Sony’s Parade and Glenn Wheatley’s Talentworks create JV management powerhouse

Sony Music Australia’s Parade Management and Glenn Wheatley’s Talentworks have gone into a joint venture called Talentworks Parade.

The idea is to combine the management of music acts, sporting personalities and media identities, as well as signing and developing new artists and personalities.

The new company’s music roster includes John Farnham, Jessica Mauboy, Samantha Jade, Anthony Callea, Dami Im, Justice Crew, Adam Harvey, Stan Walker, Cyrus, Jess & Matt, Kyle Bielfield and Missy Lancaster.

Sports Parade looks after Australian Rugby League coach Mal Meninga.

Parade and Sony Music have set up brand ambassadorships for its artists including with Target, L’Oreal, Cadbury and Woolworths.

According to a media statement, Talentworks Parade will also promote touring events, corporate performances, special event appearances, as well as develop merchandise, new media formats and other entertainment industry activities.

Denis Handlin AO, Chairman & CEO, Australia & New Zealand and President, Asia, Sony Music Entertainment said, “We are delighted to join forces through Talentworks Parade with Glenn.

“He is a real ideas man and is a leader in the management community in building artists’ careers, such as the legendary John Farnham.

“Parade Management has a brilliant roster of artists [who] continually feature on the ARIA charts and tour extensively.

“Both Parade and Talentworks share the passion and focus for building long-term artist careers.

“The combining of our expertise will add substantially to the opportunities for Australian artists.”

Glenn Wheatley added, ‘I am very proud to be able to bring our two companies together. Talentworks has had a long history of artist management and concert promotion in the music industry in Australia.”

Wheatley, who brought FM radio to Australia, formed Talentworks in 1982.

Its management roster included Little River Band, John Farnham, Australian Crawl, Ross Wilson, Pseudo Echo and Real Life, and Wheatley launched the career of Delta Goodrem.

Wheatley also managed sporting identities such as golfers Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne Grady, tennis players John Alexander, John Fitzgerald and John Frawley, cricketer Simon O’Donnell, racing legend Peter Brock and footballer Paul Salmon.

Aside from Wheatley, Talentworks Parade’s senior team includes Parade /Sony Music’s Wayne Ringrow and Ken Outch and Parade’s David Champion.