Impact NextGen: Len Chenfeld

Whether it’s on the stage, in the crowd or behind the scenes, there’s a rush that comes with the live entertainment experience. Len Chenfeld experienced it as a fan, seeing acts such as Green Day, Eminem, The Strokes and Jay-Z, but it wasn’t until he interned in 2011 at AM Only, a talent agency that merged with Paradigm Talent Agency in 2017, that he found his calling.

“The office was a big open room that resembled a stock trading floor more than an agency, but the energy in that space was off the charts,” says Chenfeld, now an agent at Wasserman Music. “I went back to school determined to find ways to continue learning about the live industry.”

An inspired Chenfeld went on to book shows at his school and admittedly overpaid artists along the way, but his experience earned him his first gig at APA. He also worked at Paradigm under former AM Only Vice President of East Coast Lee Anderson, who made a “significant impact” on Chenfeld’s roster and taught him how to mentor younger colleagues.

At Wasserman, Chenfeld is living his dream, helping launch Lovejoy’s debut tour last spring with shows selling out in seconds and working with Barry Can’t Swim, Cautious Clay and ella jane.

“I want to champion as many great artists as possible while building a diverse, multi-genre roster that are not only amazing musicians but also quality people who set examples for the next crop of artists coming behind them,” Chenfeld said.

Live music is as big as ever with artists and venues often setting records in ticket sales and attendance, and Chenfeld is excited to be a part of the new generation to take the industry to new heights.

“We are at a point where creativity is coming from many different places, and the art being produced is stretching the boundaries of what we might have thought previously existed,” he said. “In turn, this feels like it is fueling the excitement around live music, and the ecosystem, in general, is in a healthy place. Shows are being produced at a higher level, artists are taking more risks on stage, and the quality of the performance is being elevated.”