Australia’s Village Sounds agency sets up New Zealand operations

Australian booking agency Village Sounds has set up operations in New Zealand.

The company has entered a partnership with Campbell Smith’s Auckland-based CRS Music Management to set up Village Sounds NZ. Smith will manage the enterprise with Julian Carswell, director of Laneway NZ festival, acting as lead agent.

The New Zealand roster has 22 acts, including the likes of Benee, Teeks, Aldous Harding, Leisure and Brooke Fraser, who have toured Australia over the years. Meanwhile, Village Sounds Australia’s roster has Courtney Barnett, Vance Joy, Violent Soho, G Flip, Bernard Fanning, Cub Sport and DMA’S on the slate, and will do more touring across the Tasman.

Village Sounds was set up in 1999 by Jessica Ducrou, then agent for Powderfinger. Two years later, when she and Powderfinger’s manager Paul Piticco founded Splendour In The Grass, Village Sounds presented the festival until 2016 when it merged with Secret Sounds and became part of the company along with its touring, artist management, PR, publishing and label divisions.

Piticco, co-CEO Secret Sounds alongside Ducrou, said he’s “extremely proud to have found partners in New Zealand like Julian and Campbell”.

“Campbell and I go way way back to when we shared an office in NYC and I think Julian’s ear for Kiwi talent is second to none,” he said.

“Having a contemporary and progressive agency in New Zealand, run by New Zealanders for the betterment of the local community is the same as how Village Sounds and Secret Sounds started in Australia.

“This bridge we have now built will create awesome opportunities for our rosters on both sides of the ditch to connect with more fans…. which is what it’s all about.”

Smith for his part commented: “CRS is delighted to join forces with Village Sounds Australia to launch Village Sounds New Zealand.

“For more than 20 years VS Australia has delivered the kind of skilled and creative representation for its roster that I have long admired and wanted to replicate in NZ.

“We will strive to deliver that same service for our clients here. I have known and worked with Paul Piticco and the VSA folks for many years and I have long regarded Julian Carswell to be the best booking agent in the country.

“We have a great team, an amazing artist roster to kick off with, and we are ready to go!”