SENBLA eyes European Expansion – acquires majority stake in producing agency business GEA Live 19 Apr 2021
- New deal will see Senbla take a 51% stake in the business, founded in 2003 by Floris Douwes and Ton Olgers
- General Entertainment Associates (GEA Live) is one of Europe's leading independent IP producing and live agency businesses specialising in performing arts and live entertainment
- Upcoming collaborations include Our Planet Live In Concert, plus a brand new project with the European Space Agency
Senbla, one of the UK's leading promoter and producing vehicles backed by Sony Music, today announces the strategic majority acquisition of live music and production business GEA Live.
Amsterdam based GEA Live has been developing and producing shows worldwide since 2003, most notably the late Ennio Morricone live concert business for the final six years of his career, which included over 100 arena concerts in Europe, to 800,000 fans with a combined box office take of over 80mn Euros.
The core of GEA Live's business is the development and exploitation of IP in a live setting - from concept to production and delivery– these include official legacy tours like Elvis Live on Screen, or career highlights productions with composers like James Newton Howard and Giorgio Moroder, as well as in-concert productions of well-known television and film franchises.
The new alliance will see London based Senbla collaborate with GEA Live on a range of endeavours including the Live in Concert version of Netflix's hit series Our Planet – narrated by Sir David Attenborough, a space project with the European Space Agency with never-before-seen footage and music by film composer Ilan Eshkeri, plus an all new arena spectacular curated by the late legendary film composer Ennio Morricone.
Floris Douwes, CEO and Co-Founder of GEA Live comments "Senbla and Ollie Rosenblatt have been trusted allies throughout the years. The new partnership came about almost organically and sets us up for further sustainable growth into new markets. The synergetic advantage it creates, to mutually develop and produce IP with a strategy that is both global in appeal as well as locally informed, is second to none".
Ollie Rosenblatt, CEO of Senbla adds, "As we continue to build momentum and scope in the business, I am delighted our next European chapter is with Floris, Ton and the wonderful team and shows they have built at GEA Live. We have a range of creative ideas we are developing, which match our ambition to bring the best entertainment to the fans, whilst really engaging IP and rights owners to provide maximum commercial return".
The new alliance with GEA Live marks the latest in Senbla's continued growth, following its acquisition last year of music festivals Strawberries and Creem and The Cambridge Club, as well as, through Sony Masterworks, acquiring businesses in the experiential space, family entertainment and theatre both in the UK and the US most notably Terrapin Station Entertainment and Seaview Productions.
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THE HEADLINES
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The music industry must plan for the day when AI music-generation tools produce humanlike music in bulk (see Features)
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Independent music community publishes '100 Voices' on why Universal’s acquisition of Downtown should be blocked (see News)
Universal and Warner said to be close to landmark AI licensing deals (see News)
Industry leaders outline challenges to Creative Industries Minister (see News)
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Spotify is completely unserious about combating AI music (see Comment)