APA has promoted worldwide music executive vp Steve Martin to partner, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
“Steve has done a tremendous job in furthering our footprint and continued growth,” APA president and CEO James Gosnell said in a statement. “He is one of the most distinguished agents in the business with countless success stories to his credit, and I am honored to give him this promotion that exemplifies his continued excellence in expanding our concerts division on a global scale.”
Martin’s current clients include Dolly Parton, David Gilmour, Scorpions, Ray Davies, Squeeze, King Crimson and Dream Theater. He joined APA in 2013 from The Agency Group, where he served as president of North American operations and was named Agent of the Year by Pollstar magazine in 2008.
“It’s been a remarkable year assimilating into the APA family,” Martin said in a statement. “The growth that we’ve seen on the music side has been exponential, and I know 2015 will bring even more exciting developments. Stay tuned!”
Martin got his start in music in 1979 as a concert promoter for artists including Muddy Waters, Tom Waits, Dire Straits, Weather Report and Miles Davis in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. He briefly worked as an agent at Magna Artists in 1982 before starting The Music Business Agency, which he sold to William Morris just seven years later. There, he became one of WMA’s major booking agents, signing bands including Crash Test Dummies, The Band and Barenaked Ladies.
