Independent artist strategy and audience development agency Blackstar has promoted Robyn Elton to artist strategy director.
In a statement, Blackstar said the promotion reflects Elton’s “growing role within the company and Blackstar’s continued investment in senior leadership across the UK and North America”.
Elton joined Blackstar in 2022 as head of social & digital and has since taken on a broader role spanning artist and audience strategy, team development, client leadership and new business.
“The promotion recognises the position they already hold within the agency and their contribution to the continued development of Blackstar’s audience strategy offering,” added the statement from the agency.
It follows the appointment of Ed Watson as artist strategy director in New York, strengthening Blackstar’s senior strategic leadership across its connected UK and North American teams.
The appointments are designed to support greater international collaboration while retaining the culturally specific thinking required by individual artists, audiences and markets, according to the announcement.
The announcement follows a strong period for Blackstar across artist strategy, audience development, digital campaigns, CRM, data, fan communities and creative production.
Robyn has been central to the development of Blackstar’s artist strategy team and to how we support clients across campaigns, audiences and long term growth
Olivia Hobbs
Recent work by Blackstar across artist strategy, audience development, digital campaigns, CRM, data, fan communities and creative production includes projects for Hayley Williams, Nine Inch Nails, André 3000, Muse, Shania Twain, Robyn, Arlo Parks, Honey Dijon, Metric and Aurora.
Robyn Elton said: “Blackstar has transformed significantly since I joined, and so has the role of artist strategy. Our work sits across campaign thinking, audience growth, digital culture and fan communities, with our number one priority being on the long term development of artists.
“I'm super-proud to step into the artist strategy director role at a point when Blackstar is growing thoughtfully across the UK and North America. We have an incredible team, who are doing genuinely meaningful work with artists and partners who value creativity, cultural understanding and sustainable growth."
Olivia Hobbs, founder & managing director of Blackstar, said: “Robyn has been central to the development of Blackstar’s artist strategy team and to how we support clients across campaigns, audiences and long-term growth.
“Over the past four years, they have brought strategic clarity, creative judgement and a genuine understanding of what artists need from an agency in a constantly changing digital landscape. This promotion recognises the leadership Robyn is already providing across the company and the important role they will play in Blackstar’s next stage of growth.”
