John Giddings
John Giddings is an English music agent and promoter who has run the Isle of Wight Festival since its revival in 2002. Giddings graduated from Exeter University with a Philosophy & Sociology degree. He worked booking bands at the university as social secretary and later entertainment chairman.
After university he joined the music business during the summer of punk and went on to represent X-Ray Spex, The Adverts, The Ramones, Iggy Pop & The Stranglers. Then in the early 80’s with the new romantic wave he represented Paul Young, Alison Moyet, Howard Jones, Big Country & Tears for Fears. He worked for MAN before forming TBA and then forming Solo, which he is still a part of today.
After forming Solo, Giddings was employed as the agent responsible for David Bowie's concert at Wembley Stadium followed soon afterwards by a stadium tour with Genesis. In 1990 The Rolling Stones took on Giddings as European promoter and the likes of U2, Madonna and Celine Dion were soon added to his roster of clients.
Over the past 30 years Giddings has represented artists such as The Corrs, The Police, Lady Gaga, Westlife, Boyzone, N*E*R*D and Pharrell Williams, Simple Minds and Spandau Ballet.
In 2008, Solo Agency & Promotions managed three of the five top-selling concert tours around the world. The Sticky & Sweet Tour by Madonna ranked highest, grossing $281.6 million. The second-highest tour was by Celine Dion, and the fifth-highest tour was by The Police.
In 2009 Giddings was recruited as the global agent and promoter of Universal Music's Formula 1 live music event, F1 Rocks.
Also in 2009, Billboard named three of Giddings' clients as the top-grossing tours of the previous decade - The Rolling Stones at number 1 with $869m, U2 at number 2 with $844m and Madonna at number 3 with $801m.
In 2002 he restarted the Isle of Wight Festival, known as the ‘Woodstock of Europe’ which featured Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and The Doors in the late 60’s.
It had been banned by an act of parliament for the last 32 years as it drew 600,000 music fans and brought the island to a standstill. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, featuring David Bowie, REM, The Who, Depeche Mode, Rolling Stones, Blur, Paul Macartney, Green Day. And both brothers in Oasis twice each!!
Meanwhile booking Live Nation tours for Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna , The Police, Beyonce to name a few.
Present day John is EU Touring Consultant for Live Nation and chairman of Solo Agency Ltd.