Village Sounds Agents Evan Davis and Andy Gumley Launch Cornershop Agency (EXCLUSIVE)

Evan Davis and Andy Gumley are going it solo.

The veteran Village Sounds agents launch Cornershop Agency – a fully independent agency operating separately from Live Nation, The Music Network can exclusively reveal.

It’s a fresh start for Davis, who has notched 17 years at VS, and Gumley, with 15 years, who with this new venture will continue to focus on their talents for representing talent in the Australasian live touring market.

“What an incredible journey,” comment Davis and Gumley in a joint statement. “Thank you to Paul Piticco, Jessica Ducrou and the Live Nation team that we had the privilege to work with during our time at Village Sounds.”

They continue, “we are deeply grateful for the life-changing experiences, memories and the incredible staff and artists we’ve collaborated with. We are excited to launch our new business, Cornershop Agency, and continuing to work with our artists, Live Nation and the wider Australasian music community.”

With the launch of Cornershop Agency, the Village Sounds brand will cease to exist within the LN umbrella, which it has done since December 2016 when the concerts giant acquired a controlling 51% stake in Piticco and Ducrou’s Secret Sounds Group, the events business that produces a slew of tours and fests, including Splendour in the Grass, the mid-year Byron Bay camp-out that’s currently on hiatus.

That original deal involved Secret Sounds’ touring, sponsorship, PR, artist management and its Village Sounds domestic agency business.

Live Nation and Village Sounds are working together to ensure a smooth transition for its talent and people, says a rep for LN.  Village Sounds’ current roster includes Bernard Fanning, Chris Cheney, DMA’S, Fazerdaze, G Flip, Sycco, and Dune Rats.

Village Sounds was set up in 1999 by Ducrou, then agent for Powderfinger, with a focus on “nurturing artist’s careers across all genres,” reads a statement on its official website.

Two years later, she and Powderfinger’s manager Piticco founded Splendour, and the Secret Sounds Group business would expand into all areas of live music. In 2020, the agency set up operations in New Zealand.

This shift away from the Village Sounds brand “aligns with Live Nation’s strategic decision to amplify its focus on concert and festival promotions,” a statement reads, “further solidifying its commitment to bringing the best in live entertainment to Australian fans, including a growing roster of Australian artists.”

The development follows the June 2024 departure of Ducrou as co-CEO of Secret Sounds Group.

Alex Klos, COO of Live Nation Australia and New Zealand, thanks the outgoing agents
“for their immense contribution to Village Sounds and wish them the very best in their new agency”.

Klos adds, “Live Nation remains deeply invested in the growth of Australian music at all levels. We look forward to collaborating with Cornershop Agency, along with all other agencies across the country, to support and promote the vibrant local music scene.”

Visit cornershopagency.com for more.