UTA Acquires Echo Location Talent Agency In The UK

Obi Asika.
– Obi Asika.
Echo founder and co-head of UTA’s London office.

UTA today announced the acquisition of UK-based Echo Location Talent Agency for an undisclosed sum. 

Echo, which specializes in hip-hop and electronic music, was founded in 2012 by Obi Asika, who also leads the business.
Asika will serve as co-head of UTA’s UK office in London alongside Neil Warnock, and will be reporting to the co-heads of UTA Worldwide Music Samantha Kirby Yoh and David Zedeck.
As co-head of the UK office, Asika will be responsible for driving UTA’s growing music business as well as expanding existing practice areas including comedy, sports, marketing, and other verticals.
Asika is joined at UTA in the UK by senior agent Belinda Law and a group of up and coming agents including Myles Jessop, Tom Jones, Jack Clark, Hannah Shogbola, Kazia Davy and Ishsha Bourguet.
UTA’s international roster will now include Echo’s top artists across electronic and hip-hop music, including Alesso, Bugzy Malone, Chase & Status, Davido, Diplo, Galantis, Gorgon City, Giggs, Hannah Wants, Major Lazer, Marshmello, Pendulum, Pa Salieu, Sampa The Great, Teni, Clara Amfo, Mistajam, Charlie Sloth, Ocean Wisdom, DJEZ, and Wizkid, among many others. 
Echo’s clients will profit from the fact that UTA offers a full scope of services across multiple areas beyond music, including fine art, licensing, branding, video games, digital content, publishing, television, motion pictures, speaking and more. 
“Obi and his team have built an impressive business and have done excellent work taking their artists to the next level,” said UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer. “He is a highly respected leader in the music industry and is well-versed in the global entertainment marketplace. This acquisition further amplifies our efforts to expand UTA’s presence, and I know that alongside Neil, Obi’s leadership, drive, and passion will be a vital addition not only to the UK office, but for UTA at large.” 
 
“Throughout the years Echo has been approached by several suitors, and as we evaluated the agency landscape, UTA’s strength, ingenuity and true commitment to their artists really stood out. UTA was ultimately the perfect fit,” said Echo’s Obi Asika. “Jeremy, Sam, David, and Neil have shown strong and thoughtful leadership as they have built out the music division and the company’s global influence. I am so proud of what the team at Echo has achieved and I am fired up as to what we can all accomplish together.” 
 
UTA Music expanded into several new areas over the past years, including music brand partnerships, music crossover, tour marketing, music innovation, and electronic music with the 2018 acquisition of Circle Talent Agency. 
UTA represents an impressive list of musical artists, including Post Malone, deadmau5, Bad Bunny, YG, The Jonas Brothers, Rosalía, MIA, Bebe Rexha, The Pussycat Dolls, Young Thug, Common, Tyga, Offset, Burna Boy, Halsey, Machine Gun Kelly, James Blake, Florence and the Machine, Tierra Whack, The Kid LAROI., Bring Me The Horizon, Christine and The Queens, Deep Purple, Arlo Parks, Foals, Sigrid, Katherine Jenkins, Romeo Santos, Jamiroquai, 21 Savage, Polo G, Toby Keith, Jimmie Allen, Jamey Johnson, Blanco Brown, and Matt Stell, among many others.
 
According to UTA, “the music group’s momentum has continued in the face of the global pandemic.” Over the past year alone, the division has added several powerhouse executives and agents to its ranks across multiple offices. The new hires include Partner & Co-Head of Worldwide Music Samantha Kirby Yoh, who is based in New York; agents Jeffrey Hasson, Brett Saliba, and Jenny DeLoach, who are based in Nashville; agents Robbie Brown and Matt Meyer and coordinator Natalie Koe, who are based in Los Angeles; and agent Carlos Abreu, who is based in London. 
Read more about the recent UTA hires: