Two prominent UK-based live music promoters, Communion Presents and FKP Scorpio UK, have joined forces to create a new company called Communion ONE.
The consolidated company says it will take advantage of FKP Scorpio’s European touring network, with offices in 11 European countries. In 2023, the Germany-headquartered live music giant sold 4 million tickets across Europe.
FKP Scorpio’s UK office launched in 2020.
Operating under one roof with immediate effect, Communion ONE’s team has promoted shows by artists including Ed Sheeran, Noah Kahan, Sam Fender, and Lewis Capaldi, to Phoebe Bridgers, Mitski, TEMS, The War On Drugs and Laufey.
Communion ONE will be led by a board including managing directors Daniel Ealam, Mazin Tappuni and Scott O’Neill.
The non-executive leadership team is formed by Communion Music’s Managing Director Jamie Emsell, Communion’s co-founders Kevin Jones and Ben Lovett, FKP Scorpio’s CEO and founder, Folkert Koopmans, and the promoter Carlo Scarampi as a Partner.
“Bringing our two brilliant teams together and combining our shared experience, resources and perspectives, is the most natural thing in the world. In doing so, we believe that Communion ONE is creating an even more compelling proposition for our existing and future clients. We’ve all had amazing success so far, but in many ways, we’re only just getting started,” the managing directors said in a joint statement.
“Bringing our two brilliant teams together and combining our shared experience, resources and perspectives, is the most natural thing in the world.”
Daniel Ealam, Mazin Tappuni and Scott O’Neill, Communion ONE
Carly Rocket was named Head of Operations at Communion ONE, while Julie Morgan, Olly Goddard, Rich Cheetham, Mike Werbowy, and Jack Dedman were named Heads of Marketing, Ticketing, Production, Finance and Venue Programming respectively.
Sam Laurence’s promoter imprint ‘dollop’ also joins the newly unified company, with Eve Thomas and Hayley Moss completing the promoter team.
According to the press release, various artists have “enjoyed much past success under the two companies or dollop’s guidance”.
Amongst them are the likes of Michael Kiwanuka, Self Esteem, Maggie Rogers, Holly Humberstone, Ben Howard, Olivia Dean, Dermot Kennedy, Jamie xx, The Lumineers, Bastille, Maisie Peters, George Ezra, Gabriels, Hauser, Greentea Peng, Jungle, The Reytons, Kelela, and Calum Scott.
Looking ahead, the new company will be building on the success of both entities while exploring new ventures, including a three-night event series at Bristol’s 15,000-capacity Queen Square planned for 2025.
The new company also plans to expand its outdoor portfolio and continue booking tvg hospitality’s UK portfolio and its affiliates, Lafayette, Omeara, The Social, along with new partnerships with Village Underground and EartH.
FKP Scorpio Entertainment (FKPE), is led by James Cassidy and Barry Campbell in London. Communion Presents’ sister companies, Communion Records and Communion Publishing (whose current and past rosters include Wunderhorse, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Laurel, Michael Kiwanuka, Tamino, Lucy Rose, and The Staves), will continue to operate independently of Communion ONE.
The merger comes amid losses suffered by the UK live music scene. Music Venue Trust reported that 16% of grassroots music venues, or a total of 125 spaces, closed their doors in the past year. About 38% of the remaining venues posted financial losses in 2023 despite an increased demand for tickets.
Music Business Worldwide