Macklam Feldman Management (MFM) is celebrating 30 years.
As the Canadian-born international talent agency embarks on its third decade, the company is welcoming new team members and a bevy of emerging talent.
Founded in Vancouver in 1995 by industry titans Stephen Macklam and Sam Feldman, the partnership initially emerged to manage Irish folk band The Chieftains. The success of the group proved their joint prowess — and Macklam Feldman Management was born.
Since then, the management company — a subsidiary of Feldman’s A&F Music Ltd. — has overseen and guided the careers of some of the biggest artists in the world including Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, Leonard Cohen, Bette Midler, Tracy Chapman and James Taylor alongside a roster that today includes legends Sarah McLachlan, Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Colin James and more.
“We’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most iconic artists in the world, and this recent momentum marks the most concentrated period of investment in artist development since the company was founded,” Feldman tells Billboard Canada.
Stephen Macklam (left) and Sam Feldman.Courtesy Photos
While working with icons like McLachlan and Costello, Macklam and Feldman are music industry legends in their own right. (The latter also founded The Feldman Agency, one of Canada's biggest booking agencies, before selling the namesake company to his executive team in 2019.) Recently, however, MFM has increasingly invested into artist development.
Over the last two years, MFM has expanded its team with four new staff members — Samuel Chadwick, Sam Hughes, Connor Macklam and Wesley Attew — who are dedicated to artist development and digital marketing. They will work with artist managers Scott Oerlemans and Kyle Kubicek to strengthen MFM’s artist development and digital marketing operations for their growing roster.
Over the past year, they have welcomed a new wave of artists, including American singer-songwriter aron!, rock band Tommy Lefroy, U.K. post-punk band YAANG and country singer Dawson Gray. They join 2022 signees, emerging folk-pop trio Tiny Habits, who recently opened for McLachlan on her 30th anniversary Fumbling Towards Ecstasy tour. Each brings a fresh musical perspective and global prospects to the agency.
“Reflecting on three decades in the industry, we’re proud not only of the legacy we’ve built but also of the enduring values and vision that continue to guide our work,” Feldman says. “As we look ahead to our fourth decade, we remain deeply committed to discovering and championing the next generation of voices.”
MFM has found a balance of maintaining its roots in Vancouver and Canada, while also thinking globally.
"We made a decision many years ago to operate out of Canada, but to work internationally," Feldman tells Billboard Canada. "Vancouver geographically forces one to think south of the border, and outside of North America. We have always operated without considering borders."
Some of the most prolific members of the company's roster, including Sarah McLachlan, Diana Krall and Colin James, are celebrating major career milestones this year.
In September, McLachlan released her 10th studio album, Better Broken, followed by the release of Ally Pankiw’s Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery documentary. After completing her 30th anniversary Fumbling Towards Ecstasy tour, McLachlan will embark on a sold-out U.S. tour in support of Better Broken this month.
Krall recently completed a sold-out tour across Europe and has announced an international run that will take her across the globe next year, while James is currently touring across Canada and has announced two hometown performances at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom in February 2026.
As MFM continues to grow and focus on the next generation, it continues to operate with the same principles that have made Macklam and Feldman such successful industry figures.
“Macklam Feldman has always been about supporting true artistry — artists with something to say,” says Macklam. “The new generation of artists we’re working with represent the same authenticity and drive that defined our company from day one.”
