Quick Qs With UTA’s Cheryl Paglierani, Post Malone, 21 Savage Agent: ‘Hip-Hop's Only Going To Grow’

UTA’s Cheryl Paglierani, who represents Post Malone among many others, talked to Pollstar for our cover story on the growth of hip-hop in the live market as well as recent tours by her clients 21 Savage and Rich Chigga.

AP Photo / David Goldman – 21 Savage
BET Hip Hop Awards, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta, Ga.

Paglierani got her start working at dance record label Robbin’s Entertainment before heading to William Morris Agency to work under Cara Lewis, first as an assistant then as an agent.

She moved to CAA with Lewis in 2012, booking and signing acts including Chance The Rapper, Iggy Azalea, Hoodie Allen, Travis Scott, K. Michelle, Waka Flocka, and B.o.B, among others.

She joined The Agency Group in 2014, which merged with UTA in 2015.

She now works from UTA’s Beverly Hills office, where she represents Post Malone, 21 Savage, Rich Chigga, Saint JHN and others.

– Cheryl Paglierani
UTA

How has hip-hop touring changed since you began booking artists?

There’s much more opportunity now. With so many different ways an artist can gain exposure today it’s really opened the doors for touring opportunities to be created for acts who otherwise wouldn’t have had a platform. (see also: Rolling Loud Founders Q&A )

For example, Rich Chigga has no label and no radio play but we just finished our first U.S. tour selling out 750-1,500 cap rooms across the country. When I started in this business 10 years ago that would have never happened.

How do venues / promoters view hip-hop today as opposed to the early days?

Promoters realize that booking hip-hop in their venue or on their festival is a necessity if they want to tap into the younger generation. It’s what the kids want to see.

Likewise, how do hip-hop artists view touring these days?

I can’t speak for any artist in particular but I hope they view it as a way to expand their audience and touch new fans.

Anyone can gain momentum online with the right music but supporting that effort by making the right moves with your touring career is what will make the difference between having longevity or being here today and gone tomorrow.

I tell my artists this all the time.

What do you see for the future of hip hop in touring?

I think over the next few years we’re going to start to see a lot more hip-hop acts make it to arena and festival headliner status. In an industry where the landscape is constantly changing and evolving hip-hop has always managed to push the culture forward. It’s only going to continue to grow.

Who do you have on tour right now?

21 Savage is currently out on tour and killing it. He has really stepped up his game with production and created an engaging show that his fans will truly remember.

I’m really proud of him and how far he has come. I would highly recommend checking out the show when it comes through your city.

(Pollstar can confirm 21 Savage ‘killing it” Nov. 3 at the Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Va., where he sold a reported 5,078 tickets and grossed just shy of $90,000. Also of note: 21 Savage is featured on Post Malone’s No. 1 hit “Rockstar.”)

Rich Chigga just completed his first U.S. tour selling over 22,000 tickets across the country in 750-1,500 cap rooms. The tour recently finished in L.A. with 2 sold-out nights at the Fonda.

(Pollstar data also confirms this, with reported sellouts at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago Nov. 11 at 650 tickets and $12,565, The Paper Tiger in San Antonio Oct. 20, 800 tickets, $14,600, The Mohawk in Austin Oct. 19, which sold out 900 tickets and grossed $17,716, and the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, which sold out 1,000 tickets and grossed $20,000 Oct. 11.)