Michael McMartin
Michael Arthur McMartin OAM (12 March 1945 – 31 March 2024) was a Canadian-Australian music manager and businessman.
Michael McMartin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Arthur McMartin 12 March 1945 British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 31 March 2024 (aged 79) Berry, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Canadian, Australian |
| Alma mater | Loyola College, Montreal |
| Occupation(s) | Music manager, music businessman |
| Years active | c. 1970s–2024 |
| Spouse | Saskia McMartin |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | APRA Music Award (2007) |
| Honours | Medal of The Order of Australia (2015) |
Early life and education edit
Michael Arthur McMartin[1] was born on Vancouver Island on 12 March 1945. McMartin graduated from Loyola College in Montreal, majoring in political science. He relocated to Australia in 1971.[2]
Career edit
A few years after relocating to Australia, McMartin co-founded Trafalgar Records with Charles Fisher, a studio that signed artists and bands including Radio Birdman, Robyn Archer, 1927 and Gyan Evans.[2]
In 1985, McMartin founded Melody Management, whose first client was the Hoodoo Gurus. McMartin was the manager of the band until stepping down in February 2024 due to health issues.[2]
McMartin was a founding member of the Australian Music Managers Forum. He served as chairman and then executive director of the International Music Managers Forum. McMartin was a board member of the Support Act, a music industry charity, for 19 years,[2] from 1997 to 2016.[3] McMartin was a lifetime member of Australian Music Managers Forum and a patron of the Association of Australian Artist Managers. He was a member of LEADR, a mediation association.[4]
McMartin received the APRA Ted Albert Award in 2007[2] and the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2015.[5] His long-term clients Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007.[4][6]
Personal life and death edit
McMartin resided in Cambewarra, New South Wales as of 2015.[7] He was married to Saskia and had a son, along with two grandchildren. McMartin died at a hospital in Berry, New South Wales on 31 March 2024, at the age of 79, after a long-term cancer diagnosis.[2][8]
References edit
- ^ "Artists recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours". Limelight. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Michael McMartin, Celebrated Artist Manager, Dies at 79". Billboard. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "About Support Act". Support Act. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ a b "The Backing Group | » About The Backing Group". www.thebackinggroup.com. Retrieved 2 April 2024. n.b. Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007 not 2009 and does not include their talent manager per criterion 3: "Membership into the ARIA Hall of Fame is reserved exclusively for the creators of recorded music - the writers, the recording artists, and in some cases, the producers;"
- ^ Brandle, Lars (1 April 2024). "Michael McMartin, Artist Management Great, Dies at 79". The Music Network. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ (PDF). APRA AMCOS. 6 May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2024. n.b. McMartin, as a talent manager, was not eligible for induction in the ARIA Hall of Fame.
- ^ Warden, Hayley (7 June 2015). "OAM is music to Michael McMartin's ears". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Green, Stephen. "Industry Legend Michael McMartin Passes Away". The Music. Retrieved 2 April 2024.