ICM’s Robert Gibbs promoted to head of department

Robert Gibbs has been promoted to head of contemporary music at ICM Partners, after 14 years at the company.

Gibbs moved from CAA to ICM in 2006 and was made a partner at the company in 2016.

His current roster includes artists such as J.Cole, PartyNextDoor and Ari Lennox and his work has earned him a spot on the Billboard Power 100 list for two years running.

“Robert is a fabulous agent, individual and an impactful leader. I am very proud of him and all that he has accomplished in his fourteen years at ICM,” said CEO, Chris Silbermann.

“We began discussing this well-deserved promotion last October and but for the pandemic, this would have happened sooner. He has earned this promotion with sustained levels of excellence in all aspects of the job and makes our organization stronger. I am thrilled for him and us.”

Robert Gibbs says: “ICM has built the best culture of any major agency and I am proud to take a leadership role within this organization.

“We have been fortifying the department even during the pandemic”

“We are the last and only major agency solely dedicated to the representation business and it shows in the manner in which we work for artists to achieve their dreams. We have been building and fortifying the department even during the pandemic and our contemporary music team is one I am proud to now lead.”

ICM’s international touring business includes artists such as Khalid, J. Cole, Migos, Good Charlotte, Charlie Wilson, Limp Bizkit, Sinead O’Connor, Suicideboys and Boyz II Men.

Other ICM clients include actors Samuel L. Jackson, Sir Patrick Stewart, John Travolta and Christoph Waltz, comedians Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld, filmmaker Spike Lee and wrestler-actor John Cena. In addition to LA, the agency – formerly International Creative Management – also has offices in London, New York and Washington DC.

Earlier this year, ICM allied with Primary Talent International, one of London’s last major independent booking agencies.

Primary – home to the 1975, Stormzy and Dave – is retaining its name and team while benefitting from LA-based ICM’s “global scale”. While ICM’s international touring business will get a boost from the allyship.

ICM agent Yves Pierre, who represents artists including Lil Yachty, talked about navigating the world of livestreaming and why people must “put themselves on the line” to achieve a more diverse industry for IQ‘s Tales from Covid series.

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Still Woozy: February’s hottest new act

Electronic and acoustic fusion artist Still Woozy, real name Sven Gamsky, has climbed seven places to become the hottest new act of February, beating Radar Station Chart newcomers Lennon Stella and Ari Lennox.

The Radar Station algorithm calculates the fastest-growing new artists by combining data across a number of online platforms, including Spotify, Facebook, Songkick and Last.fm. Producer and songwriter Benny Blanco was last month’s chart-topper, see January’s chart here.

Genre-bending Still Woozy is the solo project of California-based Sven Gamsky, following a stint as part of indie rock band Feed Me Jack. As Still Woozy, Gamsky has so far released six singles.

Still Woozy’s most recent release, “Habit”, is from forthcoming self-released EP Lately, which will be out early this year. The artist’s two most popular songs are “Goodie Bag” and “Cook”, released in 2017.

The artist, represented by Paradigm’s Josh Mulder in the Americas and WME’s Jay Belin in the rest of the world, is currently on tour in the United States and will play at this year’s Coachella Music and Arts Festival in California.

Still Woozy has climbed seven places to become February’s hottest new act beating Radar Station Chart newcomers Lennon Stella and Ari Lennox

Canadian singer Lennon Stella is the daughter of famous country music duo MaryLynne and Brad Stella. Stella rose to fame alongside her sister, Maisy, in their roles as Maddie and Daphne Conrad in the music drama series Nashville.

Stella went on to write songs for the show, before launching her solo career as a singer and songwriter in 2018 with “Like Everybody Else”. The singer’s collaborated with ex-One Direction star Liam Payne and DJ Jonas Blue for the single “Polaroid”.

Stella’s latest single, “Bitch (takes one to know one)” came out today (15 March).

Washington-born Ari Lennox is signed to J. Cole’s record label, Dreamville Records. Lennox released her debut EP Pho in 2016, before appearing on J. Cole song “Change” and performing as an opening act on the rapper’s 4 Your Eyez Only Tour.

Lennox says she is inspired by female vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Whitney Houston. The R&B artist will release her debut album Shea Butter Baby later this year.

See the full chart, along with links to artists’ Facebook pages and booking agency details, below.

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