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Jarred Arfa Named Independent Artist Group’s EVP & Head of Global Music (Exclusive)
Jarred Arfa has been named Executive Vice-President, Head of Global Music at Independent Artist Group (IAG), the newly agency announced June 21 and formed in partnership with Artist Group International (AGI) and the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA).
Jarred Arfa, a widely well-respected executive and former Chief Operating Officer at AGI, will now oversee operations of the combined music departments and report to directly in to IAD CEO Jim Osborne.
“Jarred has been instrumental in getting this partnership to the finish line,” said IAG CEO Jim Osborne in his first announcement. “We have tremendous confidence in him to not only lead the day-to-day operations of our music department, but to help us grow it from here.”
IAG operates under the umbrella of Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Ent. LLC, a subsidiary of the Yucaipa Companies, a private equity firm founded in 1986 and which in 2012 acquired a majority stake in AGI. Jarred Arfa was instrumental in the sale of AGI to Yucaipa and helped broker Yucaipa’s more recent investments in K2 and Danny Wimmer Presents.
“We have relied on Jarred on so many levels over the years to not only oversee the operations of AGI, but to also assist us in furthering our investments in the music business,” said Ron Burkle, President, Chairman and Managing Partner of the Yucaipa Companies, in a statement.
Jarred Arfa began his career at Robert Silverman’s CKX Inc. as acting as Director of Muhammad Ali Enterprises and Director of Operations for Elvis Presley Enterprises. Jarred was a named a Pollstar’s 2018 Impact Next Generation Honoree as well as to Billboard’s 40 Under 40 and Change Agent lists.
At AGI, his responsibilities included business development, legal, financial and corporate reporting, overseeing artist tour contracts, VIP ticketing, sponsorship and brand partnerships. He will continue in these roles at IAG with APA’s infrastructure that includes legal, tour marketing, branding and sponsorships departments. In addition, Jarred will continue to work closely with Billy Joel’s team assisting on his record-breaking MSG residency and Billy’s other tour dates, as well as working on teams alongside numerous other artists.
IAG’s formidable roster includes a number of heavy-hitters from both agencies: AGI boasts a number of major rock acts, including Billy Joel, Metallica, Def Leppard, Rod Stewart, Motley Crue, Linkin Park, Jane’s Addiction, Pantera, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Norah Jones, Neil Young, The Strokes, Smashing Pumpkins, Ghost, Elvis Costello, Cage The Elephant and Five Finger Death Punch; APA’s complimentary roster includes primarily hip-hop, R&B and jazz acts like to 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Ms. Lauryn Hill, 2 Chainz, NE-YO, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, D’Angelo, Key Glock, $not, blackbear, JAX, Cypress Hill, Bryce Vine and Jon Bellion. Additionally, APA represents a number of comedians including Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps, Loni Love, Felipe Esparza, Ms. Pat and Ronny Chieng.
“I am excited to work with the outstanding young team of APA agents who have been thriving, particularly in urban, as we combine into one cohesive unit,” Jared Arfa stated. “I look forward to further offering crossover opportunities for our artists that Jim Osborne and his team have done such an amazing job at. Our plan is to grow the department with a quality over quantity ethos.”
Last week’s announcement also included news that Dennis Arfa, who founded AGI in 1999, would be chairman of the Music Division and Marsha Vlasic, AGI’s President is IAG’s Vice-Chair.
“Jarred has been an invaluable asset to us on so many levels,” said Vlasic in a statement. “We have tremendous confidence in him to lead our efforts to integrate and grow our combined music assets enabling our artists and agents to thrive.”