Within the high-stakes world of digital music, the place the calls for are as relentless because the rewards are exhilarating, Kompass Music Group is charting a course in artist administration grounded in psychological wellbeing and neighborhood.
Based by trade stalwarts Blake Coppelson, Jay Rogovin, Alec Donkin and Jade Gaines, Kompass, which was named EDM.com‘s greatest artist administration agency of 2023, is redefining success by prioritizing artists’ inventive freedom and progress from a holistic perspective. With a roster as numerous and dynamic as Classic Tradition, Of The Timber, UZ, Carola and extra, the workforce understands that nurturing psychological well being is crucial for sustaining lasting careers.
Integral to this mission is Kompass’ collaboration with 4 O’clock Consulting, a partnership with psychological well being advocates Kristin Karas and Stacey Forrester. Collectively, they convey a considerate, structured method to assist the people behind the music, serving to to fortify a tradition of care and accountability. Their alliance echoes latest findings on the facility of digital dance music to boost psychological well being, underscoring the style’s distinctive capability to uplift and supply solace.
Kompass manifested this ethos in a spectacular means on the 2024 Amsterdam Dance Occasion, the place the corporate hosted an intimate boat celebration alongside NOISIA’s influential label, VISION Recordings. Reworking a decommissioned industrial vessel right into a floating warehouse, the atmospheric occasion featured What So Not, Opiuo, Skeler and extra, whose performances resonated with the visceral, genuine vitality that Kompass cultivates so effectively.
David Giovannini, Mouna Dif and Franz Hilberath, three of the seasoned members of Kompass’ workforce, share a imaginative and prescient for artist administration that transcends the standard to champion careers marked not solely by achievement, but in addition by resilience, function and neighborhood.
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EDM.com: Kompass is all about shaking up the established order—what was the second you realized the standard artist administration mannequin wasn’t working, and the way did that spark the creation of Kompass?
David Giovannini: I would not essentially say that the conventional artist administration mannequin wasn’t working, as a lot because the mannequin wasn’t working for these of us who got here collectively to kind KMG. The formation got here collectively by us managers collectively pulling from private experiences, each on the enterprise and neighborhood involvement sides. All of us have a deep relationship with music, and we’ve got actively participated within the creation and curation of music communities primarily based amongst genres we love. Approaching enterprise with the information and expertise as passionate event-attendees, in addition to, having shaped deep, life-long relationships attributable to music, has allowed us to navigate the artist/administration relationship from a spot of commonality.
Mouna Dif: After I joined the corporate slightly over a 12 months in the past, I used to be drawn to its mission of shaking up the standard artist administration mannequin. I’ve all the time felt that the outdated methods of managing artists didn’t absolutely assist their inventive freedom or adapt to the ever evolving trade. Kompass stood out as a result of it embraces innovation and places the artist on the heart, serving to them take management of their narrative and discover new methods to attach with their viewers.
Franz Hilberath: I actually related with Kompass’ dedication to inclusivity in constructing a administration workforce, the real look after artists and workforce members as people, and the overarching objective to champion genuine, distinctive artistry. This inclusive and caring method was a sport changer for me—it highlighted that the standard, usually transactional administration fashions had been not adequate in supporting true inventive freedom and private progress.
EDM.com: Kompass has partnered with 4 O’clock Consulting, identified for his or her work in areas like threat discount and psychological well being. What led you to collaborate with consultants from outdoors the music trade, and the way has that formed Kompass’ method to artist administration?
David Giovannini: Our collective experiences as members inside the “music scene” has given us perception as to why conversations round hurt discount, psychological well being, and the music trade are crucial. In life, we’ve got all gained a lot by means of the sub-communities inside digital music. These experiences led us to grasp that these communities operate greatest once we lean onto and be taught from each other. 4 O’Clock helped us collectively kind Kompass’ core values, which we consider are the 5 most-important pillars to how we function as artist managers. They’re an integral department of KMG that gives direct session and stewardship with each artist and supervisor concerned with the corporate.
Mouna Dif: Our partnership with 4 O’clock Consulting goes past supporting artists—it extends to the individuals working behind the scenes, like managers, who play a vital function in shaping an artist’s profession. As a girl supervisor pushing boundaries and advocating for girls artists, their assist has been important to my well-being and that of the artists I characterize. In a male-dominated trade the place preconceptions nonetheless exist, the battles we face are more durable and is usually a actual pressure. 4 O’clock Consulting has been instrumental in serving to each my artists and myself navigate these challenges and proceed to maneuver ahead.
Franz Hilberath: The collaboration with 4 O’clock Consulting displays our method to offering extra complete assets for managers, who usually have thankless, exhausting, and generally maddening roles. They examine in on us not simply as professionals however as individuals, fostering a holistic office surroundings the place I really feel supported each personally and professionally. This partnership has been essential in nurturing a supportive, team-oriented tradition at Kompass.
EDM.com: If Kompass may design the way forward for reside occasions, what would that seem like? How do you envision your artists connecting with followers in additional significant methods past simply the music?
David Giovannini: As managers, we’re diplomats of the inventive imaginative and prescient. If the artist desires it, our mission is to construct it to the best caliber of our capability. Whether or not it’s a darkish, intimate room with sweat dripping from the ceilings, or an over-the-top manufacturing meant to tingle each human sense – we wish to make it occur.
Artist-fan connection must be consensual on each side. An artist has to wish to take that interplay “past simply the music,” and the followers should wish to have interaction and take part with what the artist places on the market. In the long run, authenticity is essential.
Mouna Dif: My imaginative and prescient for the way forward for reside occasions entails creating intimate and distinctive experiences in memorable places. I think about smaller-scale gatherings the place artists and audiences can join authentically, permitting followers to kind lasting reminiscences. Providing unique merch and distinctive components would make every occasion particular, guaranteeing these experiences transcend simply the music and foster significant connections
Franz Hilberath: Constructing on what Mouna talked about, I see a future the place underground acts create extra distinctive, private experiences. Whereas business, mainstream occasions are at a peak, there’s a rising demand for authenticity and fewer commodified experiences. The long run lies in intimate, memorable occasions that permit followers and artists to attach on a deeper stage.
EDM.com: Success within the music trade may be fleeting. How does Kompass assist its artists construct not only a momentary buzz, however a profession that withstands the check of time?
David Giovannini: Every part I’ve talked about – shared expertise, deep ardour, inventive imaginative and prescient, neighborhood engagement, psychological well being checks. All of those components are the kindling to the hearth one must tackle “the trade.” Pair all of that with a trusted workforce that’s in place to grasp/refine/accomplish, and ideally, that may result in an extended, fruitful profession. Additionally, generally you simply should experience the experience.
Mouna Dif: We give attention to long-term success by nurturing every artist’s distinctive creativity. As a substitute of utilizing a one-size-fits-all method, we develop custom-made plans that cater to every artist particular person wants & needs. We additionally perceive the significance of a balanced profession and keep away from relying solely on income streams like touring. Most significantly, because the music trade evolves with AI and algorithms and new applied sciences proceed to erode artists’ streaming income, whereas touring turns into more and more pricey within the present financial disaster post-COVID, we information our artists in diversifying their work to construct sustainable careers that may face up to the check of time.
Franz Hilberath: We give attention to fostering long-term model and enterprise well being. Our method helps create a sustainable model and artistry that helps artists in utilizing their careers as a automobile to progress by means of life and obtain private milestones, very like others in additional conventional careers. We actively audit, handle, and enhance their model, enterprise, and private lives—these are the pillars of our long-term assist technique.
EDM.com: What’s an unconventional lesson you’ve got discovered from managing artists that most individuals wouldn’t count on, and the way has it formed how Kompass operates in the present day?
David Giovannini: The character of our work permits us the liberty to journey, go to venues, join with groups and discover new cities around the globe. KMG encourages our managers to accompany our purchasers at vital/distinctive occasions and join with our friends past that subsequent Zoom name. This has allowed us to kind a worldwide internet of assets and relationships. Additionally – airtag your baggage and gear!
Mouna Dif: An unconventional lesson I’ve discovered is the facility of embracing vulnerability. Many assume artists ought to all the time challenge confidence, however authenticity creates deeper connections with followers. This has formed Kompass by encouraging our artists to share their true selves of their music and interactions. We foster an surroundings the place vulnerability is seen as a power, resulting in real engagement and lasting relationships.
Franz Hilberath: An unconventional lesson has been the facility of flexibility. In a discipline the place rigidity may be the norm, studying to adapt to the sudden—whether or not it is altering trade traits, private artist wants, and even world occasions just like the pandemic—has taught us the worth of being nimble and responsive. This flexibility has formed Kompass to be resilient, guaranteeing that we and our artists can thrive in any circumstance.
