VETERAN MUSIC AGENTS UNITE TO FORM MINT TALENT GROUP, AN AGENCY RE-IMAGINED FOR THE POST-PANDEMIC ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

Sep 29, 2020 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

---

C.J. Strock, formerly of William Morris Endeavor, joins Patrick McAuliff and Phil Egenthal, formerly of Paradigm Talent Agency to form Mint Talent Group, the first agency formed during the COVID-era that brings together veteran agents from multiple major agencies. Founding agents include Mary Allen & Cassie Siegel, formerly of Madison House, Michael Morris & Ryan Owens (Paradigm), Peter Wiederlight (WME) and Logan Handelsman (CAA). MINT is a booking agency and entertainment company, re-imagined with an artist-centric model that advocates career longevity.

The roster proudly includes multiple GRAMMY award winners, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and current festival headliners. These artists include Allman Brothers Band, Blackberry Smoke, Brian McKnight, CloZee, Erasure, George Porter Jr., Mavis Staples, Rising Appalachia, Stick Figure, Trevor Hall, Steel Pulse, Stephen Marley, and Taj Mahal, among many others. The full client roster is included at the end of the release.

ARTISTS FIRST: AGENCY SERVICES RE-IMAGINED

 

Utilizing countless decades of combined agency experience, MINT launches with an exciting model focused on empowering artists and providing crucial services that continue evolving with the times.

 

In addition to core booking representation, MINT will guide clients through a reimagination of “the agency marketing department” via a proprietary 47 point marketing plan designed to embrace new technologies. Artists, managers, and their teams will benefit with access and knowledge to the best modern marketing tools at all times.

 

MINT clients will also enjoy access to a premier artist fan club ticketing platform. This service provides artists with ancillary income and expanded fan contact information with no fee on the ticketing upcharge.

 

As a forward thinking company and in line with its full service agency model, MINT will maximize client opportunities in brand partnerships, private and corporate booking, as well as voice-over, TV and film. With the belief that these opportunities are more abundant when pursued from multiple angles, MINT has established agency-wide partnerships with numerous brand executives and corporate buyers. The traditional agency model has a narrow department that is only able to focus on top earning clients. MINT, instead, will cast a wide net with multiple partners so as to secure key opportunities for all clients on the roster.

 

ARTISTS FIRST: THE HONOR SOCIETY

 

MINT’s goal is to create the strongest platform imaginable that supports its artists and agents during the hardest of times. As a safe return to concerts begins, Mint Talent Group will help support this mission via an artist committee called the Honor Society. These icons and artistic leaders will help shape the direction of the agency. Jaimoe (Allman Brothers Band) adds, “It’s nice to be at a place where the artist’s voice is heard and we can use our livelihood to give back to worthy causes”. In exchange for their participation, MINT will make a charity donation from commissions earned from each Artist in the Honor Society to a cause or specific charitable partner as dictated by each Artist.

 

 

THE TEAM

 

The Mint Talent Group launches with veteran agents from four agencies and a full support team.

 

CJ Strock, in addition to booking his diverse roster of musical artists, will help the company reach beyond the concert arena. MINT Sports will bring “Sports to the Stage” using its creative platform to book sports broadcast talent, athletes and coaches to connect with audiences and fans in unprecedented ways.

 

Strock adds: “I am thrilled that we have built a new business based on positive core human values for all parties involved in the MINT Family. I am very proud of my partners, employees, and top to bottom across the Music client roster and Sports properties. Let’s go!”

 

Overseeing an impressive roster of clients, Patrick McAuliff is excited to play an important role in forming a culture that the whole team can be proud of: “The goal of MINT is to bring together great agents with amazing rosters so that both can thrive at a home that values the associate, agent and artist like family. The wealth of experience the MINT team brings to the group gives us the clout of a corporate without the limitations or boundaries. ”

 

Phil Egenthal is also excited to contribute to this goal: “At MINT, we are building a foundation that supports both Artists and Agents growth for the entirety of their careers’… all the while carving out charitable and benevolent causes to support and empower with our efforts.”

 

Michael Morris will helm the MINT performing arts business to provide fresh, unique packaging and stimulating artist attractions for upcoming touring seasons to come. “MINT’s presence will be equally at home on rock stages, destination festivals, as well the most prestigious theaters and performing arts centers in the world,” add Morris. “The opportunity to join MINT with like-minded veteran agents and friends, while continuing to service my long-term clients is a dream come true. I look forward to making a positive impact on the industry’s recovery, while also joining my colleagues at MINT to create a family environment in which artistic integrity, professional courtesy and promises to each other are non-negotiable.”

 

Mary Allen’s expansive efforts in development and growth have helped her client CloZee catapult into one of the fastest rising EDM/Bass acts. “I’m thrilled to join the Mint family and couldn’t be more energized to launch the electronic division alongside Pete Wiederlight and Logan Handelsman. We make a great team and I look forward to carving a special lane in the electronic space where all artists — developing & established — get the attention and support they need to flourish in the forever evolving touring landscape.”

 

Peter Wiederlight, former head of EDM festival booking at WME and new head of festival booking at MINT, is looking forward to helping artists carve their own paths as headliners while putting a major focus on festivals and unique performance opportunities. “Heading up the festival business at a firm with the values of MINT allows me to spend an unprecedented amount of time on each client and really focus on the whole roster and every festival, big and small,” says Wiederlight.

 

Cassie Siegel brings a variety of expertise to the MINT team. Her diverse roster will touch Americana and Roots and also features hip hop legends and reggae mainstays. “I’m thrilled to be able to call MINT my new professional home,” says Siegel. “2020 has been a year of significant disruption for the world of live music and across this planet. At MINT, we believe and are dedicated to creating a company that can have a meaningful role in the rebuilding of our industry to be more successful and personally fulfilling for us as agents, for our clients and for all of our colleagues across the industry. I also know that we are ‘all in’ as a team and family to pave the way for the new model to become the standard. And we are going to have fun on this journey!”

 

Ryan Owens will oversee MINT’s casino booking department. With extensive agency history, Owens knows that the music business is not a zero sum game. Owens adds: “I’m excited to be collaborating with this group of agents & with this new collaborative mindset, working together so we can add value to our clients.”

 

MINT will feature an associate training program to empower the next generation of agents and industry leaders. Lindsey Overby (formerly of Paradigm) and Jesse Rivelis (formerly of WME) will be the first two associates in this program.

 

The cross pollination of agents from various backgrounds, teams and companies has Mint Talent Group poised to lead the conversation on what an agency looks like in the years to come. As we navigate those changes and focus on building the future, one thing is abundantly clear: Mint Talent Group is fully invested in the long term health of its clients and the overall concert industry ecosystem. Through all the changes, trust and long term relationships remain the building blocks of success.

 

Now booking.

 

INDUSTRY RESPONSE

 

Don Strasburg, Co-President AEG Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest:

“The team at The Mint agency has deep experience creating phenomenal experiences for the Artists and fans. I have worked with all of the partners for many years and watched them all shepherd phenomenal talent to great heights. I and our team look forward to creating lasting experiences for our community with our friends at the Newly formed Mint agency.”

 

Peter Shapiro, Founder of Dayglo Ventures:

“I am thrilled about the launch of Mint Talent Group. The company is the perfect size, not too big and not too small, just perfect right in the middle. MTG is comprised of well respected agents who I have worked closely with for more than 20 years—so I know first-hand that these are the people who I trust to lead us to a brighter and more lyrical place, a place where live music doesn’t just return to where it was, but returns bigger and more powerful and more inspiring than ever before.”

 

Inaugural MINT Roster

 

Acoustic Alchemy

Alejandro Escovedo

Allman Brothers Band

Ambrose Akinmusire

Antonio Sanchez

Apashe

Art Garfunkel

Artikal Sound System

Axel Thesleff

Ayla Nereo

Bag Raiders

Ballyhoo!

Big Band of Brothers

Bill Frisell

Blackberry Smoke

Blind Boys of Alabama

Bob James

BOIZ HOUSE

Boyfriend

Brandon “Taz” Niederauer

Brian McKnight

Brother Ali

Carla Morrison

Cas Haley

Charles Lloyd

Charlie Musselwhite

Charlie Starr

Chris Botti

Chris Roberts

CloZee

Collie Buddz

Corrupt UK

Cycles

Dave Grusin

Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour

David Ramirez

Deb Talan

Desert Dwellers

Doctor Lo

Dub Inc.

Dub Trio

Defunk

Dumpstaphunk

East Forest

El Ten Eleven

Erasure

Foundation of Funk

Fourplay

Freddy & Francine

GA-20

Gabriel Kelley

Gaby Moreno

George Porter Jr.

God Street Wine

Great Peacock

Helmet

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall

HIRIE

Jaimoe

Joe Ely

John Mayall

Jon Cleary

Josh Kelley

Keznamdi

Kitchen Dwellers

Kuinka

Lee Ritenour

Lucia Micarelli

LUZCID

Magnolia Boulevard

Marc Cohn

Mason Jennings

Mavis Staples

MEMBA

Mersiv

Mike Love

Mize

Moon Hooch

Moziah

National Park Radio

Neal Francis

New Breed Brass Band

New Deal

New Orleans Jazz Orchestra / NOJO 7

Nick Perri & The Underground Thieves

Nobide

North Mississippi Allstars

Orquesta Akokan

Passafire

Paz Dylan

Pocket Protection

Rebel Souljahz

Rising Appalachia

Rome in Silver

Sammy Miller and The Congregation

Satsang

Shemekia Copeland

Soul Rebels

Space & Harmony

Steel Pulse

Stephen Marley

Stick Figure

Taj Mahal

The Elovaters

The Flatlanders

The Green

The Movement

The Orb

The Shady Recruits

The Weepies

The Wild Feathers

Trevor Hall

Tripp St.

Vanic

White Denim

Yaima

 

 

# # #

---

---

---