Keynote from Ben Challis: Diversity at risk?!

Ben Challis, general counsel for the Glastonbury Festival, lawyer, and music activist is one of the most experienced people working in the European festival scene. Challis will open this year's Reeperbahn Festival conference with a keynote speech on the theme "Diversity at Risk?!".

Ben Challis is a leading intellectual force in the industry and we are looking forward to his incisive and critical reflections on these developments.In addition to his work for Glastonbury, Challis is one of the co?founders of A Greener Festival; his clients also include the European festival association Yourope and the musicians' organisation Africa Express. He is also a visiting professor at Bucks New University where he lectures on monopolies law among other subjects.

It can hardly be denied that market concentration is becoming an increasingly important topic in the music and live entertainment industry. The merger of record companies and concert promoters, concentration in the ticketing business, and the steadily growing power of global players in digital media all illustrate how large corporations are structurally dominating more and more of the old and new sectors of the music business. Is diversity in the music world at risk - commercially and perhaps even artistically?

With: Ben Challis, Glastonbury Festival, General Counsel, UK (Picture)

Host: Allan McGowan, Vip-Magazine, Editor, UK