Two powerhouse booking agencies have merged to create an independent giant in the global live music landscape. North America-based Arrival Artists and UK-based ATC Live announced their 2025 merger to form ROAM, establishing the world’s largest independent booking agency and fifth largest overall, with over 800 artists and 80 staff members.
The merger maintains financial independence between the companies while creating a joint venture that shares resources across offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, and Glasgow. Leadership includes all six Arrival co-founders—Ali Hedrick, Erik Selz, John Bongiorno, Karl Morse, Ethan Berlin, and Matt Yasecko—alongside ATC Live founder Alex Bruford and partners Clemence Renaut, Colin Keenan, Ed Thompson, Olivia-jane Ransley, Sarah Joy, Skully Sullivan Kaplan, and Will Church.
While maintaining financial autonomy, the merger creates a talent powerhouse led by leadership from both Arrival and ATC Live across six international offices.
ROAM’s impressive roster features acclaimed acts such as Sufjan Stevens, The Lumineers, Khruangbin, Japanese Breakfast, Mac DeMarco, Amyl & The Sniffers, Andrew Bird, BADBADNOTGOOD, Big Thief, and Black Pumas, who collectively perform over 10,000 shows annually worldwide. The roster includes musicians who bring diverse styles that appeal to a wide range of audiences, keeping with ROAM’s commitment to artist growth without compromising artistic integrity. These artists regularly headline prestigious venues including Madison Square Garden, O2 Arena, Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall, and Radio City Music Hall. The combined artist roster has achieved impressive recognition with 84 Grammy nominations and 23 wins across various categories.
The collaboration emerged from a 2020 A&R partnership that evolved into a transatlantic network designed to amplify opportunities for artists at all career stages. ROAM’s territory-focused teams provide localized expertise while leveraging global connections, offering thorough services beyond traditional booking, including tour marketing, digital strategy, brand partnerships, and philanthropic activations. The agency helps artists develop social media strategies for reaching target audiences and maximizing engagement during tours and releases. This approach allows artists to develop multiple revenue streams while focusing on their creative work.
What distinguishes ROAM is its commitment to blending personalized artist development with extensive industry connections. The agency facilitates touring across diverse settings from intimate clubs to major festivals and arena tours, with artists regularly appearing at Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Primavera, Coachella, and Roskilde.
ROAM’s formation represents a significant shift in the booking agency landscape, providing artists with expanded global representation options while maintaining the hands-on approach that characterized both founding agencies. Their strategic vision emphasizes adapting to industry changes while focusing on lasting cultural impact for both the agency and its diverse roster of artists.
