Jump to content

Featured Replies

Posted

IE Music ...link http://www.iemusic.co.uk/about_ie/iemusic/the_directors/

 

It is five short years since my first visit to ie: music’s funkily appointed Shepherd’s Bush offices and, heavens, as your PE teacher used to say, haven’t they grown?

 

What had been a bijou yet bustling cottage industry in 2002 has blossomed into a throbbing powerhouse incorporating artist management, an A&R department, an in-house multimedia facility, an online empire and global charity concerns.

 

Whilst ie HQ hasn’t altered outwardly, the initial shock upon arriving on this warm summer morning is the sheer number of bodies buzzing around the building (ie’s staff has increased by some 350 per cent in the last half-decade). The second surprise is the prevalent attitude of up-beat positivity. Nothing appears to be a problem.

 

Whereas the ie of old exuded a wonderful air of gentlemanly bonhomie, the 2007 model, whilst maintaining the old charm, fizzes with the can-do confidence of a company at the peak of its powers. It’s just the sort of place you’d want to work: fantastically friendly, ferociously busy but always fun. Demands are always high but rewards can be hugely satisfying.

 

These days, ie are cleverly utilizing every square inch of the two combined townhouses that they call home. The lithe-limbed staff deftly body-swerve each other on the stairs en route to their latest meeting, juggling PowerBooks, Blackberries, water bottles and mugs of tea.

 

The vibe remains that of a large open-minded, open-plan commune run by a kindly, bohemian couple. Not that anyone roams around naked breastfeeding foolishly-named children, but the dress code is strictly informal – virtually every lower-half is clad in pre-loved denim.

 

The air hums with the ever-evolving esperanto of the modern media. Strategies, territories and royalties are discussed with the air of those fluent in a second language. Laptops are tapped with one-handed familiarity, dates are diarised and calls casually conferenced.

 

The central hub of ia is a long, shared desk around which up to 14 colleagues do sit. This encourages communication and allows the group to share jokes of a generally dubious nature (bottoms are a perennially popular topic) before returning to their contacts, clients, promoters and pop stars.

 

Presiding over this beehive of hyperkinetic activity are two music business heavy-weights (although they appear to have been frequenting the gym of late), the formidable figures of David Enthoven and Tim Clark.

 

Sitting at opposite ends of a co-joined head table, the legendary managers, who have helped steer the careers of an extraordinary list of artists from Bob Marley to Bryan Ferry to Robbie Williams, Enthoven and Clark guide the good ship ie through the treacherous waters of the music business with a delightful blend of clubhouse wit and old school wisdom.

 

The bald, beaming, bear-like Enthoven strolls in the room dispensing goodwill and the gift of love like a favourite uncle on Christmas morning.

 

Clark, the revenue stream revolutionary, is already at his workstation speaking seriously, in the improbably plummy and sonorous voice he and Enthoven share, into his landline. This doesn’t prevent his ebullient partner from attempting to land a swift smacker on the top his head.

 

The day at ie: music has already begun. It isn’t yet 10am.

 

10.04: Listen to tracks from the new Sia album, some people have REAL problems, in the tree-house (a compact, remote office high in ie’s West Wing, beloved of Tim Clark). Enjoy the morning’s first mug of tea, expertly made by Jo Croxford (Assistant Marketing with a digital bias, Assistant A&R).

 

10.40: A meeting with Becks Mallet, Personal Manager to Archive. Key points: Archive are already huge in France but still breaking in Britain – how to boost their profile in the UK ; their non-styled style – is it working? (answer: yes) ; their forthcoming festival gigs; how to convey the family atmosphere of the band to new fans. Fruitful.

 

11.27: A brief meeting with Jules Lloyd-Price, Sia’s personal manager. Jules needs to create an EPK (electronic press kit) to introduce the charismatic Australian singer to the media. Characteristically, Sia wants the EPK to be quirky. She ends up doing most of it partially naked. Result then.

 

11.47: Detailed talk with Lucy Pullin, Head Of Marketing, Personal Manager to Craig Armstrong and Winona. The aim is to create a media angle for Winona, the band and the artist. It is a success, Winona is go. Plans are immediately made to press ahead with the project. A star is born.

 

12.28: A full-scale lunch meeting with 27 staff present and a proper agenda. Mini bagels, sandwiches, sushi, quiche and marinaded olives are enthusiastically devoured. Directors Enthoven, Clark and Josie Cliff (Personal Manager to Robbie Williams) tacitly steer the proceedings.

 

Each manager updates the team on the progress of their particular artist: Ari Millar outlines the new campaign for Passenger’s new single Do What You Like using the expression big summer hit twice.

 

Eran, the technical computer man, introduces the notion of “bespoke databases”. Cue much knowledgeable nodding and frowning.

 

Danielle Edwards, Studio Manager for Hangman, ie’s unique film and video company, reveals the details of their latest production and post-production projects and treatments in development. Enthoven savours the title of one in particular. It is Prick.

 

Taking her turn, Josie announces that Robbie Williams is taking the year off to write songs and manage his football team LA Vale in California. Clark murmurs his approval, daintily nibbling grapes in the manner of Nero.

 

13.58: A tea break in the kitchen area, beside the jukebox, with Sarah Camody, Office Manager. I notice that we are surrounded by a colossal collection of Robbie posters and photographs. His image and essence is everywhere at ie. As one visitor observed “much like the Holy Ghost”.

 

15.05: A weekly series of quickfire one-on-one meetings between Enthoven and Clark and the various artist managers where any concerns, ideas or issues can be thrashed out. Becks needs to run some studio costs by them. Lucy wants to update them on Winona. Clark studies Archive’s figures. Enthoven approves the new Passenger artwork.

 

15.28: An interesting exchange with Mark Hedley Head Of Strategy And Business Affairs who describes Enthoven and Clark as “mindreaders – they have an incredible insight into human beings whether they are employees or artists.” He looks across to the duo sitting at the desk beneath posters of Massive Attack and portraits of Robbie, Sinatra and Nick Drake. “Tim and David have this magical presence about them,” he marvels.

 

16.05: Return to the stripped floors, exposed brick walls and idiosyncratic ephemera (a life-sized ceramic pug dog, a school bell, a stop watch, a toy motorcycle, a creepy mask) of the office. Between calls and emails a debate ensues as to whether male/female relationships can truly work. “It’s all about give and take, babe,” Josie sighs, “Apparently.” A vast vase of lilies fills the air with a soothing fragrance and Middle-Eastern music bubbles in the background. “Shall we put on Pop Levi?” asks Clark. “Third rate T.Rex,” grumbles Enthoven. “Who wants a coffee?”

 

16. 36: A 30-minute meeting with Enthoven and Clark in the tree-house and a fascinating conversation about the future of music.

 

“Record companies have gone down the toilet,” declares Clark, in an impressive opening gambit. “Physical sales have dropped cataclysmically. A large part of our job now is to find alternative sources of revenue for our artists, whether through sponsorship, brand partnerships, mobile telephone companies, trans-actual monies or subscriptions to websites or whatever else is out there.”

 

Enthoven burps melodically. “Had to come out,” he apologises.

 

“We’re also looking after our artists’ rights,” continues Clark undeterred. “There are new rights emerging all the time: if an artist writes a decent blog, that adds value to the brand and someone out there may want to buy that. These things aren’t mere ‘promo’ any more. They’re valuable assets.”

 

“We’re acting more and more like a small independent record label,” adds Enthoven. “It’s just that we don’t actually sell the records. We see ourselves as managing our artists’ careers and businesses. Their lives, to an extent.”

 

“Our job now is to firstly enable our artists,” says Clark. “Then ensure that they are making money. And I don’t mean an artist like Robbie Williams who is obviously doing fine financially but we have to see that artists like Sia – who is a very special person - make a reasonable living, whether that is from releasing music digitally or performing live or making astonishing videos.”

 

Talk turns to the Black Hand Gang, a “gentle pressure group” formed by Clark and Enthoven in 2004. Their aim: to encourage transparency between EMI Records and its artists’ representatives.

 

“We got the various artist managers together,” explains Enthoven. “And said, ‘We’re not going to be dictated to en mass’.”

 

“It has achieved a certain openness but there’s a way to go still,” allows Clark calmly. “We’re aiming to provide solutions to the very real problems facing us. There was a degree of resistance from EMI initially but the more enlightened souls there have welcomed the idea.”

 

“We’re in a period of great change,” Enthoven philosophises. “We knew this was coming and we warned everybody and talked to record companies. We’d seen something similar happen before in the late sixties, you see.” He pauses reflectively. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that we have an answer...”

 

For the final hour of the day, I propose sitting with Enthoven and Clark in order to “watch them work”. This reduces them both to howls of helpless laughter. “See if you can detect any actual work being done,” barks Clark. “Be a bloody first!” hoots Enthoven.

 

But their modest bluster fails to mask the deep devotion that both men have to ie: music. They are soon back at their computers, squinting at sales figures, making travel plans to negotiate international deals and keeping a watchful eye on their youthful protégés.

 

It is well after six when the first member of the ie team leaves the office. Famously, at around this time, Tim Clark likes to charge a glass with something red and glossy and move among his people issuing profound statements on the business they are in and, if permitted, the wider state of the universe.

 

Sensing that it may be Clark O’Clock, the teetotal Enthoven bids us all a fond au revoir. Perhaps, I suggest, the next time I pop into ie it will, once again, have tripled in size. “Oh no,” he shudders, a glint of genuine horror flashing behind his spectacles. “It can’t get any bigger. Become unmanageable, wouldn’t it, old boy?”

 

“And as managers,” Clark concurs with a chuckle, “that would be unthinkable.”

 

Written by

Adrian Deevoy

 

 

 

  • Replies 8
  • Views 2.1k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Interesting article Tessa. I didn't realise Josie was so 'high up' in the organisation. :o
  • Author
Interesting article Tessa. I didn't realise Josie was so 'high up' in the organisation. :o

 

:cool: :cool: They seem to have a real cool set-up there.............

Yes. Sounds like it would be a great place to work.

 

I'd love to tell my employer 'I'm just taking a year off' :lol:

  • Author
:cool: :cool: They seem to have a real cool set-up there.............

 

Jup...

Excuse Moi.....did you not notice that I am working under cover but you have totally blown it.....' Inspector Bloody Cluso ' thank you very much.......

 

I am going to bed now....I will most likely have total nightmares all because of your carry-on........ :o :o :o :o :o ...most like shot at dawn...... ^_^

 

I would hate to be depending on you as my back-up .............................. :unsure: :unsure: :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:

 

 

Scorp.......................... :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

  • Author
^_^ Night

 

Nite............ <_< with nose totally out of joint........... :friends:

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.