Ex-Coda MD Claire Horseman heads to Coalition

Claire Horseman, the former managing director of Coda Agency, has joined Coalition Talent as a non-executive director.

Horseman, formerly head of marketing at Columbia Records UK, left Coda last summer after four years at the helm. She told IQ in August she was “having a few conversations” about next steps but was enjoying spending time with her children and had no intention on “rushing in to my next move”.

London-based Coalition, formed in 1995, represents artists, radio DJs and TV personalities, including Sara Cox, Charli XCX, Pixie Lott, Nick Grimshaw, Trevor Nelson, Edith Bowman, Scott Mills, the Wombats, the Hoosiers and Kodaline, and also delivers events for third-party brands. From 2014–2015 it was part of The Agency Group (now UTA).

“I’ve watched Guy [Robinson, founder and CEO] and the Coalition team build a strong and innovative business that has really impressed me,” comments Horseman. “I’m looking forward to playing a key role in the overall strategy to grow the business further.”

“I’m looking forward to playing a key role in the overall strategy to grow the business further”

She is joined at Coalition by Anthony Norris and Owen Kent, who join from Eleven 11 Events/Music Plus Sport as managing director and creative director, respectively, both reporting directly to Robinson.

“Having worked closely with Guy and the Coalition team as a talent buyer, I have first-hand experience that they are smart operators,” says Kent. “After discussing their long-term strategy, there was a great opportunity that I wanted to be a part of. I’ll be working with the current portfolio and expanding into new territories while creating new products to take to market.”

Robinson adds: “Coalition is successfully embracing a 360 vision in the way we work with our talent and brands, and with the addition of these three truly inspiring professionals we are now stronger than ever. From talent building, delivering and promoting live events, through to brand creation and management, I’m extremely proud to welcome Anthony, Claire and Owen to our dynamic entrepreneurial team.”

Coalition last November partnered with Ministry of Sound for a range of new live events and brand partnerships.

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Coalition Talent, Ministry of Sound join forces

London-based booking agency Coalition Talent has entered into a joint venture with dance music colossus Ministry of Sound for a range of new live events and brand partnerships.

The “wide-ranging” JV, which sees the two companies partner to “share their resources and expertise”, additionally sees the Ministry of Sound events staff relocating to Coalition’s central London offices. It follows a recent focus by Coalition on building events brands alongside its roster, with recent projects including the Coffee House Sessions concert series and club nights Pure Music Live and Just Can’t Get Enough ’80s, the latter a joint venture with DJ Sara Cox.

Coalition, from 2014–2015 part of The Agency Group (now UTA), represents artists, radio DJs and TV personalities, including Sara Cox, Charli XCX, Pixie Lott, Nick Grimshaw, Trevor Nelson, Edith Bowman, Scott Mills, the Wombats, the Hoosiers and Kodaline.

“Ministry’s brands and reputation, coupled with Coalition’s talent relationships, expertise and newly expanded team, will deliver a whole new range of world-class music events”

“I couldn’t be more proud to enter into this joint venture with Ministry of Sound,” says Coalition Talent CEO Guy Robinson. “This iconic brand has been a huge part of my journey in the music industry, from working with them on talent through to more than a few lost nights at the club.

“We look forward to welcoming the Ministry of Sound events staff into our brilliant team here at Coalition. Our joint focus will be to maximise opportunities for their current offering, and develop additional products to reach new markets, as well as more extensive partnerships with touring DJs and live artists.”

Jonathan Bevan (pictured), CEO of Ministry of Sound, adds: “We are delighted to be launching this new partnership. Ministry’s brands and reputation, coupled with Coalition’s talent relationships, expertise and newly expanded team, will deliver a whole new range of world-class music events.”

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Pure Garage founder launches live events series

Booking agency Coalition Talent and Pure Music Media, the company behind the Pure Garage series of DJ EZ-mixed compilation albums, have announced the launch of a live events business.

Pure Music Live is headed up by Tom Parkinson and Tim Binns of Pure Music Media parent NewState Entertainment Group; Danny Donnell, the founder of the Pure brand jungle label Suburban Base Records founder Danny Donnelly; Coalition Talent CEO Guy Robinson; and ex-Ministry of Sound global head of tours and events James Sutcliffe, and bring the Pure concept to dancefloors across the UK and Europe by “teaming up with high-profile established artists [and] the hottest emerging talent” to give “fans the most unforgettable nights of their lives”.

“We’re incredibly excited to be working with NewState on delivering what promises to be the next big thing in live dance events”

Although incorporated as Uptown Live Ltd in 2014, according to Companies House, the new venture will officially launch tomorrow (18 May) with a party headlined by DJ and Kiss FM presenter Majestic, who will be joined by DJs Danny Howard, Chris Lorenzo, Artful Dodger, Wideboys and Micky Slim. The event will be streamed via YouTube and Facebook from a secret location by DJ Mag and coincides with the launch of new album Pure House & Garage, mixed by Majestic.

Robinson says: “We’re incredibly excited to be working with NewState on delivering what promises to be the next big thing in live dance events. The albums are as close to my heart as all electronic music fans, and from the production to online support, our packages will far exceed anything else currently available.”