Entertainment promoters based in foreign countries
Tuesday, 17 August 2004
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Entertainment promoters based in foreign countries
Authorization to operate in France, formalities
In France, the practice of the profession of live entertainment promoter is regulated.
As a result, private or public sector organizations which produce public presentations of entertainment called « professional » are obligated to hold a live entertainment promoter license in order to practice this profession (entertainment venue operators, producers, tour promoters or entertainment distributors).
The conditions under which promoters who are not based in France may practice their profession on French territory, as well as the responsibilities of promoters based in France who do business with them, were specified in recent legislation.
European promoters holding licenses deemed equivalent
Only promoters who are European citizens may practice their profession in France without holding the French license, and only if they hold a license which has been deemed equivalent by the French Minister of Culture.
Nb > European Union member states: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden (for the ten new member states of the European Union - Cyprus - Estonia - Latvia - Lithuania - Hungary - Malta - Poland - Slovenia - Slovakia - Czech Republic - see the « News » section) + the three member states of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) + Switzerland, in accordance with appendix I of the agreement on the free movement of citizens signed by the European Union and Switzerland published by the Council and the Commission decision of April 4, 2002.
If the license has not yet been deemed equivalent, the promoter must present the license to the Minister of Culture.
Authorization to operate in France, formalities
In France, the practice of the profession of live entertainment promoter is regulated.
As a result, private or public sector organizations which produce public presentations of entertainment called « professional » are obligated to hold a live entertainment promoter license in order to practice this profession (entertainment venue operators, producers, tour promoters or entertainment distributors).
The conditions under which promoters who are not based in France may practice their profession on French territory, as well as the responsibilities of promoters based in France who do business with them, were specified in recent legislation.
European promoters holding licenses deemed equivalent
Only promoters who are European citizens may practice their profession in France without holding the French license, and only if they hold a license which has been deemed equivalent by the French Minister of Culture.
Nb > European Union member states: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden (for the ten new member states of the European Union - Cyprus - Estonia - Latvia - Lithuania - Hungary - Malta - Poland - Slovenia - Slovakia - Czech Republic - see the « News » section) + the three member states of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) + Switzerland, in accordance with appendix I of the agreement on the free movement of citizens signed by the European Union and Switzerland published by the Council and the Commission decision of April 4, 2002.
If the license has not yet been deemed equivalent, the promoter must present the license to the Minister of Culture.
- If the Minister deems the license to be equivalent, he issues a receipt which serves as a license valid for the category and duration of the license presented by the promoter. The promoter must then transmit the license and the receipt, by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt, to the competent prefect at least one month before the start of public presentation (see the file Live entertainment promoters – the license system, paragraph Conditions for license issuance and renewal ) ;
- If the Minister deems that the license is not equivalent, he informs the promoter by means of a justified decision. In this case, the promoter must submit to the same obligations as other promoters who are not based in France.
In most cases, European promoters will be required to submit to the same obligations as other promoters who are not based in France. Indeed, there is almost no legislation in European Union countries governing procedures for authorizing the practice of the profession of entertainment promoter which approximates that of the French license for live entertainment promoters.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 13 December 2006 )
