Power 50 - #41: Owen Orford

BACKGROUND CHECK

After his last band Contraband split, Owen Orford started working for their booking agency, Harbour Premier, as a booker. In 1989, Orford left Harbour Premier to establish his own agency, Trading Post Agency (TPA). Orford was chairperson for MusicNSW for a stint and was also involved in the Federal Government's Contemporary Music Touring Program. After working with artists such as Silverchair, Midnight Oil, Savage Garden and The Living End, Orford left TPA, before accepting the position of Managing Agent at New World Artists (NWA) in 2012.

THE YEAR THAT WAS

A few 2018 highlights for NWA artists include Grinspoon playing on the regional Groovin The Moo tour, and Mammal playing a one-off showcase in London (the band are now signed to UK agency K2 for future touring in the UK/Europe as a result). The Superjesus also signed to NWA before the agency set up a national tour for the band to mark 20 years since the release of their debut album Sumo. NWA artists also graced theatre stages in 2018, with Phil Jamieson and Sarah McLeod cast in American Idiot, while Tina Arena played Eva Peron in Evita. As well as expanding NWA’s market share in the keynote speech sector and corporate entertainment bookings (especially with Sneaky Sound System), Orford also continues to mentor the company's in-house booking agents. 

2018'S CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT?

"Moving out of Sydney to live on the Gold Coast in South East Queensland, the next positive growth hub for contemporary live music. This place is brimming with opportunities!"