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Former SuperVision managers to launch Red Light London

By | Published on Thursday 3 May 2012

Red Light Management

Two former SuperVision managers will set up a London office for Red Light Management, it has been confirmed. As previously reported, all the key staff at SuperVision, the management division of the HMV-owned MAMA Group, recently announced their intent to leave the live and artist firm, seemingly frustrated with the way HMV has gone about trying to sell the MAMA company.

That James Sandom and Cerne Canning will move over to US-based management group Red Light had been rumoured since earlier this year, and that intent was revealed by Record Of The Day last month. And according to Billboard, Red Light’s New York HQ has now confirmed that Sandom and Canning will set up a new London outpost for the company. Meanwhile, a third former SuperVision manager, Deb Fenstermacher, will join Red Light in New York.

The move brings a stack of artists managed by the three managers into the Red Light fold, including: Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, The Vaccines, Crystal Castles, The Cribs, White Lies, Here We Go Magic, Zulu Winter, Deap Vally, Crocodiles and Asobi Seksu.

Two other SuperVision managers, Dave Cronen and Nigel Templeman, have reverted to the agency they ran prior to forming an alliance with MAMA in 2008, Trust Management. As previously reported, there has been chatter that key execs from MAMA’s brand partnerships agency are also planning to depart, concerned that they have been kept in the dark about HMV’s plans to sell its live division, which the retailer acquired in 2010.

HMV, of course, is looking to raise some much needed cash by offloading the MAMA business. Up to nine players are rumoured to have expressed an interest in buying the profitable firm, including AEG Live, Sony and Oakley Capital, while MAMA’s management is also expected to bid. While some bidders will be primarily interested in the group’s venue portfolio, others were likely attracted by the interesting combination of MAMA operations – ie management, events, venues and brand partnerships – and for those possible buyers the departure of key execs ahead of any sale will be a concern.



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