Sound Talent Group: Veteran Agents Dave Shapiro, Tim Borror, Matt Andersen Launch With 100-Plus Artists

Sound Talent Group – Sound Talent Group
Co-founders Dave Shapiro, Matt Andersen and Tim Borror

Veteran booking agents Dave Shapiro, Tim Borror and Matt Andersen have launched Sound Talent Group, with two offices and around 100 artist clients including major rocks acts such as Galactic Empire, Animals As Leaders, Trivium, Lamb of God, Zakk Sabbath, Hatebreed and many others.

Joining Sound Talent Group along with the agent co-founders are agents Beth Keith and Eric Powell as well as tour marketer Jackie Giffune. 

“After years of working for major agencies, we have learned a lot and we got to a place where we decided that it would be great to do things on our own terms. We put clients first. It’s not just about getting the job done,” Shapiro said in a statement. “I want us to be a part of each other’s lives and careers for the long haul. I want us to grow and find new avenues to service our clients in more fun and creative ways – not just booking tours – being a part of the business as a whole.” 

Borror added, “We are offering comradery between people inside of STG. We made a decision to go down an unlikely and uncharted path. We need to have each other’s back to make this work. Too much is at stake to fail, and too much experience is at hand for us not to win in a big way. More importantly, our clients are showing us incredible loyalty and we plan on rewarding that with focused and customized work to help these artists continue to build their careers.”

Co-founder Andersen adds, “The timing felt right for us to step out and launch STG. The three of us share a strong bond across the years of working together. We are all passionate about music and I believe the synergy of our team will be felt by everyone we interact with.”

The company will maintain offices on both coasts, with more information available at www.soundtalentgroup.com and [email protected].

Pollstar broke the news in early October that longtime rock agents Borror and Shapiro were leaving UTA, with the agency saying it was mutually decided the agents would remain at the company through the end of the year. 

The three co-founders were most recently at United Talent Agency, and The Agency Group before that, which was acquired by UTA in 2015.  

Powell was an assistant at The Agency Group and before that an agent at the Pantheon Agency. 

The formation of Sound Talent Group adds to a year of already busy agency moves, with the venerable Buddy Lee Attractions in Nashville recently announcing its closing and the surprise of WME Nashville co-head Rob Beckham unexpectedly leaving his position. 

Just last week, Pollstar broke the news of APA vice president of concerts John Pantle leaving the agency.

Other changes included UTA acquiring Circle Talent Agency, ICM Partners’ Caroline Yim and Zach Iser heading to CAA; Billions agents Adam Voith and Andrew Colvin departing for WME, Ali Hedrick joining Paradigm and Steven Himmelfarb going to The Feldman Agency; and Madison House’s Phil Egenthal joining Paradigm.

Sound Talent Group’s West Coast Office can be reached at 323.472.6673 and the East Coast Office is at 917.781.2030.