Take That’s long term management company acquired by JGG

Just weeks before British band Take That return to Australia for their first visit in 22 years, Music Business Worldwide (MBW) reports that their long term management company 10 has been bought out by US firm James Grant Group (JGG).

10 Management, which was set up by Jonathan Wild and based in London, took over Take That’s affairs after they reformed in 2006.

MBW was told that JGG will now represent Take That as a band, as well as the solo careers of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald.

They now join a list of impressive JGG music clients including Louis Tomlinson, Blink 182, Steve Aoki, The Script, Manic Street Preachers James Arthur, Culture Club, Porter Robinson, Smashing Pumpkins and Morrissey.

JGG has three music management divisions: Hall or Nothing (which it acquired in 2012), James Grant Music, and Deckstar (which it bought in Mach 2017).

Three years ago, James Grant Group was bought out by its management and employees, along with European private equity firm Metric Capital.

It has been expanding its operations, looking after 1000 clients from entertainment, sports, literary and social media. It offers them business acumen and specialised accountancy and provides them with capital to create IP in areas such as recorded music, music publishing television formats, live events, and retail licensing.

Obviously cashed up, it spent $20 million in acquiring the LA-based Deckstar in March. The move was supported by $12.1 million in funding from Investec Growth & Acquisition Finance

At the time, its CEO Neil Rodford told MBW, “Money isn’t an issue for us in any expansion – we have to find the right culture and fit.”

Deckstar founders Lawrence Vavra and Matt Colon continue to manage Blink 182, Steve Aoki, Culture Club and Smashing Pumpkins under the JGG umbrella.

Jonathan Wild is expected to continue representing Take That under the same deal.

James Grant Group has been expanding into the UK market, where it also has an office in London.

Take That are already a huge act. They notched up 12 #1 singles and seven #1 albums and sold over 45 million units. Their most recent UK tour shifted 500,000 tickets.

Globally they can boast a tally of 58 #1 singles and 37 #1 albums.

But under JGG, both Wild and the band will have access to huge investment sums that will expand their brand considerably.

Take That play half a dozen Australian shows through November.