YMU launch US entertainment division 19 May 2022
SPEARHEADED BY VETERAN AGENT APRIL TOMBS, JOINED BY UTA'S SPENCER GOLDSTEIN AND ICM’S JARED GREENWALD
Leading transatlantic talent management company, YMU, launches its US Entertainment division under the leadership of highly coveted and respected agent, April Tombs. The company - which holds offices in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, as well as London and Manchester in the UK - boasts over 30 years’ experience in serving elite clients in Music, Sport, Entertainment, Art, Social, Books, and Business Management across all of their business endeavors. A snapshot of global clients include Steve Aoki, The Rolling Stones, Nick Cave, Pentatonix, Common, Graham Norton, Ant & Dec, Tyler Adams, Clint Dempsey, 3LAU and Slime Sunday, amongst others.
The launch of the US Entertainment arm aims to replicate the success and ambition of the UK Entertainment division, with the 60+ UK team led by Global MD of YMU Entertainment, Holly Bott. Former United Talent Agency veteran, April Tombs, joins YMU after an extensive career at UTA where she previously navigated partnerships for multi-hyphenate clients including Hilary Duff, Queen Latifah, Anthony Anderson, Jenna Dewan, and Brooke Shields, amongst others. As Managing Director, YMU Entertainment, US, Tombs will be joined at the YMU US offices by two additional and exceptional appointments; former long-term colleague and UTA senior agent Spencer Goldstein and senior agent Jared Greenwald from ICM, who between them have previously worked with an elite list of talent including Emily Ratajkowski, Cillian Murphy, Jessica Alba, Laverne Cox, Don Cheadle, Madelyn Cline, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Maitreyi Ramakrishan, Eric Andre and Christopher Walken. The pair have executed some of the most forward thinking and innovative entertainment partnerships within the US market. The trio are expected to launch the US Entertainment division with an impressive client list.
April Tombs, Managing Director, YMU Entertainment, US:
“As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, I've admired - and share - YMU's client-first business approach executed through creativity and innovation. I am thrilled to join this amazing team and lead the expansion of the Entertainment division within the US.”
Built on a client-first approach, YMU provides a platform for their clients to create genuine 360-degree, multi-faceted brands, through a breadth of knowledge and depth of expertise. Leveraging their divisions in Music, Sport, Entertainment, Art, Social, Books, and Business Management, with services spanning creative, social strategy, commercial, publishing, live experiences, IP, public speaking, design, and data, they are home to an industry-leading global team of 350+ executives, who are fully integrated across international offices, complementary divisions and operations departments. The launch of YMU Entertainment US speaks to the Group's commitment to further grow and invest in the US market and replicate YMU’s market leading success in the UK.
Mary Bekhait, Group CEO, YMU:
"The launch of a US Entertainment division is incredibly exciting and is the first in a number of investments the Group will be making as we further establish our reach in the US. In April we found an exceptional leader who will work closely with our Group Entertainment MD, Holly Bott, to deliver first class 360 client service. I am excited to build and replicate the success we have enjoyed in the UK within the US.”
Holly Bott, Global MD, YMU Entertainment:
“April’s appointment feels like an exciting, natural expansion to the YMU Entertainment division and furthers our commitment to delivering world-class, talent-first management. We have a unique opportunity in the US market with this outstanding number of appointments in April, Jared and Spencer, and I look forward to working with them to deliver an exceptional service and business offering for our elite YMU talent.”
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THE HEADLINES
“Content is king” say analysts - so why is Spotify worth more than the entire music rights industry? (see Comment)
Where’s the next wave of working-class rock stars? (see Features)
Populists vs. tech titans: The battle over AI and the future of music (see Comment)
Can TikTok revive classic songs? A statistical analysis (see Analysis)
UMG’s Michael Nash: ‘AI can be instrumental to the future of music’ (see Digital)
In the post-music streaming era, do artists and labels give too much away? (see Comment)
Songwriters ‘missing millions in royalties from more than 100,000 UK gigs’ (see News)
Merck Mercuriadis plots comeback with Hipgnosis remix (see Business)
V&A East Storehouse to open the David Bowie Centre (see News)
ESCA calls on the EU to block Universal Music’s deal to buy Downtown (see News)
Virgin Music CEOs push back against critics of Downtown Music deal (see News)
Record labels are running on empty (see Opinion)
AI music is going viral, but it’s not what fans want (see Comment)
The Velvet Sundown may be the first breakout AI band from Suno (see Digital)
Amid cuts, WMG to "continue to supercharge our capabilities in long-term artist, songwriter, and catalog development" (see Business)
WIN CEO writes to European Commission Vice-President over Universal's acquisition of Downtown (see Comment)
If Spotify truly champions discovery, it should champion fair compensation from the first stream (see Comment)