FKP Scorpio


FKP Scorpio is an international concert promoter, based in Hamburg, Germany. Founded by Folkert Koopmans in 1990, the group is widely recognised as one of Europe's largest festival and concert promoters.

History

Early years

In January 1981, aged 17, Folkert Koopmans promoted his first concert for a local band named Amuthon in Marienhafe, where he grew up. After dropping out of Hochschule Emden/Leer, Koopmans moved to Hamburg, where he worked as a booking agent for Große Freiheit 36 and Docks. He founded "SCORPIO" Konzertproduktionen GmbH in October 1990, named after the Scorpio zodiac sign.

Name change

In 2000, a band named SCORPIONS sued Scorpio, claiming that the similarity of the name could cause confusion. Folkert and the band eventually settled, renaming his company FKP SCORPIO Konzertproduktionen GmbH.

2013-present

In 2013, Koopmans promoted Stephan Thanscheidt to co-CEO and partner of the business.
In 2014, FKP acquired Finnish booking agency Fullsteam.
In 2017, CTS Eventim bought a 50.2% stake in FKP Scorpio, effectively acquiring the business.
In November 2017, FKP's Hamburg offices were raided by the Hamburg Dienststelle Interne Ermittlungen after an anonymous tip-off that the company offered 100 free tickets for a Rolling Stones concert to the Hamburg-Nord district office that approved said concert. The so-called "Freikarten-Affäre" ended in the district chief being fined and no bribery charges being found on FKP's behalf.
In 2020 and 2021, FKP expanded its operations in the booking agency space. FKP Scorpio acquired Nordic Live in January 2020. At the time they represented over 60 artists including Alan Walker, Ina Wroldsen and Kurt Nilsen. In the same month, Koopmans launched the All Artists Agency "full-service agency", after CTS were blocked from acquiring the Four Artists Agency. It also formed a partnership with Berlin-based agency Area One in April 2021, named FKP Area One, which specialises in rock/metal acts.
In 2024, FKP's UK subsidiary merged with indie promoter Communion Presents, forming "Communion ONE".

Festivals

FKP operates a number of festivals, namely:
FKP Scorpio also formerly operated Danish festivals Tinderbox and Northside with Down The Drain Holdings, from 2015 up until it sold its stake to DTD in 2018.

Notable artists

FKP Scorpio have promoted concerts for a number of notable artists, including The Rolling Stones, Roger Waters, and the Foo Fighters.
FKP has a close relationship in particular with Ed Sheeran, having promoted him in Germany since 2011, early on in his career.

Other ventures

FKP have previously organised musicals like "Mein Freund Wickie" and wrestling shows. Since 2008, it has also run the "Palazzo" Dinner theaters across Germany.
In 2008, FKP created the subsidiary FKP Ausstellungs und Betriebs, primarily to operate the Beatlemania Hamburg museum, which operated 2009-2012.
In 2013, FKP Scorpio launched its "Grün Rockt" suistainability initiative with the aim of reducing waste and emissions at its festivals. Since 2013, it has published a report for each festival detailing how much waste was produced and an evaluation of its sustainability measures. One of these measures, Trasholution, aims to gamifies recycling. FKP donate 1€ for each bag of waste collected by festivalgoers to local social projects; the live results are displayed on site.
In 2022, FKP launched a new subsidiary named FKP Show Creations, a production business focused on "musicals, shows, family entertainment and opera." Since renamed FKP Scorpio Entertainment, the division has produced licensed shows that have toured worldwide, for brands like Formula 1, Disney, Jurassic World and Minecraft.