Steve Martin, Andy Somers Unveil Paladin Artists In Strategic Alliance With Wayne Forte’s Entourage Talent

They promise a “re-envisioning” of artist and brand representation, music and touring, live events, literary representation, theater production, touring exhibitions and estate management. Paladin Artists will have offices in Los Angeles, New York City and London. 

The partnership brings a formidable team of agents to the fore. Among the initial battery of agents onboarding at Paladin Artists are Chyna Chuan-Farrell, Seth Rappaport, Steve Ferguson, Kath Buckell, Magaly Barone, Sara Schilevert, and Christian Ellett, among others. 

Martin, formerly APA’S co-head of worldwide music, is an industry veteran who sold his own 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. There, he was instrumental in helping to grow the company to become a worldwide power broker with more than 40 agents in the U.S. and a roster of hundreds of clients, including a list of such diverse performers as David Gilmour, Dolly Parton, New York Dolls, Ray Davies, Social Distortion, Brian Wilson, King Crimson, Dream Theater, Kiefer Sutherland and many others.

Prior to Martin’s departure, TAG became the largest independent music/literary agency in the world. Part of Martin’s growth strategy for TAG was the acquisition of Somers’ second incarnation of Bandwagon. In 2000, Somers opened the company’s first California office.

“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,” Martin said in a statement. “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 is also a TAG 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.  

“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,” Somers stated.

Entourage Talent was established by Forte in 1993 as a boutique, international booking agency and consulting firm. A founding member of the National Independent Talent Association, Forte and Entourage Talent represents clients including Tedeschi Trucks Band and guitar legends Joe Satriani and Steve Hackett.

“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. The establishment and building of yet another successful business is a bonus! After all, success is not simply a destination, it’s a constant journey.”

Prior to1993, Forte was a founding partner, president and CEO of International Talent Group, initially an international boutique booking agency which rose to major independent status with three offices worldwide, and with a consolidated and musically diverse roster of theatre, arena and stadium headliners including David Bowie, Pink Floyd, GeneSis, Phil Collins, Steve Miller Band, Scorpions, Duran Duran, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Billy Idol, Julian Lennon, Paul Young, Sade, Simply Red, Radiohead, Killing Joke, Joe Satriani, among many, many others. 

Prior to Forte’s departure, he helped to guide and later coordinate ITG’s joint venture with Labatt Entertainment Group.

 

The Kagency, founded by Karrie Goldberg 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. The group simultaneously grew a significant talent booking and buying division, hosting a roster of major recording artists and other notable celebrities for their corporate contracts. 

They are currently housing a portfolio of more than 500 traditional and non-traditional venues in the U.S. and UK along with a unique talent roster that includes Nike, Givenchy, Duran Duran, Beyonce, Cartier, Under Armour, Maserati and Vogue.