As COVID-19 continues to hinder the live events industry, even some executives have abandoned ship. That includes Joel Zimmerman, Warner Music Entertainment’s former Global Head of Electronic Music. Major ticketing companies and agencies all over are struggling to make ends meet given the lack of events.
Zimmerman compiled lineups that included the Weeknd, Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, Kygo, Kaskade, Steve Aoki, and more. He played a critical role in hyping up EDM integration in festivals. Secondly, he built the EDM market portfolio and pioneer booking residencies. The genre skyrocketed into popularity since his takeover in 2008. Taking his place is Stephanie LaFera, which happened in March. But fortunately, she comes with great experience. She is a longtime manager and founder of Little Empire Music.
“The team at WME is already so well rounded, and I’m looking forward to building out the division further. As someone who has worked with WME for over a decade on the management side, I have a strong understanding of the company’s philosophy on artist representation, plus the power of WME’s global footprint within all aspects of the entertainment industry. I’m looking forward to harnessing those strengths to help artists continue to grow even further in the genre.” – Stephanie LaFera
She has worked with every genre of music, including drum & bass, techno, and everything in between. With a fresh perspective to the group, we hope she will take electronic music above and beyond its previous years. When things return to normal, we’ll see how the industry bounces back.
WME is rumored to be preparing for downsizing, as many entertainment companies have had to do in the past month. It comes as no surprise that more heavy hitters in the industry may be taking action now. Though, we do not know if and when this will take place.
To Be Continued…
What we hope for is the safe return of live events so that those affected can get back on their feet. This is a fight we can only win if we stick together. As always, stay safe out there and thanks for everything Joel!