Longtime agents Steve Martin and Andy Somers have launched a new agency -- Paladin Artists -- after leaving APA earlier this year. The agency is established founded in strategic partnership with Wayne Forte's Entourage Talent Associates and Karrie Goldberg's The Kagency.
Paladin Artists will focus on music touring, live events, theater, literary representation, touring exhibitions and estate management and is being described as a "nascent company of prominent, passionate agents who have come together as a community, committed to deliver their client’s visions to the fullest capacity, with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London."
The strategic partnerships bring "something unique and valuable to both Paladin’s artists and business," a press release reads, noting that Entourage Talent, established by Forte in 1993, is a true "boutique" talent agency and consulting firm clients that include Tedeschi Trucks Band, and guitar legends Joe Satriani and Steve Hackett. Forte is a founding member of The National Independent Talent Association (NITO), which advocated for the successful passage of the Save Our Stages Act.
The Kagency, founded by in 2004, built one of the first venue representation businesses in North America "focused solely on handling the corporate/private event, film and photo bookings for their clients," a release reads, hosting "a roster of major recording artists and other notable celebrities for their corporate contracts with diverse roster of clients," including Nike, Givenchy, Duran Duran and Beyonce to Cartier, Under Armour, Maserati and Vogue.
“The world has been through hell for the last 18 months with many places and people still struggling. I’m simply grateful to work with people I like and artists that I respect, enjoy and have fruitful relationships with,” says Martin. "Many were able to take a step back during the shutdown and evaluate what is important, be it personal or business. The industry is rapidly evolving and will continue to do so in the post-pandemic world.”
Somers added, “Paladin, Entourage and The Kagency share similar visions and will each benefit by the sharing of information, experiences, and common goals; exploring new means of improving the future of artist and brand representation while remaining independent at a controllable scale of operation.”
Paladin’s inaugural team includes agents Chyna Chuan-Farrell, Seth Rappaport, Steve Ferguson, Kath Buckell, Magaly Barone, Sara Schilevert and Christian Ellett.
“This pandemic has highlighted how short life truly is," says Forte. “So, why not work with people and clients one genuinely likes and with whom one shares similar visions and philosophies?"
London four piece Keo are on course to land their first UK Number 1 album with Put A Smile On For Me. After building a loyal audience over the past two years, the London band now lead this week’s Official Albums Chart update. Their debut record explores love, guilt, and self destruction.
Nothing But Thieves are close behind at Number 2 with their fifth album, Stray Dogs. The Southend band are hoping for a second straight Number 1 after Dead Club City reached the top in 2023. Taylor Swift is at Number 3 with The Life Of A Showgirl, helped by the expanded The Encore edition. Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In sits at Number 4, while Soft Cell’s Danceteria opens at Number 5. It is the synth pop duo’s final album together following Dave Ball’s death last year.
Europe could reach Number 9 with Come This Madness, giving the Swedish rock band its first UK Top 10 album in four decades. A 30th anniversary reissue of Alice In Chains’ MTV Unplugged is at Number 13 in the midweek update, with Orbital’s Glastonbury 1994 set at Number 14. Julia Jacklin is heading for her first Top 40 album as The Gem reaches Number 18, while Suede’s Coming Up returns at Number 23 after its 30th anniversary physical release.
Also on track for Top 40 places are Nessa Barrett’s Tough Love at Number 29, the companion soundtrack to LINKIN PARK: UNSHATTER at Number 30, and Dublin band Gurriers’ Nobody’s Coming To Save You at Number 31. Blondshell, Kneecap, Tina Turner, and Leon Bridges also appear in the lower half of the midweek chart.
The official positions will be announced when the final Albums Chart is published on Friday.
