Christian Bunke - Booker

How did you get into booking? What exactly do you do with District19 and New Evil Music?Christian: I work in the music-business for 23 years now. Starting as a metal DJ. After some years I organized underground shows with friends. It started to grow bigger and bigger and got more professional. So, I decided to run my own agency (New Evil Music). For more than 20 years now, I organize/promote shows in the Rhein-Main-Neckar area, including my own festival, the Heidelberg Deathfest. Some of the biggest names I worked with are: KREATOR, SEPULTURA, BEHEMOTH, UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER, CANNIBAL CORPSE, and many more. The other part is D19 - a booking agency based in Austria. Basically, the complete opposite of what I am doing with NEM. I book around 40 bands (ASPHYX, NECROPHOBIC, STALLION, etc.) in DE/CH/LU. Not like other agencies, we book in territories. I started to work for D19 in 2020. Not the best time to start, but since the pandemic is over, we have a lot of work in organizing club shows, tours and festivals. I enjoy both jobs and don’t want to miss one of them!

Booking agencies are highly sought after by bands. What criteria do you use to choose the bands you work with?
Christian: Yes, that is true, but since I just work for an agency, I am not responsible for signing the bands. Of course, my boss asks upfront, what I think about band XY. But in the end, it is his decision. I guess there are different, important points: How well is the band known in the scene? What does the band want to do in the future? How many shows do they want to play? How are they organized? Do they have a label & management? Can we earn money with the band? Do we like the music? Will it fit with the persons behind it?

What advice would you give to bands looking for a booking agency?
Christian: Think exactly about, what you want to do and where you see your band within the next five years? Do you want to tour Europe and/or overseas? Do you have some budget for this? What is your show about? Is everybody in your band willing to do some sacrifices for this? Is everybody on the same page? Only with a solid basement, you can build a house.

Release date: 21st of April, 2025

Instagram contact: https://www.instagram.com/newevil.music/