LONDON (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Rumors have proven true as legendary family-style booking agency Concorde International Artistes prepares to officially shut down booking operations at the end of September after 30 years in the business.
With increasing competition from major booking agencies like Helter Skelter and the William Morris Agency’s new London office, CIA has lost key artists and employees, including founder Louis Parker’s son Solomon Parker, to its rivals in recent times.
“It is sad but not unexpected,” former CIA agent Paul Bolton told CelebrityAccess. He is currently with Helter Skelter. “Without Concorde, people like David Levy, Russell Warby and myself would not be where we are today.”
Steve Hogan, who left CIA in January after 8 years at the agency, told CelebrityAccess, "I truly valued my time at Concorde and it gave me the solid foundations to develop my career as an agent – they were wonderful years and I will look back on my time with the gang at CIA with very fond memories and a smile on my face."
Agent Debra Downes confirmed that the agency will close its doors by the end of the month, with all specifics and details to be announced in the coming days.
Most artist and agent futures have yet to be confirmed, although Downes is preparing to launch her own agency in October. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
