Features
PlayBook Artists: New European/UK Agency Launched
– The founders of PlayBook Artists (from left):
Eleanor McGuinness, Nikita Lavrinenko and Paul McGivern.
Booking agents Eleanor McGuinness, Nikita Lavrinenko and Paul McGivern today announced details of their newly established agency, PlayBook Artists.
The new venture brings together the agents’ combined 45 years of music industry experience as well as their roster of artists that includes Angel Olsen, Weyes Blood, Son Lux, Andy Shauf, This Is The Kit and Cut Copy, amongst others.
null – PlayBook Artists.
Logo.
The three agents have worked together in the past, at European agency Pitch & Smith for many years. “A transformative 2020 cemented the trio’s desire to work more closely together as partners in a new venture, combining their values, love for music, and unique and transparent approach to building long-lasting artist careers,” the PlayBook Artists announcement states.
McGivern elaborated, “The last year has been tough for the industry as a whole, but this feels like the perfect opportunity to collaboratively bring together the best of our experiences and shared values, and build something new with friends and partners. I don’t know two harder-working or more engaged agents than Eleanor and Nikita and I’m proud to be partners with them in the launch of PlayBook Artists”
The new agency will be represented with offices in Dublin, London and Berlin, PlayBook and Pitch & Smith will continue to work together on selected projects
McGuinness said, “It’s important to all of us to support the independent network, especially after the challenges of the last year, and the years yet to come. Paul, Nikita and I come from a similar background of working independently, and we are very proud of that and the longterm approach we have to our artists.”
Lavrinenko added, “It’s easy to get caught up in a ‘doom and gloom’ mentality when the times are difficult. That’s why I love seeing excitement, energy and new ideas sprawling out conversations I have with Eleanor and Paul. We are all determined to come out of this stronger, bring new approaches and concepts to life and rethink together what a modern, artist-focused agency can be these days.”
– The first agent hired by PlayBook:
Duncan Smith.
The team already announced their first hired agent, Duncan Smith, who joins them from the launch date. Smith’s roster includes Happyness, Shopping, Lime Garden, LICE, Home Counties, and new signing Clara Mann.
A number of artists on PlayBook’s roster shared comments, too. This is the Kit, for instance, said: “So happy for Paul and his colleagues on their new adventure, he’s always been a total pleasure to work with, highly professional, innovative and respectful. He really knows his
onions! Excited to see what’s ahead for PlayBook.”
Son Lux, which McGuinness represented since their very first show in Europe, said, their long-time agent evidenced “a sustained commitment to building something together. Her genuine excitement about her artists is palpable and contagious; at the same time, she puts in the work to identify key markets and venues, all while being flexible and responsive to our needs and schedules.
“Eleanor has managed to secure some truly amazing, trajectory-altering opportunities. One that immediately comes to mind was our set opening for Run the Jewels and Patti Smith at OFF! Festival, which felt like it catalyzed a whole cascade of interest in our work in Eastern Europe. We’re excited for this latest undertaking and know it will only be a further extension of Eleanor’s expertise, attention to detail, and artist-focused ingenuity.”
One of Lavrinenko’s clients, Ryley Wlaker, commented, “With Nikita, love of music has always come first. I’m honored to be represented for gigs by a genuine innovator, and a fellow fanatic. All built from the ground up. No side door deals, no cutting corners. All growth of my audience in Europe has been organic and thoughtfully done. With this new venture, I look forward to seeing Nikita continue his high standards of professionalism and transparency in the wacky world of booking tours.”