Duncan Ellis, founder of Atlas Artists, has joined the Music Managers Forum (MMF) board, succeeding Ellie Giles. The appointment accompanied a summit examining audience building and artist development in an era of algorithms.
Board appointment and re-elections
Ellie Giles leaves the board after nine years, having completed her third and final term as a director. MMF Chief Executive Annabella Coldrick recognised her contribution and interviewed Ellis about his management experience, talent development and plans for the board.
Ellis established Atlas Artists in 2014. Its roster includes Celeste and Rachel Chinouriri, who is preparing to release her second album.
The company works across artists and repertoire (A&R), recording and artist development. In 2021, it formed a joint venture with Warner Music’s Parlophone Records.
Coldrick welcomed Ellis and described Atlas as an example of a management business operating across several disciplines. She also thanked Giles for her service and said she expected her to remain involved in MMF activities.
Four directors were re-elected:
- Kerry Harvey Piper, Red Grape Music
- Ray Black, Craft Management
- Sumit Bothra, SB3 Management
- Vicky Dowdall, VDM Music
Membership and professional development
Marking her tenth year as chief executive, Coldrick identified increased recognition of music managers’ roles and responsibilities as the MMF’s principal achievement since 2016.
She outlined its professional development work, including what the organisation describes as the world’s first industry-recognised certification for managers and the new MMF Hyperdrive programme, developed with YouTube Music and Arts Council England.
Coldrick said membership had more than tripled from 400 managers when she took the role. She also cited managers’ £714 million contribution to the wider industry and the organisation’s responsibility to help members develop their businesses.
Reviewing its campaigning and advocacy, she pointed to the Official Charts Company’s recent announcement of a Homegrown Chart, the UK Artist Touring fund and progress on tackling online ticket touting.
Audience building and catalogue development
Held before the annual general meeting (AGM) at 10 Union Street, the Manager Summit brought together more than 120 guests for a day of panels, talks and presentations.
Technology journalist Andrew Orlowski opened proceedings with a presentation on artificial intelligence (AI). A keynote interview followed, with Pophouse’s Per Sundin and Jessica Koravos joining SB3 Management’s Sumit Bothra.
The discussion covered ABBA Voyage, opportunities involving artists including KISS and Iron Maiden, and the use of events and experiences to renew interest in catalogues.
Other speakers and contributors included:
- Sarah Boorman and Kate Wyn Jones, Universal Music UK
- Leon Neville, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI)
- Nick Faber, Fabyl
- Tim Horrox, Build Hollywood
- Lawrence Montgomery, Rough Trade Retail
- Aaron Skates, Cantilever
- Maddy Smith, YouTube Music
- Kate Hutchinson, journalist and broadcaster
- Ibrahim Kamara
- Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura, curator and creative consultant
- Kate Helen, Autonomy Music Group
- Carlos Romero, Wildlife Entertainment
- Mark Walker, Free Focus
Summit Short presentations featured new MMF Associate Partners Ben Geyre of LISSEN and Anton Botes and Vange Kourentis of Fourth Wall.
Attendees could also meet Associate Partners including AXS, Fourth Wall, Noise OS, OJK, PRS for Music, Sound Royalties, Tixel and Tysers.
