2025 Impact 50 Honoree: Kirk Sommer

KIRK SOMMER
Senior Partner And Co-Head Of Contemporary Music & Touring
WME

Previous Job: ”Painting and construction in Paterson, NJ.
Essential Tool: “My Mophie Powerstation Plus 10K power bank with cables and AC plug.”

Kirk Sommer is having a hard time picking out his top accomplishments for the year. Along with serving as global co-head of music at talent agency powerhouse WME, Sommer represents major artists including The Killers, Adele, Nine Inch Nails, Hozier and many others.

“It is another record year for the concert industry,” Sommer says, noting Vegas residencies by The Killers and Adele’s 100-show whopper, a Nine Inch Nails tour blowing out double-arena plays and stadium sellouts for Hozier (Fenway Park and Rogers Stadium), not to mention the recent signing of Andrea Bocelli, whom Sommer says it is an honor to work with.

“Building long sustainable careers is a priority. It is always very rewarding when you can execute on a great plan for incredible talent,” Sommer adds, noting artists including Hozier, Teddy Swims, Benson Boone and Lola Young.

“The Billie Eilish show in the round is one of the best I have seen, the sold-out Weezer tour was incredible, Kygo sold 65,000 tickets at GNP Seguros stadium while Empire of the Sun sold out the Hollywood Bowl and two Foro Sol in Mexico City,” Sommer adds, also mentioning King Princess in TV thriller “Nine Perfect Strangers,” Coheed and Cambria’s third sold-out SS Neverender cruise and the The Future Ruins festival by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Despite all those recent wins, Sommer advises caution and restraint.

“The live business has always been more consistent and durable than other sectors, but things can’t go up forever,” Sommer says. “Costs have certainly bloomed. You can’t take anything for granted and you must create value. I am never a huge fan of newer artists skipping steps or stepping up too big too soon, but that takes discipline. Being smart about how, where and when you play is very important. It is pretty silly when a career is in jeopardy or an artist hasn’t been given proper time to develop because they skipped steps to take a large check. You need to play the long game.”