MB Media splits

News

Gary Cooper Aug 7 2008, 8:00am

Changes at LiMS Organiser - but the show goes on

LiMS Show organiser and publisher of Guitar Buyer and Drummer magazines, MB Media, has signalled a major change of direction by splitting into two separate limited companies - MB Interactive and MB Media. MB Interactive is to be headed by Clive Morton, organiser of LiMS, while Graham Butterworth will be running the publishing side, MB Media.

'We've not had a big falling out,' says Morton. 'We've just decided that the company would be better focused if one of us looked after LiMS and the other the publishing side.'

Asked about the future of LiMS and whether it had been as profitable as some industry observers had assumed, Morton accepted that the show had lost money, but claimed it had been a relatively small amount and that a loss had been anticipated.

'A lot of that was due to investment in getting the show started. Every show I've ever done has lost money at the start - Music Live and even the London Guitar Show lost money in the first year.'

Morton insists that LiMS will be going ahead next year, bigger and better, with significant amounts of space already booked.

Commenting on the split, Graham Butterworth said: 'Both elements of the business needed more focus and they weren't getting it. Rather than one side complementing the other, they were draining one another. Now we'll each be able to concentrate on just one area and give them our full attention.'

MB Media will remain at the Ely headquarters.

MB Media: 01353 556677
MB Interactive: 01572 757170