frontline MANAGEMENT
For 24/7 music biz coverage, go to
musicweek.com
Racing for the prize: First Access moves into sports
Chloe Roberts explains how the management firm’s approach to nurturing new talent is helping to recruit football and rugby stars
BY PAUL STOKES It’s kick-off for First Access Entertainment’s latest venture: they’re making a play in the sporting world.
The management and promotions firm – best known for artists including Rita Ora and Nicole Scherzinger – has founded First Access Sport, which will be headed up by agent Louis Bell and counts Southampton FC captain Ryan Bertrand, rugby fly-half Danny Cipriani and British tennis player Gabriella Taylor among its roster. “There is a big marriage between entertainment and sports, we’ve seen it getting closer in the last few years. That’s the reason we took the steps into forming this new business,” FAE’s EVP, Chloe Roberts, told Music Week. She explained that, having passed on several approaches from agents needing a commercial arm, the firm has decided to get fully involved in sport star management and agency.
“Louis, who is Ryan Bertrand’s agent, and Danny Cipriani’s agent Olly Ward, were already talking,” explained Roberts. “They saw the benefit of partnering fully with us, which meant that we fully are participating in the agency side of the business.” Roberts said FAE’s activities in the music industry have helped to recruit some of their sporting clients, not only by taking a few of them to the BRITs, but also by showing their track record for nurturing new talent. “They liked what we were doing with everything from the top to the bottom, because we are also known for our development,” she explained. “What was really interesting for some of the younger ones was that we don’t just work with people when they’re a name, we work with people from the very early days. I think that definitely attracted them to us.” Roberts said she also expects the new division to tap into FAE’s other areas of operation, particularly music. “There are huge synergies that we’re going to see come into play in the next six to 12 months for this new business,” she suggested. “From the simple things of artists wanting to go to sporting events, to other collaborations. Some of these athletes may have musical abilities, hopefully we’ll be able to uncover that too.”
For now, though, Roberts is focused on FAE’s first big sporting milestone, their debut football transfer window in January. “I wouldn’t claim to be an expert at all, but listening to the guys talk, I am so interested to hear about it,” she said. “Things can literally change in a heartbeat.”
06 | Music Week 12.11.18
“There are huge synergies that we’re going to see come into play”
Chloe Roberts First Access
Good sport: First Access Entertainment’s Chloe Roberts
No small Beer: First Access eyes 2019 music wins Chloe Roberts tips Madison Beer and Bexey as priority artists for next year
“Music remains the powerhouse,” declared Chloe Roberts, insisting that the launch of First Access Sport will not distract the management company from its musical stars.
The executive vice president has Rita Ora’s new album Phoenix due out on November 23, and is already predicting big things for another of their clients, Madison Beer.
“I’m excited about seeing Rita go from strength to strength, because you know it’s only her sophomore album that’s coming out, her tour is going to be huge,” said Roberts. “I also think Madison Beer has to be one of the most incredible success stories of this year. Her being the first independent female to go Top 40 at pop radio in the US made history.”
A debut album from the US singer and actress is expected next year and Roberts insisted the fully
No half measures: Madison Beer
independent model, which sees Beer distributing her records via Kobalt’s AWAL label, is working well in the pop arena.
“She has such a vision herself,” explained Roberts. “Working with artists that have a vision, that are willing to pack their suitcases and go on tour like she did, is working incredibly well. To have artists like that, who are willing to do it from the
ground up and to turn back the major label deals because they believe in an independent model, is something that we are fiercely supportive of.”
She added that FAE also has a raft of homegrown new talent she expects to emerge soon. “We’ve got some really exciting artists signed in the UK: Kara Marni, Casey Lowry and Bexey, who you’re going to see push through and make more of an impact next year,” suggested Roberts. “If you look at his numbers, you’ll see why.”
musicweek.com
PHOTO: Tom Flake
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
