In the pub last night some drunkard went 'I know something about your industry, ssh their are a load of the big american agents coming over to London' it is going to shake it all up a bit.

Reading Industry newsletter Record of the Day article on 'Seismic shifts in London Agencies'. Confirms the drunk executive ranting.

Booking agents are companies you go to book a band. They deal on behalf of the bands management to get the best deal for the show. Typically taking 15% of the band fee from the promoter. The agents will line up the big tours, and the big shows and will pretty much have the say who is allowed to book a band, where and when. Agents also have lot of say of who goes on support, thus building their future clients. Agents are very low profile usually in comparison to the promoter or of course the band itself. But very high in power when it comes to who may be headlining V-Festival next year.

A few years ago Helter Skelter a Sanctuary company was the largest agency in Europe. Helping break The Darkness and having every band you could want from Marilyn Manson to Robbie Williams.

But sensing the tide at Sanctuary at the beginning of 2005 Helter Skelter agents Ian Huffam, Jeff Craft and Steve Strange, all left set up X-Ray Touring with talent Martin Horne and Scott Thomas from Live Nation’s International Talent Booking company. Maybe as an agent you would never become board level at these large corporations and creating an independent super agency was the way foward.

With both Helter Skelter & Live Nations ITB weakened by these high profile departures, It looks like the end of this year will see the introduction of two big american agencies Creative Artists Agency & William Morris into the London live music scene. As there are only so many successful touring bands (although more then ever) and so many agents to represent them. It would seem some movement may be ahead in the balance of power of the UK live music scene.