Martin has been named exec VP of Worldwide Music and will report to APA President Jim Gosnell. Martin is tasked with expanding APA’s music roster.

Martin – a highly respected music industry veteran – recently told Pollstar he left TAG for some much-needed R&R before evaluating his future and laughed off rumors of ill health.

To that effect, he released the following statement today:

“Contrary to recent reports of my retirement, or sitting on a beach indefinitely, after contemplating a few wonderful options I’ve decided to go into the next chapter of my career working at one of the best full-service agencies in the world… APA,” Martin said.  “To have a full box of crayons to service the clients is going to be a new and exciting opportunity.  Jim Gosnell sealed the deal by promising me Louis C.K tickets and the new Lee Child book.”

Gosnell added, “I am beyond thrilled to have one of the most respected and accomplished industry mavericks join our firm. Steve has played an integral role in countless success stories.  His distinguished career as a leader in the music business speaks for itself, and I sincerely look forward to our future accomplishments together.”

Martin began his music career in 1979, as a concert promoter producing shows in New York, Boston and Washington D.C. for artists such as Muddy Waters, Tom Waits, Dire Straits, Weather Report and Miles Davis, to name a few.  In 1982, he landed a short stint as an agent at Magna Artists before launching his own company, The Music Business Agency.  In 1989, Martin sold his company to the William Morris Agency, where he quickly became one of their key booking agents, signing major acts such as The Band, Crash Test Dummies and Barenaked Ladies, among others.

Five years later, Martin left to spearhead the then fledgling New York office of U.K. based The Agency Group, where he was instrumental in growing the company to become a worldwide powerbroker with over 40 agents in the U.S. and a roster of hundreds of clients, including a list of such diverse performers as Dolly Parton, David Gilmour, Scorpions, New York Dolls, Ray Davies, Squeeze, King Crimson, Dream Theater and many others.

Martin was awarded “Agent of the Year” by Pollstar in 2008.