2026 Women of Live: Cristina Baxter

Cristina Baxter
The•Team | Senior Vice President

LAST JOB NOT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY | Editorial Producer at CNN.

Cristina Baxter started 2025 by joining the Executive Leadership Team at Wasserman Music (the agency now known as The•Team), along with Kevin Shivers and James Rubin, with all three making the move from WME. Her big year continued with long-time client Kali Uchis announcing her debut arena trek, “The Sincerely Tour,” which ran through February 2026 and included two nights each at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, and Madison Square Garden in New York. Baxter has worked with Uchis for nearly a decade, including booking her first 200-capacity show in Los Angeles. Other milestones for Baxter’s clients include Sofi Tukker launching a residency at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Pollstar: How did you get your start in the live industry?
Cristina Baxter: I grew up around a lot of music. My dad played all the time – he plays guitar as a hobby. My house was filled with music growing up. Then, while I was in high school, I started booking my friend’s bands for shows across venues in London. When I went to university, that’s when I really started to focus on opportunities in the live industry. I had a radio show in college that was nominated for the BBC’s Best College radio show. Then, I also had a monthly DJ residency at a club in London. I just opened up for whoever was performing that night.

Who in the business do you credit with helping you most in your career and why?
I would definitely say Kevin Shivers. We’ve worked together for 16 years, and we’ve talked every single day throughout that time. We’re super value-aligned and both really driven. He has always been there for me both professionally and personally, and is really insightful and positive.

What business advice do you have for young women who are coming up in the industry?
I would say the first thing is to recognize that, while we face systemic challenges as women in the industry, we should also flip it on its head and recognize that being a woman in this industry is a real strength. You have a perspective and point of view that a lot of people don’t have, and to center that in the way you do business, rather than run away from it. Play your own game based on your own strengths.