Jim King, the man behind festivals including BST Hyde Park, All Points East, Lido, Forwards, Roundhay Festival and Rock en Seine talks festival business in the latest edition of the Access All Areas Backstage podcast. Before joining AEG, he was behind the debut of festivals including RockNess and Bestival, and in 2004 he launched his own event production agency Loud Sound – now known as LS Events. Having been an independent promoter for many years, Jim outlines why he believes independent festivals are more important than ever. “The UK is the leading festival market and that comes from the independent sector,” he says. As well as making suggestions that if implemented would help put independent festivals in a stronger position, Jim discusses other pertinent industry-wide issues and offers advice to budding promoters.