Gadget is one of Switzerland’s longest-standing promoters, having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. In 2020, after already collaborating successfully for years, Gadget joined forces with WePromote, a promoter network responsible for some of Switzerland’s most beloved festivals, including OpenAir St.Gallen. CTS Eventim bought a 60% stake in this newly formed business, and brought André Béchir’s abc Productions into the mix, forming the full-service agency Gadget abc Entertainment Group AG, as it is known today.
As part of the Eventim Live network, Gadget promotes small, medium-sized and major concerts as well as festivals, including OpenAir St.Gallen, Summerdays, Seaside, Stars In Town, ZKB Unique Moments, and Radar Festival for New Music. It is also Switzerland’s largest artist management company and booking agency, working with 20-plus artists.
Stefan Wyss, Partner & Director Concerts & Touring at Gadget Entertainment Group, found some time amidst a busy events schedule, to break down the state of play in a country that’s comparatively small in Europe, but whose population still has a lot of spending power.
He touched on the state of play at Gadget, the health of the Swiss live entertainment market in general, and the importance of taking care of the next generation of talent, including the ways in which Gadget puts its money where its mouth is.
And, seeing how Swiss rock and pop band Hecht just sold-out Zurich’s Letzigrund stadium within 90 minutes – only Taylor Swift and Imagine Dragons did it faster – he also talked about the power of domestic talent.
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Pollstar: How would you sum up the state of business at Gadget Entertainment Group?
Stefan Wyss: Generally, the business is in a healthy and stable position. Headline business is solid and in line with last year. Overall activity levels are consistent, and we’re seeing solid demand across most segments. Very positive are the festival sales this year – they are much stronger and faster than last year.
How does this year compare to 2025?
Compared to 2025, the overall pace feels similar. Touring activity remains high, and audiences continue to prioritise live experiences. Very hot Artists like The Neighbourhood or Lorde are selling even quicker. But we see on the other hand an increasing number of shows that are selling below expectations.
How are your festivals coming together?
Our festivals are shaping up very positively, with strong sales and encouraging momentum across the board. One key dynamic is the importance of early and compelling line-up announcements, which significantly influence sales. At the same time, competition remains intense, so clear positioning and strong programming are more important than ever. We expect to have to record results for Stars in Town and Summerdays Festival.
How would you describe the health of the Swiss live events market in general?
The Swiss live market is in good shape overall. Demand remains solid, and people are still willing to spend on live experiences, however people are becoming more selective about the shows they attend.
How’s the grassroots scene doing?
The grassroots scene remains essential, but it is clearly under increasing pressure. In Zurich in particular, we have significantly fewer venues than we used to, especially in the club segment, which makes it harder for emerging artists to gain live experience.
At the same time, there are still ways to create opportunities. At Gadget, we actively try to support new talent through dedicated formats and platforms. For example, initiatives like the Intro Stage at Openair St. Gallen or the Radar Festival in Zurich are specifically designed to showcase up-and-coming artists and give them visibility in front of larger audiences. These kinds of formats are becoming more and more important as traditional grassroots structures decline.
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How important is domestic talent to your business?
Domestic talent plays a crucial role for us. Major Swiss artists such as Hecht and Patent Ochsner are doing phenomenal business locally. With Hecht we sold-out arenas in Zurich, Bern and Basel alongside an extensive run of club dates across the country.
With Hecht, we have now announced the first stadium show of a Domestic Swiss band at the Letzigrund in Zurich on June 12, 2027. 50,000 sold out in 90 minutes. This is a huge success—not just for the band. It’s also a special milestone for Gadget. As a 360° agency, the team has been supporting Hecht in the areas of management, booking, publishing, and the label for 15 years, and together they’ve brought countless live shows and projects to life: Olivier Joye, Head of Booking & Promoter at Gadget has been with the band since the beginning. Swiss artists have built very strong connections with local audiences, and their relevance continues to grow. Developing local acts is an important part of our long-term strategy. Gadget is the leading artist management and booking agency company in Switzerland, collaborating with 20-plus artists.
Any other trends you’re observing that stand out to you?
One noticeable trend is the growing polarization in the market: major acts are performing exceptionally well, while mid-level acts need to work harder to stand out. At the same time, genre boundaries are becoming less relevant, and audiences are increasingly open to diverse line-ups.
What’s the biggest challenge you’re currently facing and where do you see the biggest opportunities?
A key challenge is the tightening infrastructure, particularly the limited availability of suitable venues in key cities. We are losing venues in Zurich, especially at club level. Due to gentrification, there are hardly any new venues opening in the city center as rents have become unaffordable. We are therefore in a promising dialogue with the authorities and are working on alternative solutions.
Rising costs also remain a factor. On the opportunity side, strong demand for live experiences, combined with a new generation of artists, creates exciting potential for growth and innovation.
What will be important going forward for the professionals running this industry to make sure this remains an exciting, culturally relevant business that can help develop the careers of new talent?
It will be essential to continue investing in new talent. And in sustainable venue structures. This includes maintaining spaces for live music, creating new ones where necessary, and adapting to changing audience expectations. Long-term thinking will be key to ensuring cultural relevance.
Switzerland is not one homogeneous country. How different are Switzerland’s individual cantons culturally, and how does that impact your work?
Switzerland is highly diverse, both linguistically and culturally, and that has a direct impact on programming and marketing. Due to linguistic diversity, the Swiss market features many German, French, and Italian artists. We partner closely with these markets to host arena shows for acts like AnnenMayKanterei or Eros Ramazzotti, while also developing new talent. Audience preferences can differ significantly from region to region, so understanding these nuances is essential. A tailored, local approach is often required to be successful.
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