The Music Managers Forum (MMF) has announced Biffy Clyro manager Paul Craig of Nostromo Management as its new chair following the organisation's recent AGM.
Former Warner Music exec Craig replaces Deluxxe Management's Diane Wagg, who steps down after four years at the helm including three as co-chair with Stephen Budd of Stephen Budd Music. Wagg will remain a board member for a further year, before becoming an MMF Custodian. Kwame Kwaten of Ferocious Talent has been elected as the MMF’s vice-chair.
The MMF’s membership has swelled by 35% over the past four years, with the organisation now representing more than 500 UK-based managers. A third of current members are female, with a similar percentage aged under 30. BAME membership currently stands at 20% with the MMF committed to even greater inclusivity and widening the pool of managers it represents.
MMF CEO Annabella Coldrick said: “Diane has been a real rock of support for me personally. She ensured a welcome introduction, not only to MMF members but throughout the wider industry. I’ll always be in debt to her generosity and expertise, and for the positive stamp she has made on the MMF - ensuring we represent a greater diversity of managers, and a greater number of managers overall. I know that Paul and Kwame are huge advocates of her achievements, and I look forward to working with both of them.”
The MMF has also greatly increased its range of activities for members, with monthly London meet-ups, events in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, alongside bespoke workshops and training days.
Wagg said: “The music business has changed dramatically over the past four years, and so has the MMF. It's been a real pleasure to work with such a fantastic community of managers and particularly exciting to see such an influx of new members come onboard. Paul and Kwame are brilliantly placed to continue to grow and progress the voice of the MMF. I know they'll offer Annabella and her team, who are a joy to work with, all the support they need to build on our current successes.”
Craig, who co-founded SuperVision Management in 1999, has represented a myriad of acts including INXS, Kaiser Chiefs, Birdy, Bullet For My Valentine and Junior Senior. He was appointed GM at Atlantic Records UK in 2007 before being promoted to SVP, artist partnerships, Warner Music UK in 2009. He founded Nostromo Management & Consultancy in 2014 as an independent company focused on global artist management and new technology.
MMF vice-chair since 2017, Craig will now serve a maximum of three years as MMF chair.
Paying tribute to Diane Wagg, he said: “Working in tandem with our chief executive, Annabella Coldrick, Diane Wagg has been fundamental in transforming who the MMF represents and what it stands for. As well as overseeing industry-changing initiatives such as Dissecting The Digital Dollar and the FanFair Alliance campaign which have helped foster a new era of transparency and trust, there has also been a sea change in the make-up of our membership and our board.
"The increase in membership, especially among younger and female managers is testimony to Diane’s impact, her leadership and her innate sense of inclusiveness. Our last year working together has been hugely enjoyable.”
Six original board members of the Music Managers Forum reunited at an event in Manchester last year to mark the organisation’s 25th anniversary.
