SYDNEY, Australia — Various Artists Management is now open for business in the land Down Under.
As VAM builds out its international footprint, the company establishes an office in Sydney. Leading the new affiliate is industry veteran Arwen Hunt, VAM’s head of Australia/New Zealand, with duties across the talent agency’s management, label and publishing activities. Hunt reports to CEO David Bianchi.
With the launch, VAM’s empire includes offices in London, Los Angeles and now Australia’s most populous city.
“After the successful opening of our L.A. office a few years back we decided upon further global expansions and Australia/New Zealand seemed like a logical next step, both in terms of the amount of business we have down there and its proximity and access to Asia,” comments Bianchi.
In Hunt, VAM lands a talented international executive with a stellar CV.
Born in the U.K., Hunt entered the music industry as a 17-year-old and has soaked-up experience as an artist manager, A&R, music publisher, label manager, product manager and promoter.
“It took one meeting with Arwen to know that she was the person to run Various in Australia/New Zealand,” explains Bianchi. “Her management background with Catfish and the Bottlemen and Kate Nash was super-impressive. Mixed with her publishing background at Universal she is just perfect! We are so happy to welcome her to the global VAM Family”.
Most recently, Hunt served as vice president, creative / head of A&R for Universal Music Publishing Group Australia and New Zealand, signing and A&Ring such artists and writers such as PJ Harding, Ruel, Lime Cordiale, Idris Elba, DMA’S, Odette, Timmy Trumpet, Alex the Astronaut, Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Gang of Youths, Vera Blue, The Chats, Styalz Fuego, Hiatus Kaiyote, CW Stoneking, D.N.A. and others.
Previously, she was as an artist manager and partner at ATC London, where she guided the careers of Catfish and the Bottlemen, Kate Nash, Augustines, Half Moon Run, Black Lips (U.K. & Europe), Tegan and Sara (U.K. & Europe), and more.
“If you’re lucky enough to find your tribe in this often brutal industry, you find a way to work together. That’s exactly what happened when I first sat down with the VAM team, and now, here we are,” Hunt comments in a statement, issued Jan. 30.
VAM’s team “not only have a knack for identifying incredible musical talent,” she continues, “they’re also astonishingly adept at handpicking the right people to grow VAM and the careers of their artists and writers.”
The team culture is “one that inspires and excites me more than any other I’ve encountered in my lifelong career, and exactly what working in music should be about: a shared vision and exuberant passion and belief in the art they represent; an incessant drive to kick down doors for their artists, clearing the path for them so they can progress; a team that fights together, grows together, celebrate wins together, and inspires and supports each other.”
The VAM roster includes Tom Grennan, Good Neighbours, Melanie C, Ashnikko, The Libertines, Supergrass, La Roux and Rose Gray.
