How does someone transition from managing hotels and holiday-makers to overseeing major entertainment venues across Europe? Well, quite easily, if you happen to be our high achieving guest, Marie Lindqvist.

Join us as we sit down with Marie, the Senior Vice President of Operations for ASM Global in Europe, to uncover her unique career path. From her early days in the tourism industry to her pivotal role in the post-pandemic resurgence of live events, Marie shares the invaluable lessons she's learned along the way.

Marie’s career is a fascinating journey through different cultures and industries. She opens up about her time at TUI, where she sharpened her leadership skills, and the dynamic shift to AEG, managing the iconic Globe in Stockholm. Discover how Marie balances a demanding career with personal life and the importance of family support. Her story is a powerful testament to the impact of strong leadership and the importance of building a diverse, inclusive team.

Get a behind-the-scenes look into the future of live entertainment, as Marie discusses ASM Global's ambitious redevelopment projects across Europe. Hear about the strategic planning that took place during the pandemic and the strengthened industry networks that emerged from it.

Marie's leadership philosophy underscores the importance of trust, communication, and being a role model, especially for women in leadership positions. Don’t miss her insights on organizing major events and the joy of shaping the future of live entertainment.

We recorded this conversation at the Södra Teatern in Stockholm on 7th August, 2024.

More about our guest:

Stockholm Live
ASM Global

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Your host, Paul Cheetham, is joined by one of the UK's most highly respected booking agents, Rob Challice, Senior Vice-President of the Wasserman Music Group.

Rob has over 40 years of experience in the live music industry as an agent, promoter and festival organiser. Starting in the early 1980s, Rob co-founded a series of music companies one after the other - from FAB to Concert Clinic to CODA - and evolved from gigging, wide-eyed, around the country with anarcho-punk outfits, to overseeing sold out world tours for a roster of artists that includes Beirut, Billy Bragg, Bon Iver, Charlotte Cardin, Christopher, Cory Wong, HAEVN, Kings of Convenience, Novo Amor, Sturgill Simpson, Toro Y Moi and Warpaint.

Our conversation with Rob is like a who's who of the live music industry and takes us on his inspirational and remarkable journey from creating fanzines and promoting shows in London's gritty 80s scene to booking legendary bands like Nirvana and going on to help operate mammoth global enterprises.

We talk about the hiring and firing, the network building, the need for innovation, the challenges and concerns of a post-pandemic world, and the inevitable need for consolidation and change in order to stay alive and competitive.

The episode also highlights the critical role of grassroots music venues in the UK, the efforts to sustain them, and how the pandemic has shifted the dynamics of the music ecosystem.

There's also time to remember colleagues who have sadly been lost - but not forgotten - and the growing need to reflect on his own legacy.

We recorded this episode during the Tallinn Music Week conference on Friday 5th April, 2024.

Thank you for listening. Here is the episode.
We made it just.....for......you!

Links:
Wasserman Music: https://www.teamwass.com/
Paradigm acquires CODA: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/paradigm-acquires-50-stake-in-coda-music-agency-5877120/#!
The Subhumans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subhumans_(British_band)
Warchild RideLondon: https://www.warchild.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/find-an-event/ride-london


The SuperSwell intro/outro music: "Music Machine" - TV OFF

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Join us as we listen to Bertis Downs, the legal mastermind behind R.E.M., and take a rare peek behind the curtains of rock 'n' roll history.

Imagine being at the heart of R.E.M.'s rise from Athens' indie scene to the zenith of global stardom. Bertis reveals the nuts and bolts of their journey and - in his immensely humble way - his own crucial supporting role, offering personal insights into the band's ethos that resonated with fans worldwide, including our host, Alex Maiolo—a Southern kid whose life was forever altered by their music.

This episode is a treasure trove of memories, from the complexities of touring to the magical moments that define a band's career. Bertis takes us on a tour of his own, from a history-loving student to the man who helped navigate R.E.M. through the thrills and spills of the music industry before pioneering their own path for others to follow . We dissect how R.E.M.'s strategic decisions inspired a generation of artists like Radiohead, The National, and Coldplay to forge ahead with their own ambitious plans towards worldwide success.

Central to the lasting impact of R.E.M.'s journey is the importance of preserving artistic integrity and band unity. We delve into the critical choices that safeguarded the band's legacy and their eventual amicable split that stands as a testament to their friendship and creative spirit. It's more than just a conversation—it's an exploration of the indelible mark R.E.M. has left on music and culture, and a chance to listen to the heartbeat of one of the most iconic bands of all time.

This conversation was recorded on stage at the Tallinn Music Week conference in Tallinn, Estonia on Friday 5th April, 2024.

The original audio recording has been edited and modified for an enhanced podcast experience.

This podcast is published with the approval and kind cooperation of Bertis Downs and Alex Maiolo and in association with Tallinn Music Week.

Thank you for listening. Enjoy the episode.
We made this just.....for......you.

Links:

All things R.E.M.: https://remhq.com

Bertis Downs Homepage: https://bertisdowns.com
Causes & Campaigns: https://bertisdowns.com/affiliations

R.E.M. by MTV (clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=099QC_mzfbU

Athens, Georgia Inside/Out documentary (clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJCoik8NsZ4&t=11s

Alex Maiolo Homepage: http://alexmaiolo.com
Alex's 40th Anniversary of "Murmur" article for Louder Than War: https://louderthanwar.com/r-e-m-s-generation-defining-murmur-at-40

Tallinn Music Week: https://tmw.ee


The SuperSwell intro/outro music: "Music Machine" - TV OFF

More about the SuperSwell

The SuperSwell

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Contact: podcast@thesuperswell.com