For a new artist/band, the choice of a manager/management company is of crucial importance. You’ll want to be represented by someone with total belief in you and whom you can trust to deal with just about every aspect of your career outside actually writing the songs.
A friend or fan may have the enthusiasm, but you’ll need someone with industry contacts or at least the confidence to look and act the part.
If a person or company has been recommended to you, obviously that’s a good start. Otherwise, try to talk to as many different managers as you can until you get a feel for the one who seems like the best fit. Look at their roster of artists; try to speak to one or two of them to get their feedback (many management companies list their roster on their website, with links to their artists’ websites).
It’s becoming harder for a new artist to attract a big-name manager, as it’s more lucrative for them to concentrate on their existing acts. But if you can interest an up-and-coming manager, perhaps currently working within an established company, who is ready to branch out – that may be one way to go.
19 Management 33 Ransomes Dock 35-37 Parkgate Road London SW11 4NP Tel. 0207 801 1919 Contact: Simon Fuller www.19.co.uk Artists include: Rachel Stevens, Will Young Aire International (Air) 27 The Quad 49 Atalanta Street London SW6 6TU Tel. 0207 386 1600 Contact: Marc Connor www.airmtm.com Artists include: Jamie Cullum Big Life Management 67-69 Chalton Street London NW1 1HY Artists include: Snow Patrol, Badly Drawn Boy CMO Management International Ltd Studio 2.6 Shepherds East Richmond Way London W14 0DQ Tel. 0207 316 6969 Contact: Chris Morrison www.cmomanagement.co.uk Artists include: Blur, Gorillaz Coalition Management Studio 2 3A Brackenbury Road London W6 0BE Tel. 0208 743 1000 Contact: Tim Vigon, Tony Perrin www.coalitiongroup.co.uk Artists include: Embrace, The Streets, The Zutons Courtyard Management 21 The Nursery Sutton Courtenay Oxon OX14 4UA Tel. 01235 845800 Contact: Chris Hufford Artists include: Radiohead Empire Artist Management Portobello Dock 553-579 Harrow Road London W10 4RH Tel. 0208 968 5888 Contact: Neale Easterby www.empire-management.co.uk Artists include: Daniel Bedingfield, Natasha Bedingfield GR Management 974 Pollokshaws Road Shawlands Glasgow Strathclyde G41 2HA Tel. 0141 632 1111 Contact: Rab Andrews Artists include: Primal Scream, Texas Heavenly Management 47 Frith Street London W1D 4SE Tel. 0207 494 2998 Contact: Martin Kelly Artists include: Star Sailor
IE Music Ltd 111 Frithville Gardens London W12 7JG Tel. 0208 600 3400 Contact: Ari Millar www.iemusic.co.uk Artists include: Craig Armstrong, Robbie Williams LH Management 1 Lonsdale Road London NW6 6RA Artists include: Nightmares on Wax Metamorphosis Management Matrix Complex 91 Peterborough Road London SW6 3BU Tel. 0207 751 2751 Contact: Mark Hargreaves Artists include: Sugababes Midnight To Six Management 4th Floor 33 Newman Street London W1T 1PY Tel. 0207 462 0026 Contact: Dave Harper Artists include: Goldfrapp ModernWood management Cambridge House Card Hill Forest Row East Sussex RH18 5BA Artists include: Imogen Heap Modest! Management Studios 2-3 Matrix Complex 91 Peterborough Road London SW6 3BU Tel. 0207 384 6410 Contact: Jane Skillin www.modestentertainment.com Nettwerk Management UK Rear of 44 Chiswick Lane London W4 2JQ Tel. 0207 456 9500 Contact: Sam Slattery www.nettwerk.com Artists include: Dido, Stereophonics, Josh Rouse Normal Management 3rd Floor 25 Denmark Street London WC2H 8NJ Tel. 0207 836 3536 Contact: Alice Harter, Paul Noble Artists include: The Magic Numbers Quest Management Unit 1D 36 Warple Way London W3 0RG Tel. 0208 749 0088 Contact: Scott Rodger, Stuart Green www.quest-management.com Artists include: Bjork, The Arcade Fire
Safe Management St Anne’s House Guildford Road Lightwater GU18 5RA Tel. 01276 476676 Contact: Chris Herbert, Tim Ferrone, Paul Humphreys www.safemanagement.co.uk Artists include: Myleene Klass, Hear’say, Kym Marsh Solar Management 13 Rosemont Road London NW3 6NG Tel. 0207 794 3388 Contact: Carol Crabtree www.solarmanagement.co.uk Artists include: Zero 7 Steve Harrison (SH) Management Lodge Road Sandbach Cheshire CW11 3HP Artists include: The Charlatans
SuperVision Management Zeppelin Building 59-61 Farringdon Road London EC1M 3JB Artists include: Franz Ferdinand Terra Artists The Courtyard Unit A 42 Colwith Road Hammersmith London W6 9EY Tel. 0208 846 3737 Contact: Marc Marot, John Arnison www.terraartists.com Artists include: Richard Ashcroft Wildlife Entertainment Unit F 21 Heathmans Road London SW6 4TJ Tel. 0207 371 7008 Contact: Ian McAndrew Artists include: Craig David, Travis
