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Founded by musicians.
For musicians.

A UK-based music agency placing exceptional artists into world-class roles across cruise, live and studio — with the transparency, care and craft of an agency built by performers.

Est.2014
HQUnited Kingdom
Roster320+ Artists
StatusAuditioning Now

By the numbers.

A decade of placements, partnerships and performances — measured the way only musicians count it.

// Years in industry 0 + Placing artists at sea, on land and in studio since 2014.
// Artists placed 0 + Contracts fulfilled with cruise, theatre and event partners.
// Countries worked 0 + From the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, the Pacific to home shores.
// Industry partners 0 Trusted cruise lines, venues and music schools on our partner roster.
[ 01 ] — Our Mission

More than an agencya partnership.

Our ethos has, and will always be, to serve and support artistes with professionalism and complete transparency. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities of a career in music, because every one of us has lived it.

That means honest conversations about contracts. It means standing behind our artists when something goes wrong. And it means matching talent to the right room, every time — not just any room with a vacancy.

// 01 Integrity Transparent contracts. Clear processes. No hidden middlemen, ever.
// 02 Expertise Every team member is a working musician or industry veteran — we've done these gigs.
// 03 Partnership Long-term relationships with artists and clients. We're invested for the long game.
Jon Perry Director · Founder
Est. 2014
[ 02 ] — A letter from the founder

I started Sonic Artistes after fifteen years of working as a musician, frustrated with the way the industry treated the people doing the actual playing.

For decades, "the agency" has been the part of the industry that musicians trusted least. That's a strange thing to say out loud — and it's the reason I started this one.

I wanted to build a place where the people on stage were treated like the heart of the business, not a line item. Where the contract was the same one you'd be happy to sign yourself. Where the person on the other end of the phone has actually loaded a kit into a van at 2am, or learned a 90-minute set in 48 hours, or held it together for the third sound-check that day.

That's the only kind of agency I wanted to work with — so I built it. Twelve years on, the same principles still run everything: serve the artiste, be honest about the work, and put real people on every email.

If you're a musician thinking about joining the roster — welcome. We'll look after you the way we'd want to be looked after. That's the whole job.

Jon.
Jon Perry
Director · Founder
[ 03 ] — Origin

Twelve years.
One standard.

From a single phone line in 2014 to a 320-strong roster in 2026 — the milestones that shaped how we work.

2014

Founded by Jon Perry

Sonic Artistes opens in the UK with a roster of seven musicians and a handful of cruise contracts — built around a single principle: an agency that musicians actually want to work with.

2017

P&O Cruises partnership

A multi-year agreement with one of Europe's largest cruise lines scales the roster to fifty musicians and establishes our reputation for reliable, professional placements.

2019

100th contract placed

Our hundredth contract goes live aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2. The same year we formalise our pastoral support programme — Backstage Pass.

2021

Through the storm

When the industry pauses, we don't. Backstage Pass becomes a lifeline — weekly online sessions, mental-health support, and a roster that returns to work first when sailings resume.

2023

Sonic Studios opens

We open our fully-equipped production rehearsal facility in Chichester — a dedicated home for cruise show rehearsals, session recording and band prep.

2025

ICMP industry module

We co-launch a dedicated industry module with the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance — bringing our process directly to the next generation of working musicians.

2026

320+ artists strong

Today the Sonic Artistes roster spans 40 countries and four continents, with live audition tours running across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.

[ 04 ] — Meet the team

Seasoned pros.
On your side.

Our team comprises seasoned professionals who have worked at the highest levels in the industry — festivals, award ceremonies, exhibitions and large-scale productions — giving us unique insight into the working life of a performer.

01 / 08
Jon Perry Director & Founder "Sonic Artistes was founded by musicians for musicians — that ethos never changes."
02 / 08
Sarah Whitcombe Head of Roster "I look at every audition twice. The job isn't just casting — it's making sure the fit lasts."
03 / 08
Daniel Aikens Auditions Director "We run audition days the way we'd want them run for us — clear, respectful, and honest."
04 / 08
Priya Mehta Operations Lead "Contracts, visas, travel, accommodation — boring on paper, vital in practice. Our job is to make it invisible."
05 / 08
Mark Linehan Studio Director · Sonic Studios "A great studio gets out of your way. That's all we've ever tried to build in Chichester."
06 / 08
Eve Caron Artist Welfare Lead "Long contracts are hard. We make sure the human side is supported, not just the gig."
07 / 08
Tomás Reyes Live Events Manager "I want every booking to be the easiest part of a band's week."
08 / 08
Aisha Bello Brand & Comms "Our artists are the brand. My job is just to make sure people can find them."
[ 05 ] — Industry partners

Trusted by the names you'd expect.

P&O Cruises Cunard Line Princess Cruises ICMP London Holland America Marella Cruises Royal Caribbean Disney Cruise Line P&O Cruises Cunard Line Princess Cruises ICMP London Holland America Marella Cruises Royal Caribbean Disney Cruise Line P&O Cruises Cunard Line Princess Cruises ICMP London Holland America Marella Cruises Royal Caribbean Disney Cruise Line
[ 06 ] — Join us

Take the
next stage.

We're always on the lookout for talented musicians and entertainers to join our roster. If that sounds like you, the next move is yours.