Twenty-First Artists, Elton John's management company and part of the Sanctuary Music Group, has announced some personnel changes. Clive Banks and Johnny Barbis, both of whom recently joined Twenty-First, will now provide 'creative management services' to Elton, the former in the UK, the latter for the rest of the world.
Merck Mercuriadis, who previously provided John's creative management via Twenty-First, is stepping down from the role. A spokesman confirmed that while Mercuriadis will no longer work with Elton, he will continue to operate as an artist manager within the Sanctuary Group, managing the affairs of Axl Rose and Morrissey among others. However, HitsDailyDouble reports that Mercuriadis is expected to actually part company with struggling Sanctuary, most likely taking Rose and Morrissey with him, possibly to a rival management agency.