Toronto, ON – March 16, 2011 – The Agency Group, one of the world's leading entertainment talent agencies, is pleased to announce the 15th anniversary of the Toronto office. Seasoned Canadian music industry veterans Ralph James and Jack Ross actively sought out an international partner with the goal of creating the first Canadian talent agency with the global reach to develop their home base roster on the world’s stage. They found this partner in current CEO Neil Warnock, the visionary responsible for artists such as Pink Floyd and Deep Purple.
With only one other staff member, one intern and a small group of critically acclaimed Canadian artists, the three partners opened the doors to the Torontooffice in 1996. They have since grown the firm to include 24 staff members and a roster of talent that has woven the Canadian musical and cultural fabric. Established clients such as Nickelback, Great Big Sea, Sam Roberts Band, Feist, Paul Brandt, Metric, Sarah Harmer, Bruce Cockburn, City and Colour, and Jian Ghomeshi represent the breadth and diversity of talent Canada has to offer the world. Never content to simply rest on laurels, The Agency Group continually scours the clubs and venues of the country looking for and developing new talent like LIGHTS, Arkells, Stereos, Down With Webster andMarianas Trench.
James started his career as a bassist for Harlequin in 1975 and toured with the Winnipeg rock band until 1987. After leaving the band, he became a manager and independent agent. Ross spent a decade as a promoter, manager, and agent in the Canada music business. The virtual monopoly in the Canadian Agency business of the late 1980s and early 1990s left a void for the partners to fill with their innovative approach to booking talent. James and Ross firmly believe in being strong advocates in their artist’s careers. To accomplish this, they develop closer relationships with their artists and managers and personally represent each artist across all territories instead of booking on a territorial basis. With offices around the world, The Agency Group Toronto has overseen the global representation of Canadian clients such as Nickelback and City and Colour.
“We opened the Toronto office with the goal of discovering and developing great young talent while also providing our Canadian artists with the opportunity for international exposure through The Agency Group’s worldwide platform,” said Ralph James, president of The Agency Group Toronto. “We have created an international playing field for many of our acts with Nickelback, Three Days Grace and Billy Talent as prime examples.”
The Agency Group Toronto celebrates its 15th Anniversary with more than 20 artists nominated for The 2011 JUNO Awards including Broken Social Scene and Down With Webster. Both artists will be featured performers on the national broadcast of the Awards show on March 27th. Several of its original clients are also back together and performing this year including Big Sugar, The Watchmen, and Headstones.
The Agency Group Toronto office will formally celebrate its 15th Anniversary on March 24.
ABOUT THE AGENCY GROUP
The Agency Group is one of the world’s foremost entertainment booking agencies, with 60 agents and a combined roster of nearly 1,500 celebrated musicians, speakers and authors. The group’s talent pool includes the full spectrum in artist development, including emerging artists, artists at the pinnacle of their careers, and legends in music. All are from diverse genres including rock, metal, reggae, folk, R&B, hip-hop, classical, pop and children’s entertainment. In addition, the company has Literary, Speakers and Events departments.
The group differentiates itself from other booking agencies through building strong ties with artists and their managers. Each agent represents specific acts, unlike most agencies who work them in definite territories. Further, The Agency Group has offices located throughout the world - in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Malmo – offering immersive global representation to its artists.
The Agency Group has received multiple honours from the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards including “International Booking Agency of the Year” (eight times), “UK Booking Agent of the Year” in 2007 and 2009 for its Chairman Neil Warnock, and the “Bobby Brooks Agent of the Year” to Steve Martin, its President of North American Operations, in 2009. The Agency Group has also been the recipient of the “Booking Agency of the Year” Award at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards for the past five years. For more information, visit
theagencygroup.com.
