Martin Kirkup, Bradford Cobb and Steven Jensen are partners at Direct Management Group, an internationally successful music management company, which offers artistic and business services to a very select roster of artists.

The company was founded in April of 1985 by Jensen and Kirkup, combining Steven's experience with top-line artists at the ICM Agency with Martin's acumen in strategic career planning at A&M Records.  Direct Management Group enjoyed early success in handling British "new wave" artists Echo & The Bunnymen, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (gaining their first worldwide hit single with "If You Leave" and a platinum album in 1986), as well as guiding Bryan Ferry on his first International Tour in 1988.

The success of The B-52's quadruple-platinum album "Cosmic Thing" (with its hit singles "Love Shack" and "Roam") in 1989, established the company as a secure home for unique artists intent on forging their own path to success.

In 1991, Direct signed the San Francisco band Counting Crows, and enjoyed a massively successful ten-year run in which they sold 25 million albums worldwide while establishing a rock-solid touring base.

During the nineties, Direct continued to develop by working with artists such as David Byrne, Tracy Chapman, and the New Radicals.

Bradford Cobb joined Direct in June of 1998, and broadened the range of the company by signing The Go-Go's, and then Katy Perry in 2004.