(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Todd Culberhouse, who has worked with artists ranging from Sade to Michael Jackson, has joined forces with entertainment attorney, Rob Johnson, to create an aggressive new management firm, Spank Management. One of their first projects will be managing the highly-anticipated forthcoming EMI/Honest Jons CD release on veteran soul singer, Candi Staton, who will unveil her first ever alternative soul/pop CD in spring 2006, followed by a tell-all memoir.
"I am thrilled to be working with such a talented, honest and informed Music Attorney, a rare find these days. I knew Rob was serious and that he is very dedicated to the Artists' welfare and protection. Those are qualities that I have always looked for, in order to build an artist management company into a true powerhouse in this industry. Together, I believe that we have all the talent and skills to create a truly great company for the benefit of all the Artists that are and will be team members on the Spank Management roster," Culberhouse exclaimed.
"When I met Todd, he was trying to take a vacation from the music business. However, with music running deeply through his veins, when he heard some of the artists that I was working with and what I wanted to do, it'd didn't take much encouragement to convince him to join forces and to jump head-first back into the biz. Our concept was to combine our unique backgrounds and talents in order to create an artist management company that is fully devoted to the artist and fully equipped with the tools necessary to help the artist achieve maximum success," Johnson explains.
Todd Culberhouse began his career as a contract negotiator in the music clearance division at ABC News and later NBC. From there, he formed his own recording artist and business management firm, Modern Management. Aside from managing the affairs of the legendary Jackson's singing family, Culberhouse provided Artist Management and accounting services as well as tour management for Madonna, Rod Stewart, Sade, Yanni and Michael Jackson among others. Culberhouse was later installed as head of A&R for Pioneer Entertainment where he supervised projects by CeCe Winans, Ray Charles, Oleta Adams, Peter Frampton, John Digweed/Bedrock and the Staff (featuring Kirk Whalum).
Rob Johnson is a professional drummer with a juris doctorate from Washburn University. In 2001, Johnson co-founded the law firm of Johnson & Kleven. Thereafter, Johnson began to manage and serve as legal representative for artists such as the Grammy nominated country star, Tim Murphy, and the sizzling, Frankie Moreno Band. Following the departure of his law partner at the end of 2004, Johnson formed his present law firm, R.D. Johnson & Associates, LLC, in Las Vegas, NV. He has worked tirelessly for the protection of his artist's assets and interests.
Spank Management is based in Las Vegas, NV.
Austin-Universal Entertainment Adds New Agent And Clients
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Austin-Universal Entertainment has announced the recent addition of agent Matthew Hoyt and artists Jarrod Birmingham, Wayne Mills and Zona Jones to the team.
Matthew comes to AUE after cutting his teeth in the biz with Center Stage Booking for the past year-and-a-half.
“I look forward to continuing the momentum for my artists and this agency,” said Hoyt. He will be the responsible agent for Jarrod Birmingham and Wayne Mills, while teaming up with AUE president, Greg Henry, in representing Zona Jones. He can be reached at 512-452-6856 ext. 17 or by email at matthew@aueonline.com.
