London, Dublin and Berlin-based Booking agency PlayBook Artists is to close after its three co-founders announced they will be moving on to separate agencies.

Eleanor McGuinness, Nikita Lavrinenko and Paul McGivern set up PlayBook in 2021, having previously worked for Pitch & Smith (P&S). McGuinness will be joining the team at Earth Agency, McGivern is returning to P&S, while Lavrinenko is launching new agency Signal & Wave.

“Over the last four years we’ve built something really great together but now felt like the right time to join forces with other agencies and wrap up things on a high note at PlayBook,” says McGuinness, who started her career in the Dublin music scene in the early 2000s.

PlayBook agents Duncan Smith and Arthur Janssen will join her in making the switch to Earth Agency, with their respective clients joining each agent at their new homes.

“We have long admired Eleanor, Duncan, and Arthur’s work at PlayBook Artists,” says Earth co-founder Claire Courtney. “They are tasteful, principled, and professional agents and we are honoured they’ve decided that Earth Agency is the best home for them.”

“While we all embark on exciting new ventures that are the right next steps individually for each of us, we will carry the spirit of what we built”

McGivern who works with artists such as Cut Copy, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, GOOSE, Lambchop, The Magic Numbers and This Is the Kit, says: “It’s been exciting to create an agency from scratch with such talented people, and while we all embark on exciting new ventures that are the right next steps individually for each of us, we will carry the spirit of what we built.”

Stefan Juhlin of P&S hails McGivern’s “unparalleled work ethos, experience and strong roster”, adding that it makes him a “fantastic addition to the Pitch & Smith team”.

“We have known him for a very long time and have always loved working with him, so we are confident he will make a fantastic impact,” says Juhlin.

Lavrinenko’s current roster includes Angel Olsen, Rodrigo Amarante, The Weather Station, Jenny Hval, Lido Pimienta and Clarissa Connelly.

“My time at PlayBook has been an incredible experience, and I’m deeply grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together,” he says. “As I look ahead, I’m excited to embrace new opportunities, explore fresh ideas, and create something new.”

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International booking agency Pitch and Smith has welcomed Nikita Lavrinenko as a new agent, as the agency he co-founded, Paper and Iron Booking, becomes part of the Pitch and Smith family.

Lavrinenko joins Pitch and Smith from the agency he co-founded in 2005. His roster includes artists Angel Olsen, Weyes Blood, Jenny Hval, Rodrigo Amarante, Matmos, Ryley Walker and Torres. The Paper and Iron brand will be retired with Lavrinenko’s transition.

Founded in Stockholm in 2007 by Kalle Lundgren Smith and Stefan Juhlin, Pitch and Smith later opened a London office, which serves as its headquarters. One of the agency partners of the 2019 International Festival Forum (IFF), Pitch and Smith has a roster that includes Caribou, José Gonzalez, Viagra Boys and Toro Y Moi.

“I’m excited about teaming up with Pitch and Smith and this new chapter,” comments Lavrinenko, who will continue to be based in Berlin.

“All of us here at Pitch and Smith are great admirers of Nikita’s work as an agent, as well as being big fans of his roster”

“In addition to being a natural fit in terms of my artist roster, I think we share a lot of similarities in our creative and strategic approach, plus the desire for building meaningful lasting relationships with artists and partners. I’m confident that our combined experience, resources and entrepreneurial spirit will be valuable for all parties.”

“All of us here at Pitch and Smith are great admirers of Nikita’s work as an agent, as well as being big fans of his roster,” says co-founder Lundgren Smith.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve got to know each other better and have discovered we have a lot of things in common, not only in terms of our core values but also why we got into this business in the first place. Needless to say, we are very excited to have such an experienced agent joining our team.”

IFF, the International Live Music Conference’s (ILMC) invitation-only event for festivals and bookers, took place from 24 to 26 September 2019.

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