Tom Taaffe and Anna Bewers join Coda
Leading UK rock agents Tom Taaffe and Anna Bewers have joined Coda Agency.
The pair’s move sees them join former United Talent Agency (UTA) colleagues Natasha Bent and Geoff Meall at the fast-growing London agency, which has also made a number of internal promotions.
Australian-born Taaffe was an agent and promoter before relocating to England to join ITB in 2008. Two years later, he joined the Agency Group (TAG), which became UTA in 2015. He has represented acts including Good Charlotte, Asking Alexandria, Julien Baker, the Menzingers, Hot Water Music, Amos Lee and While She Sleeps.
Bewers had been with TAG/UTA since 2006, starting as an assistant before being promoted to agent in summer 2013. Over the past five years she has developed artists from grassroots to arena level, working with bands including Nothing But Thieves, Architects, the Wonder Years and Pulled Apart by Horses.
Andy Clayton and Ryan Penty, meanwhile, have been promoted to agents after nine and seven years, respectively, as bookers for Alex Hardee. They are replaced as Hardee’s bookers by Holly Rowland and Eleanor Ashley, both formerly agent’s assistants.
Rebecca Bates has also been promoted to booker for Mike Malak, after formerly serving as his assistant.
“With all the knowledge they bring in their chosen fields, we know they will thrive here”
“I’m excited at the idea of growing my roster with this company and learning from some of the very best agents that work in this business today,” comments Taaffe. “Coda has a great reputation for discovering and growing what is current in every genre.”
Bewers adds: “I’m thrilled to be joining Coda Agency and to start the next phase of my career. The agency has a reputation for signing the hottest artists and I’m excited to work with some of the most innovative and dynamic agents in the business.”
James Whitting, Coda partner, says: “We are thrilled to be welcoming Tom and Anna to the team. With all the knowledge they bring in their chosen fields, we know they will thrive here.
“Congratulations also to Holly, Eleanor, Rebecca, Andy and Ryan on their promotions. We know they will excel in their new roles.”
Coda is 50% owned by US full-service powerhouse Paradigm Talent Agency, through which it has a strategic partnership with X-ray Touring.
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Muse sign with CAA for Europe and Asia
Muse have signed with Creative Artists Agency for worldwide representation, with the exception of North America, South America, and Australia.
The UK three-piece were previously represented by UTA’s Geoff Meall, who moved to Coda Agency at the beginning of the year.
Muse’s last concert tour, the 131-date Drones world tour, was the 18th highest grossing of 2016, generating revenues of US$65.5m. The band will play a series of European festival dates this summer, including Rock in Rio Lisbon, Rock am Ring/Rock im Park and Mexico’s Pa’l Norte.
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It’s official: Geoff Meall joins Coda
Senior booking agent Geoff Meall, who left his role as head of United Talent Agency (UTA)’s London office at the end of 2017, today officially confirmed his move to Coda Agency, becoming the latest high-profile hire for the fast-growing UK agency.
Meall, who has steered the live careers of Muse, Paramore, Idlewild, the Pogues and Sum 41, was formerly MD of The Agency Group (TAG), which was acquired by UTA in 2015. He says he is “delighted to start the next chapter of my agency life”.
Meall joins other recent hires Natasha Bent, also formerly of TAG/UTA, and Clementine Bunel, most recently of ATC Live, at London-based Coda, which is aligned with US full-service powerhouse Paradigm.
“Once I made the decision to make a move, there was only really one choice,” he comments. “Coda, in my opinion, [is] the most dynamic agency in the business. Their A&R signings and successes over the last few years have been unparallelled. They have the benefits of their partnerships with Paradigm, X-ray and ITG yet retain a maverick and independent culture.
“Once I made the decision to make a move, there was only really one choice”
“It’s also a fun place to work, and that should always be the first priority. I’m excited to be part of the future of Coda.”
Coda partner Alex Hardee adds: “Its fills us with great pride that someone of Geoff’s experience, influence and standing in the music industry has joined Coda. He will bring a breadth of musical knowledge to Coda that will only complement and strengthen the existing management team.
“It’s a shame he is a Scouser, otherwise it would have been the perfect addition!”
Coda’s roster includes Liam Gallagher, The xx, Imagine Dragons, Sia, Rag’n’Bone Man, Ellie Goulding, Take That, the Prodigy, Bon Iver, Chvrches, Shawn Mendes, Years & Years, Bastille and Fever Ray
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New conference Music Cork kicks off this week
A new music-industry conference and showcase festival makes its debut in the Republic of Ireland tomorrow.
Music Cork, which runs from 10 to 12 May, hopes to create “unique opportunity in Ireland to listen to the best industry professionals talk about their work and experiences, see the best new talent perform and enjoy plenty of opportunities to network with speakers and delegates over three days of intimate social gatherings and shows”, say organisers, who include Indiependence Festival promoter Shane Dunne, The Delphi Label’s Alexis Vokos, music barrister Willie Ryan and manager Jim Lawless.
Speakers include agents Geoff Meall (UTA), Steve Zapp (ITB), Josh Javor (X-ray) and Sarah Casey (LPO), Kendal Calling co-founder Andy Smith, MCD promoters Brian Spollen and Stephen Curran, consultant Andy Edwards and a host of label execs, with topics touching on building artists, festivals, working with agents, music publishing, sync and more.
In addition to the showcases, an “informal” night-time programme will include dinners and pub crawls across the “most fun and friendly city in Ireland”.
Tickets are are still available from Eventgen.ie, priced at €155.
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