Blood hits the walls at IMG Artists
mainWe hear that seven staff were sacked yesterday in the New York office as part of the company’s restructuring.
Three are senior agents – Kristin Lancino, Stefana Atlas and Allison Pybus – the other four are assistants.
Kristin Lancino (pictured) joined the agency as Executive Director in May 2013. Allison Pybus was Vice President, in charge of a long list of singers. Stefana Atlas, a former assistant to the conductor Kurt Masur, moved from Paris to New York last year to take the job.
It looks like a policy of last in, first out.
The knives come out at the London office next Friday.
As of now, IMG will be slimming down its services to many artists.
That really is rat-ass nasty. Especially in the case of Atlas. I can’t imagine how the IMG people could live with themselves, hiring top tier new agents right before this big layoff. Did they not have a pulse on the spreadsheet?
someone else will make excellent use of Atlas
It is all yet another sign of the decay and collapse of the classical music “business” in its entirety. Just look at the recorded side of the “business”. It has already fallen and what we see today is nothing but a walking corpse, particularly Universal Classics and particularly Deutsche Grammophon. Look at the state of so many orchestras, i.e. Atlanta, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, etc., etc., etc. One by one they succumb and fall. Look now at the management arm of the classical “business”, here IMG, and one can quickly and accurately conclude that the end is near and until then, the collapse will be slow and painful. Anybody who claims the contrary is in total denial. Accept it and wake up and do something together to change this situation, otherwise classical music will soon become nothing more than a museum piece.
Alison, with one L. As of today, the artists have not been informed what is happening. A request for clarification on this following email received on September 4th brought no response, even until today.
Here is the letter:
”
Dear —-,
IMG Artists will be releasing a statement tomorrow announcing the company’s proposed organizational structure. We are positive about implementing these changes and wanted to share the information with you as soon as possible.
As of October 1, 2014, IMGA will be organized around global divisions that reflect function, as opposed to the current geographical divisions. The new divisions are global Artist Management, Sales, Touring, Attractions, Festivals and Events, Consulting and Corporate. We believe that by undertaking this change, in addition to the current relationships and team you are used to working with, you will find added benefits and have new opportunities that will grow from the other divisions working globally together.
The transition process starts today and will continue through the end of the month. I’ll speak with you, but wanted to make sure that you heard from me about the process.
All the best,
Alison
AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM IMG ARTISTS
Lorna Aizlewood, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel IMG Artists, today announced a restructuring of the business that will see the company organized along functional rather than its previous geographical lines.
IMG Artists will now consist of the following new divisions: global Artist Management, Sales, Touring, Attractions, Festivals & Events, Consulting and Corporate.
Operating from offices in three continents, IMG Artists is the only truly global performing arts management company, and the breadth and scale of work undertaken is unmatched by any other company operating in its sector.
Aizlewood commented:
“When I was appointed COO in May this year I began a company-wide process to analyze the commercial and artistic realities of the performing arts business, both today and for the future.
“This new proposed structure for IMG Artists has been designed to ensure that our company – the team and those we represent – are given the tools and support needed to thrive in the current market and beyond.
“These divisions align our company with the modern realities of our industry. Through this improved structure, IMGA will be able to offer its artists, clients and partners enhanced opportunities for advancing their careers and projects through strategic collaboration and increased exploitation of our unparalleled global network, all while retaining and supporting the key personal relationships with our roster of incredible artists that are at the core of our business.”
The new structure will be in effect from October 1, 2014.
For more information please contact Becky Farrell
T: +44 (0) 20 7957 5891 (UK)
E: bfarrell@imgartists.com
http://www.imgartists.com“