Take That's Manager Nigel Martin-Smith: From Boy Band Creator to Manchester Model Agency Director
As the highly anticipated Take That documentary makes its debut on Netflix, viewers are delving into the band's remarkable journey from formation to superstardom. While the spotlight naturally falls on members like Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange, and Robbie Williams, there is considerable curiosity surrounding the influential figure who orchestrated their initial success: manager Nigel Martin-Smith.
The Manchester Music Manager Behind Take That's Rise
Nigel Martin-Smith is a Manchester-based music manager who played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of several artists, most notably the iconic boy band Take That. His professional journey began in the late 1980s when he worked as a casting agent from offices in The Royal Exchange, actively challenging what he perceived as London-centric attitudes within the industry. Martin-Smith was a staunch advocate for local talent, seeking to elevate artists from the North of England onto the national stage.
In 1989, he assembled the group that would eventually become Take That, initially naming them Kick-It. Under his management, the band evolved into one of the United Kingdom's most successful musical acts of all time. Take That achieved an impressive 12 UK number-one singles and nine number-one albums on the UK Albums Chart, cementing their status as pop legends. The band's initial run concluded in 1996, following Robbie Williams' high-profile departure the previous year.
Beyond Take That, Martin-Smith's management portfolio included work with other notable artists. He guided the musical revival of Scottish singer Lulu and helped launch the careers of pop singers Kavana and Adam Rickitt. He also managed the late singer Damian, who scored a UK Top 10 hit with a cover of The Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Nigel Martin-Smith's Career After Take That's Split
Following Take That's dissolution in 1996, Martin-Smith continued his work in artist management and development. He entered into a deal with Virgin Records and remained active in discovering and nurturing new talent. In 2008, he formed a new boy band called ASBRO, which later changed its name to The Mend. The group, consisting of members Kris Evans, Dean Kelly, Jay Kontzle, and Craig Worsley, gained national attention when they reached the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent in 2012. They ultimately placed seventh overall after judges brought them back into the competition as a wildcard entry.
Where Is Nigel Martin-Smith Now?
Today, Nigel Martin-Smith has transitioned from music management to the world of fashion and modelling. According to his LinkedIn profile, he currently serves as the Director of Nemesis Models, a modelling agency based in his hometown of Manchester. His professional biography states: "I am still working from my city centre Manchester offices with a staff of 15 including agents, bookers, scouts and talent coaches." This indicates he remains deeply embedded in the creative industries, now focusing on scouting and developing modelling talent from the same city where he launched Take That over three decades ago.
The release of the Netflix documentary, titled simply Take That, has reignited interest in the band's history. The streaming service describes the film as using never-before-seen archive footage to chart the rise, fall and record-breaking reunion of one of the UK's most iconic boy bands. For fans eager to revisit this chapter of British pop culture, the documentary is available to stream on Netflix now.
