– Martin Kirkup, Direct Management Group Co-Founder, Dies at 75
– Martin Kirkup, Co-Founder of Direct Management Group, Passes Away at 75.
Martin Kirkup, Co-Founder of Direct Management Group, Passes Away at 75
The music industry mourns the loss of Martin Kirkup, the highly respected co-founder of Direct Management Group, who passed away on Sunday, Feb. 4 while on vacation in Hawaii. He was 75 years old.
Kirkup was known for his incredible talent in artist management and had an impressive roster of clients throughout his decades-long career. Currently, he managed renowned artists such as Katy Perry, k.d. lang, and Au/Ra. However, his portfolio also included collaborations with legendary acts like the B-52s, Counting Crows, Tracy Chapman, the Go-Go’s, and Adam Lambert.
A Legacy of Passion and Dedication
Direct Management Group co-founder Steven Jensen fondly remembers the inception of their company, stating, “Martin Kirkup and I conceived Direct Management while drinking Raki at a restaurant high above the Bosphorus in Istanbul, escaping the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. We were both fans of alternative pop music and focused on establishing a boutique management company to support that exciting genre of music. I’m proud to have built Direct Management with Martin and Bradford Cobb to the global presence it has today, with integrity, honor, and ingenuity, much of which was contributed by Martin. His influence is a permanent fixture of the Direct Management culture.”
Born in Tynemouth, U.K., Kirkup ventured to the United States in 1973 as a visiting professor of English Literature at the University of Rhode Island. He later made his way to New York, where he joined A&M Records as the east coast publicity director. Throughout his time at A&M Records, Kirkup worked closely with iconic artists like Peter Frampton, Styx, Squeeze, Joe Jackson, the Police, and Joan Armatrading.
In April 1985, Kirkup and Jensen established Direct Management Group in Los Angeles. Their early clients included Boy Meets Girl, Echo & The Bunnymen, Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, and Bryan Ferry. Notably, they guided Bryan Ferry on his first solo international tour. In 1989, Direct Management Group achieved immense success with the B-52s’ quadruple-platinum album, Cosmic Thing, which featured the chart-topping hit “Love Shack.”
Throughout the ’90s, Direct Management Group continued to thrive, representing the Counting Crows for a decade as the band sold over 25 million albums. Other notable clients during that period included David Byrne, Joe Jackson, Seal, and the New Radicals. In 1998, Bradford Cobb joined the company as a manager and later became a partner in 2012.
A Champion of Talent and Mentorship
Under Kirkup’s leadership, Direct Management Group flourished in the early 2000s, overseeing the careers of artists such as k.d. lang, Katy Perry, the Go-Go’s, and Jamie Cullum. The company’s roster also expanded to include Adam Lambert and Steve Perry.
Bradford Cobb, a longtime collaborator and partner at Direct Management Group, expressed his admiration for Kirkup, stating, “Martin Kirkup was a class act, a gentleman, and he was brilliant. Over my 25 years working alongside him at Direct, he had a major influence on my growth as a manager and a human. Of his many talents, one that I admired most was his ability to take a problem and dissect it down to its core, finding a solution with a calm demeanor that gave everyone around him confidence. Martin had excellent taste in music, and he had great reverence for the artists who created it. He was witty with a wicked sense of humor. Martin was also warm and genuinely caring, and it was an honor to be his partner.”
In addition to his dedication to his clients, Kirkup was known for his willingness to mentor and guide the next generation of music industry executives. He freely shared his advice and expertise, leaving a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to seek his guidance.
Martin Kirkup is survived by his loving wife Lale Kirkup, his daughter Melisa Kirkup Blatt and son-in-law Ben Blatt, his son John Kirkup and daughter-in-law Lorien Kirkup, as well as his three cherished grandchildren, Sam, Abigail, and Ivy. Details regarding a celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.
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1. Martin Kirkup, Direct Management Group Co-Founder, Dies at 75
2. Martin Kirkup, Co-Founder of Direct Management Group, Passes Away at 75.
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