with Sony Music, Disney, Netflix, Tidal,
Apple, Spotify and Adidas. The chairman/
CEO, 38, charted three albums in the top 10
on the Billboard 200 in 2019 (Lemonade,
The Lion King: The Gift and Homecoming:
The Live Album) while her Netflix docu-
mentary Homecoming reached 1.1 million
U.S. viewers the day it premiered (April 17).
“We have produced a high volume of
work that is still regarded as commercially
successful, artistically excellent and has
societal impact,” says Pamon, 49. “All of
them defied expectations.”
Walter Kolm
Founder, Walter Kolm Entertainment
Kolm’s roster of Latin music stars had a
great year in 2019. Carlos Vives played
a five-night engagement at the Movistar
Arena in Colombia. Maluma took the stage
at the Billboard Music Awards with Ma-
donna. Reggaetón pioneers Wisin & Yandel
made a triumphant comeback, ranking at
No. 3 on Billboard’s top Latin duo/group
year-end recap, and Latin pop boy band
CNCO performed at the MTV Video Music
Awards and on Good Morning America.
“Our artists have helped grow the popular-
ity of different genres and promote a di-
verse variety of music in the industry,” says
Kolm. “Knowing that my work is spreading
awareness and love for Latin music makes
every day worthwhile.”
Adam Leber
Partner, Maverick
Gee Roberson
Co-CEO, The Blueprint Group;
partner, Maverick
The 19-week streak of “Old Town
Road” atop the Hot 100 in 2019 was a
record-shattering coup for Lil Nas X’s
co-managers. But the Maverick partners
are even more thrilled by the artist’s six
Grammy nominations, especially for a
genre-bending, Gen Z hip-hop cowboy.
“Lil Nas X has really shone a spotlight on
how we categorize artists and their sounds
moving forward,” says Leber, 42, who also
manages Miley Cyrus and helped super-
vise music for HBO’s Euphoria, scored by
client Labrinth. “The cherry on top” is the
album of the year Grammy nomination for
Lil Nas X, adds Roberson, who has also
been prepping for a new album from client
G-Eazy, out in early 2020. Lil Nas X “walked
in with his artistry, and to be accepted
so greatly by the public?” says Roberson.
“That’s the holy grail.”
Rebeca León
Founder/CEO, Lionfish Entertainment
León steered the meteoric rise of Rosalía,
one of 2019’s breakthrough acts and a
Grammy nominee for best new artist. She
signed Rosalía before the urban-flamenco
singer had a record deal and helped her
land slots on high-profile festivals like
Coachella and Lollapalooza. “She’s so
amazing,” says León. “She works so hard
and people love her.” León’s previous cli-
ents include J Balvin and Juanes; the Latin
Recording Academy named the latter the
2019 Person of the Year. “Artist develop-
ment motivates me,” she says. “It’s an honor
and a privilege to work with creators.”
Dre London
Founder, London Entertainment
London’s management client Post Malone
closed 2019 as Billboard’s top artist of
the year on the strength of Hollywood’s
Bleeding, which debuted at No. 1 on the
Billboard 200 in September; the continu-
ing success of 2018’s beerbongs & bentleys;
a string of hit singles on multiple charts,
including the Hot 100; and one of the
year’s top-grossing tours. “My goal since
we signed him in 2014 was to crack every
chart, and we’ve [nearly] done that” with
Hollywood’s Bleeding, says London. “That
says a lot about his talent and how big of a
genreless artist he is.”
Phil McIntyre
Founder/CEO, Philymack
The Jonas Brothers’ 2019 return was a
crowning achievement for McIntyre, 37,
their longtime manager. The group’s first sin-
gle in nearly six years, “Sucker,” hit No. 1 on
the Hot 100, a chart-topping feat the siblings
had never before achieved. “After 14 years, it
was a very proud moment for all of us,” says
McIntyre. The triumph of “Sucker” helped
propel the first new Jonas Brothers album
in a decade, Happiness Begins, to No. 1 on
the Billboard 200 and secured Nick Jonas
a primetime judge slot on the forthcoming
season of NBC’s The Voice.
Guy Oseary
Co-founder/principal, Maverick Management
Oseary’s client U2 closed out the past year
with a stadium show on the Joshua Tree
tour in Mumbai, India, marking a milestone
in the nation’s development as a global
concert destination. Fellow marquee client
Madonna toured for her Madame X album,
which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Oseary, 47, is also behind Community.com,
a text message-based opt-in platform that
allows direct communication between per-
formers and fans. “I’m very focused on how
we as [an artist] community have no plat-
form to reach our audience directly,” says
Oseary. He’s quick to praise the success of
fellow Maverick managers like Adam Leber
and Gee Roberson, who represent pop
phenomenon Lil Nas X, and Wassim “Sal”
Slaiby, whose client The Weeknd returned
to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in December with
“Heartless.” Says Oseary: “All of us at Mav-
erick are part of a great collective. We’re
really privileged.”
Jason Owen
President/CEO, Sandbox Entertainment;
co-president, Monument Records
Owen’s clients Kacey Musgraves and
Dan + Shay gained superstar status in
2019, beginning at the 61st annual Gram-
mys in February. Musgraves’ four honors
included album of the year for Golden
Hour, while Dan + Shay (whom Owen
co-manages with Scooter Braun) won best
country duo/group performance for their
crossover hit “Tequila.” Owen, 43, also
helped both acts advance on the road.
Musgraves’ 63-show Oh, What a World
Tour grossed $12 million, and Dan + Shay
plotted their first arena-headlining tour
for 2020. “Nothing on my roster would be
considered an overnight success,” says
Owen, who also manages Little Big Town,
Kelsea Ballerini and Midland, among oth-
ers. “Longevity comes with artists who
take the time to build careers.”
Courtney Stewart
CEO, Right Hand Music Group;
co-founder, Keep Cool
Barely five years into Khalid’s career, Stew-
art’s client is a six-time Grammy nominee
with 6 billion streams for his sophomore
album, Free Spirit. Khalid’s 2019 tour,
which wrapped in Australia in December,
included double sellouts at Los Ange-
les’ Staples Center, New York’s Madison
Square Garden, London’s O2 Arena and
Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, says Stewart.
Through his secondary company, Keep
Cool, Stewart is working with breakout
R&B artist Lucky Daye, who has been
nominated for four 2020 Grammys.
Pierre “P” Thomas
CEO, Quality Control Music
Kevin “Coach K” Lee
COO, Quality Control Music
The Quality Control duo of Lee and
Thomas cheered in the past year as Migos
returned to the Hot 100 with “Pure Water,”
Lil Baby debuted at No. 1 on Streaming
Songs with “Woah” and, after City Girls
topped Rhythmic Songs with “Act Up,” the
rap duo’s JT was released from a prison
stint in October. She and City Girls partner
Yung Miami dropped “First Day Out” to
mark her return home. The latest move
by Thomas and Lee: Quality Control’s
first R&B signing, Layton Greene. “We are
breaking into a new genre of music with
her,” says Thomas, 39.
AGENCIES
Dennis Arfa
Chairman, Artist Group International
Marsha Vlasic
President, Artist Group International
Adam Kornfeld
President of touring for North America,
Artist Group International
AGI’s achievements in the past year
include the continuing success of Billy
Joel’s Madison Square Garden residency,
supplemented by shows at Boston’s Fen-
way Park and London’s Wembley Stadium,
LONDON
McINTYRE
OSEARY
OWEN
LEÓN
ROBERSON
LEBER
STEWART
THOMAS
LEE
ARFA
VLASIC
KORNFELD
KOLM
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0
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0
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98 BILLBOARD • JANUARY 25, 2020
KOLM:^ RUBENCABRERA.^ L
EBER:^ AUSTINHARGRAVE.ROBERSON:^ JENNIFERS.^ A
LTMAN.^ L
EÓN:^ ORLI^ ARIAS.^ L
ONDON:CADE^WERNER.MCINTYRE:^ MATT^ROBERTSON.^ O
SEARY:DAVIDMUSHEGAIN.^ O
WEN:^ PATRICKTRACY.^ S
TEWART:ANTHONY^CAMPUSANO.THOMAS,^ LEE:^ LESTER^COHEN.ARFA:JEFF^SCHOCK.^ V
LASIC:DANA^FINEMAN.^ K
ORNFELD:AGI.