
ABOUT FIRST ARTISTS
First Artists represents some of Australia’s finest talents. We offer quality shows across many genres of music and top tiered talent for corporate events, MC and speaking engagements. First Artists also provides consulting services in A&R, Artist development, management and creative graphic design services
A brief history of Robert Rigby who heads the company….
Robert's expertise in the music and entertainment industry spans four decades. His career commenced at Warner Music Australia in the early 80s and he rose up through the ranks to the position of Managing Director of the Warner Bros. Records division (Australia).
With extensive music industry experience, he has held positions in sales, promotions, marketing, artist development, artist management, A&R and senior label management at Warner Music, Sony Music Entertainment Australia and Universal Music Australia where he was the A&R for the TV show The Voice for 3 years.
In his tenure as Managing Director of Warner Bros. Records label division (1990 through to 1999) he was responsible for the artist development in Australia of Madonna, k.d. lang, Chris Isaak, Michael Crawford, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, REM, Green Day, Bare Naked Ladies, Wendy Matthews, Screaming Jets and Alanis Morissette and more. Robert also worked with legendary artists ... The Doors, Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, Prince, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart on music projects. His experience in working with international artist is extensive.
In addition Robert lead the WB team to deliver the music revival (in Australia) of CHER with her smash single "I Believe", the Marcia Hines “comeback" in 1998 with “Time Of Our Lives” and the multi-platinum success of Wendy Matthews' album “Lily" and mega single "The Day You Went Away" which became the highest selling single in the country with over 500,000 singles sold.
In 1998 Robert oversaw the marketing and promotion of Alanis Morissette’s ground breaking album Jagged Little Pill which sold over 1 Million units in that year for Warner Music Australia.
In the last decade Robert and his business partner Ian Phillips has successfully developed the Australian Music label, Ambition Entertainment. Since opening it’s doors in 2009 the label has enjoyed Platinum album sales with Michael Crawford and oversaw the music career rebirth of Russell Morris with his ARIA Award winning, Platinum selling album Sharkmouth and Gold selling album Van Diemen’s Land.
Ambition Entertainment has become the label home for many iconic artists.
