News

Music Promoter DHP Wins National Music Award

• 29th Oct 2012

Independent music promoter DHP has beaten off stiff competition to be named as the National Promoter of the Year at the Live Music Business Awards 2012.

The Nottingham based group was awarded the top accolade by music industry professionals from a tough shortlist which included industry heavyweights Live Nation Entertainment and SJM Concerts.

DHP MD George Akins said, “We’ve worked really hard to establish ourselves as a national promoter and to do it the DHP way. We set up in Nottingham more than 30 years ago, and now we’re operating successfully nationwide.

“We believe our mixture of big company capability and small company ethics makes us unique and we’re delighted to see this recognised. There was really stiff competition from major players in this category. For an independent to come out on top, judged by our peers, is just fantastic. It’s real credit to the whole DHP team.”

DHP Group promote more than 1200 shows a year across the UK working with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Rufus Wainwright, Imelda May, Human league, Flaming Lips, Garbage and New Order.

DHP also operate the several hugely successful live music venues including the internationally renowned Rock City alongside three other live music venues in Nottingham and the Thekla in Bristol. It also works with partners at The Jericho in Oxford and Manchester Cathedral to deliver their live music programmes.

The promoter also organises festivals including Dot To Dot in Nottingham and Bristol; Hit The Deck, which was nominated for ‘Best Festival’ at the 2012 Kerrang Awards; Gathering in Oxford and Splendour Festival with Nottingham City Council.

DHP was also shortlisted for Best Venue – Major Club (Rock City), Best Venue – Club (Thekla), Best Festival 15,000 to 40,000 (Splendour Festival) and Breakthrough Artiste (Dog Is Dead).

The Live Music Business Awards recognise excellence and talent among promoters, venue operators, festival organisers and agents. The awards were created three years ago by the publisher of LIVE UK, a magazine dedicated to the companies and individuals working in this sector of the creative industries. The 2012 Awards were announced in October.

Paul Boswell (Free Trade Agency) winner of the Agent of the Year category at this year’s award ceremony commented on DHP receiving the National Promoter of the year Award, saying: “I’m not sure I’m happy about everyone discovering my secret!”

DHP also manage Dog is Dead whose first album has been released by Atlantic in October.