Steve Martin

Martin began his music career in 1979, as a concert promoter producing shows for artists such as Muddy Waters, Tom Waits, Dire Straits, Weather Report and Miles Davis, to name a few. In 1984, he started The Music Business Agency. Most American booking agencies balked at booking at what they considered niche acts in the ‘80’s. Martin established a different business model with MBA signing Billy Bragg, Jimmy Cliff, Fela, Yellowman, Toots, and the Maytals, author Robert Hunter, Jorma Kaukonen, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, and Hot Tuna.

He operated MBA for 7 years before selling to the William Morris Agency (WMA) in 1989 and becoming one of WMA’s principal bookings, signing major acts such as The Band, Crash Test Dummies, and Barenaked Ladies, among others. 

In 1994, Martin left to spearhead the New York office of U.K. based The Agency Group, where he was instrumental in growing the company to become a worldwide powerbroker with over 40 agents in the U.S. and a roster of hundreds of clients, including such diverse performers as Dolly Parton, David Gilmour, The Scorpions, New York Dolls, Kiefer Sutherland, Ray Davies, Squeeze, King Crimson, Dream Theater and many others. By 2008, The Agency Group was the largest independent music/literary agency in the world.

In 2013, Martin became VP, Worldwide Concerts at APA Talent, and Literary Agency, working alongside Bruce Solar and Andy Somers, after being named partner in 2014. In 2021 Martin and Somers created Paladin Artists, Inc. A boutique agency stemming from the pandemic. They brought over all their clients from the previous Agency, as well as some of the Agents. Their continued efforts in growing and nurturing established clients and younger clienteles allows them to have a diversity of many different genres. Martin has been nominated as “Agent of the Year” 5 times by Pollstar Magazine and awarded it in 2008."