YM&U Group Promotes Steve Aoki Manager Matt Colon To Global Music President

YM&U Group has promoted Matt Colon to global president of music, where he will continue to directly oversee the company’s U.S. music division and expand his role by leading global strategy and integration between its U.K. and U.S. music divisions.

The announcement says Colon will also lead the growth strategy for the organization, with manager acquisitions and key hires.  He was formerly managing director of US music at YM&U, after joining in 2017 when YM&U acquired the Decktstar company he co-founded. 

Colon was nominated for a Grammy that year for his work on Steve Aoki’s “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” documentary. He’s managed the multifaceted artist since 2005. 

“I am delighted that Matt has agreed to lead YM&U’s Music business globally,” states Mary Bekhait, YM&U Group CEO. “He has a history of being at the forefront of emerging cultural and tech trends, is a strategic and astute leader and possesses great taste. Bringing our music divisions even closer together will enable us to better serve our global clients and provide more opportunities for our colleagues. I am excited for the next chapter.”

Colon adds, “I have always approached management from a global perspective when it has come to my own clients. As access to entertainment has increased, along with more opportunities for artists, the need for a global footprint has become increasingly apparent for clients in the digital age. With this new role I hope to empower our team and more importantly our clients to have the confidence that we’re equipped for the challenge.”

Colon’s music industry career began in the late ‘90s, where he interned for Def Jam, as well as time with Moonshine Music, and music and lifestyle publication BPM. 

 

YM&U’s music roster includes artists such as Common, Steve Aoki, blink-182, Travis Barker in the U.S. and James Arthur, Gary Barlow, Years & Years and Jesy Nelson in the UK.

YM&U has been bullish on the NFT and crypto space, particularly with Aoki and fellow electronic music client 3LAU leading the charge and the company saying it has amassed nearly $30 million in sales to date in that realm, dating back to 2018 with albums being sold on the Ethereum blockchain and 3LAU’s OMF Music Festival having its own crypto element.