Organization Tomorrowland turns down 100 million bid

Tomorrowland, 2012

ID&T, organizers behind international dance events, couldn't be tempted by the $ 100 million dollar (€ 77 million) bid. 

Among others, Robert Sillerman, an American businessman and media entrepreneur, had taken an interest in the company, but it hasn't been confirmed this was his bid. 

Together with Belgian brothers Manu and Michel Beers, ID&T organizes the successful dance event Tomorrowland, which has been elected 'best international festival'.  A couple of months ago brothers Beers stated that they weren't interested in selling their festival just because they can reinvent themselves every year and they love doing it.

ID&T's Duncan Stutterheim states: ‘We used to joke to eachother that we would sell the company for a hundred – a hundred thousand guilders (50 000 €),” he said. “Then, a few months ago, someone from America suddenly wanted to give us a hundred. A hundred million dollars. The choice was very difficult. But we didn’t do it. I think that this company can continue for another twenty years, that we may go into the world.”

Music and politics

In the past couple of weeks, Belgium's been subject to the elections. Normally, I'm not that much into politics. I vote for the party that I think deserves my vote, and I make a certain choice by my gut feeling, by what I think 'is right' for my country or city. But this time was different. I live in Antwerp, where it very soon became clear that - after 70 years of socialism - this time the nationalist would probably be in charge of our beautiful city.

This made me think of a Dutch tv show I've recently seen, 'De Wereld Draait Door'. Guest and radiopresentator Giel Beelen compared political parties with bands. I thought I could do the same, so here goes:

• Groen - Canned Heat: sure they have timeless songs, but they're such tree lovin' hippies
• CD&V - Coldplay: music for the mass without character
• VLD - Fun: a band consisting of people who aren't musicians and are only in it for the money
• NV-A - PSY (Gangnam Style): one hit wonder (Bart De Wever) with entertaining skills but without any content whatsoever
• sp.a - Kings of Leon: sellouts; they traded ideals for money
• Vlaams Belang - Rammstein: it doesn't matter how hard they bark, nobody listens to them anymore 
• PVDA - Green Day: what used to be a band with explosive songs and in your face lyrics, is now a mere parody of itself. They're aware of this so they try a new method, with a triptych album, but just can't get enough attention anymore. 

The CD turns 30

Thirty years ago, the CD and the CD player were first introduced to the world. As with every new invention, people didn't really believe in the new product. In comparison with the LP that ruled the music market, the CD was far too expensive and the first releases were almost entirely classical music. IF pop acts would release their newest album on CD, it would only be at least three months after their LP release. 

But the brand new product had a lot to offer too, and that's what eventually persuaded the big mass. The CD came in a nifty plastic design, promised virtually zero maintenance compared to LPs, had a never seen new feature called 'instant track skip' and a longer capacity without needing to flip sides. 

In the mid 80s, the price for a CD and CD players dropped eventually. By then, almost all titles previously released on LP had made the transfer to CD too. Bands and artists all over the world released their new albums instantly on CD and even car manufactures started integrating CD players in their newest models. 

Only true audiophiles kept going on about the mediocre sound quality. Even after a couple of upgrades regarding the listening experience, the CD still couldn't win from the LP when it came to the sound quality. And yes, it's one of the reasons - even today - I too choose vinyl over CDs. 

Nonetheless, happy birthday to you, mister CD! 

App review: Borderlive

Borderlive combines all concerts in Northern France and The Flanders (Belgium) in one clarifying concert line. Even when you're not connected to the internet, you can still browse the line up in full. 

It provides all the info needed, such as time, place, date, ticketprices, and you can share your favorite concerts on Facebook and Twitter. You can also invite your friends for a certain concert through mail. 

Online tickets can be bought via an easy link in the concert description and 'route' guides you to the gig withouth any hassle. 

The handy feature 'On Air' allows you to see the first upcoming show, and gives you a short summary of date, place and time in one touch. 

Borderlive is an intitiative of Clubcircuit and R.A.O.U.L, two NPO's that haven't been strangers to each other. In 2009 they founded TERMM (The EuroRegional Music Meeting), a project that tries to fade the borders between different countries. 

It's an easy to use app, suited for both people who live in the given areas and tourists who want to check the local live music scene when they're on vacation. 

Borderlive is available for iPhone and Android.