Australian music talent agency Artist Voice already has offices set up internationally in Asia and New Zealand, but are now expanding their borders closer to hom, from Sydney to Melbourne, with the announcement that they’re opening new offices in Melbourne.
The creative agency was founded by former Premier Harbour Agency boss Brett Murrihy and Matt Gudinski, founder of Illusive Entertainment and recently named by his father Michael as Executive Director of the Mushroom Group as part of the company’s 40th Anniversary rebranding. Artist Voice is now opening new premises on Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD, situated near the landmark Block Arcade, offering a Victorian arm to represent many of their Melbourne-based talent.
“We have wanted to set up a location for the agency in Melbourne for some time given the city’s importance to the live music scene in Australia,” said Artist Voice CEO Brett Murrihy in a press statement today. “This provides us with the best resources to service our many clients based in Melbourne and also provide us greater access to A&R opportunities to secure the most exciting new acts emerging from Melbourne.”
The Melbourne office, which complements those already established in Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong and Singapore, will be headed by industry figure and agent Dave Batty. As part of Custom-Made Touring & Artist Representation, Batty is also the manager for popular Sydney band The Jezabels, and has handled international tours from punk and hardcore heavyweights such as The Bronx, Isis, Voivod, and Hot Snakes. “…To service our many clients based in Melbourne and also provide us greater access to A&R opportunities to secure the most exciting new acts emerging from Melbourne.” – Brett Murrihy, Artist Voice CEO
Coinciding with the announcement of their new Melbourne premises, Artist Voice have also confirmed a number of new signings to their agency roster, which currently sits at over 140+ Australian bands and artists.
Joining the Artist Voice stable is Angus and Julia Stone, the brother-sister folk rock duo who have spent the last 12 months plugging their respective solo albums and national tours, but are expected to re-unite soon to work on the follow-up to the 2010 triple platinum Australian #1 album, Down The Way; which has sole nearly 1 million copies worldwide.
The other big signee is Neil Finn, who has just completed a critically and commercially successful tour with fellow singer-songwriter Paul Kelly across 20 venues in Australia. Whether in his burgeoning solo career or as the frontman of Crowded House, Finn needs no introduction.
Fellow Kiwi, electropop star Ladyhawke is also welcomed to Artist Voice, while the agency gets another act from duo Allbrook/Avery – the side-project from Tame Impala and Pond associates (who are both already with Artist Voice) Nick Allbrook and Cam Avery, whose album is one of a slew of new material from Pond members being released this year.
Emerging electronic artist Ta-Ku joins subsidy Artist Voice Electronic, while the agency’s international roster grows as it now represents Glasgwegian buzz band, the three-piece Chvrches, who have been touted by British tastemakers like NME and the BBC off the back of their singles ‘Lies’ and ‘The Mother We Share’, plus their recently released Recover EP.
Being a Mushroom offshoot, Artist Voice currently handles many Mushroom associated acts, including The Temper Trap, The Rubens, Alpine, Bliss N Eso, Clubfeet, New Gods, and City Calm Down, as well as offering international representation for the likes of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and The Neighbourhood.
