Three NZ artist managers up for major MMF awards

Three of New Zealand’s most internationally recognised artist managers – Scott Maclachlan, Alex Burns and Ashley Page – are up for two of the most prestigious awards at this year’s MMF Music Managers Awards. These are held in Auckland on Wednesday May 11.

The three are nominated for Manager of The Year and International Achievement.

Scott Maclachlan is up for his work with platinum-selling opera trio Sol3 Mio, mysterious “supergroup” Leisure, classically trained pianist and singer Thomston and US singer songwriter Parson James through his Saiko Management. He has won both categories before, primarily for signing school girl Lorde when he was A&R Director of Universal Music NZ and building her up to multi-Grammy winning global status before their split in 2015.

Alastair Burns is behind the rise of NZ-born Melbourne-based Marlon Williams and Blue Mountains, NSW-born singer songwriter Julia Jacklin who drew rave reviews at this year’s South By Southwest.

UK-born Ashley Page’s clients include Lorde’s collaborator Joel Little, Broods who are signed to Capitol in the US, Brisbane singer Jarryd James and songwriter Alex Hope. The latte, whor penned Australian hits for Troye Sivan and Troy Henderson, was Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year at this year’s APRA Awards. Page, whose father Larry managed British ‘60s bands The Kinks and The Troggs, emerged in NZ as Label Manager of Flying Nun Records to whom he signed The Mint Chicks and The Phoenix Foundation.

Other categories at the MMF Awards are:

Breakthrough Manager of The Year

Alastair Burns (Marlon Williams, Julia Jacklin) 

Jaz Kapow (Bailey Wiley, Laughton Kora) 

Mel Parsons (Mel Parsons)

Self-Managed Artist of The Year

Mel Parsons (Mel Parsons)

Nick Atkinson (Hopetoun Brown)

Tami Neilson (Tami Neilson)

Best Independent Tour

James Southgate (Devilskin ’Mountains and the Moon’ Tour)

Mel Parsons (’Drylands’ Album Release Tour April/May 2015, Theatre Tour Oct/Nov 2015)

Teresa Patterson (I Am Giant ’Kiss From A Ghost’ Album Release Tour)

Best Small Venue

San Fran, Wellington

The Tuning Fork, Auckland

The Wine Cellar, Auckland

Best Large Venue

Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch

The Powerstation, Auckland

The Studio, Auckland