LONDON, UK (CelebrityAccess) – The Music Managers Forum (MMF) has announced Biffy Clyro co-manager Paul Craig of Nostromo Management as its new chair.
A former Atlantic Records and Warner Music UK exec, Craig, who has been MMF vice-chair since 2017, co-founded SuperVision Management in 1999 and has since represented a whole host of acts including INXS, Kaiser Chiefs, Birdy, Bullet For My Valentine and Junior Senior.
He will replace Deluxxe Management’s Diane Wagg, who is stepping down after four years. Kwame Kwaten of Ferocious Talent has also been elected as the MMF’s vice-chair.
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.”
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.”
The MMF’s membership has grown 35% over the past four years, with the organization now representing more than 500 UK-based managers.
Of the organization’s recent efforts and subsequent growth Craig added: “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.”
A third of MMF’s current members are female, with a similar percentage aged under 30.
