2024 Impact 50 Honoree: Cara Lewis

FOUNDER AND CEO
CLG — Cara Lewis Group

FIRST JOB IN THE BIZ: Answering phones at Norby Walters Associates
ERIC B & RAKIM’S LYRIC: “Cara Lewis is our agent … Word up”

For all of Cara Lewis’ accomplishments throughout her illustrious agenting career, she will eternally be way cooler than any other agent because hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim shouted her out on their 1987 hit “Paid In Full” as a boast of their baller status. Today, Lewis has even more cachet and “can’t stop won’t stop” helping other artists reach their full touring potential.

“Year after year, our biggest accomplishment as a company is uplifting artists through live performances and bringing them to new heights,” Lewis says. Recent examples include Travis Scott’s second leg of the “Utopia” tour in January. The 10 dates, according to Pollstar Boxoffice, sold 152,698 tickets for a $18,174,266 gross, averaging 15,270 tickets and $1,817,427 per show; or Ye’s and Ty Dolla $ign’s “Vultures” listening experiences in February and March, “with arena pop-ups on a moment’s notice, doing sellout business in Chicago, N.Y., Milan, Bologna, Paris, Phoenix, S.F., and a special Rolling Loud LA day,” Lewis said.

Upcoming highlights include the first Cactus Jack label show with Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Sheck Wes, Chase B, and Sofaygo at Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash June 14; three Vegas residencies: Don Toliver at the new LIV Las Vegas; Ludacris at Zouk; and Murda Beatz at Hakkasan; plus Eminem’s upcoming performance at Formula 1’s U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in October.

The biggest challenge, Lewis says, is the sheer amount of talent out on the road. It creates stiff competition and a challenge to put “packages together that will fit within the financial guidelines of capacities and ticket price when everyone wants to get paid.” 

There’s opportunities as well, with acts developing quicker than ever. “Mostly,” Lewis explains, “this boost comes from online traction from songs and touring. But we also see livestream performances and the value it can bring to an artist’s trajectory – noting Ice Spice’s incredible performance at Coachella for one: while she has not yet embarked on her tour or played many shows, the livestream and clips gave consumers a glimpse of what you can expect on tour, producing excitement, demand and new fans.”