Emma Banks, the highly respected co-head of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) London, will receive this year’s Music Industry Trusts Award in recognition of her nearly 30-year career at the forefront of the live business.
Banks — whose clients include Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Florence + The Machine, Kylie Minogue, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lorde, Green Day, Muse, Haim and Paramore — will collect the award on Nov. 5 at a ceremony in London held in aid of charities the BRIT Trust and Nordoff Robbins.
Previous recipients of the prestigious award include Lucian Grainge, Ahmet Ertegun, Simon Cowell, Michael Eavis, Annie Lennox and last year’s honoree, Sony Music Entertainment CEO Rob Stringer.
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“Emma’s innate ability to work with artists, build relationships and of course spot the talent in the first place makes her quite unique,” said MITS Award committee chairman David Munns.
Calling Banks “a trailblazer for women in the industry from the outset … hugely respected by promoters, colleagues, artists and competitors alike,” Munns said her professional achievements and unfaltering drive and enthusiasm made her a deserving recipient of the 2018 title.
“I am rarely lost for words but when David Munns rang me to ask if I would accept the award I was honestly dumbfounded,” said Banks in a statement. “The MITS ‘roll of honour’ is packed with people that I admire and respect. I never expected to be added to that list but will do my very best to be worthy of it.”
Banks began her career at London-based Wasted Talent, which later became Helter Skelter, and helped build the company into one of the biggest independent agencies in the world. In 2006, she joined CAA, helping establish its London office and making a young Florence Welch one of her first signings. In a statement, the singer said Banks “has been a constant source of support and wisdom throughout my career. Her strength, kindness, and intuition are an inspiration to me, and many other women in the music industry.”
Banks — who has regularly appeared in Billboard’s Women in Music and International Power Players lists — is also credited with playing a pivotal role in helping make Katy Perry a global star, working alongside the singer since her very first U.K. show at London’s 200-capacity The Water Rats venue.