The Music Managers Forum (MMF) elected Duncan Ellis to its board at its annual general meeting (AGM), with four existing directors re-elected. The meeting followed a summit examining how managers build audiences and develop artists in an era of algorithms, including through events and experiences.
Board appointments
Ellis succeeds Ellie Giles, who leaves after nine years, having completed her third and final term as a director.
Ellis established Atlas Artists in 2014. Its roster includes British artists Celeste and Rachel Chinouriri, whose second album is due for release.
Atlas operates across artists and repertoire (A&R), recording and artist development. In 2021, it formed a joint venture with Warner Music’s Parlophone Records.
MMF Chief Executive Annabella Coldrick interviewed Ellis about management, talent development and his plans for the board. She also acknowledged Giles’s contribution to the organisation.
“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Duncan to the MMF board. As well as representing some incredible talent, Atlas Artists’ is reflective of the kind of innovative, multi-faceted management companies that are pushing boundaries in the UK. I also want to pay tribute to Ellie Giles, who has served the MMF with incredible commitment and generosity over the past nine years.
Ellie will always be a valued member of our community, and someone I know will be at the heart of our MMF activities in the months and years ahead.”
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
In her tenth year as Chief Executive, Coldrick identified increased recognition of managers’ roles and responsibilities as the MMF’s leading achievement since 2016.
She outlined its professional development work, including the world’s first industry-recognised certification for managers and the new MMF Hyperdrive programme, developed with YouTube Music and Arts Council England.
Coldrick also cited the Official Charts Company announcement of a new Homegrown Chart, the UK Artist Touring fund and progress against online ticket touting as examples of the organisation’s campaigning and advocacy achievements.
“When I first started in this role, we had a thriving membership of 400 managers. Those numbers have now more than tripled, reflecting not only the elevated importance of managers and their £714m contribution to the wider industry, but also fantastic work by the MMF team, board, custodians and members to build a community from all backgrounds and from all around the UK. As an organisation, we have a real responsibility to serve those members and help them grow their businesses.
“Similar to their dedication to building teams around their clients, I hope the MMF is regarded as a respected player around the board rooms of LIVE and UK Music. All of us passionately want this country’s music talent to thrive, and to capitalise on the extraordinary opportunities afforded by technological change and new ways of doing business. I am even more inspired by the innovation and entrepreneurship in the UK’s management community than I was in 2016.”
Audience building and live experiences
The Manager Summit took place before the AGM at 10 Union Street, drawing more than 120 guests from across the industry. Its full-day programme of panels, talks and presentations explored audience building and artist development in an era of algorithms.
Technology journalist Andrew Orlowski opened the summit with a presentation on artificial intelligence (AI). A keynote interview followed, with Pophouse President and CEO Jessica Koravos and Per Sundin speaking with SB3 Management’s Sumit Bothra.
The discussion addressed the successes of ABBA Voyage, opportunities to work with artists including KISS and Iron Maiden, and the potential to renew interest in catalogues through new events and experiences.
Speakers and associate partners
Other contributors to the summit included:
- Sarah Boorman and Kate Wyn Jones, Universal Music UK
- Leon Neville, 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, GUAP
- Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura, curator and creative consultant
- Kate Helen, Autonomy Music Group
- Carlos Romero, Wildlife Entertainment
- Mark Walker, Free Focus
New MMF Associate Partners also delivered Summit Short presentations: Ben Geyre from LISSEN, and Anton Botes and Vange Kourentis from Fourth Wall.
Delegates could meet MMF Associate Partners including AXS, Fourth Wall, Noise OS, OJK, PRS for Music, Sound Royalties, Tixel and Tysers.
