Agency Group Alums Steve Martin, Andy Somers Leave APA

Martin was APA co-head of worldwide music alongside Bruce Solar and Steve Lassiter, after being named partner in 2015.

Martin, a well known music industry figure, sold his own Music Business Agency to William Morris in 1989 and, five years later, left to spearhead the fledgling New York office for the UK-based, Neil Warnock-founded The Agency Group, which became a concert industry powerhouse. His clients over the years have included notable artists such as Dolly Parton, David Gilmour, Scorpions, New York Dolls, Ray Davies, Squeeze, King Crimson, Dream Theater and many others. He joined APA in 2013.  Martin was selected the Bobby Brooks Agent of the Year” by Pollstar in 2008.

Somers is also an Agency Group alum, representing notable clients often in the punk rock world, including Social Distortion, Pennywise, Circle Jerks and others, although notably has represented Brian Wilson alongside APA’s Bruce Solar.  

Although the agency world is always prone to comings and goings of agents as well as talent, the coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves through the business, which depends almost solely on live performances for revenue. Layoffs, furloughs and defections have led to the formation of many new independent agencies, with the previously unheard-of situation of layoffs of agents that viable, ticket-selling clients.

Newly formed groups include TBA, MINT Talent, Arrival Artists, and the recently announced Golden Gate Talent Agency started by Jason Kupperman. Most of the newly formed agencies involve agents previously with Paradigm, which was just announced to be acquired by Wasserman after a year of acquisition rumors — interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Pollstar reached out for comment to Martin and Somers but had not heard back at press time.