LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – In a blow to the music industry, Martin Kirkup, co-founder of Direct Management Group (DMG), passed away on Sunday (February 4) while on vacation in Hawaii with his family. The cause of death has not been disclosed. He was 75.
Kirkup managed artists k.d lang, Au/Ra, and Katy Perry. Still, throughout his storied career, he, alongside partners Steven Jensen and Bradford Cobb, played a pivotal role in managing notable artists such as the Go-Gos, Counting Crows, Tracy Chapman, and many others.
Reflecting on their journey, Jensen said, “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 its global presence today, with integrity, honor and ingenuity, much of which was contributed by Martin. His influence is a permanent fixture of the Direct Management culture.”
Originally from Tynemouth, UK, Kirkup traveled to the United States (US) in 1973 as a visiting professor of English Literature at the University of Rhode Island. It didn’t take long for his journey to land him in New York City (NYC), where, in 1974, A&M Records appointed him as their East Coast Publicity Director. Rapidly ascending the ranks, he became the head of the creative services department in 1975 and then Vice President (VP) of Artist Development in 1979, overseeing campaigns for renowned artists like Peter Frampton, Styx, Squeeze, Joe Jackson, The Police, and Joan Armatrading.
In April 1985, Kirkup and Jensen established the DMG. Early triumphs included guiding pop duo Boy Meets Girl, British new wave artists Echo & The Bunnymen, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Their influence expanded with Bryan Ferry’s solo international tour and the success of The B-52’s’ quadruple-platinum album Cosmic Thing in 1989, featuring hit singles “Love Shack” and “Roam.”
DMG continued flourishing, signing Counting Crows in 1991, marking a decade of tremendous success with 25 million albums sold worldwide. The decade saw the management of artists such as David Byrne, Joe Jackson, Seal, and the New Radicals. Cobb joined DMG in 1998, later becoming a partner in 2012. The early 2000s witnessed the addition of k.d. lang, Tracy Chapman, Katy Perry, the Go-Go’s, and Jamie Cullum to the roster, with subsequent years welcoming Adam Lambert, Steve Perry, and Au/Ra.
Cobb praised Kirkup’s impact, 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, I admired his ability to take a problem and dissect it 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.”
Details regarding a celebration of Martin’s life will be announced later. He is survived by his loving wife, Lale Kirkup, daughter Melisa Kirkup Blatt, son John Kirkup, and their respective families; Kirkup leaves behind a legacy that touched the lives of many.
The music industry mourns the loss of a visionary whose contributions shaped the careers of iconic artists. Please see below for a few tributes.
Music is (My) Life, Facebook (FB) – “Martin Kirkup was a gentleman and a music man. Proper. Saddened by his passing.”
A&M Records, FB – “Very heavy heart to write this legend has passed away. No details as of yet.”
Jody Jones, FB – “Condolences to the family. Martin was a very classy gentleman.”
Loretta Munoz, FB – “We lost one of the best … kindest and most gentle of men – I cannot believe it. Sail on, dear Martin. Sending great love to your beautiful Lale, Melisa, John, and your lovely grandbabies. To your Direct Management family. Thank you for your exceptional friendship. You have left a huge void. Safe passage, my friend.”
R.I.P.
