Türkiye and UK Live Music Leaders Unite in London to Strengthen Industry Ties
Hosted by H.E. Osman Koray Ertaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Kingdom, and Zümrüt Arol, CEO of BKM, leading figures from the Turkish and British live music industries came together in London with the support of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).
To celebrate the international rise of Türkiye’s live music sector, prominent representatives of the UK and Turkish live entertainment industries gathered last night at a special reception held at the Residence of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in London.
The evening was hosted by H.E. Osman Koray Ertaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Kingdom, and Zümrüt Arol, CEO of BKM, one of Türkiye’s leading live entertainment companies. The reception was organized with the support of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).
Türkiye’s live entertainment sector has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, recording a 30% increase in ticket revenues in 2025. This success is regarded as a significant reflection of the country’s vibrant cultural life and strong music industry.
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The reception was attended by leading representatives from Türkiye’s live entertainment, arts and culture, and media sectors.
Among the Turkish participants were Tan Sağtürk, advisor to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on cultural and arts policies; Görgün Taner, General Director of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV); Cemil Demirok, General Manager of Piu Entertainment; Batuhan Alioğlu of Pozitif; Filiz Ova, General Manager of Zorlu PSM; and Karaoğlan Taşçı, General Manager of Biletix Türkiye.
Representing the United Kingdom were Stuart Galbraith, Founder and CEO of Kilimanjaro; Andrew Parsons, Vice President for EMEA at Ticketmaster; John Giddings, Founder and Managing Director of SOLO and organizer of the Isle of Wight Festival; Sam Phillips, Head of Promoter Operations at Kilimanjaro; Carl Leighton-Pope, Founder of The Leighton-Pope Organisation; Rod MacSween, Founder and CEO of ITB; and Alpaslan Düven, Chairman of the Association of Turkish-British Journalists and UK Representative of Turkuvaz Media, along with representatives of other leading UK music industry media organizations.
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Ambassador Osman Koray Ertaş highlighted that Türkiye ranks among the world’s top five most-visited tourism destinations and welcomes more than four million British visitors annually.
He emphasized that Türkiye stands out not only for its unique coastlines and natural beauty but also for its rich historical heritage, archaeological treasures, world-renowned cuisine, and longstanding tradition of hospitality. He noted that the country continues to attract international visitors, investors, and global events.
Ambassador Ertaş also underlined Türkiye’s growing role as a hub for international diplomacy, culture, and sports, recalling that the country will host major global gatherings this year, including the NATO Summit, COP31, and the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States. He added that Istanbul is increasingly becoming a global center bringing together leading artists as well as major cultural and sporting events. The return of Formula 1 to Istanbul Park in 2027, he noted, will further enhance Türkiye’s international profile.
Speaking at the event, John Giddings said:
“Until I came here, I hadn’t realized how many concerts I’ve promoted in this wonderful country. I’ve worked with The Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna, Shakira, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, and many more. Considering everything happening around the world, I believe that at this point we need you more than you need us. I recently began representing your fantastic girl group Manifest. Their four arena shows and three festival appearances in Türkiye have sold out. They will perform at Wembley in October. Please come along. We’re going to take T-pop to the world.”
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Görgün Taner, General Director of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), highlighted Türkiye’s young population and its potential in the live music sector, stating:
“The most important factor is that Türkiye has a very young population. This younger generation follows concerts and live music events with great enthusiasm. Today, we see that Türkiye has secured an important place on the touring map for international artists, concerts, musicals, and a wide range of live events. We want to see more international artists performing in Türkiye, and at the same time, we hope to see more artists from Türkiye taking the stage in the United Kingdom.”
