM team. He will be missed much.”

National Arenas Association (NAA) chair John Drury, VP and general manager of OVO Arena Wembley, says: “Chris was a giant of our industry, whose leadership, passion and commitment will continue to be an inspiration to anyone in live music.

“We were proud to be able to present him with the National Arenas Association award for 2021 – with Liam Gallagher’s help – for his outstanding commitment to the live industry. All of us have benefitted from his vision and skills over the years and we are deeply saddened by his loss. Our thoughts and love go to the family, friends and many colleagues Chris has left behind.”

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The music world is mourning Mean Fiddler founder and festival pioneer Vince Power, who has died at the age of 76.

Working across festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Phoenix, The Fleadh, Madstock and Spain’s Benicassim, the Irish promoter is credited with helping change the face of the music industry. He passed away on Saturday (9 March).

“It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of Vince Power,” reads a statement from his family. “A visionary entrepreneur who enhanced and influenced the music industry significantly, whilst always being a dedicated, loving father and a loyal friend to so many.

“We want to thank everyone who has offered their condolences and request that our privacy be respected at this time of great sadness.”

County Waterford-born Power opened the Mean Fiddler venue in Harlesden, London, in 1982, which formed the springboard for his Mean Fiddler Group empire. Under the umbrella, Power managed London venues including the Jazz Cafe, the Garage, Clapham Grand and Kentish Town Forum.

In 1989, Mean Fiddler took over the operation of the ailing Reading Festival and revived its fortunes, adding a Leeds leg a decade later.

“We had an amazing 20 years together that helped shape the music industry as we know it now”

“Vince’s passing is a massive loss to the music industry and to me personally,” says Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn. “A visionary with a willingness to take risks to enable his vision but always with a humbleness that belied his importance. We had an amazing 20 years together that helped shape the music industry as we know it now.”

Power sold his Mean Fiddler venue and festival empire to Clear Channel – now Live Nation – in 2005, going on to launch Kent’s Hop Farm Festival, which ran between 2008 and 2012.

The impresario, who was made an honorary CBE in 2006, set up a number of ventures after Mean Fiddler, including Vince Power Music Group (VPMG) and Music Festivals plc, which he floated on London’s Alternative Investment Market in 2011, raising £6.5 million. He took over the running of Dingwalls, a 500-cap venue in Camden in 2020.

Tributes have continued to pour in from across the live music business on social media.

Live Aid promoter Harvey Goldsmith says: “Vince was a larger than life character, always sailing close to the wind. He did a lot for entertainment and should be remembered for that.”

Black Deer Festival co-founder Gill Tee, a friend of Power’s for more than 30 years, recalls her time as festival director at Hop Farm, which was headlined by acts such as Prince, Bob Dylan and Neil Young.

“What I’ll always remember is his incredible generosity and support”

“I learned so much in those five years, starting a festival from scratch with a man that had music flowing through his veins,” she says on LinkedIn. “He was such an incredible man who achieved so much, and was truly a visionary.””

Sarah Slater, who leads Ticketmaster UK’s music & festivals division, says the industry has “lost a legend”.

“I had the privilege of working with him on the Benicassim festival in 2012,” she writes. “Reflecting on Vince’s impact on me, I realised that he pushed me to be my best and always believed in my abilities… His unwavering support taught me resilience, perseverance, communication and relationship management skills that have been instrumental in my career.”

AXS director of business development John Talbot says he is “deeply saddened” at news of Power’s passing. VPMG announced AXS as its official ticketing partner for all its London venues, including the former Dingwalls, PowerHaus (cap. 500), The Fiddler (cap. 120), Nells (cap. 350) and Subterania (cap. 600), in late 2021.

“What I’ll always remember is his incredible generosity and support,” says Talbot. “It’s impressive to read his achievements being shared on this sad day.”

“He was so important to Irish culture and community at home and the UK. He’ll be greatly missed”

Artist manager Stephen Budd says: “A huge figure in UK music, major festival promoter, venue owner and more. I know he divided a lot of people, but he was always very good to me, treated my artists with a lot of respect and paid them well.”

Veteran promoter Rob Hallett says on Facebook: “He was pivotal in my life in so many ways both professionally and personally, giving me opportunities that I didn’t even understand at the time.

“He was truly a great man, not a saint – we had many disagreements – but a man of principle and tremendous tenacity. Vince would never give up and changed the face of the live music industry as we knew it before his arrival from Ireland.”

Tributes have also followed from the artist community. Singer Imelda May tweets: “So sad to hear of the passing of the great Vince Power. I adored him. He took a chance on me at the start of my career when I needed it most. He was so important to Irish culture and community at home and the UK. He’ll be greatly missed.”

Chrissie Hynde adds: “No one did more for the London music scene than Vince. We owe him so much. A visionary and a dude. Thank you Vince for giving us the chance to play.”

Power is survived by eight children.

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Respected music agent and former artist manager Nigel Morton has died following a short illness.

Morton, who joined East Yorkshire-based folk, blues, acoustic, Americana and world music specialist Strada Music International in early 2023, passed away peacefully in hospital on Monday (4 March), surrounded by his family.

Starting out as a local newspaper journalist covering gigs in Chelmsford, Essex, Morton became an agent in 1978 and worked with acts such as John Cooper Clarke, UK Subs, Jimmy Cliff, Jefferson Starship, Bruce Cockburn, Isaac Hayes and Billy Bragg.

“Nigel was not only a valued member of our team at Strada Music but also a cherished friend to many,” says a statement by the agency. “He brought immense talent, dedication, and passion to everything he did, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew and worked with him.

“He took great pride in his role and valued each and every one of his artists and promoters”

“He took great pride in his role and valued each and every one of his artists and promoters, always striving to provide the highest level of service and care.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to all who knew and loved Nigel. While he will be greatly missed, his spirit and legacy will continue to resonate in the memories and hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.”

In 1982, Morton discovered New Model Army, who he went on to manage for a decade, and also guided the careers of artists including The Almighty and Eliza Carthy as owner of Totally Obnoxious Management. He later worked with Rob Challice and the late Steve Strange at Challice’s F.A.B., before launching Moneypenny Agency.

Strada will release information on funeral arrangements and plans to celebrate Morton’s life once details are finalised.

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