Warner acquires live specialist Vivo in Italy

Warner Music has acquired Vivo, a leading live events company in Italy.

Functioning as a standalone unit within the Warner Music Italy company, Vivo will continue to be led by its founders, brothers Corrado and Sandro Rizzotto, and will move offices from Pordenone to Milan.

Vivo, formerly called Indipendente, provides booking and promotion services. Over the last eleven years the company has produced tours for artists including Radiohead, Amy Winehouse, Sigur Ros, The Killers, Coldplay, Arcade Fire and Franz Ferdinand, along with Warner Music acts such as Paolo Nutini (pictured) and Muse, including their 60,000 capacity gig at San Siro stadium in June 2010.

In addition, the company has managed popular Italian festivals such as Bands Apart Festival and I-Day Festival which this year, in its eleventh edition, will feature Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys and The Offspring.

Corrado Rizzotto, MD, Vivo said “Since we first met with Massimo Giuliano and Warner Music it has been clear we share the same vision for the future. In recent times, the national and international live landscape has completely changed and we think that in order for Vivo to stay competitive we need to continue to grow. Warner Music is our ideal partner to develop our activities, while keeping our independent spirit.”

Massimo Giuliano, Chairman and CEO, Warner Music Italy said “I have long admired Corrado and Sandro’s creativity and determination, so I am delighted to welcome them and their team, who will further expand our expertise and resources across our growing range of artist services.  This agreement is a natural move as it builds on the existing co-operation between our two companies, both of which put artists at the heart of everything we do. We are all excited about the possibilities this generates for developing our relationships with International artists, through new creative and commercial opportunities that will build their long-term success in Italy.”

John Reid, CEO, Warner Music Europe and International Marketing said “As one of the region’s most well-respected, innovative touring and events companies, Vivo will add further strength and flexibility to our live operations in Italy. At the same time, the deal is another significant step in the transformation of our role in the European music value chain, as we expand our ability to partner with both local and international artists across all their activities and at all stages of their careers.”

Vivo will operate alongside F&P, a venture Warner Music Italy formed with Ferdinando Salzano in 2008, which provides a wide range of artist services, including events and touring, sponsorship, multimedia activities and TV production. F&P works with local Italian artists such as Ligabue, Laura Pausini, Zucchero, Alessandra Amoroso, Biagio Antonacci and Elisa.Music Business Worldwide