Features
UK Music Managers Forum Elects Biffy Clyro Manager Paul Craig As Chair
Paul Craig replaces Deluxxe Management’s Diane Wagg as chair, a decision made at the Music Managers Forum’s (MMF) AGM last week. Kwame Kwaten of Ferocious Talent has been elected as vice chair.
– The Music Managers Forum in London
(from left) Charlie Carne, Annabella Coldrick, Brian Message, Lisa Ward, Rachael Bee, Ric Salmon, Kwame Kwaten, Paul Craig, Andy Edwards, Diane Wagg, Paul Crockford, Tom Burris, Claire Southwick and Ellie Giles
Wagg steps down after four years at the helm, including three as co-chair with Stephen Budd (Stephen Budd Music). She will remain a board member for one further year, before becoming an MMF Custodian.
During Wagg’s chairmanship, MMF membership grew by 35 percent, now representing more than 500 UK-based managers. A third of them are female, with a similar percentage aged under 30, which MMF takes a proof of Wagg’s dedication to diversity. BAME (black, asian, minority ethnic) membership currently stands at 20 percent, and the MMF says it’s “committed to even greater inclusivity and widening the pool of managers it represents.”
Said Wagg: “The music business has changed dramatically over the past four years, and so has the MMF. It’s been a real pleasure to work with such a fantastic community of managers and particularly exciting to see such an influx of new members come onboard.
“Paul and Kwame are brilliantly placed to continue to grow and progress the voice of the MMF. I know they’ll offer [MMF chief executive Annabella Coldrick] and her team, who are a joy to work with, all the support they need to build on our current successes.”
Wagg’s successor, Paul Craig, draws upon a wealth of industry experience. Currently the manager of UK rock sensation Biffy Clyro, he has worked with acts including INXS, Kaiser Chiefs, Birdy, Bullet For My Valentine and Junior Senior.
Craig co-founded SuperVision Management in 1999, which won both a Music Week and MMF award for Manager of the Year in 2006. He was appointed GM at Atlantic Records UK in 2007 before promotion to SVP, Artist Partnerships, Warner Music UK in 2009.
In 2014, Craig founded Nostromo Management & Consultancy as an independent company focussed on global artist management and new technology.
MMF vice chair since 2017, Paul will now serve a maximum of three years as MMF chair.
Craig hailed his predecessor: “Working in tandem with our chief executive, Annabella Coldrick, Diane Wagg has been fundamental in transforming who the MMF represents and what it stands for. As well as overseeing industry-changing initiatives such as Dissecting The Digital Dollar and the FanFair Alliance campaign which have helped foster a new era of transparency and trust, there has also been a sea change in the make-up of our membership and our board.
“The increase in membership, especially among younger and female managers is testimony to Diane’s impact, her leadership and her innate sense of inclusiveness. Our last year working together has been hugely enjoyable.”
Coldrick added: “Diane has been a real rock of support for me personally. She ensured a welcome introduction, not only to MMF members but throughout the wider industry. I’ll always be in debt to her generosity and expertise, and for the positive stamp she has made on the MMF – ensuring we represent a greater diversity of managers, and a greater number of managers overall.
“I know that Paul and Kwame are huge advocates of her achievements, and I look forward to working with both of them.”
The picture above shows (from left): Charlie Carne (MMF accountant), Annabella Coldrick (MMF CEO), Brian Message (ATC), Lisa Ward (Red Light), Rachael Bee (ILUVLIVE), Ric Salmon (ATC), Kwame Kwaten (Ferocious), Paul Craig (Nostromo), Andy Edwards, Diane Wagg (Deluxxe), Paul Crockford (Crockford Management), Tom Burris (i:e management), Claire Southwick (Primitive) and Ellie Giles (Step Music Management).