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WME hires agent to represent creative directors

WME has hired Erin Kapor as an agent with a focus on representing creative directors.

Kapor, who brings more than a decade of experience in creative representation and strategy, most recently served as SVP of creative at Original Creative Agency and previously worked for Downtown Music Publishing and Red Light Management, before switching to consulting as a creative strategist.

Her work has involved leading a roster of clients spanning music, politics, sports, fashion, brands and art.

WME says the hire is “a response to the rising number of talent across culture verticals”

The company says Los Angeles-based Kapor’s appointment is “a response to the rising number of talent across culture verticals continuing to blur the lines” between the various fields.

Joining Kapor at WME are clients including Ben Chappell, who has worked with acts such as Arctic Monkeys and Niall Horan, Clare Gillen (Rihanna), Cody “SSION” Critcheloe (Kim Petras, Robyn), Franc Fernandez (Lady Gaga, Miguel), James “Yimmy Yayo” Bailey (Alicia Keys, Nintendo), Joe Perez (Beyoncé, Louis Vuitton), creative studio TAWBOX (Drake, Boygenius), and Undercard Studio (FKA twigs, Blur).

They join WME’s existing roster in the space, which already includes designer KidSuper, Ethan Tobman, creative director for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, The Weeknd’s creative director La Mar Taylor and design studio Vita Motus, which has created concepts and installations for Coachella and Electric Daisy Carnival.

 


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CAA promotes trio to agents

Global talent firm Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has announced a trio of promotions in its music touring department.

Lola Castillo Murphy, Hugh Parsons and Matthew Rutledge have each been elevated to agents at the company.

London-based Murphy began her career as an intern in The Agency Group (now UTA) a decade ago before joining CAA in 2015 as a general department assistant. She worked with Jon Ollier, Rebecca Nichols, Ben Coles, Emma Banks, and Mike Greek prior to being promoted to coordinator in 2022, before being accepted to the agency’s trainee programme Elevate in 2023.

CAA’s Elevate programme is designed to nurture the talents of its agents and executives in training

Parsons, who is also based in London, started out at Island Records in 2016, where he worked in their Marketing team. In 2017, he joined CAA as an assistant to Laura Newton, and subsequently to Ben Kouijzer and Jen Hammel. He was accepted into Elevate in 2022 and promoted to coordinator in 2023.

Nashville-based Rutledge, meanwhile, held positions at The Agency Coalition and Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) before joining CAA as an assistant to Brian Waymire in 2021. He was upped to booking professional for the agency’s country fairs and festivals division within the music touring department last year.

CAA Elevate is the firm’s next-generation training and practical development curriculum with “an emphasis on entrepreneurialism, inclusion, curiosity, collaboration, service, and a growth mindset”. It is designed to cultivate best practices, encourage innovation, foster global strategic-thinking and nurture the talents of CAA’s agents and executives in training.

 


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Booking agency Upsurge expands to Europe

UK-based independent booking agency Upsurge has hired Philippe Van Leuven from Bandwerk in Belgium as the company’s first EU agent.

Van Leuven brings a roster that includes Death Lens, Ruby Haunt, Trauma Ray, Wrong Man, Soft Blue Shimmer and Chase Petra.

“Joining Upsurge is a very logical step to keep developing and growing the acts I’ve been working with the last few years,” says Van Leuven. “In an already competitive market, it also feels natural to combine forces. I very much admire Upsurge’s existing roster and their artist-focused approach. I’m super pleased to be able to reinforce the team and bring my own personal touch to the already amazing line-up.”

Upsurge, which is overseen by tour coordinator Flick Price-Thomas, has grown to a team of five since its inception by Eddie Griffiths in July 2022. The firm has booked artists on festivals such as Download, 2000Trees, Outbreak, Full Force, Resurrection, Summer Breeze, Copenhell and Damnation.

“Upsurge was born out of a love for alternative music and putting on shows”

“Upsurge was born out of a love for alternative music and putting on shows,” says Griffiths. “There’s so many incredible artists coming through those scenes and the underground, so with Upsurge I wanted to provide a home for these types of artists for touring.

“The stellar network of independent venues throughout the UK and Europe plays a very key role in what we do and is vital to our artists. I’m stoked to be part of an incredible team of Flick, Oscar, Lee and now Philippe who all share that same passion as I do and do it for the love of it.

“I didn’t expect things to grow like they have over such a short period of time and I’m truly honoured that Upsurge gets to work with so many of our favourite artists. This is all down to the hard work of our growing team.”

The agency’s roster includes the likes of Superheaven, Fiddlehead, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Speed, Split Chain, Bug Bath, Knives, Sick Joy, Pure Hex, Present, Panik Flower, Shooting Daggers, Splitknuckle, Stiff Meds, Out Of Love, Plastics and Cruelty.

 


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Strada Music agent Nigel Morton passes

Respected music agent and former artist manager Nigel Morton has died following a short illness.

Morton, who joined East Yorkshire-based folk, blues, acoustic, Americana and world music specialist Strada Music International in early 2023, passed away peacefully in hospital on Monday (4 March), surrounded by his family.

Starting out as a local newspaper journalist covering gigs in Chelmsford, Essex, Morton became an agent in 1978 and worked with acts such as John Cooper Clarke, UK Subs, Jimmy Cliff, Jefferson Starship, Bruce Cockburn, Isaac Hayes and Billy Bragg.

“Nigel was not only a valued member of our team at Strada Music but also a cherished friend to many,” says a statement by the agency. “He brought immense talent, dedication, and passion to everything he did, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew and worked with him.

“He took great pride in his role and valued each and every one of his artists and promoters”

“He took great pride in his role and valued each and every one of his artists and promoters, always striving to provide the highest level of service and care.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to all who knew and loved Nigel. While he will be greatly missed, his spirit and legacy will continue to resonate in the memories and hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.”

In 1982, Morton discovered New Model Army, who he went on to manage for a decade, and also guided the careers of artists including The Almighty and Eliza Carthy as owner of Totally Obnoxious Management. He later worked with Rob Challice and the late Steve Strange at Challice’s F.A.B., before launching Moneypenny Agency.

Strada will release information on funeral arrangements and plans to celebrate Morton’s life once details are finalised.

 


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ATC Group raises £2.3m through share subscription

All Things Considered (ATC) Group has raised £2.3 million (€2.7m) through a subscription on shares.

London-based ATC Group’s divisions include booking agency ATC LiveATC Management, ATC Services, ATC Experience and livestreaming company Driift.

According to Alliance News, the firm says it has raised the funds through a subscription of 2.2 million shares priced at 105p each.

It adds that the proceeds will be used primarily to fund the exploration and development of opportunities already identified across the company’s artist representation and direct to consumer divisions. They will also provide balance sheet strength and support for further potential acquisitions and developments in live events.

“We have an exciting pipeline of opportunities to expand and develop the business and having a stronger balance sheet provides us with a more robust position”

“I am delighted that new and existing shareholders have demonstrated their support for the company’s growth strategy via this £2.3 million fundraise,” says CEO Adam Driscoll. “We have an exciting pipeline of opportunities to expand and develop the business and having a stronger balance sheet provides us with a more robust position to potentially realise a number of them.”

ATC listed on the Aquis Growth Market in London in December 2021 after raising £4.15 million in its initial public offer (IPO). The group recorded a profit on revenue of £12.1m (€13.9m) in its first full year as a a public company, but subsequently announced a loss of £1.1m for the first six months of 2023 due to higher costs.

ATC, which opened a New York hub in February 2022 and also has an office in Copenhagen, Denmark, agreed terms for a “new, expanded office” in Los Angeles in early 2024.

 


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A.S.S. Concerts hires agent Luca Selbmann

A.S.S. Concerts & Promotion has added Berlin-based Luca Selbmann, founder of boutique agency Pigalle, to its team.

Selbmann, who will work as an A&R and booking agent, promises to bring expertise in the emerging domestic and international talent fields to the German promoter.

Pigalle’s roster, which includes the likes of Traumatin, Urbannino and Gast, will be incorporated into the A.S.S. business.

“I am very pleased that Luca Selbmann has joined our team and is therefore one of the new and younger bookers in the house,” says MD Florian ‘Böde’ Böhlendorf. “We are at the beginning of a transformation process that is very important to us and will continue. This also includes rejuvenating the roster.”

Part of the Mehr-BB Entertainment Company, A.S.S. has operated as a booking agency and tour promoter for German and international rock, pop, folk, jazz, and world music artists since 1979, presenting up to 1,200 concerts a year. It also operates in Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux, and represents various artists throughout Europe as an agent.

The company works with acts such as 10cc, Bob Geldof, Crash Test Dummies, Donovan, Jack Savoretti, The Stranglers and Wishbone Ash.

A.S.S. Concerts opened a new branch office in Dusseldorf in 2018, located at the headquarters of Mehr-BB, which specialises in promoting and producing theatrical shows. The move expanded A.S.S.’s network beyond its headquarters in Hamburg and an existing branch office in Berlin.

Böhlendorf, who joined the firm in 2019, has led the company since succeeding veteran executive Michael Bisping in July last year and works in collaboration with A.S.S. Concerts founder Dieter Schubert and director Dirk Gehrmann.

 


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Julian Jacobs to lead UTA’s New York office

Julian Jacobs, a longtime UTA executive who has helped the firm expand into entertainment marketing, will lead the agency’s New York office, effective March.

Jacobs takes over from Allan Haldeman, a partner and co-head of TV Lit, who has led New York operations with 300 staffers since September of 2022.

Haldeman is expected to continue his work with TV Lit while co-heading Theatre and will travel between New York and Los Angeles.

Jacobs, also a UTA partner, will continue his entertainment marketing efforts, which include brand consulting for several New York-based clients.

“Jacobs will build on the momentum of expanding opportunities for our clients, our people, and our business”

His team includes more than 40 executives who work in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and London. Clients include Amazon, Ancestry.com, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, General Motors, Google, Hulu, Hyatt, LinkedIn and Lyft.

UTA played a key role in helping General Motors devise two standout Super Bowl commercials in 2022 that featured Michael Myers and Sopranos creator David Chase. Last year, the agency helped pair GM and Netflix in a single ad that featured actor Will Ferrell and the streamer’s popular TV series Squid Game.

“We are grateful to Allan Haldeman, who, along with our New York leadership team, have expanded and heightened UTA’s presence in this global centre of entertainment, culture and business,” says David Kramer, UTA’s president, in a statement. “With Allan’s return to the West Coast, I am excited that our partner Julian Jacobs will be taking on the role and building on the momentum of expanding opportunities for our clients, our people, and our business.”

 


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ESNS unveils conference programme, EFA nominees

ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) has revealed details about next year’s conference programme, as well as the 13th edition of the European Festival Awards (EFA).

The showcase festival and conference will return to Groningen in the Netherlands between 17–20 January 2024 with thousands of delegates from the international live music industry.

The conference programme is starting to take shape, with sessions including Common Ground: Boutique & Major Festivals, moderated by IQ‘s Gordon Masson, which invites organisers from across Europe to discuss shared obstacles faced by the sector as a whole.

Elsewhere, How to Keep Your Festival Relevant, presented by Yourope and moderated by IQs Lisa Henderson, explores how tomorrow’s festivals ensure that they continue to play an important role in popular culture and the lives of millions of young people.

And Touring in ’24: Are There Bumps in the Road? will see ILMC’s Greg Parmley lead a discussion on the challenges promoters and agents are facing, with costs and fan expectations increasing year on year.

As previously announced, keynote speakers for the conference include John Mulder (MOJO Concerts/Live Nation), Amy Thomson (formerly Hipgnosis, ATM Artists) and Mark Mulligan (MIDiA Research). See the full conference programme here.

“It means a lot to get this award from this part of the music industry”

Meanwhile, the EFAs, set to take place on 17 January, has announced Ruud Berends as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Berends is the co-founder and head of agenda of IFF in London (GB) and advisor for Westway Lab in Guimaraes (PT), Canadian Music Week in Toronto (CA), and SoAlive Music Conference in Sofia (BG).

From 2002 till 2018, he was project manager of the various Dutch Music Export organisations and executive producer of the Dutch Impact Parties for Buma Cultuur. From 2002 to March 2023, he worked for Buma Cultuur & ESNS as head of conference, ETEP & CEETEP, international marketing and sales.

In this position, Berends was crucial for the networking and interconnection of European artists and promoters alike and the European Talent Exchange Programme (ETEP) was his brainchild.

Earlier in his career, he co-founded Paperclip Agency (est. 1981), whose clients included Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, Nirvana, The Flaming Lips and more. He left the Nijmegen-based agency in 2001 and set up Networking Music the following year.

“Life is full of surprises. I did not know that I was up for an award,” says Berends. “I am deeply honoured, humbled and grateful to have won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Especially, as it is at the European Festival Awards, an event close to my heart. It means a lot to get this award from this part of the music industry with many friends and music industry family in the room.”

ESNS has also announced the shortlists for 12 of the ceremony’s categories, which can be seen here.

 


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CAA announces 16 promotions

Leading agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has announced a flurry of promotions across multiple departments.

The company has elevated 16 staff members to agent or executive, including Megan Glendinning, Evan Greenberg, Alex Hubert and Ashley King, who have each been promoted to agent in the music touring department. They will be based in Los Angeles.

Glendinning, Greenberg and Hubert all began their careers as clerks in CAA’s mailroom, while King started out with the firm as a receptionist.

Glendinning later served as an assistant to Jared Martin, Andrew Simon, and Ryan Harlacher before being upped to booking professional in 2022. She was accepted into CAA Elevate – the agency’s training and practical development curriculum – in July 2023, alongside Greenberg and Hubert.

Greenberg was an assistant to Alex Becket, Matthew Kingsley, and Hunter Williams, before being elevated to coordinator in 2022.

Hubert, who previously assisted Lee Goforth, Brett Steinberg, Jared Martin, Brian Greenbaum and Ken Ashley, and King, who had a stint as assistant to Cameron Kaiser and Marlene Tsuchii, were both promoted to booking professionals in 2022.

CAA is headquartered in LA, and has offices in New York, Nashville, Memphis, Chicago, Miami, London, Munich, Geneva, Stockholm, Shanghai and Beijing

In London, Gabrielle Fetters and Peppa Mignone have also been promoted to agent, and Khalil Roberts to executive, within CAA’s books department, while Sarah Phillips is appointed executive in CAA Search, which specialises in recruiting C-level and senior executives, non-executive directors, and board-level executives around the world.

Based in New York, Justin Gorkowitz has been promoted to agent in the comedy touring department, with Leilani Houston promoted to agent in the commercial endorsements division and New York-based Kyle Margolis upped to agent in television news.

In addition, Los Angeles-based Hannah Kaiser has been promoted to agent in the television scripted department, Max Miller is appointed agent in the motion picture talent department and Cami Potter is named agent in television talent.

Finally, New York-based Jack Upton has been promoted to agent in the Talent department and Los Angeles-based Connie Yan is elevated to agent in the motion picture literary department.

Founded in 1975, CAA is headquartered in LA, and has offices in New York, Nashville, Memphis, Chicago, Miami, London, Munich, Geneva, Stockholm, Shanghai and Beijing, among other locations. Artémis, an investment vehicle led by billionaire French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, acquired TPG’s majority stake in the agency in September.

 


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Primary Talent’s Peter Elliott to retire

Legendary live agent Peter Elliott has announced his retirement and will depart Primary Talent at the end of the month after 28 years at the agency.

Elliott joined Primary in 1995 from the Manchester-based Blast Hard agency. In the following 28 years, he has worked with some of the most successful music artists in the world.

During his illustrious career, his roster has included Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx, The Streets, Plan B, Royksopp, Dizzee Rascal, Lana Del Rey, Phoenix, Loyle Carner, Morcheeba, Lemon Jelly and Zero 7.

In 2007 he became the managing director of Primary Talent, running the company for 14 years before stepping down from that role in March 2021.

“All in all, it’s been a damn fine journey”

“I have had great fun working alongside good and dynamic people,” says Peter Elliott. “We grew Primary with a ‘family’ ethos, driven by a desire to work with the most creative people and talent, and in my role as an agent I have been privileged to work with and help develop many wonderful musicians, creatives and great genre-defining artists. All in all, it’s been a damn fine journey.”

Primary Talent International CEO Matt Bates says: “I have spent the majority of my career working alongside Peter here at Primary. His drive and passion are deeply ingrained into everything we do and what the company stands for. He has helped mentor a new generation of great agents here and leaves a great legacy and amazing foundations to continue building from.”

Earlier this year, Primary returned to being an independent music talent agency following a management buyout. The UK-based booking agency was sold to ICM Partners in 2020, which was subsequently acquired by CAA.

Primary’s roster includes almost 460 clients including The 1975, The Cure, Lana Del Rey, Noel Gallagher, Jack Harlow, alt-J, Dropkick Murphys, and Patti Smith.

 


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