New moves for the stage
If you’ve been living for those epic, cinematic live concert experiences lately, listen up. Edinburgh-based entertainment tech company Esk is officially doubling down on its North American presence. Fresh off a $2.6 million (£3.5 million) funding round, they’re bringing in some heavy hitters to help them scale their operations across the pond.
Who’s joining the squad
Esk is bringing in Toby Tumarkin, currently the executive VP and global head of artists & attractions at IMG Artists, to serve as a consultant. Don’t worry, he’s staying on at IMG too, so he’s lowkey pulling a major boss move by balancing both roles from their New York office. They’ve also tapped Lindsay Kratz as the new head of U.S. sales and partnerships. Kratz comes with over 15 years of experience in the game, so she’s highkey the perfect person to help them snag more venues and connect with audiences stateside.
The vibes they’re bringing
Since launching in 2022, Esk has been absolutely killing it by producing live events for the likes of Netflix, NatGeo, and Blizzard Entertainment. If you caught "Top Gun: Maverick — Live in Concert" at the Hollywood Bowl this summer, you’ve already seen their work. They’re also the brains behind "Life on Our Planet — In Concert" and the "World of Warcraft: 20 Years of Music" shows.
CEO Sam Weatherstone is hyped, noting that while they’ve been active in the U.S. since day one, this new capital is helping them go global. "Toby has built a career on his true love of the performing arts... Lindsay brings an equally impressive depth of experience," said Weatherstone.
Why it matters
Esk’s expansion means we’re likely to see way more of these high-end, immersive concert experiences touring through cities near you. With new leadership and fresh funding, they’re aiming to turn even more of our favorite screen moments into must-see live events.
