Finland’s Backbone Management Opens UK Office

Having positioned itself as one of Finland’s leading music management companies, Backbone Management begins its international expansion with the opening of a UK office.

Formed in 2014 by CEO Panu Piippo, and head of management Antti Eriksson, Backbone has steered the careers of Finnish acts including Ville Valo (VV, HIM), The Rasmus, and Blind Channel to international success, establishing some of Finland’s biggest musical exports.

Leading the UK operation will be The Noise Cartel’s director Adam Sagir, who brings twenty-five years of music industry experience into the role, including time as a label manager, booking agent, artist manager and music PR at The Noise Cartel, which he will continue to run alongside this new endeavor.

Joining the twelve Finnish acts on Backbone’s roster – which also includes Swallow The Sun, Ensiferum, ATLAS, and Stam1na – are three new British signings: Grammy-nominated Rock Duo Bones UK; influential djent/tech metal pioneers SikTh, and modern metal quartet Vexed.

Adam Sagir, director of Backbone Management Ltd., commented, “I’m very excited to be partnering with Antti and Panu and starting this journey with three of the most exciting bands the UK has to offer. Partnering with an experienced team like Backbone, and being able to rely on their established and knowledgeable team for support, will allow me to focus on the elements of management that most appeal to me – working alongside talented artists to help bring their creative visions to life, and ensuring their dreams are supported by a successful professional career.”

And, commenting on the first UK signings, he continued, “To be starting with three such talented and unique bands is really a privilege. I’ve long been a fan of Bones UK’s excellent songwriting, unparalleled creativity, attention to detail and unmatched authenticity, and I can’t wait for the world to hear and see what Rosie and Carmen have been working on.

“SikTh are one of the most influential bands in the metal world and have been friends since before I even started in the music industry. That they have found a new drive and are now planning new music is great news for fans of the genre, and to be given the opportunity to help build on their storied legacy is a professional dream.

“As for Vexed, they are metal superstars in the making, and their new music is going to drop jaws”.

Backbone Management, by its own admission, has become “the first Finnish management company to expand internationally, marking a milestone not just for Antti and Panu, but also for the wider Finnish music industry.”

Antti Eriksson said, “I am absolutely thrilled to be taking the next step and expanding in to the UK. I have known Adam for years and there is no better partner to start this journey with. SikTh, Bones UK and Vexed are all unique, stand out artists that I am a huge fan of, and they are truly a fantastic addition to our already strong artist roster. We have been working hard over the past ten years towards this and finally we are doing it.”

CEO Panu Piippo added, “Opening an office in London is an important milestone for us and a fantastic opportunity to continue Backbone Management’s international growth. Working alongside Adam is truly exciting – his experience and passion make him the perfect partner for this new chapter. We look forward to building long-term careers together and to shaping the future of music management on a truly global scale. We are also thrilled to welcome Bones UK, SikTh, and Vexed to the Backbone family.”

The Finnish team at Backbone also includes managers Katja Vauhkonen – a 21 year veteran of the industry who started at Sony Music Finland, and claimed the Manager of the Year award at the Finnish Music Industry Awards 2019; and Henkka Seppälä, former bass player for bestselling Finnish metal band Children Of Bodom, who joined Backbone in 2023.

Subscribe to Pollstar HERE