hop·lite (hoplīt). n. A heavily armed foot soldier of ancient Greece.

A hoplite was primarily a free citizen who was usually individually responsible for procuring his armor and weapon. 

A joint venture of veteran agents, Hoplite opened for business on January 4, 2012, representing 16 artists from the company’s base in Vermont. Plans are under way to open offices in Los Angeles and New York and expand the agency’s reach overseas as Hoplite seeks other independent agents and artists.

Many famous personalities, philosophers, artists and poets fought as hoplites.

Founding partners Tom Baggott and Chris Cate presided over the foundational career development of Disco Biscuits, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Railroad Earth, Ryan Montbleau Band, Zach Deputy and many other smaller artists. Through time spent at other agencies or in other roles ranging from artist management, tour management, production, marketing and management over the last 20+ years— they also participated in the career growth of Agents of Good Roots, Johnny Winter, Michelle Shocked, The Radiators, Tim Reynolds, Victor Wooten and many more.

The Greek word dynamis, the “will” or “ability to fight,” was used to express the drive that kept hoplites in formation.

Over this time, one thing they both learned is that in today’s “tickets and t-shirts” business, sustainable career development has taken on new meaning. The concept of ownership of music is under fire and tenuous, at best. As a result, up-and-coming artists have little chance of banking the major label deal. Tour revenues must replace music sales if the artist is to survive. On the other hand, career artists have to tour to replace diminishing royalties and catalogue revenues. Hoplite’s principals understand both ends of the spectrum, having worked with major career artists and fledgling talent, as well. “Development doesn’t stop when you are playing arenas. Touring is an end unto itself when developing or maintaining sustainable careers— touring is the core of the artist’s business,” says Baggott. Hoplite’s principles have worked major releases and the press and radio campaigns that sometimes drive the effort, and made magic happen with grass roots, tour based efforts, operating without the benefit of significant marketing or promotional support. More important, they have the wisdom and experience to understand when one approach may yield better results than the other. In any case, close attention to the unique needs of the artists and a level of service that goes beyond the traditional agency model is the key. Says co-founder Chris Cate, “Our focus at Hoplite is on touring and supporting the touring effort with services that maximize the impact of every show.”

Hoplitic warfare as a ritualized contest developed when non-hoplite arms began to be excluded from the phalanx. The hoplite phalanx proved itself far superior to the Persian infantry at such conflicts as the Battle of Marathon.

With excellent relationships throughout the music industry, Baggott and Cate have earned stellar reputations for having great ears and for representing their clients with diligence, intelligence, integrity and passion. They have worked through the radical changes that the music industry has gone through, and armed with this perspective, they launched the new agency. “We wanted to build a place where a larger artist with demand in the marketplace can get the attention they may not get at a major agency, and where we create demand for a small, talented artist through our experience, strong relationships and long track record of success in the club world as trusted filters and development experts,” Baggott says of the merger.

Hoplites were primarily armed as spearmen and fought in a phalanx formation. The word “hoplite” derives from “hoplon”, the type of shield they used. Hoplites carried their shields on their left arm, protecting not only themselves but also the soldier to their left. Hoplites had to trust their neighbors for mutual protection, so a phalanx was only as strong as its weakest elements. The more disciplined and courageous the army, the more likely it was to win.

Hoplite is part of the broad United for Opportunity (UFO) umbrella group. UFO is a collective of independent music industry professionals working together to provide opportunities and services to its diverse roster of recording and performing artists, writers, artists, writers, producers, engineers and record labels. UFO and its staff are the back office for Invasion Group and Eusonia Records and provide a home for the New York offices of high profile entertainment attorney Bob Donnelly and the Minneapolis-based Lommen Abdo firm. UFO works in partnership with industry leaders like Topspin, Sugaroo!, eONE, ADA Global, Fontana (Canada), Bug Music, HaloEffect and Righteous Babe Records to provide its clients with a slate of services that maximize efficiency, cost effectiveness and opportunities to expand their businesses. This alliance with UFO provides Hoplite with access to experience and expertise in other music industry fields, offering access to other artists, managers and agencies through UFO’s business relationships and ensuring that Hoplite’s members stay on top of music industry and technology trends and ideas.