Pollstar + VenuesNow 2022 Women Of Live: Joi Brown

ICM Partners
Head of Strategic Partnerships

Joi Brown recently joined ICM Partners after more than 20 years
at Atlantic Records, where she worked with artists including Cardi B, Lizzo, Janelle Monae, Missy Elliott and others.

“I’m excited to be here,” she says. “As a new person on the team, I have the opportunity to work with talent across film, television, music, sports, literary clients, and more. I have the opportunity to work directly with talent to build out their ideas and help bring them to life using partnerships and strategy.”

Brown is ready to bring opportunities to clients in multiple types of
media, and says now is the perfect time.

“This period is an exciting time for talent. ICM has a robust roster of talent that I’m working with that is exciting, different, and powerful. I’m excited to learn and bring value to all talent across every industry.”

She says she’s already worked to implement a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) initiative at the agency, which she also helped put into place at WMG.

“We strive to recruit diverse talent from HBCUs in a meaningful way that not only provides insight into the music and agency business but creates equitable opportunities for internships and employment through our programming initiatives,” she says, adding, “ICM Partners is focused on building a pipeline of diverse talent to address systemic
inequality in our industry. Last year, our internship program was over 50% diverse with the dimensions of diversity defined as race/ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+ and more – and we’re committed to increased diverse hiring and mentorship opportunities moving forward.”

With the challenges of staffing, the supply chain and touring uncertainty, Brown says it’s important to remember why we’re in this business.

“The ‘Culture Tour’ with Charlie Wilson, Jodeci, and the New Edition tour I attended a few weeks ago reminded me why I love music so much,” she adds. “This show was the very first concert that I’ve attended since the pandemic. Watching Charlie, Jodeci, and New Edition live and in-person, with me singing every note and dancing in the aisle, was just what the doctor ordered to bring me out of the post-pandemic.”