​It’s a family business - isn’t it?

This post took me a while to write, I guess partly because I just wasn’t ready for it emotionally. You might recall me saying I grew up in the music industry. My parents owned a well-known concert promotions agency and have been in the business for more than 35 years. They took me to concerts and on tours even before I was born, and I’ve toured all over the world with artists such as Phil Collins, Marillion, Luciano Pavarotti, and The Three Tenors. I even played backstage with the crew of Genesis and had dinner with Peter Gabriel, just to do some name-dropping. Phil Collins sang Happy Birthday to me on my 12th birthday, and Pavarotti on my 13th. We grew up together. Many artists grew big with us and I grew big with them.

Although I did enjoy life on the road, I did have my regular life at home as well; I was just taking a little more time off from Kindergarten or school than other kids. And I was able to see the world. I have travelled to so many places in the world - something I am glad I had the chance to do. But sometimes, I guess, I wish I had a more regular life as well.

Nevertheless, I wouldn’t have wanted to miss one second of this part of my life. 

At the age of 15, I officially started working for my parent’s company. Before that I would randomly suggest several artists to my dad. Back in the day finding talent was just different. I was constantly listening to the radio or reading international magazines to help find the next hot act! Yeah – it was that long ago. One of my early suggestions for example was MC Hammer, but unfortunately my dad did not believe the hype and chose not to promote him. He was wrong. MC Hammer had quite a successful tour.

Looking back, I have no idea who ended up putting on the tour. At that age, stage, and time in my life, I didn’t yet care about that side of the business and I had no idea about the concept of “competition”.

As my dad wanted another tip from me when he saw how well MC Hammer did, I came up with Vanilla Ice. Unfortunately he was a „one hit wonder“ and that tour did not sell as well as expected. You can’t always be right and in the end, it’s sometimes the luck of the draw.

Interestingly enough my dad also asked me about which of the remaining artists from Take That he should be promoting. I suggested either Mark or Robbie Williams, he chose Gary Barlow. Gary Barlow is definitely a talented artist, but he has yet to achieve the same level of success as Robbie Williams.

Moving forward to when I finished school, my dad told me to study something solid and sound, and I decided it would be law. But this bored me to death. And as soon as I realized I only needed good arguments in order to win a case, regardless of how right/just or wrong/unjust the situation, I lost every single bit of motivation to finish my degree. Moreover, I had also started my own management company in addition to working at Peter Rieger Konzertagentur (PRK) on a more regular basis. So being that I was establishing my own company, building my client base, as well as developing the “newcomer” department at PRK, I couldn’t find the time for studying either.

My team and I started signing newcomer acts like: Maria Mena, Warren Suicide, Eli Paperboy Reed, Amos Lee, the Alin Coen Band, Terry Lynn, and Jarle Bernhoft and amongst others, in addition to later acts such as Tim Bendzko, Chima, Janelle Monae, Nikka Costa, Amanda Jensen, and The Pretty Reckless, just to mention a few more. I even got Westernhagen to work with us!

One would think that considering everything up to this point, that the rest of the story could have gone on like a fairy tale, with a “happily ever after ending”, but sadly it became more like a nightmare.

Last October, late into my pregnancy with my second child, PRK decided to unceremoniously kick my mother and myself out of the company. Through dedication, commitment, and hard work we held the company together and tirelessly nurtured what was essentially our baby all along. Although PRK has never ended my business relationship, they have simply decided not to pay my bills anymore, even though at that time I was still essentially delivering work in the form of new acts, artists, and contracts for them. Which is GREAT, considering you devote all of your available time working for a company, which does not honor your loyalty or pay you whilst you are pregnant! No…it doesn’t at all make you scared or worry about the future. It just leaves you having a blissfully wonderful and relaxed pregnancy without any complications. As if! I seriously hope, that other self-employed women or female entrepreneurs don’t have to deal with a situation like this!

So anyhow….after all this, I feel left somewhat with the feeling that someone stole my future from me, took away my baby, and everything that I worked so hard for and invested my life’s blood in. I dedicated my life, and my parents dedicated their lives to this company. At some point I was determined to take over this business.

But…it just did not happen. So. This is it. My mom and I are longer a part of PRK anymore. My father was not the reason and played no part in our leaving. The rest is up to your imagination to figure it out.

I was upset…I was sad…it was hell and what we went through would definitely make a great TV series.

But in the end, I am happy to be able to start fresh and am excited about creating something new without a listed company like CTS Eventim (Computer Ticket Service) and the politics that go with it. I think “ecstatic” is the word I’d also use to describe the feeling of FINALLY having the freedom to be able to realize my ideas, fulfill my dreams, and receive my due recognition, without having to fight for my dreams or validation. Ultimately I am looking forward to being able to be honored for my work and commitment, and not having someone else take all the credit.
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So…here’s to letting go of my childhood, my youth, and my past as I venture off to new beginnings, adventures, and challenges. I have numerous options on the table right now and I feel good about taking my time to decide which path I will follow.

There are actually two tracks, I want to include in this post, as they both fit for me at this time.

First of all: Delamere - Heart 

I chose this track because of the lyrics:

I've numbered for days
But day time boxes are moving
And I can't think the other way
To get from this all

Please come in this way
Another time but the one that is crushing
Me into the flood
The flood that surrounds me

I'm not moving
Just sitting and waiting
For my chance to come
Just wait for my heart
Wait for my heart

Wait is past on me
I've fallen apart from the incident
And I can't escape this fire
The fire from my head

I'm not moving
Just sitting and waiting
For my chance to come
Just wait for my heart
Wait for my heart
Just wait for my heart
Wait for my heart

And last but not least Flor - Let Me In

I also chose this song because of it´s energy and the lyrics. 
​
Under my skin
Not much feels like this
So cold it burns, soft spoken words
"All I need is you to let me in"

I don't know why
The bad tricks the good side
It won't let go
Innocent it may be, but it cuts deep and stays
It never goes away

And I'll be sorry if you leave me
I'll be sorry if you go
And I'll be sorry when you leave me
I'll be sorry when you go

You say you want me
You say you love my mind
Show it sometime
I know you know
You're never gonna get my heart
You're never gonna get my heart
Until you love in kind

And I'll be sorry if you leave me
I'll be sorry if you go
And I'll be sorry when you leave me
I'll be sorry when you go

Hold you close till I see you go
Know I can't hold on for long
Hold you tight till you need to go
Know you can't be still for long

Hold you close till I see you go
Know I can't hold on for long

And I'll be sorry if you leave me
I'll be sorry if you go
And I'll be sorry when you leave me
I'll be sorry when you go