UK specialist live music investment fund Edge Performance VCT has announced its involvement in a new live music company headed by former Sony Music Europe president, Paul Burger.

UK specialist live music investment fund Edge Performance VCT has announced its involvement in a new live music company headed by former Sony Music Europe president, Paul Burger.

With £850,000 (€1.2million) of start up capital from Edge, live music operation, Thunderroad Promotions Ltd, will partner with AEG Live on a series of live events ranging from club to arena level.

“The strategic alliance between what Edge and AEG provide – working capital on one side and an impressive live music infrastructure on the other – makes it a very good vehicle for all parties involved,” says Burger, who continues to run his management company, Soho Artists, in tandem with the new venture.

“Thunderroad will be doing the promotion, while AEG brings skill, know-how, and critically, relationships with talent,” adds Edge founder David Glick.

The alliance has taken eight months to formalise, and is part of Edge’s ongoing strategy to work with what Glick describes as “best of breed” within the industry. “This is one of a series of deals we’ve done, and we’ll do another series towards the end of the year, or early next year,” he says.

Since launching its VCT in early 2006, the fund has raised a total of £19.8m (€28.6m). It is believed to be targeting another £25m (€36m) in 2008, and Glick is currently investigating a number of opportunities in the US. (Under UK tax rules, up to half of a fund can be invested abroad.)

Alongside Burger, the Edge team also now includes promoter Harvey Goldsmith; artist managers Frank Presland and Michael Eaton; and Sir Robin Miller, former chairman of both EMAP and HMV.