APA
Two major forces in talent representation are coming together via the merger of Agency For the Performing Arts (APA) and Artist Group International (AGI).
Announced today (June 21), this partnership launches the newly formed Independent Artist Group (IAG). The company will have offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and Atlanta.
Current APA president Jim Osborne will lead IAG as CEO. Dennis Arfa, founder and CEO of AGI, will serve as chairman of IAG’s music division. AGI president Marsh Vlasic will serve as vice-chair of this music division, with Vlasic, Arfa, AGI COO Jarred Arfa, AGI president of touring Adam Kornfeld and the rest of the company’s senior agents and staff all joining IAG. As reported by Digital Music News, APA recently let go of several of its music agents.
The creation of IAG follows an agreement between APA and Yucaipa Entertainment LLC, a private investment firm owned by Ron Burkle that, as DMN reports, acquired AGI in January 2012 and made a major non-equity investment into APA in September 2012.
Arfa founded touring agency AGI 35 years ago. The company delivers IAG a client roster that includes Billy Joel, Metallica, Def Leppard, Rod Stewart, Motley Crue, Linkin Park, Jane’s Addiction, Darryl Hall & John Oates, Norah Jones, Neil Young, The Strokes, Smashing Pumpkins, Ghost, Elvis Costello, Cage The Elephant and Five Finger Death Punch.
APA touring music clients coming to IAG include 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Ms. Lauryn Hill, 2 Chainz, NE-YO, Key Glock, $not, Kamasi Washington, D’Angelo, blackbear, JAX, Cypress Hill, Bryce Vine, Jon Bellion and Robert Glasper.
The merger follows recent AGI and APA collaborations involving AGI clients Billy Joel, Daryl Hall, Perry Farrell, GHOST and Billy Corgan.
“Dennis Arfa and his exceptional colleagues at AGI are revered in the industry, having built a spectacular artist roster and a sterling reputation,” Osborne says in a statement. “The great news is we have already established a tremendous working relationship with them through shared representation on some of their most valued artists. This new partnership with AGI and our rebrand to Independent Artist Group (IAG)is another major step that elevates us within the agency landscape…and we are not done yet!”
“This was the natural next step in our evolution and made in the best interests of our valued artists,” adds Arfa. “We have admired how Jim Osborne and their colleagues have been market leaders in creating brand expanding, non-touring revenue opportunities for their clients and we are excited to build on that success with them and look forward to integrating under the Independent Artist Group (IAG) banner.”
Jeremy Holgersen has joined APA as a senior vice president and agent in the concerts division, it was announced today by Bruce Solar, the company’s head of concerts. Holgersen arrives at APA from UTA, where he worked following its acquisition of The Agency Group. It was during his lengthy tenure at The Agency Group — joined in 2000 — that he and Solar met.
Holgrensen’s roster at UTA included Action Bronson, Apocalyptica, At The Gates, Bad Brains, Bob Vylan, Cypress Hill, D’Angelo, G-Eazy, GZA, Jesse Royal, Ms Lauryn Hill, Nova Twins, Patoranking, The Pogues, , Protoje, Suicidal Tendencies and more, “most of whom are expected to join him at APA,” according to a press release.
“We are truly excited to have Jeremy join us at APA,” says Solar in a statement provided to Billboard. “Jeremy is a great agent with exciting clients and a wonderful colleague who I loved working with in the past and am glad we have reunited.”
Holgersen added, “the industry has taken note of all the exciting things that are happening at APA and how well they represent music artists in a 360-degree fashion, and I know that the best is yet to come for the artists that are joining me at APA.”
Holgersen joins touring agent Steve Kahl, who came to APA from CAA in October, as well as former ICM Partners touring agents Mitch Blackman and Mike Hayes. Others include comedy agents Chris Smith and Josh Lanham from ICM, Steve Kahl from CAA and Sam Sauerhaft, who previously worked in management.
Clients joining APA from these agents include Kamasi Washington, Blackbear, Robert Glaspar, Jax, Belinda Carlisle, Jon Belion, Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps and over 100 others.
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