The AvA Connection

📞 The Call Log: Kirk Sommer, Senior Partner and Global Co-Head of Music at WME

Kirk Sommer is one of the most successful music agents in the world, and famously rose from the mailroom to leading the music department at WME. His client list reads like a festival Headliner wishlist: Adele, The Killers, Billie Eilish, Arctic Monkeys, Hozier, Sam Smith, Kygo, Lewis Capaldi, Foster The People, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Lola Young.

Let’s go back in time though. The year is 2017. I’m a fresh faced kid at WME, one year into the music business. My blood pressure is still relatively normal. I’m still posting Instagram stories of my backstage credentials at shows that I’m getting comped through work (please don’t do that).

I get asked a question that undoubtedly changed my life: “Do you want to work for Kirk Sommer?” Now for those of you who don’t know Kirk, he’s generally more quiet and soft spoken than other agents around the halls of WME, but my god does he COMMAND a room. When Kirk talks, you listen. And you should listen because nearly a decade later I don’t think I ever really remember him being wrong, or giving bad advice. To say he’s one of the most respected agents is an understatement.

At the time, I had only interacted with him maybe once, probably delivering mail or coffee to a staff meeting, but I noticed quickly he went out of his way to be kind to assistants. That really stood out to me. By a stroke of luck, I applied and got the job working for him.

First day on the job I get a call from someone with a glorious British accent. I’m 2 coffees in (yet still exhausted) and had to ask the caller to repeat his name 3, maybe 4 times as I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying. He eventually said he would just call Kirk directly. A few minutes pass by and I’m getting pretty nervous because he sounded fairly important. Kirk calmly lets me know that botching a call with one of his biggest client’s manager probably wasn’t a great first impression. Lesson learned! The way he handled my first mistake on his desk made me quickly realize I needed to learn as much from him as I could as both as a a professional and a leader. He has been a mentor to me ever since.

The job was demanding, but that year changed the trajectory of my career. I owe a ton to Kirk. He actually was the inspiration for me starting this newsletter, and it’s a full circle moment getting the chance to interview him.

Our conversation is below:

AvA: Your first role in the music industry was booking shows at NYU and interning at Delsener/Slater. How did those early experiences help shape your perspective and trajectory in the industry?

Sommer: It was experiential learning. Conceptualizing events, brokering deals, procuring and promoting talent gave me hands on  real world experience. I learned very early that working hard, being honest and taking good care of people would bode well for a longer sustainable business.

AvA: You got your start as an agent trainee in the mailroom at William Morris in 2000, and over the past 25 years have risen to become Senior Partner and Global Co-Head of Music at WME. How did you successfully navigate your path to the top, and what did you learn from that journey that still shapes how you lead today?

Sommer: I didn’t get caught up in the B.S. My path to becoming an agent was less of a straight line then becoming a Senior Partner and Global Head of Music. I worked hard and remained curious. I also played team sports and understood the value of a strong team and the contributions different colleagues can make in different capacities. Marc Geiger was an incredible mentor to me. He was selfless and never idle.

AvA: The Killers are a pretty incredible artist to have as your first signing. How did that happen? 

Sommer: I received a package “from the future” that said if you like me, call me. I pounded the phones and the pavement. It was only a few demos. The stars aligned. Here we are over 20 years later and I can credit them for the opportunity to becoming the agent I am today.

AvA: Beyond the standard metrics (followers, streams, hard ticket sales, engagement etc.) what are some intangible qualities or early signals you look for that make you believe an artist has long-term potential? 

Sommer: My ears. I am drawn to great voices and songs. A strong performance can make my heart sing too.

AvA: What is the biggest opportunity young agents have today that didn’t exist five or ten years ago, and how should they be taking advantage of it?

Sommer: There is very little barrier for entry and there is a plethora of information available online. Nearly anyone with an email address can be an agent. They should take advantage of the rapid pace of technology, but they should also pick up the phone and take meetings to soak up information from people with experience. Relationship building is very important.

AvA: What about the biggest challenge facing agencies and the music industry as a whole, and how is WME uniquely positioned to tackle it head on?

Sommer: There has been major consolidation, you just have to become better partners with people you do business with. We are uniquely positioned with investments and experts that operate in every space of the entertainment business. Some people are only limited to booking shows with little visibility into other areas or larger relationships that can move the needle.

AvA: In your eyes, what are the three most important traits of a great agent? And how do those traits differ, if at all, from what makes a great promoter?

Sommer: You must have strong communication and problem solving skills, and remember honesty is best policy.

AvA: What’s one piece of advice you’d offer someone just beginning their career in the entertainment industry, especially if they want to work in music?

Sommer: If your heart is truly into it do not wait for anything to fall in your lap. Reach out to people and be persistent with a point of view. Any opportunity is a good opportunity and likely a gateway to something or someone else.

🐝 The Weekly Buzz

Female representation in film has significantly increased over the last decade according to a study from Kering Women in Motin and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. Data was drawn from 3,240 films made in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the U.S. and the U.K. that grossed at least $1 million globally:

• In the U.K., the number of women behind the camera skyrocketed from 8.3% in 2015 to 32.3% in 2024.

• In the U.S. it went from 8% to 16.2%, and in France it grew from 14.4% to 25.9%.

• The proportion of female protagonists and co-leads has grown from 32% in 2015 to 54% in 2024.

• However there is still work to do, as only 25.3% of the characters in the movies surveyed are women above the age of 40, and only 32% of speaking characters were women.

YouTube endorses ‘No Fakes Act’ in renewed push to outlaw unauthorized AI clones. SAGAFTRA and RIAA have made this bill their top priority. Learn more about the bill and its history so far here.

Lorde teased new music for the first time in 4 years on Instagram. The move came after she wiped both her Instagram and her website, with the only thing left being a water bottle as her profile picture. This is not a drill.

Tom Cruises EIGHTH ‘Mission Impossible’ film is set to debut at the Cannes Film Festival. The mission sure seems impossible after 8 installments.

Spotify adds new integration with UK-based ticketing company Skiddle. This will help to further connect an artists fans to their live events.

Warner Music Group’s super-fan app is moving closer to reality, with Ed Sheeran featuring as the first artist to test the new software out when it launches.

Robert Pattinson is being considered for Dune’s third and final film. He would play a villain opposite of Timothée Chalamet. To that I say… sign him up.

Sony Pictures Entertainment hires former CEO of Kevin Hart’s ‘Hartbeat’ and Warner Bros alumni as new Head of Strategy and Business Operations.

Werner Herzog is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 82nd Venice Film Festival this year. 🏆

👋 See you back here on Tuesday for a brand new selection of Entertainment jobs

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This newsletter is written by Warner Bailey and edited by Riley Furey

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