Publisher Schubert acquires Celsius Management
German artist management outfit Celsius Management has been acquired by Schubert Music, the largest independent music publisher in central and eastern Europe.
Founder Andreas Schubert took over the running of Celsius from its founder, partner and former MD, Markus Hartmann, on 1 November. Schubert also operates a booking/management company, Schubert Music Agency (SMA), whose clients, including Die Krupps, Joachim Witt, the Sinderellas and the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices, become part of the Celsius roster.
Hartmann founded Celsius in 2004. The Dusseldorf-based company, whose current roster also includes German-speaking stars Max von Milland, Ivy Quainoo and Guano Apes, has in the past 13 years garnered 12 gold records and three Echo awards (Germany’s Grammys/Brits equivalent) from 121 tours, 1,000 concerts in 27 countries, 137 record releases and a total of 114 weeks on the charts.
Earlier this year, Hartmann joined new management collective Umbrella Artist Productions, which is being backed by promoter FKP Scorpio. He also recently exited Starwatch, a label with which he had been associated since 2005.
Terms of the deal with Schubert were not disclosed. Both companies will now be based out of a combined SMA office in Hamburg.
“Artist management is, on many levels, one of the most complex challenges in the music business – a task that has to find solutions on a daily basis in the artistic, economic and private spheres,” comments Hartmann. “I am grateful to have learnt and experienced so much in the 13 years with artists who have become friends. The moment when an idea in a private circle actually becomes a hit is one of the most beautiful moments in this business.
“Andreas Schubert and his worldwide team are the perfect partners to lead the company and the artists into the future”
“Andreas Schubert and his worldwide team are the perfect partners to lead the company and the artists into the future… the era in which artist managers can be the game-changers is only just beginning.”
Schubert adds: “[The acquisition] fits in with our own image as an active, productive music publisher that likes to support composers and artists who work with us throughout the entire creative process. In Germany, we have decided to merge all areas resulting from this deal into a separate company, Schubert Music Agency.
“Under the umbrella of SMA, we offer promotion (Hardbeat), are responsible for the German alternative charts (DAC), offer label services and were already acting as management for our own artist roster, including acts such as die Krupps, Joachim Witt, the Sinderellas and the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices. Working with artists is always something very personal; in fact, management without emotional attachment is inconceivable. Therefore, it is especially important for us to prove to all of the artists who now come to us with Celsius that, besides the first-class service we provide, we also have the willingness to engage with them and to support them wherever necessary.
“Our international reach, with offices in 13 countries and the wide range of creative services we offer, will help that. From now on, we will continue to manage the entire roster under the Celsius brand.”
He adds: “I am pleased that Markus Hartmann is helping us and the artists through a transitional phase.”
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FKP partners with Warner, Kobalt for management venture
Promoter FKP Scorpio has partnered with Umbrella Artist Productions (UAP), an artist management collective launched at Reeperbahn Festival earlier this month, to provide live support to the new venture.
The German-based, pan-European concert and festival promoter will lend its live expertise to UAP, whose founding managers are Ulysses Huppauff (Odyssey Music Management, Germany), Markus Hartmann (Celsius Management, Germany) and James Cassidy and Barry Campbell (Jaba Music Management, UK).
FKP joins Warner ADA, which provides label services and digital marketing, and Kobalt Music, which focuses on publishing, licensing and synchronisation (synch), creating a touring/recording/publishing troika focused on breaking new artists across Europe.
UAP, which has offices in London and Berlin, will work “closely throughout Europe with the FKP Scorpio live concerts and festival business, with particular focus on the UK and German markets”, according to a launch statement.
“UAP will provide an excellent platform to launch talented young artists”
“UAP will provide an excellent platform to launch talented young artists,” comments Freddie de Wall, who joined CTS Eventim-owned FKP as COO as in April. “With the expertise of well-respected managers in various countries, combined with our know-how at FKP Scorpio as a pan-European promoter, we have the opportunity to develop the careers of promising artists from scratch.
“We are very excited about this unique set-up and are looking forward to working with our network of managers and their artists.”
Campbell adds: “UAP puts live performance top of the priority list to kickstart a new band’s career, with release and promotion schedules enhancing the touring – and the ever more important festival plot.”
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