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CSB Boss Celebrates 25 Years in the Entertainment Industry
Kenneth Svoldgaard, co-owner and CEO of Danish promoter and booking agency CSB Island Entertainment, is celebrating a remarkable 25-year journey in the live entertainment industry — a career that has taken him to 52 countries across five continents, produced global tribute shows, and landed international superstars like Sir Elton John.
Based on the small Danish island of Fanoe, Svoldgaard runs CSB alongside his father, Carsten Svoldgaard, who founded the company in 2000.
At the time, Kenneth had been studying to become a teacher in Aalborg when his father persuaded him to take a year off to join the family business. He never looked back.
“I know the industry for better or worse, but I have never regretted my choice — quite the opposite,” Svoldgaard says.
From Tribute Shows to Global Stages
CSB’s flagship production, THE SHOW – A Tribute to ABBA, has been instrumental in shaping Svoldgaard’s career. The in-house production, which he describes as his “crash course” in the music business, propelled CSB into the global tribute market.
"Our ABBA show (THE SHOW) taught me everything about the music industry," says Kenneth Svoldgaard, and continues:
"For the first time, I had to take on every role myself. CSB is the producer, management, agent, promoter, and PR agency. With that show, we made a strong entry into the tribute market with several of the best bands and shows within the genre. Our global network has been established based on THE SHOW, which has enabled us to successfully bring the Danish band Queen Machine to the US, England, Germany, Poland, and even Monte Carlo, where they performed for Princess Stéfanie." he says.
The production has become one of the world’s leading ABBA tributes, with highlights including a sold-out performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2007 — a rare feat for a tribute act.
"It has been voted as the most famous venue in the world in our industry several times. They usually don’t allow tribute shows, so it was a big win when we were able to perform with THE SHOW, our tribute show to ABBA. It was a huge success, and we had a total sell-out with 5,500 people. It opened the door for arena tours across Europe and is one of the reasons why it is the leading ABBA show in the world today. We have since toured 52 countries across 5 continents."
However, success hasn’t come without challenges. In 2015, Svoldgaard was personally sued by Universal Music over trademark issues related to the show`s name.
"It was very intense, but at the same time also a compliment, as our show is the leading one in the market. There are countless ABBA shows in the world, but Universal went after us when they needed to file a lawsuit. They had to set an example. And even though we had to change our name, we are fortunately still just as strong as before." he says.
CSB was forced to adjust the branding but continued touring without losing momentum.
A Landmark Moment: Elton John
Another defining moment came in 2010, when CSB secured its first booking with Sir Elton John.
“It started with one concert in the Faroe Islands. Then we did three more in Denmark. For a small company from Fanoe, it was a huge step,” Svoldgaard says.
Over the years, CSB has also helped bring the Danish Queen tribute band Queen Machine to stages in the U.S., UK, Germany, Poland, and even Monaco — where they performed for Princess Stéphanie.
Staying True to Quality
Despite the international reach, CSB Island Entertainment remains rooted in its core values. The company’s motto, “Quality Through Experience,” remains central to every project.
"No matter which artist, show, or event we present, the most important thing is that we can vouch for the quality. When CSB presents something on stage, our goal is that people leave with the experience of having received more value than they expected." Svoldgaard says.
Today, father and son run CSB Island Entertainment with a team of five additional employees from their office on Fanoe, Denmark.
"The most important thing I have learned from my father is that if you truly believe in something and
work purposefully towards it, anything is possible. Both ABBA at the Royal Albert Hall and Sir Elton John are good examples of that. And Queen Machine too, just wait and see." Svoldgaard concludes.